Ephesians 2:1-10 - United By Grace

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.

Main idea: The gospel brings those once separated by sin and unites them by grace in Christ.

Context

Starting I cor. in ?? Ephesians

Paul wants to help the church live a gospel life

Living the Gospel Life? Living for Christ out of the spiritual blessings given by Christ in the age in which we live.

This is, even with the Holy Spirit, a war to say the least.

This is why Paul wrote multiple letters and event sent his brothers to the churches.

Reminding is needed!!

Eph. Chapter 1 gives us the past, present, and future of God’s great plan of salvation.

Ex: Flying a airplane or driving a submarine … we need to stay up high this morning. (Were flying to Corinth via Ephesus

The Church Needs to be Reminded of the Spiritual Blessings they received

Eph. 1:3-13

Spiritual blessing: chosen - predestined - adopted - redeemed - forgiven - given an inheritance - sealed with the Holy Spirit

V.13 - heard - believed -were sealed

V.10 - Spiritual blessing are part of a blessed plan - united all things under Christ Lordship

These blessing were given to the church (Church =the “firstfruits of the blessed plan w/ Christ the Head)

Eph 1:21–23; 2:14

Ephesians 1:21–23 ESV

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Eph 2:14

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Ex: Adoption - “Real kids” “Natural” “adopted kids”

“I am a adopted child of God” or “I am a child of God” - we live in our present and future identity - His Children

In Christ their is only ”Us” -The family of God

If Chapter 1 gives us the past, present, and future of God’s great plan of salvation.

Chapter 2 gives us the past, present, and future of the persons Christ saves.

The church: The church is the community of all true believers for all time - Grudem (Sidebar: mention Wed Equip)

The church is made up of “us” - Who is us? “We & You” | We + YOU + GOSPEL = US (the church

“If we attend carefully to these pronouns, the depth of Paul’s argument will become clearer.”

The church was once a group of divided, unredeemed people who would never love each other or obey God, nor live life together, But God.

The gospel brings those once separated by sin and unites them by grace in Christ.

The Church Needs to be Reminded that they Were Dead in Sin and Enemies of God - 2:1-3

The Relational state of 2 groups of people

Jew And Gentiles cared nothing for each other. They didnt do BBQ’s/fish fries together, no carpooling, Culturally and religiously segregated and by and large they were just fine with it.

The spiritual state of the Ephesian church before conversion.

You were dead -v.1-2

The secret to unlocking Paul’s argument? It’s all about the pronouns!

eph. 2:1-2

Ephesians 2:1–2 ESV

You = Gentiles

Eph. 2:11-12

Ephesians 2:11–12 ESV

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Strangely dead: although Spiritually dead, the sinner nevertheless walks about quite actively in sin.

He is dead towards God. But he is alive to all wickedness.

He is free to do as he pleases and it pleases him to sin, to trust in himself, to live for himself

V.2 - Walking with who? prince of the power of the air

V.14 - Wall of hostility - temple separated - Jews and Gentiles - no entrance!

Jewish believers, “yeah ya’ll were pretty messed up!”

We were under God’s wrath

We = Jews -Eph. 2:3

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

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.

Rom 2:17-19 ; 24

Romans 2:17–19 ESV

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

Romans 2:24 ESV

24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Jews had the mirror of the law yet rejected it in their actual lives

Instead held on to outward circumcision and ethnic identity.

Ex: On March 7, 1965 - Bloody Sunday - As African American attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery Alabama to simply ask for the right to vote to be enforced was trampled, beaten by white men with baton and horses commanded by a white Governor named George Wallace.

How many of those men went to church on Sunday thinking I am ok with God.

Luke 18:9-14 - two men went to the temple but only one left justified before God.

If we judge ourselves by ourselves and among ourselves we divide each other and no one ever deals with their own reality of their sin before God.

We must remember who we were to enjoy who we are!

Apart from that quickening voice of God there would be no hope for anyone. But because of it even the worst and most determined rebel may be saved.

All people are spiritual dead and without Christ

The Church Needs to be Reminded that they Were Dead in Sin and Enemies of God &

The Church Needs to be reminded of The Mercy of God v.4-8

But God Made us alive together!

Eph. 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

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—

“US” = together! - To miss the we & You is to miss the together.

