Death to Life | Ephesians 2:4–9

ME

Growing up we didn't have a whole lot.

*Show pic of 201 Lookout Dr.*

Lived in a home that was just over 1,000 sq ft (1/6 the size of this sanctuary) that my parents rented for 14 years.

Mom and Dad both worked full-time, but when I was little one of my dad's business partners ran off with $300,000 of the business's money and put my dad (and family) in a big bind financially.

We always had food on the table, just not a lot of extras.

Like I always wanted Abercrombie clothes.

Didn't get 'em

I wanted braces cause my mouth was a mess.

Not happening.

There were plenty of people around who had less than we did, but also a lot of people who had more.

I didn't think about it a whole lot, but sometimes the people who seemed to have more and flaunted it got on my nerves.

But I can tell you this:

At Christmas, my Mom found a way to get a TON of gifts without a ton of money.

She would search relentlessly for the best sales until every kid and grandkid had like 5 presents/each.

Before she passed away, she was up to 3 kids, 9 grandkids, two daughter-in-laws, a son-in-law, and of course my dad whom she always got gifts for.

That's 16 people, not to mention her friends and coworkers she got gifts for.

And Mom would cook until the point of exhaustion every Christmas and make sure everyone had more than enough food.

She just made Christmas special in every way, even though she never had a lot of money.

It sounds cheesy, but the greatest gift that she gave all of her family was her heart.

WE

Maybe you had a mom or grandma like that too: One who just gave the best gifts and gave of themselves sacrificially.

But I’m guessing none of us got a gift quite like this:

Pic of Cleopatra and Mark Antony

Cleopatra, the legendary queen of Egypt, received a wonderful pink pearl from her beloved Mark Antony. According to the legend, it was almost like a hand of an adult in size. As a sign of admiration for her beauty, the commander placed the jewel in a glass of wine and said that the queen could throw the pearl into the sea if she did not like it. The ending of the legend is even more poetic than its beginning: under the reaction with wine, the pearl ... dissolved, and the queen drank a glass to the bottom for her eternal love for Anthony.

That’s an incredible (and wasted) gift, right?

But if you think that was a great gift, check out these amazing gifts:

(Show screenshots of funny kid gifts)

Most people mean well when they give gifts, but some gifts are just better than others...

GOD

Of all the incredible gifts know to mankind, one stands out far above every other one:

The Gift of God’s Grace.

No one knew how great this gift was better than the Apostle Paul, who we have been studying in our Sunday School classes recently.

Paul (whose name was changed from Saul) worked hard to serve God and was incredibly passionate and thought he was doing the right thing by essentially serving as a first century mafia boss who ordered others to kill followers of the way of Jesus Christ.

But Jesus came to him one day and showed him just how wrong he was… that in his efforts to please God, he was actually working AGAINST God.

The grace of God came in a powerful way to this prideful Pharisee, and Saul (now Paul) was changed forever.

Ephesians 2:4–10 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Dead Now Alive

Ephesians 2:4–5 NCV

But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace.

Paul no doubt had heard from the original disciples what Jesus said in John 5:24

John 5:24 NCV

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life.

Early Christians clearly understood what it meant to turn from their sins, turn to God, accept His free gift of grace and be brought to LIFE.

This is because they witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus, and recognized it as “the turning point in history.”

Almost all original disciples died for the cause of Christ because they saw him dead and then saw him raised from the dead, conquering death, hell and the grave FOREVER.

They knew that EVERYTHING had changed.

Looking around at the American church today, as a whole we don’t really understand being saved as being brought from death to life.

Some American Christians get it.

They realize they were dead in their sins and headed for a sinner’s hell, but God saved them from certain destruction and brought them to life.

And those Christians end up living for Him with a passion and zeal.

But many American Christians think something like this:

I’m a good person, work hard, love my family, and all that good stuff, and God’s a nice little PART of my life.

Do you see that?

They don’t understand the truth Paul is laying out here:

That we’re ALL dead in our sins without Christ.

No matter if society thinks we’re an ok person, we’re still spiritually DEAD without Christ.

“Unconverted humanity has been misshapen by fallen social systems, sinister spiritual influences, and undisciplined self-indulgence. Usually, only in retrospect, as believers, do we see ourselves as the slaves we really were.”

-George Lyons

John 8:34 NCV

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, everyone who lives in sin is a slave to sin.

