Made Alive

Intro

Last week we spoke about the fruit of the gospel:

Opens eyes

Darkness to light

Power of Satan to God

Forgiveness of sins

Share in a portion among God’s people.

Today we will take this further to fully understand just what’s been accomplished through Christ.

Made Alive

Ephesians 2:1–3 NKJV

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

In Christ, we have been made alive.

Before “new life” in Christ:

Dead in Trespasses and Sins

Spiritually dead and unresponsive to the reality of God.

Being a “good person” is not acceptable.

Walked According to the Course (Way) of the World

The “world” is “under the sway of the wicked one”.

An “anti–christ”spirit is present.

The world is in opposition to the reign of God and violently resists it.

We see this clearly in our society.

According to the Prince of the Air

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary a. New Life from the Dead (2:1–10)

Basically his thought was of an evil power with control in the world (see on 6:12), but whose existence was not material but spiritual.

This is Satan.

He is working in “sons of disobedience”, which is those who have been deceived to rebel against God through disobedience.

This is Satan’s primary goal–to incite rebellion against God’s sovereign authority.

His primary tool is deception.

Conducting Ourselves in Lusts of the Flesh and Mind

The result of what we’ve just mentioned is we do as we please, led by our desires, with no boundaries.

“You, do you.”

By Nature Children of Wrath

Our very unregenerate nature is subject to God’s wrath and judgment; we are captives.

EMPHASIS: Many people believe a God who would subject humanity to judgment is cruel and unkind.

Why shouldn’t everyone be able to do as they please?

Why should we be restricted from being “true to ourselves”?

IMPORTANT - Transition–this thinking fails to see the way in which God gone to remedy our situation.

But God...

Ephesians 2:4–9 NKJV

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Paul’s transition here cannot be overlooked!

God is Rich in Mercy

God is abundant in mercy.

Mercy means “compassionate”.

It also implies “merciful actions”.

It is the difference between feeling compassion for someone and actually doing something about it.

Because of His Great Love

God’s great love for us moved Him rescue us!

“God so loved...”

“Behold what manner of love...”

EMPHASIS: God’s merciful love is indicative of a God who not only recognizes our inability to free ourselves of the predicament we find ourselves in, but also displays how far he will go to reconcile us to his original intent.

God has refused to leave things as they were.

Made Us Alive

PRACTICALLY

We have now been made alive with Christ.

We are “new creations” no longer subject to what we’ve previously looked at today.

Raised Up and Made Us Sit

POSITIONALLY

Though dead, we’ve now been raised up together.

We are now spiritually alive.

We’ve also been positionally seated in heavenly places with Christ.

This refers to the transfer of citizenship from the kingdom of this world to the “kingdom of the Son of his love”!

All that had held us captive to this world has been broken.

By Grace Through Faith

We didn’t deserve this!

It is only by God’s grace.

EMPHASIZE: This dismantles any accusation of God being unjust!

This is through faith alone.

We receive this new life by placing our faith and trust in what God has offered and done through Christ.

This should produce great humility in our lives.

Final Words

The apostle concludes these thoughts with where this brings us in the Story of God.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

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

We are God’s workmanship.

Creation ended in six days.

Christ finished the work he was sent to do 2,000 years ago.

God’s new creation continues to this day in the people of God.

God’s greatest efforts in the world today is to do this work in the hearts of humanity that we may do the works he’s intended us to do for his glory!