February 11, 2024
Series: Ephesians
Teacher: Paul Mermilliod
Ephesians 2:1-10
[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—[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] 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—[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. [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. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
BIG TRUTH:
Jesus Followers are Saved by grace through faith in him
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Big Ideas:
Big Idea: In our sin, we are dead. (2:1)
Romans 7:11
For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
Big Idea: In our sin, we are enemies. (2:2)
- Following the world instead of Jesus.
- Following Satan instead of Jesus.
Colossians 1:21
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
Romans 1:28-32
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Big Idea: In our sin, we are slaves. (2:3)
- We live for the passions of our flesh.
- We live for the desires of the body and mind.
2 Peter 2:19
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…
Big Idea: In our sin, we are guilty. (2:3)
Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Romans 3:22b-24
… For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death…
Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Big Idea: In our sin, we are hopeless and helpless. (2:1-3)
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way…
Romans 3:10-18
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Big Idea: In Jesus, we are raised from death in sin to life in Him according to the riches of God’s grace!
- In Jesus, we receive God’s extravagant mercy and great love.
- In Jesus, we are saved by grace.
- In Jesus, we are recipients of God’s mercy, love, grace and salvation through faith.
Romans 5:6-8
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In our sin, we are dead. Life is only found in Jesus who saves us by grace through faith in Him.
Consider how you need to repent of walking in the passions of your flesh. Read Psalm 51 and pray a prayer of confession and repentance before the Lord.
Stand in awe of God who saves us, calls us, sets us apart for His purposes, not our own. We were dead and God made us alive in Him.
Long to see others come from death in sin to life in Christ. Purpose to have a gospel conversation with someone who does not know Jesus this week.