Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)
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.”
We are born physically alive but spiritually dead.
3 Things that try to prevent us from living the life of Christ:
1- The World - Culture wants to mold you into their image.
2- The Devil - Tempts, Condemn, Accuses, Deceives (Lies)
3- Our Flesh - Slaves to our natural desires.
What guardrails help you resist the flesh, the devil, and the pull of the world?”
Ephesians 2:4-7 (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— 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.
3 Things that help us live the life of Christ:
1- Mercy - removes condemnation, guilt, shame
2- Love - anchors and establishes our identity
3- Grace - strengthens and trains us to live for God
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”
Grace fuels our transformation, teaches, shapes and sustains a Christ centered life.
Ephesians 2: 8-10 (ESV)
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.”
We are Saved by Grace “FOR” Good Works NOT “BY” Good works.
Ephesians 2:11-13 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14-18 (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.”
Jesus did not just remove sin, shame and guilt, He removed dividing walls between people groups.
Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV
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 whomthe 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.”
The Cornerstone Determines:
1- Alignment
Our beliefs, values and decisions must align with Christ - not culture, convenience, emotion or personal preference.
2--Stability & Shape of the whole Structure
In Ephesians we see God’s heart is not to only save individuals but to see a unified people.