Spiritual Resurrection - Jews & Gentiles

The unifying Truth that made enemies family!

We both had a problem we couldn’t fix - dead in sin under God’s judgement - BUT GOD!!

What he raised from spiritual death and judgement was one unified Church.

What? Why? How?

What?

With Christ - Eph. 2:5

Ephesians 2:5 ESV

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Rom. 6:11 - Identity

Romans 6:11 ESV

11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 2:6 - Raised & seated - Identity - authority - security

Ephesians 2:6 ESV

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Col. 2:13-15

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Eph. 2:13 - Brought near!

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

How?

By Grace -Eph. 2:5

Ephesians 2:5 ESV

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Rich in Mercy (Two sides of one coin - 1 withholds what we deserve and the other gives us what we dont deserve)

1 John 4:10

1 John 4:10 ESV

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

\ Bible college to teach and a professor meditating on these things wrote these words on the back of a envelope.

At Calvary

Years I spend in Vanity and pride caring not my Lord was crucified Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary Mercy there was great And grace was free Pardon there was multiplied to me There my Burdened soul found liberty At Calvary

By Gods words at least My sin I learned Then I tremble at the Law i'd spurned Then my guilty soul Imploring turned To Calvary

O the love that drew salvation's plan O the grace that brought It Down to man O the mighty gulf That God did span At Calvary

Now I've given to Jesus Everything now I'm Gladly own him as my king Now my raptured soul can only sing Of Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free At Calvary

Grace given without discrimination

Rom 10:9-13

Romans 10:9–13 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 15:11 - Jew & Gentiles saved by the same grace!

Through Faith - Eph. 2:8

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Rom. 4:20-22 -Firmly assured God is able to keep his promises

What is faith? Trusting in the God of the promises and trusting in the promises of God

Romans 4:20–22 ESV

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”

Heb 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Assurance = Trust - confidence

conviction = proof -evidence (Faith itself being the proof!)

hope - a expectant confidence of future events or things

V.8b - And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

All of it! A-Z - All of the plan - Chpt 1 - all of what it takes to be made alive.

A Proper understanding of who we all were and who we as his church now are in Christ, By Grace Through faith is so astounding it should make us ask, “Why me Lord?”

So That!

why did God save a people are so beautifully diverse and yet so abhorrently wicked?

We might glorify God together

Eph. 1:11-12;14 - The praise of His glory!

Why would God show such mercy of religious hypocrite or the worst pagan? (MacArthur -12 ordinary men - Disciples: Uneducated fishermen, Zealots, a tax collector & Jews)

Who were you? Remember? Do you remember?

The question every believe should ask, Why would the Lord save me?

So together we might declare his praise! (Psa 51 - Those who receive mercy declare his praise!)

We might boast only about his grace together - V. 9

Eph 2:9

Ephesians 2:9 ESV

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jer. 9:23-24

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

We might live for Him together forever -V.10

Eph 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

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

Born once - sin stopped me from doing what I was created to do But In Christ we have been born again into Christ, into a family so that we might do everything he designed for us to do.

Ps. 100:3

Psalm 100:3 ESV

3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Workmanship =creation - Zenith of His created work was not earth nor animals but mankind. all mankind!

Created in Christ for pre-prepared good works (1:3)

Col. 1:10

Colossians 1:10 ESV

10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Eph 2:14-22

Ephesians 2:14–22 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

This is the spiritual foundation for the gospel life

What is Living the Gospel Life? Living for Christ out of the spiritual blessings given by Christ in the age in which we live.

Transition

And those hodgepodge of still confused, scared, anxious disciples he gathered at his last supper with Him.

John 13:1

John 13:1 ESV

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John 13:4-5 - Washed their feet

John 13:34-35 - Love each other the way I loved you.

John 14: 1-1-3 - He calm their fears

John 15 - I am! But I am leaving

John 16 suffering is coming but so is the Holy Spirit

John 17 - He’s either still sitting around the table or at Gethsemane

Transition to Lords supper with John 17:20-8:1 - Prayed around the table at communion before Christ death.

Oneness & Fellowship

And with that Jesus went to the Cross and became our Passover!

Song: Death Arrested

Eph 1:3-10 - Invite to the tables

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