Ephesians 2:1-10 -

Introduction

Major Ideas

#1: Who We Were (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Ephesians 2:1–3 NASB95

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

[Exp]

We were dead in our sins and trespasses.

What does it mean to be dead?

We were followers of Satan.

Here Satan is called the prince of the power of the air. What does this mean?

We were sons of disobedience.

The spirit, the natural human disposition of the sons of disobedience, is the way of Satan.

We were children of wrath.

What does it mean to be a child of wrath?

This we were by nature.

[Illus] Our pride doesn’t want to admit this. We make excuses. One of our favorites is, “It wasn’t my fault.”

Dalton dropping things, “What the heck?”

[App]

[TS]

#2: What God Did (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Ephesians 2:4–6 NASB95

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, 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,

[Exp]

He made us alive together with Christ.

He raised us up with Him.

He seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

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[TS]

#3: Why God Did It (Ephesians 2:4-10)

Ephesians 2:4–10 NASB95

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, 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 ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as 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 so that we would walk in them.

[Exp]

God did this because He is rich in mercy.

He did this because of His great love with He loved us.

He did this by His grace even while we were still sinners.

He did this to show us His grace forever in Christ!

He did this so that we would boast in Him!

He did this so that we would do good works for His glory!

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[TS]

Conclusion

So, what should we do?

Admit who we were.

Believe what God did.

Boast in Him.

And do good works.