Made Alive In Christ Series

Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10

CCCAG, January 30th, 2022

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

(God is not dead video)

Today we are continuing our Ephesians series. That video we just watched from the movie God’s Not Dead is a very graphic description of the state of those who reject God.

One of the major teachings in the bible- something called the depravity of humanity isn’t talked a lot about today. We want to have a positive picture in our minds that our neighbor or friend who isn’t saved or even remotely religious, but seems to be a nice person, is just fine in God’s eyes.

It’s probably because in our heart of hearts, we want to think the best of them. Particularly here in West Central Wisconsin, we have the “Nice gene”. Typically, people here do not like to be confrontational, so they won’t ever say anything negative to your face, even if what you are doing is very obviously wrong.

This is exacerbated by our current age of pluralism and not wanting to say anyone’s opinion about anything is wrong, we just try to keep our heads down and our thoughts to ourselves.

However, the bible is very very specific about the reality of those who refuse the Gospel message.

They aren’t good people with wrong ideas.

They aren’t just entitled to their opinion and God will forgive them anyways.

They are, as we will see in a moments, dead men/women walking.

They are as the TV show would say, the Walking Dead.

Let’s read God’s word this morning-

Eph 2:1-10

2 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 sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 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. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this 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 workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

NIV

Prayer

I mentioned a few minutes ago that sometimes our desire to be nice and kind will have us play a mental game. Often, particularly if we like a person who doesn’t follow Christ, we want to place them into a category of- “Well, they are nice people”

But we just read in the bible what the reality is- They are not good people. It’s central to Christian theology throughout the last 2000 years has been that humanity apart from Christ is dead.

Going back to the beginning- God did not lie to us in Genesis chapter 3. God told Adam that the day you rebel against me by taking of the forbidden tree- you will die.

Not a little bit.

Not just get a small sniffle or head cold that you recover from.

Not a minor cut that will heal some day

The soul that sins will die.

Dead. Morte. Pushing daisies.

Direct admit to the eternal care center.

Dead

That is the condition you, and everyone born since the Garden of Eden is born into.

The real you- the spiritual being that inhabits this physical body is dead without Christ.

Think about that for a moment (pause)

If you have not surrendered to Christ, you are dead.

This right here is why Jesus said you must be born again.

John 3:5-8

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

NIV

The reason people reject this teaching that comes directly from the Son of God himself is because they reject the teaching that they were spiritually dead in the first place.

If you are listening this morning, and have not turned from your sins and been born again than you are a dead person lumbering toward a grave we call hell. Hell is the ultimate expression of God’s wrath against sin and rebellion.