3 Spiritual Life

Hiking a trail and take a wrong turn and find out you’re going in circles? Someone comes along who knows the right way and invites you to follow. You end up at an even better destination than you hope.

You were on the wrong path, following the wrong person, living the wrong way of life, and ending up in the worst possible place. There was no way back.

But God rescued you from yourself and your path of error. God put you with the One who blazed the trail set you on the path of true Life and you end up at an even better destination than you hope.

After praising God listing out the great blessings made available to all who are united with Christ – forgiveness, redemption, adoption, inheritance, sealed by Holy Spirit.

Praying for wisdom and insight to know God better to understand Hope of our calling, wealth of our inheritance, vast power available to us.

The power God used to raise Jesus from the dead and place Him in position of authority over all.

Chapter 2 starts with “And you” then proceeds to lift man up from among the dead to sit with Jesus at the right hand of God in the heavenly realms. Now God is showing believers off to the rest of Creation as His handiwork, His work of grace, His agents of grace in the world.

“And you” describes the grim reality of our lives – disobedience, rebellion, following the devil, heirs of judgment.

“But God” is such an amazing transition and change. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Underlying God’s stepping in to change the situation is love, grace, mercy, kindness.

Points

Read CSB

You Were Dead

Ephesians 2:1–3 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

Ephesians 2:1 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

You were dead – not literally physically dead but spiritually dead

Ephesians 2:2 CSB

in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

Previously lived – or walked. literally your way of life. Paul uses this as a point of contrast.

Following the path or lifestyle of this world

Following the ruler, the spirit at work in the disobedient

Literally sons of disobedience – offspring

Ephesians 2:3 CSB

We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

We also were sons of disobedience just feeding the cravings of our bodies and our thoughts.

Our natural urges are to fulfill our selfish desires.

By nature children of or under wrath – literally heirs of judgment. Inheritance is wrath

Painting a grim picture of our condition without Christ.

Two very powerful words: You were dead and on your way to judgment with nothing you could do.

Read

But God

Ephesians 2:4–7 CSB

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Reminiscent of In the beginning, God. Creation

And this passage describes something just as great as original Creation – re-creation!

Ephesians 2:4 CSB

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,

But God = change, transition, it doesn’t have to be this way. Something happened to

Paul tells us why before what.

Rich in mercy – as always using hugely descriptive words to describe God

Loved with great love

Ephesians 2:5 CSB

made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

Literally Made us alive together = Enlivened – brought to life.

Alive together with Christ – in the resurrection of Jesus, those who unite with Him are also brought to life.

Together – God’s work and purposes are always together with Christ, and together among His followers. Not individually focused.

Emphasizes – even though we were dead

Like an exclamation – You are saved by grace. By God’s gift of favor and kindness that you didn’t deserve.

Ephesians 2:6 CSB

He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,

It doesn’t end. Not only given new life, spiritual life in Christ, but also…

Raised with Christ, seated with Christ in the heavens with Christ.

Past tense meaning the change has been accomplished already, even though we have not yet experienced, it is our reality, our hope.

Compare back to chapter 1, the great power of God raising Christ from among the dead and raised up to position of power and authority.

God’s rescue does the same for us because of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:7 CSB

so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

So that – God’s purpose in raising us up with Christ…

Coming ages – from now on into eternity

Display = showcase

The infinite grace poured out on those united with Christ.

Illustration = craftsman creates a showroom and displays his work so others can see and choose. Like a resume. A sample of craftsmanship. A living testimonial to God’s power and love and grace to draw others to Himself. We have to privilege of participating Through Christ in the rescue operation.

Saved For What?

Ephesians 2:8–10 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Read

Ephesians 2:8–9 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

vv.8 and 10 = two For statements – because, explains why.

Saved = rescued

By God’s grace – loving kindness that was not earned

Through faith – has sense of both God’s faithfulness, and your trust in His faithfulness in loving you.

this = the process of being rescued by grace through faith.

Not from yourselves – you can’t save yourself

God’s gift of grace and faithfulness

Not from works – works of the law implied here

Otherwise it only depends on us which he just told us we could not do ourselves. Following the wrong spirit.

Ephesians 2:10 CSB

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Again Because

God’s handiwork/product/result

Created in Christ Jesus – is a re-creation

Purpose = good works.

God recreating mankind into what He originally intended in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

About God:

Extravagant in showing mercy/compassion

Loved mankind with great love

Grace to rescue/deliver

With the same power He raised Jesus, God gave mankind Spiritual life

Linked mankind with Jesus’ authority

Displays His work in mankind as an example of His infinite wealth of grace

About mankind:

Look at the contrasts:

You were dead – Now you are made alive

You were following the devil – Now you are in Christ, Following Him

You were sons of rebellion and heirs of judgment/wrath/destruction – Now you are recreated for good works and put on display as examples of God’s grace.

You were spiritually dead and separated from God – God gave you Spiritual Life and brought you near.

It’s all about God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

Summarizing the message of this passage:

You were dead, but God brought you to life in Jesus Christ and raised you up with Him, so that He could put you on display, because you are rescued by His grace, because you are His masterpiece recreated to do good.

3 Spiritual Life

Introduction

Points

You Were Dead

But God

Saved For What?

Conclusion

Big Idea: You were dead, but now you are alive with Jesus for a life of purpose.

What About You?