Ephesians 2 Remember the Radical Difference: A totally new life

I. Remember the Radical Difference: Your situation transformed

A. From death v 1-3

(ESV) Ephesians 2 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—

1. Dead in sin

2. Walking in this world

3. A follower of Satan

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. Driven by passions

5. People doomed to the wrath of God

B. Because of His love / mercy v 4-7

(ESV) Ephesians 2 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—

1. Rich in mercy

2. Great love

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.

3. Immeasurable grace

4. Toward us

C. Into a crafted tool of God for His usefulness v 8-10

(ESV) Ephesians 2 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.

1. Saved as a gift

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

2. Crafted by His handiwork

3. Intended for His work

4. A lifestyle

II. Remember the Radical Difference: Brought near to God

A. Remember the old separation v 11-12a

(ESV) Ephesians 2 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise …

1. Separated from Christ

2. Alienated from God’s community

3. Strangers from God’s covenant promises

B. Remember the hopelessness v 12b

(ESV) Ephesians 2 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, … having no hope and without God in the world.

1. Hopeless

2. Without God

3. Adrift in the world

C. Remember the new relationship v 13

(ESV) Ephesians 2 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

1. But now – totally different in Christ

2. Brought near

3. Through Christ’s sacrifice

III. Remember the Radical Difference: Given peace

A. Peace in a person v 14

(ESV) Ephesians 2 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

1. He is our peace

2. Found nowhere else

3. Not the absence of chaos – but found in the security of a relationship with Him

B. Unified in Christ v 15-16 *

(ESV) Ephesians 2 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

**16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

1. One in Christ

2. No distinction / no ‘more liked’ sibling rivalry / no better than another

3. Intended for unified relationship / even though not a natural thing

C. Access for all to the Father v 17-18

(ESV) Ephesians 2 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

1. Access directly to the Father

2. Through the Spirit (intercessor)

IV. Remember the Radical Difference: Built together for Him

A. A new community v 19a

(ESV) Ephesians 2 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints …

1. Under new ownership

2. Under the power of a new monarch

3. Under a new rules / governing principles

B. A new family v 19b

(ESV) Ephesians 2 … and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

1. Belong

2. Part of God’s family

C. A new purpose v 21-22

(ESV) Ephesians 2 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1. A temple set apart

2. A temple that grows together

3. A temple for the dwelling for God in the Spirit