Ephesians 2:1-10

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” v. 1

He made aliveThe New Birth - John 3:3-5

Dead = spirituallyTrespasses – crossing boundarySins - missing the mark

Eph. 4:18 “understanding darkened”

“in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” Eph. 2:2

Walked according to own desires

Prince of the power of the air Prince is author or leader Satan is author of worldliness

Air – figure of speech – Satan has control

Sons of disobedience = walked in spirit of disobedience

“among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Eph. 2:3

Followed lusts of our own fleshDavid is example - 2 Sam. 11:2-4

NatureFormed by continual practiceNot born sinnersIsa. 53:6 “have gone astray”Calvinism is false doctrine

just as the others = universal problem

1 Peter 5:8 - “…seeking whom he may devour”

Satan works against usWe wrestle against Satan.

Either Satan or Christ Either Hell or Heaven Either eternal pain or eternal joy

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,” Eph. 2:4

We are alive thanks to Jesus Christ

His wonderful mercy proves his love for us

Saved by Grace

Col. 2:13 “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,”

Motive for his mercy is his great love.

His mercy obligates us to show mercy

Forgiven all trespasses

Matt. 18:23-35Man forgiven of large debtDemanded pay of small debt

“even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Eph. 2:5

We were dead in sin --- made alive Jesus made the sacrifice for us Took the place of animal sacrifices

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”

Saved by Grace

“and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Eph.2:6

Heavenly placesChurch Enjoyed by being in ChristGal. 3:27

Eph. 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

“that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:7

Exceeding riches of his grace

Kindness – unmerited gift = not deserved

Gal. 5:22-23 - Fruit of the spirit

Through Christ Jesus

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

Eph. 2:8

God’s Part = Grace – unearned, unmerited

Man’s Part = Through faith – an obedient faith

Not saved of ourself

Salvation is a GIFT of GOD

BelieveRepentConfessBaptized

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” Titus 2:11

God has extended the gift of salvation by Grace to all men.

Some will accept it and meet the conditions set forth by God.

Others will not accept the conditions and lose their free gift of salvation.

“not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:9

Salvation is not earned by anything we do

God tells us certain things to do to receive His Grace

Man obeys these commands and is saved

But we cannot boast that we earned salvation

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph.2:10

Obeyed – born again – forgiven = added to church

Product of his workmanship – The Plan to save

Created for Good worksNot saved by WorksBut saved to Work

God planned for us to do good works

Acts 10:38 “went about doing good”

What We were

What We Are

What We will be

Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

arthurpigman@bellsouth.netarthurpigman@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Morning November 18, 2012