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Ephesians 2:1-10
A NEW STORY
Ephesians 2:1 (NIV)
• As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
Overview
1. Sin’s work against us (Verses 2:1-3)2. God’s work for us (Verses 2:4-7)3. God’s work in us (Verses 2:8-10)
Sin’s work against us Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live
when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also
lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Sin’s work against usEphesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Sin’s work against usEphesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Sin’s work against usEphesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Sin’s work against us
• Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
• Galatians 5:24 (NKJV) And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Sin’s work against usEphesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Miroslav Volf
God’s work for usEphesians 2:4-7 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
God’s work for usEphesians 2:4-7 (NIV) But because of his great lovefor us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
God’s work for us
• Romans 5:8 (NIV)But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God’s work for usTHEN
• “Dead in transgressions” (v. 2:1)
• “Dead in sin” (v 2:1)• “Following the ways
world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (v. 2:2)
NOW• “Alive with Christ” (v. 2:5)
• “Saved by grace” (v. 2:5)• “Raised up with Christ
and seated with Him in the heavenly realms” (v. 2:6)
God’s work for usTHEN
• “Following the desires and cravings of our flesh” (v. 2:3)
• “By nature deserving of wrath” (v 2:3)
NOW• “Showing the
incomparable riches of His Grace” (v. 2:7)
• Recipients of “His kindness to us in Christ” (v. 2:7)
God’s work for us
• Romans 8:29 (NIV)For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
God’s work for us
God’s work in us
• Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God’s work in us
• Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God’s work for us
• James 2:18-19 (NIV) But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
The front line is the place where two opposing armies are facing each other and where fighting is going
on.
Frontline
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
• For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
