It's Alive

Ephesians 2:1-7

A New Way of Life

Introduction

Do you remember the famous lines from Frankenstein? “Look! It’s moving. It’s alive. It’s alive... It’s alive, it’s moving, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE!” “In the name of God!” “ Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!”

We don’t know what it’s like to be God, but we can consider what it must be like for God to see one of His creation come to life. Years ago Corrie Ten Boom gave the following testimony:

“I have heard people say, "How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!’" Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. "No, Corrie," said Betsie, "He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: ’For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.’" Corrie concludes, "There is an ocean of God’s love available--there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love--whatever the circumstances."

Today I want to take just a few minutes of your time to remind you of something this great lady said in so many words: God is good. God is infinitely good. In good times and bad God is good. Not just when we need it to rain or when gas prices are down, but all the time…God is good. There are many places and ways that goodness is expressed in the Word of God, but today we find it expressed in these seven verses.

We ought to praise God that He chose to do something with us. As I share with you today the following blessings, you take a moment to thank God for their reality in your life. Perhaps as I share them with you it becomes evident that they are not a reality in your life. My question to you then is, "What will you do with what Christ has done for you?"

God has made you alive when you used to be dead. (1-3)

Consider the reality of death. Death is a physical reality. (He. 9:27; graveyards, funerals) Death is a spiritual reality. We weren’t sick, we weren’t bad, we weren’t sorry or wicked. We were dead. Spiritually separated. Read Romans 5:12ff. These deaths, both physical and spiritual, are inherited deaths. You didn’t go looking for them, they came freely to you.

Consider the reason for death. Death comes because of an inward condition. Vs. 1 We might get a little bit nervous today talking about human depravity, but Paul couldn’t have painted a much uglier picture. "You were dead in your trespasses and sins!" You were born this way and you chose to stay this way. You couldn’t change it if you wanted to, and the easiest thing to do is to deny it. But death also comes because of an outward condition. Vs. 2-3 Explain verses. Whether you liked it or not you were a follower of the Devil. There is no other to follow. You are either following Jesus in this life or you are following the Devil.

Consider the result of death. The result of spiritual death at the moment of physical death is eternal separation from God in a real and literal Devil’s hell. People doubt all the time about Hell. A new believer was on a plane with an intellectual man. He sneered at her reading the Bible. He asked her if she really believed all the stuff in it, to which she replied yes. What about Jonah and the whale story? Yes. Well then, how did it happen? I don’t know she said, I suppose I’ll ask him when I see him in heaven. What if Jonah isn’t there? Then I guess you can ask him.

What do you have to do to go to Hell? Nothing! If you don’t do anything with Jesus then be assured you’ll go to hell. There is no second chance; there is no other hope. You can think what you want about hell. Some say it will be a place to party, some say hell will be having to stay on earth while the saved go to heaven, some say at least their friends will be there. Listen, hell is real, there are no friends there, your momma won’t be there, your daddy won’t be there, your wife or your best friend won’t be there. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, there will be eternal torment for your lost soul and only your memories of times like today to keep you troubled. But praise be to God there is …