Made Alive In Christ - Ephesians 2
Made Alive In Christ
(Ephesians 2:1-10)
Introduction:
As Paul continues to write to the saints (the holy ones) that reside at Ephesus
He now gives a response to his prayer that he prayed for the saints in chapter 1.
(Reference) – Prayer (chapter 1, verse 15-23)
Read: Ephesians 2:1-10 (One sentence in the Greek)
Paul says, I want you, the saints of God, to appreciate the reward you have in Christ and the power you have in Christ.
But, you want appreciate the reward or the power until you appreciate
How you were once separated from God. How you were dead spiritually.
But now, you have been reconciled. You have been made alive in Christ.
Paul says, as it relates to your salvation in Christ, I want you to appreciate three things:
Insights:
YOU WERE SEPARATED FROM GOD
YOU WERE MADE ALIVE IN GOD
IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD
Subject: Made Alive In Christ
(Paul) – YOU WERE SEPARATED FROM GOD
Illustration: (Man in the garden) The day you eat you shall die (died spiritually)
(Spiritual death) – Separation of the soul from God
(Paul) – I know that you have…
Access to all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places
Been redeemed by the blood of Jesus
Been added to the body of Christ
(Paul) – But to avoid you from taking advantage of the grace of God
You need to see what you looked like before God stepped in.
(Paul) – Before you think you have arrived / You are saved by your own goodness
Read: Ephesians 2:1-2
Define:
(Trespasses) – an offence / taking false steps
(Sin) – acts of missing the mark / falling by the wayside
Both words are slightly different in their root meaning, but when used together
They suggest the deliberate acts that we do against God and His righteousness
(Reference) – Garden of Eden (Eating the fruit was not by mistake…)
Point:
Trespasses / Sins – Our deliberate acts against God
But, when they are used in the plural senses (trespasses & sins) together
It suggests the continual (repetitious) involvement of walking falsely
And missing the mark (which leads to dead), resulting in spiritual separation from God.
No wonder Paul says, (Ephesians 2:1-2)
Point:
(Paul) – Don’t act like you don’t know what it is like to walk according to this world.
Not only did you walk, but you enjoyed it when you walked.
You were a servant to the god of this world (Satan)
And because you were dead as a result of your trespasses and sins
It was the spirit of the evil one that directed your steps
Encouraging you to live out your own lust, according to your own will
And you were by nature the children of wrath, just like the rest of us.
BUT GOD!!! (Being rich in mercy)
Point:
Sin is not just a Gentile problem (It is a Jewish problem)
(Sin is not a just a Black, White, Red, Yellow, Brown – Problem
Sin affects everybody.
That’s a terrible picture. That’s a hopeless picture.
And when we are separated from God, we deserve God’s wrath.
BUT GOD!!!
Read: Ephesians 2:4-7
YOU WERE MADE ALIVE IN GOD
Point:
The word “But” introduces God’s actions toward the sinner in contrast of his/her condition in the previous verses.
The word “But” is a conjunction that changes your thought about what is said before.
Example: I like your dress, “but…” I really like the people here, “but…”
Read: Ephesians 2:4-5
Point:
(Paul) – Emphatically says, “But God” who is rich in mercy has made us alive…
And if God is rich in mercy, and He is our Father
Not only is He rich, but we are rich too, and we have the spiritual blessing of mercy.
(Reference) – Ephesians 1:3 (all spiritual blessings)
Point:
(Paul) – We need to praise our Father for the great love He has for us.
For it is through the great love of God…
We are made alive in Christ
He raised us up with Christ
He seated us with Him in the heavenly places
And as unbelievers we were spiritually dead…
We were separated from God
We walked according to our own nature
According to the desires of our flesh
After the god of this world
But when the God of all creation expressed His “undeserved kindness” to us
We are reconciled back to God
Made Alive in Christ
And given access to all spiritual blessings.
(Reference) – II Corinthians 5:17 (If any man be in Christ he is a new creature…)
(Paul) – You are made alive in Christ, through the love of God.
IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY GOD
Read: Ephesians 2:8-10
(Paul) – Salvation is not of yourselves that you should boast
But is the free gift of God.
Illustration: Gifts (cost you nothing, but cost the giver)
(Gift of salvation cost God the very life of His Son)
Point:
Love is one of God’s intrinsic attributes, but when related to sinners
This same Love, expresses God’s Mercy and Grace.
And Because God Loves us, He saves us through His Mercy and Grace.
(In His Mercy) – He does not give us what we do deserve (justice)
(In His Grace) – He gives us what we don’t deserve – (new life)
(For by grace you have been saved through faith…)
Point:
“Grace” is God’s part. “Faith” is our part
Read: Ephesians 2:8-10
Conclusion:
In chapter 1, Paul reminds us that in Christ…
We have all spiritual blessings
We are redeemed by the blood of Christ
As the saved we are added to the body of Christ
In chapter 1, he wants us to know of our possessions in Christ
And in chapter 2 he emphasizes our position in Christ.
Point:
Your position determines your possessions and authority.
Illustration: The President of the U.S.
Regardless of where the President of the U.S. may be physically
His position as the man who sits behind the desk in the Oval office/White House
Gives him power and authority.
The same is true with the Christian.
Regardless of where we might be physically, we have power/authority in Christ
In the heavenly places
Point:
And when you truly appreciate that you…
Once were separated from God / Dead in your trespasses and sins
Walked according to your own lust
A servant to the god of this world
But now made alive in Christ
Out of our appreciation of our new life / identity
Application:
Walk accordingly every day to what you are, not what you once were.