It is vital for Christians to understand that we’re all dead in sin and slaves to sin before we repent, turn from our sins and turn to God so that He can bring us to life.

Then vs. now, death vs. life, humans vs. God, sin nature vs. grace, wrath vs. salvation, satan’s slaves vs. victors with Christ.

And we must share this Gospel with others who are dead in their sins.

I mean, this convicts me a lot.

I can find myself going through the motions throughout our community and going days or sometimes weeks without thinking about sharing the Gospel with people who are spiritually dead.

Maybe you’re like that too.

Maybe that’s why the majority of people in our community could care less about church or the cause of Christ.

Because apparently we don’t either.

Where is our passion for this?

DO we really understand and live like this is the ONLY thing that truly matters?

Because it is!

We need to get the word out about the amazing grace of God that saves our souls, makes us alive, and keeps us from a life of sin!

Chairs in Heaven

*Chair Illustration*

Ephesians 2:6–7 (NCV)

And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.

Can you imagine this?

When we are brought from death to life at salvation, there’s a seat waiting for us in heaven!

“If the raising of Christ from death to sit in the heavenly realms was the supreme demonstration of God’s surpassing power, then the raising of believers from spiritual death to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms is the supreme demonstration of God’s surpassing grace”

-Andrew Lincoln

We honestly have no business having a seat next to Jesus in heaven.

We’ve all sinned, fallen short and caused God incredible pain in doing so.

But the grace of God makes a way for us to be co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:16–17 NIV

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I think Christians love that part about being called God’s children. And sharing in the glory of Christ.

But sharing in His… sufferings?

At least for Christians in America, that’s hard for us to comprehend.

From the beginning of our country, we have had freedom to worship the Lord without fear of persecution (suffering bc of following Jesus.)

The culture and government is slowly trying to take that freedom away, but we still have it for the most part.

But understand this: Many followers of Christ throughout the last 2,000 years have suffered for their faith in Him.

*Open Doors World Watch list Map of persecuted Christians*

*Afghanistan WWL Graphic*

Afghanistan

What is life like for Christians? It is impossible to live openly as a Christian in Afghanistan. Leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed. This was true before theTaliban takeover: The situation has become even more dangerous for believers this year. The Taliban will make sure that Islamic rules and customs are implemented and kept. Christian converts don’t have any option but to obey them. If a Christian’s new faith is discovered, their family, clan or tribe has to save its honor by disowning the believer, or even killing them. This is widely considered to be justice. Alternatively, since leaving Islam is considered a sign of insanity, a Christian who has converted from Islam may be forcibly sent to a psychiatric hospital. Where is God at work in Afghanistan? The night of the Taliban takeover, a baby was born to a secret Christian couple in Afghanistan. The parents of the little girl said they felt the birth showed God hasn’t given up on the country. God will also uphold His people, even in the most devastating circumstances.

We certainly need to be praying for our brothers and sisters in these persecuted countries.

But we also must remember this:

By sharing suffering with the dishonored Christ, believers receive the promise of a divine reversal, sharing in His glory.

It may not be while they’re on this earth, but Christians who suffer for trusting in Jesus Christ are gonna see things turn around.

They will share in the glory of Jesus Christ when they’re with Him forever.

1 John 3:1–2 NIV

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

If we are to be true followers of Christ and desire to be seated with Him in Heaven and be children of God, we must be willing to suffer with Him.

Grace to Good Works

Ephesians 2:8–10 NCV

I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

God’s grace is the effective source of salvation.

Faith is the necessary means by which it is received and retained.

Faith is the human activity that gives God permission to do what only he can—save us.

Here Paul explained the reason motivating God’s gracious saving activity described in vv 4–7.

It was not to create a platform for human boasting (v 9) but to enable believers “to do good works”

The purpose of grace is not just so sinners can “get saved,” nor to prevent humans from boasting. It’s in order to do good works.

Grace is not a license to sin with reckless abandon.

It is the generous divine power that re-creates one-time sinners into saints who immerse themselves in “good works” of divine design (Eph 2:10)

Each moment, … every encounter, every choice, every pursuit … matters for eternity.

What we do between accepting Christ into our hearts and the end of our lives is important in God’s sight.

What we do today, tomorrow, and the day after has everlasting significance.

Some of you here this morning have been saved longer than I’ve been alive.

Praise God for that!

