Life After Death

Opening

Video planes trains and automobiles

Describe a time when you chose the wrong direction, whether it was while driving, in a relationship or some other situation.

Ephesians 2:1–7 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

V1-

Dead νεκρός- pertaining to being unable to respond to any impulse or to perform some function—

trespasses παράπτωμα- what a person has done in transgressing the will and law of God by some false step or failure. fall is the root word. trespass.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.289 ἁμαρτάνω; ἁμαρτία, ας

to act contrary to the will and law of God—‘to sin, to engage in wrongdoing, sin.’

sins ἁμαρτία- to act contrary to the will and law of God—‘to sin, to engage in wrongdoing, sin.’

V3

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 772). New York: United Bible Societies.

Passions ἐπιθυμία- to strongly desire to have what belongs to someone else and/or to engage in an activity which is morally wrong—‘to covet, to lust, evil desires, lust, desire.’

“children of wrath”- Children deserving the wrath of God.

V4

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 59.57 πλούσιος, α, ον; πλουσίως

pertaining to that which exists in a large amount, with the implication of its being valuable—‘in large amount, in abundance, rich, richly.’

rich πλούσιος- pertaining to that which exists in a large amount, with the implication of its being valuable—‘in large amount, in abundance, rich, richly.’

mercy ἔλεος- to show kindness or concern for someone in serious need—

V5-

ἀγάπη

alive συζωοποιέω- to cause to live again together with others—‘to raise to life together with.

grace χάρις- to show kindness to someone, with the implication of graciousness on the part of the one showing such kindness

saved σῴζω- to cause someone to experience divine salvation

V6

raised συνεγείρω- to cause to live again together with others—

V7

immeasurable ὑπερβάλλω- a degree which exceeds extraordinarily a point on an implied or overt scale of extent

riches πλοῦτος- a high point on any scale and having the implication of value as well as abundance

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 748). New York: United Bible Societies.

kindness χρηστότης- to provide something beneficial for someone as an act of kindness. root- use or to make use of.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 685). New York: United Bible Societies.

V8

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 749). New York: United Bible Societies.

πίστις- to believe in the good news about Jesus Christ and to become a follower—‘to be a believer, to be a Christian, Christian faith.’

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 378). New York: United Bible Societies.

V9

work ἔργον- that which one normally does

V10

boast καυχάομαι- to express an unusually high degree of confidence in someone or something being exceptionally noteworthy

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 430). New York: United Bible Societies.

V10

ποίημα workmanship- that which is made—‘product, what is made.’

created κτίζω- to make or create something which has not existed before—

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 513). New York: United Bible Societies.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 513). New York: United Bible Societies.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.,

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 773). New York: United Bible Societies.

We live in a world where human beings, left to themselves, not only choose the wrong direction, but remain cheerfully confident that it is in fact the right one.

What forces lure or compel us to go in the wrong direction spiritually (v. 1-2)?

What reasons have you heard people give for the direction they’re going in their life?

What, according to Paul, characterizes people who are going in the wrong direction (v3)?

If the problem is that the settled and habitual behavior of the whole human race leads people on the fast road toward death— the ultimate destruction of their humanness— the answer provided by God is a way through death and out into a new sort of life entirely.

What has God done for us to get us on the right road (v 4-6)?

Why does God love us so much?

How did your own “change in direction” through Christ come about?

God made us alive and raised us up in Christ (v4-6). What does verse 7 say God desires to accomplish by this?

Of course, lots of people who are heading at speed in the wrong direction want to think of God as a bit stingy, or mean, or small-minded— just as people who are enjoying their drive don’t like it if someone tells them they’re going the wrong way, and that they’re about to pass the last chance to turn off and head back again. But the crucial factor here, as always is Jesus himself. Take away his resurrection, and for all anybody knows the road to death is the only road there is. Put it back in the picture, though , and you realize two things. First, there is another way. Second, you are urgently summoned to turn round and follow it.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What is the means of our salvation (v 8-9)?

Paul’s gospel is all about grace that is more than mere enrichment. It gives life to the dead. It is God’s free, undeserved gift.

Many people think they can earn their salvation by doing good works. Do you ever feel like you need to earn God’s favor or grace? If so, why do you think it’s hard for you to accept his grace as a free gift?

Why did God save us (v10)?

The “good works” which Paul mentions in verse 10 are not the same as the “works of the law” (which he rules out in Romans) which marked people as members of the Jewish community. The “good works” are the way of life Christians must now travel in the right direction, after the disastrously wrong journey described earlier.

What are some good works for which God created us?

Verse 10 is one of Paul’s central statements of how Christians are a the center of God’s new creation. We are, he says, God’s workmanship. This word sometimes has an artistic ring to it. It may be hinting that what God has done to us in King Jesus is a work of art, like a poem or sculpture. Or perhaps, granted what he goes on to say, we are like a musical score; and the music, which we now have to play, is the genuine way of being human laid out before us in God’s gracious design, so that we can follow it. They are the way of life which he will describe more fully in chapters 4-6.

How do you respond to the idea that your are God’s artistic creation?

Pray: Dear God, thank you for providing salvation by grace and not expecting us to be good enough or do enough to earn it. Show me what good works I can do this week to demonstrate your salvation!