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This is a sermon that is based on Ephesians 2:1-10. It emphasizes the transformation that takes place in a person's life when they are saved by grace.
Written Excerpts:
Introduction:
Ephesus was the most
considerable city of the [Asia Minor] (Modern-day Turkey) [located across the
Aegean Sea, east of Italy & Rome]; famous, first for sin, witchcraft, Ac 19:19, idolatry (especially the
worship of Diana, Ac 19:24), and
persecution, 1Co 15:32; 16:9; then
for piety, having received the gospel by Paul's preaching, Ac 18:1-28, and showed great zeal, Ac 19:17-18, &c.; Re
2:2-3; but, lastly, it was noted for coolness and declining, Re 2:4, leaving her first love. The
apostle seems to have foreseen this as likely to come to pass among them by
means of false teachers, grievous wolves that would not spare the flock, Ac 20:29, and some that would arise from
among themselves speaking perverse things, Ac
20:30. (Matthew Poole, Matthew
Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible)
Many scholars believe that this
was a circular letter (one that was passed around to different congregations),
and perhaps ended up at Ephesus
The passage we are looking at
today begins with a conjunction, which connects it to the closing verses of the
previous chapter.
He had been talking about the
magnitude of God’s power toward believers as exhibited in the resurrection of
Jesus Christ (1:19-20). He begins to explain now that the same power has been
applied to them.
In this particular passage (2:1-10)
we will discover that Paul describes the contrast between their former walk in
sin and their present life in Christ.
The choice of words that Paul
uses provided the idea for my sermon title: Walking Dead Men Brought to Life.
I. The walk of death is
described (vv. 1-3).
“Once you were dead” –
spiritually (in trespasses and sins), because of separation from God.
“Walked” – the way one lives out
his life.
A. Their walk was controlled and
dictated by:
1. The “course of this
world” (v. 2a) – lit. “age of this world”; that is, they were controlled by the
spirit of the world around them.
Defined by some scholars as the ideas,
aspirations, motivations, and goals of all those who are apart from Christ.
2. The “prince of the power
of the air” (v. 2b) – referring to Satan, who is the first over the “power” or
“authority” (i.e. demons) of the air, the realm in which spirits move.
The grammatical structure of the
sentence emphasizes that Satan is also prince over the spirit that exists in
the “children of disobedience” (v. 2c).
Those who turn away from Christ
and the will of God because “they want to run their own life or do their own
thing” are truly deceived. In reality they are following after the desires and
wishes of Satan.
B. Their walk (and ours too [“we” v.3a]) was characterized as:
1. Participating with other
disobedient “children.”
“Among whom (i.e. children of
disobedience), we also all had our conversation…”
2. Following the “lusts of the flesh” (v. 3) – physical passions
and desires. Includes the satisfaction of physical desires as well as the
desires of life in general apart from God.
“and of the mind” – human
knowledge and understanding apart from divine revelation, or evil thoughts.
Cf. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. (pleasure; possessions; position/power)
3. By nature under the wrath
of God (v. 3) – The sin nature that is innate in every human being put us in
the position of being in subjection to the wrath of God.
II. The transformation to life
is described (vv. 4-7).
A. The basis for the
transformation is:
1. God’s mercy – “rich in
mercy” (v. 4a). Mercy is that quality of
God’s nature that prompts Him to refrain from giving us the judgment we
deserve.
2. God’s love – “great love
wherewith he loved us” (v. 4b). Love is the underlying reason for God’s mercy
and grace.
B. The cause of the transformation
is:
1. We have been saved by
grace. (v. 5b)
“Saved” – perfect participle,
meaning something that has taken place in the past with the results continuing
into the present.
“Grace” – God’s love
demonstrated in gifts and favors that we do not deserve.
2. It was accomplished by Him not us. “Even when
we were dead in sins.” (v. 5a)
C. The result of the
transformation is:
1. We have joined in
Christ’s resurrection, “raised together with” (v. 6a).
2. We have joined in
Christ’s exaltation, “made to sit together in heavenly places” (v. 6b). This is
not just for the future, but is now a present spiritual reality by virtue of
being “in” Christ.
D. The purpose of their
transformation is:
1. To demonstrate God’s
extreme wealth of grace.
2. That is displayed in the
person and work of Jesus Christ.
3. Throughout all eternity.
“in the ages to come” (v. 7a)
(Wuest) “God will exhibit His
kindness to the saints for His own glory, in order that He may be glorified.
And the spectators will be the angels. We saints [have been and] will be the
objects of His kindness. We will be on display before the angelic world,
basking in the sunshine of God’s smile, enjoying the riches of His blessings,
all, in order that He might be glorified by the angelic hosts.”
III. The resurrected life is summarized. (vv. 8-10)
The next three verses seem to
recap some of the points the author has already made in the preceding verses.
In these three verses he summarizes what the resurrected life really means. One
word captures the entire concept = “saved.”
A. It is accomplished by God’s grace. (8a, 9)
No part of salvation is through
our own efforts or our own doing. It is all because of God’s amazing grace.
B. It is appropriated by our faith. (8b)
It is received and accepted by
the exercise of our faith.
It is ours (i.e. free will to
accept or reject), but..
It is faith that is enabled by
grace.
It is a complete trust in the
plan that God has made, i.e. the blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.
C. It is applied unto good works. (10)
We are His workmanship. Our performance of godly works of
righteousness that we never would have done before due to our selfish, sinful
nature; are a testimony of God’s workmanship on us.
When God saves us it makes a
difference in us. The good works testify to the reality of salvation that has
taken place within us.
We are not saved because of our
works, but we do works because we are saved.
Conclusion:
Paul has vividly described what
has taken place in the lives of the believers in and around Ephesus
I too was spiritually dead
because I was living without Christ. I was living a life of disobedience. It
was a life controlled by the enemy of my soul, and a life spent seeking to
satisfy my own selfish nature and fleshly desires.
But, by the grace and mercy of
God I have been transformed! I have been given life in the Spirit! And, one of
these days I will be joining millions of other believers as we are put on display
for the angels and heavenly hosts to witness the great wealth of God’s
marvelous grace!
This is not a blessing reserved
for the elite, but it is available for every person.