But if you think that you were saved just to sit around and “be blessed” without sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with your words and what you do with your life, then you aren’t living out Biblical Christianity.

If you’ve got a problem with what I just said, please don’t shoot the messenger.

Take it up with God and His Word:

Ephesians 2:10 NCV

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

May God open our eyes to see the chaos, slavery, and death “the ways of this world” (2:2) and the nefarious powers have wreaked among us. Human beings are dehumanized by political oppression and bureaucratic tyranny, by a secular outlook that repudiates God, by an amoral ethic that rejects all absolutes, by conspicuous consumption and acquisitiveness that turns money and material possessions into idols, by poverty and hunger, by workaholism and unemployment, by racism and other forms of systemic injustice (Stott 1989, 73). May God give us the grace, not merely to be saved, but to make a difference.

George Lyons, Robert Smith, and Kara Lyons-Pardue, Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, ed. Alex Varughese and George Lyons, New Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 2019), 95.

Illustration Game on God’s Grace: Strange American Laws

(6 questions on the screen)

There are a bunch of strange laws all across our country.

Imagine for a minute that you were in one of these states and broke that strange law. You are arrested and taken before a judge. He says you are guilty and have to pay the fine or do the jail time for breaking the law. How would you feel?

Now, imagine that same judge says you are guilty, but instead of punishing you, he does something strange himself. He steps down from his bench. He takes off his robe. And he puts on a prison jumpsuit. Then he heads to prison or walks over and pays for your fine. As he does this, he says you may go free. Now how would you feel?

Check out one powerful verse that connects our game and these two situations together:

Read Romans 6:23 (New Living Translation)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

*Worship team come up*

GOD’S GRACE TAKES US FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

Then vs. now,

death vs. life,

humans vs. God,

nature vs. grace,

wrath vs. salvation,

Satan’s slaves vs. victors with Christ.

*God You Are Song*

YOU

*Ferry Boat Pic*

The story is told of an engineer in a river ferry-boat. His boat was old and he did not worry over much about it; the engines were dirty and uncared for. One day, this engineer was soundly converted to Christ. The first thing he did was to go back to his ferry-boat and polish his engines until every part of the machinery shone like a mirror. One of the regular passengers commented on the change. "What have you been up to?" he asked the engineer. "What set you cleaning and polishing these old engines of yours?" "Sir," answered the engineer, "I've got a glory." That is what Christ does for a man. He gives him a glory.

Title Slide

I want to be clear with you: if you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ into your heart… if you haven’t turned from your sins and turned to Him- then you are dead in your sins and headed towards a sinners hell that you are choosing to go to.

But there is great news for you this morning: The Mercy, love, grace, and kindness of God moved Him to take every necessary step to reverse your condition in sin.

You see, for your sin to be forgiven someone had to die in your place, Someone had to take the punishment that was meant for you.

And so God sent His son as the ultimate sacrifice to die for your sins on a Roman Cross 2,000 years ago.

And this same Jesus who died on that Cross conquered death, hell and the grave forever by rising from the dead- and He lives forever and is seated at the right hand of God in heaven.

And Jesus Christ Himself is calling you to turn from your sins, turn to Him, accept this free gift of salvation, and be brought from death to LIFE.

Jesus has done all He can do.

But He won’t force you into life.

The next step is yours...

You can come to this altar right now and move from death to life...

If you gave your life to Christ a week, month, 5 years or what seems like a lifetime ago, but you know you aren’t doing what you should be doing as a Christ-follower.

You’re not living with a passion and zeal for the Gospel of Jesus Christ… maybe you’re not even thinking about Christ, His Kingdom and mission hardly at all in your daily life, and you’re just sick and tired of living every day like Christ doesn’t even matter to you.. you can come to this altar, confess your sins and ask this same Jesus for forgiveness and He will fill you up again to do what He’s calling you to do.

The next step is yours...

*Prayer*

WE

We know what God wants us to do; God has prepared long beforehand the kind of life He wants us to live, and has told us about it in his book and through his son. We cannot earn God's love; but we can and must show how grateful we are for it, by seeking with our whole hearts to live the kind of life which will bring joy to God's heart.

-William Barclay

May we seek, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, to live the kind of lives that bring joy to the heart of God.

This world DESPERATELY needs to see Christ in us, the hope of glory, lived out in us every day.

So may we leave this place and live to make much of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.