by GRACE through FAITH
By Grace Through Faith-Ephesians 2:1-10
In the first chapter of Ephesians we talked about who the people were and what kind of worldly city they lived in, very similar to the cities we live in today.
The Apostle Paul explained all the many blessings God freely gave them and us, in Christ.
And towards the end of the chapter he lets them know that he is constantly in prayer for them that they would grow in their wisdom and knowledge of God and his Word. Spiritual maturity, again, in Christ.
Also, that they work through their church, and Christ is the head of the church and set above all things.
Here in chapter two, Paul continues talking about blessing in Christ and goes into more personal details about salvation. He explains the state we were in before salvation and what God has done for us. This is one of the greatest gospel passages in all of God’s Word.
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54b-57
Before Christ, We Are Dead in Trespasses and Sins
He has quickened us, or made us alive, who were dead. Paul paints a very sad and bleak picture about our dead state before Jesus.
Physically dead
God made humans to live forever, but because of Adam and Eve’s sin we now have a sin nature and our bodies die a physical death. Sickness, disease, man killing man, all because sin in the world.
Eternally dead
Apart from Christ he says we are children of wrath, children of the prince of this world, Satan. Hell was made for Satan and his fallen angels to be cast in forever.
Matthew 25:41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
Those that never accept the free gift of salvation will be eternally dead in hell with Satan and the rest of the fallen angels.
Spiritually dead
No fellowship with God, No communication with God, No spiritual blessings from God, No protection from God.
But God!! We were dead…. And He made us alive, in Christ!
Alive together with Christ! Through Jesus’ work on the cross God made a way for our salvation. Because He loves us. By Grace ye are saved.
Grace-God’s unmerited favor. Grace is the only way to bring us from death to life.
He loves us so much, even when we were God’s enemies and when we loved this world of sin, He still made us alive.
He says in vs 5, made us alive together with Christ.
Ephesians 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved);”
Because Jesus has been resurrected we can be resurrected and be made “New Creatures”.
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
EPHESIANS 2:6
By Grace Through Faith
By Grace
Salvation is a free gift from God. There is nothing we can do to earn it. This is grace, we don’t deserve it and we can’t earn it. Simply, freely, unmerited, offered and given with love by God.
Through Faith
We believe God will do what He says and forgive us our sins. We believe Jesus died on the cross and paid for our sins, once and for all. We simply just rely on all God says and does. That is enough. It has to be enough. We can’t do anything on our own to warrant God’s favor or blessings.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
His workmanship for good works, not by them
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Christians are demonstrations of God’s wonderful grace and mercy. We are on display for all the world to see what God has done. That is why He left us here, to show His wonderful goodness, to show His love through our lives. To show all people around us Jesus in our lives.
We are created unto good works, that’s after salvation. The works show who we are, children of God. Set apart, new creatures showing the love of Jesus in this dark world.
Paul is telling the Ephesians where they were once dead, God has made them alive in, and through Christ.
Simple question: Are you alive or dead? You are either one or the other.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”
EPHESIANS 2:4