MESSAGE TEXT
Ephesians 2:1-10
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INTRODUCTION
We are returning to the Ephesians series today – Ephesians 2. We cannot talk about Ephesians and our identity without talking about who we are by nature. Made in God’s image, so capable of doing some really good things. But we can’t become good without God’s intervention.
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PROPOSITION
Ephesians 2:1-10 teaches that we were all once spiritually dead and were objects of God’s wrath. Paul describes the way we lived while we were in this spiritually alienated condition. But, because of God’s rich mercy and love, God has provided salvation for us even though we are sinners. Formerly people apart from Christ were dead, enslaved, and objects of wrath. In Christ believers are now alive, enthroned, and objects of grace.
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MESSAGE
The content of this crucial passage in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians can be outlined by asking FOUR QUESTIONS (with help from Swindoll);
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What was life like before God’s loving intrusion? (2:1–3) The answer is simple: We were dead, enslaved, and condemned. We were, as it were, buried in our own trespasses and sins (2:1). We were completely incapable of extricating ourselves from our grave situation. Paul paints the picture of human nature dark. Why? An insufficient estimate of sin means that we do not need the radical solution of the cross.
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What did God do for us and why did He do it? (2:4–7) In the midst of our horrific condition, God accomplished a decisive rescue mission. He sent Jesus Christ—full humanity and undiminished deity—to save sinners from their hopeless plight (John 3:16; Gal. 4:4–5; 1 Tim. 1:15). Why did God do it? To answer the “why” question, we need to answer the “who” question. Rich in mercy and great in love (2:4).
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How can we receive the gift of salvation? (2:8–9) Though grace is the objective basis for our salvation, Paul also mentions an equally important subjective means of receiving this grace: faith. We are saved by grace, but we appropriate this grace through faith. “Faith” simply means trust, reliance, or dependence upon someone or something. In the case of eternal salvation, faith is wholehearted acceptance of the fact that what God says is true, trusting that the gift of salvation will be exactly as He has promised. The grace of salvation is received when God opens our blind eyes to this gospel, enabling us to understand its claims and to accept its promise of forgiveness for all who believe.
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What difference does salvation make in my life? (2:10) We are God’s “workmanship.” In other words, we are His masterpiece. But unlike statues or paintings that simply adorn the halls of museums, we’re designed for action.
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Related to these FOUR ORGANIZING QUESTIONS are four more questions that must be addressed. To comprehend the fullness of this passage, there are FOUR QUESTIONS that we must answer:
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1. What does it mean to be dead in sins?
2. What does it mean to be under God’s wrath?
3. What does it mean to be saved?
4. Why did God save us?
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These will be the questions that we work with for the next few messages out of Ephesians 2.
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CONCLUSION
Are you still dead? Bad news: you can’t save yourself. Good news: you don’t have too. We do all the sinning; God does all the saving. Jesus drank the cup, a metaphor that describes the wrath of God. He drank the cup, and we drink grace. Bless His holy name.

Charles Wesley’s marvelous hymn “And Can It Be” paints a vivid picture of God’s miraculous work of spiritual resurrection:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray:
I woke—the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.