Death Before Life

Introduction

we will focus on today

Last week we finished up chapter 1 a upmost glorious chapter. We’ve looked at so of the deepest and powerful doctrine in the bible. We have had a glimpse into eternity past and seen the Love of Yahweh for us before time began.

We focused on verses 19-23 of chapter 1 so if you missed it please listen to the podcast so you can be caught up to where we are going.

We heard about the immeasurable greatness of God’s power available towards those who believe. The same power used to Raise Christ from the dead. We have learned God works towards us. Therefore there is no excuse for us as christians, to live defeated without hope. We should always be progressing towards the image of Christ.

We learned Christ Jesus, in his resurrected glorified human body is seated in heaven. He has all authority over all demonic and human will. This should bring us comfort. In verse 22 he will put all things under his feet.

He is the head of this church and every other church across the globe. He fills the church with himself and all blessings

We will now move on into chapter 2 today

please stand for the reading of the Word of God

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 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— 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.

Everyone needs a savior

It is so important for people to know there position in Christ. We must understand our identity in Jesus. Knowing the current your current state as a Child of God through faith in Christ will save you a lot time and heartache. but I think it will very difficult to understand these important truths unless you understand where you were before coming to christ or in other words being Called.

It will be difficult to understand much of the new testament Language such as the words of Jesus in John chapter 3 when he said everyman must be born again. When the bible says you must be regenerated, your heart must be circumcised. You must be transformed.

LOOk and read with me the text eph 2:1-3

Paul has transitioned from pr

What Paul is teaching us is the biblical doctrine of Total Depravity

Paul spent much of chapter 1 teaching us the plan of God to redeem a lot of humanity, a remnant out of a depraved humanity for himself. This was so that this chosen group will be holy and blameless before him. This redeemed remnant of people would therefore full fill God’s plan for his people before the fall of Adam and Eve when they willfully disobeyed God in Eden. Paul has transitioned from his prayer for what he wants them to know to teaching them from where they came. He uses the pronoun you which is actually plural, in verse 3 he says “we all” and there is a emphasis device in the greek here pointing out both Jew and Gentile.

Now is we are learning more of the condition of the human race without Christ. I want us to listen to some of the words of Christ on this point.

Luke 9:60 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

John 5:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

In Luke Jesus speaks of the present tense of people. He calls living people as Dead people. Let the Dead bury their own Dead

In John he speaks in past tense of whoever hears him and believes is no longer dead but now alive

So its clear here in our Text this morning and the Luke and John, we have people walking around with air in their lungs and blood circulating throughout their body but the bible declares them as dead.

THE UNBELIEVER ISN’T SPIRITUALLY SICK; HE IS DEAD

Webster defines Dead as: Devoid of Life

In verse 1 of Chapter 2 Paul uses the word Dead The Greek word is (NEKROS)

It means : unable to respond to any impulse, unable to perform some function, Destitute of life

In God Told Adam and Eve they would die as a results of sin. Physically they didn’t die right away, but every child born into the world from there on die spiritually until Christ. This is why he had to be born of a virgin

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 5:

Romans 5:17 ESV

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:

Death reigned through that one man

So now back to Paul gives us 3 descriptions or characteristics for the unregenerate condition.

Paul says you were dead in the trespasses and sins. The word trespasses means “over stepping a boundary” and sins mean “Ignores something required by God’s law or character, whether in thought, feeling, speech, or action” both are synonymous for will full disobedience to God.

Following the ways or course of this world (Kasmos) lifestyles, cultural pressure The Kosmos is the satanically organized system that hates and opposes all that is godly. The unsaved person either consciously or unconsciously is controlled by the values and attitudes of this world.

Following the ways or course of this world (Kasmos) lifestyles, cultural pressure The Kosmos is the satanically organized system that hates and opposes all that is godly

The spiritually dead follow the ruler of the air. The text calls him the prince of the air. This is referring satan. The whole world is under the control of the evil one () he is also called the god of this age. When the text says the spirit that is now at work, the word spirit refers to the impersonal force or atmosphere which is controlled and directed by satan. This spirit or force is “at work” in the unregenerate heart.

The “sons of disobedience” is a distinctive characteristic- active rebellion and opposition against God. So ladies don’t let the word sons trip you up. This is an attitude of the heart.

The spiritually dead follow the ruler of the air. The text calls him the prince of the air. This is referring satan. The whole world is under the control of the evil one () he is also called the god of this age

Among whom we all once lived

Look at verse 3 with me as we break it apart

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

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.

once lived, the HCSB says which you previously walked. So once lived means a pattern of life that is now past tense. “The way you formally conducted your self”. You no longer live this way.

Lived in the passions of our flesh - Flesh translates to sinful nature- SARKOS this is the unregenerate nature. The bible calls this nature, “ a nature of wrath”

Listen to the words of Jesus with me in John chapter 3

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Again the contrast there are two kinds of people in this world according to the bible.

Those who believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and they now have life and those who do not

They shall not see life because they are still DEAD in their sins and transgressions and by nature objects of God’s rath. You see the text says- read it with me “The wrath of God remains of him”

This is why everyone needs the savior