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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OUTLINE
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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MESSAGE
Why did God save us? Why did God do all of this for us? Four words: love, mercy, kindness, grace. They form a gospel vocabulary - four jewels that sparkle against the dark backdrop of our sin.
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1. Love (v. 4). God has done this, Paul says, “because of his great love for us.” It wasn’t as if God hated us and can now love us because His wrath was poured out on Jesus on the Cross. No! God has always loved. The Cross is His way of redeeming sinful humanity forever. God’s love is the most effective agent for life-change.
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2. Mercy (v. 4). Mercy is related to love; it flows from it. But mercy has the sense of favor being shown to those who deserve the precise opposite. Mercy causes a king to pardon a traitor, but only love will raise the traitor up to sit beside the king upon his throne.
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3. Kindness (v. 7). God isn’t hard, unbending, distant, void of compassion, demanding, and quick to punish. In Christ, this is how God really feels about you. Lewis Smedes said that secular culture, graceless, religion, and unaccepting parents destroy grace and induce shame. Culture says you have to look good, feel good, make good. Religion says follow the rules or be rejected. Unaccepting parents – shame you into compliance. Smedes said he longed for a sense that God accepted, owned, held, affirmed, and loved him.
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4. Grace (v. 5, 7, 8). This is the word that seems chiefly to have been on Paul’s mind, for he repeats it in an almost identical sentence in the latter half of this same paragraph. Twelve times “grace” is mentioned in Ephesians; used over hundred times in his letters. Why do people get so excited about God’s “grace”? Why did Paul get so excited about grace?
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APPLICATION
Poetry in motion. There is so much more to the Christian life than deep frowns, pointing fingers, and unrealistic expectations. Stiff, uptight, inflexible. How about poetry in motion. Being considerate of others. Beautiful well-chosen words. Various expressions of kindness. Sharing laughter and friendship. No guilt-trips, shaming techniques, or sneaky manipulations. You are God's poem.
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CONCLUSION
Does your understanding of this passage make you more like Jesus? Why don't you come to Him today - for salvation is by grace through faith.