From Death to Life

Scripture Text Ephesians 2:1-10

Intro: Last week I talked about the greatness of God’s power that raised Jesus from the dead. Today I want to talk about the same greatness of God’s power that also raised us from death to life. May we rejoice in and praise this wonderful God we serve and thank Him for His grace!

I. Once we were dead. Ephesians 2:1-3 (NLT)
¹ Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
² You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. ³ All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

 a. In disobedience, rebellion,  wrongs and many sins. Spiritually dead, separated from God.

 b. Controlled by the devil. His spirit was at work in us because we refused to obey God.

 c. We were Subject to God’s anger just like all sinners because we followed our passionate desires and the lust of our sinful nature which leads to hell.

II. God's love and mercy has raised us from spiritual death to life everlasting. 

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NLT) ⁴ But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, ⁵ that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) ⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. ⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

 a. Even when we were dead in sin, God made us alive together with Christ. Why?

 b. Because He is rich in mercy, and great love. In the New Testament mercy means “undeserved kindness” toward sinners- (Rom. 5:8).Thus God, who is rich in exhibiting this undeserved kindness, acts on behalf of sinners because of His great love for us. The noun for “love” (agapē) comes from the verb agapaō that means “to seek the highest good in the one loved.” Since sinners are spiritually dead toward God, they have nothing to commend them to God. This is why Paul described this love as being “great.” The love of Christ passes all human understanding.

c. God has raised us up and seated us with Christ in Heavenly realms. A done deal! Why?

d. We are examples of God’s incredible grace and kindness throughout eternity. Grace means the undeserved and unmerited favor and blessings of God; kindness is the compassion, sympathy, and benevolence of the heart and mind of God; the richness of kindness and love that dwells within the very nature of God. God is going to be eternally glorified for His grace and kindness toward us. All creatures will live in stark amazement at God's wondrous mercy & grace shown toward us—all through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:10-11 (NLT) ¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its many sided variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. God has done so much for us through Christ Jesus that it will take an eternity to show it all off.

III. Eternal life (salvation) is by God’s (grace) alone. (V:8-9) Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) ⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

God’s unmerited favor and blessings!

 a. It’s a gift from God. We can’t take credit for it.

 b. Eternal life is Not a reward for anything we have done.

 c. We can’t boast before God. Salvation is the work of God's grace alone.

 It is not of mankind, not to any degree whatsoever.

IV. We are God’s masterpiece, His workmanship (V:10)  Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. This means God actually places His divine nature into the heart of every believer, making their spirit alive where it was previously dead.

a. Created anew in Christ Jesus. This new creation was made possible by Jesus. The reason we are created anew is;

 b. For good works. God's people give ample evidence of the power of a new life which operates in them by living for and serving the Lord.

We are to be ever busy about doing the good works of helping to reach people for the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to live our lives as examples of Christ our Lord.

c. God planned this in advance. Note that God has intended us to walk in good works. Doing good works is not an option for the believer; it is the very nature of the believer. If a man has been created in Christ—if God has truly worked in him—the man does good works. His born again nature dictates it. He cannot do otherwise.

This was God’s will from the very beginning of His plan for our lives.

Purpose of Our Salvation: God's glorious purpose in salvation and in the church is to show His love and wisdom to the whole universe—to stir every creature in the heavenly realms to stand in stark amazement at what He is doing and will do throughout eternity.

Invitation: Have you been raised from death to life through Jesus Christ and His forgiveness.

If not, now is the day and accepted time to confess your sins against God and ask Jesus to forgive you and save you for Heaven. Invite Him into your life to take charge of you. When you do He will raise you from death to life eternal.