Walking Dead Men Bro't to Life

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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, which explains why it is named Ephesians. Paul writes to the Christians in the region to address some potential errors. In doing so, he describes their place in the church and their relation to Christ who is the head of the body.

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. His description applies to every person that has been saved from sin throughout the entire world for all time.

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.