“Raised from the Dead”
Eph 2:1-10
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-4
A. Paul blessed God for blessing us with every spiritual blessing 1:3-14
1. Specially Chosen 1:4
2. Purposefully Adopted 1:5-6
3. Freely Redeemed and Forgiven 1:7-8a
4. Spiritually Enlightened 1:8b-10
5. Surely Deemed God’s Inheritance 1:11-12
6. Securely Sealed 1:13-14
B. Paul prayed for their enlightenment 1:15-23
Paul asked God to give these believers a life disposition of wisdom and revelation regarding the knowledge of God. This permeation of the knowledge of God is preceded by a Spirit-enacted enlightening which results in a foundational knowledge.
• Know the hope of His calling
• Know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
• Know the surpassing greatness of His power and might toward us
Paul defines this power as the same power God exercised in raising Jesus from the dead and seating Him at His right hand with authority over all creation and people and governments and as well as the church. Paul referred to the church as His body (many members function in unity with diversity) and Christ is the head (the controlling factor).
The church is the subject of the entire letter.
The identity, authority and responsibility of the church.
And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
The church (born again followers of Jesus) is the manifestation of Christ on earth. The church represents the power and gifting and authority of Christ on earth. His power fills every aspect of the church. The power and life of Christ is represented in Christ. We are the full expression of His presence on earth at this time. The one who fills the entire universe chose to manifest His fullness through the church. The infusion of that power is then seen in the next chapter.
Brought from death to life
Brought from alienation to reconciliation
Then in chapter three, Paul explained why he dedicated his life to ministry to the church.
Paul’s desire that they come to realize the supernatural power that brings us to new life inspired him to actually address the blessing.
C. Paul details our resurrected life in Christ
At the outset is it significant to point out the all inclusiveness of Paul’s remarks. He seamlessly shifts between the plural “you” (ya’all) and “we” all through the chapter. This chapter features two before and after pictures. Dead but now alive. Alienated but now family.
1. Our woeful condition – Dead and doomed
The “and” maintains the continuity from the previous discussion. He described the church as Christ’s fullness but it was not always that way. How did we get there? Verse 1-7 are one sentence in the original. This is another one of Paul’s super sentences. You really don’t find the main subject and verb until verse where God is the subject who did three things. Everything is subordinate to that phrase. Before we can appreciate God’s action we must understand our predicament.
a. The condition
Not only did the church not even exist previously but we were dead.
And you being dead by reason of your trespasses and sins
We were in a continual state of deadness. He is obviously not referring to physical death as there would be no point reasoning with a corpse. This is a perpetual state of deadness.
The concept of death indicates one who is separated, unresponsive, unaware, unable. In relation to God and spiritual matters, our sins rendered us unaware and unable to function.
We were all devoid of any spiritual life or relationship with God. We are not just sick or mistaken or uninformed – we are DEAD!
b. The cause of death (COD) – sins and trespasses
We were dead because of Adam’s sin.
"Therefore just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
Here Paul focuses on death by reason of our own personal sins and trespasses.
"Trespass" = to fall by the wayside, lapse, error, mistake, wrongdoing
"Sins" = miss the mark
There are two views of disobedience to God. The practice of things that violate God’s way of doing things. The failure to practice God’s way of doing things. This was a way of life. They walked in this way of life contrary to God’s character and commands. Where did such a way of life come from?
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 2:2
This way of life was dictated and empowered by Satan himself. It is he who continually “energizes” the people who live in rebellion and disobedience to God. It is Satan who tempts to live life apart from relationship with God. Sin goes beyond specific actions. The core of sin deals with a failure to live in relationship with God.
Once we remove God from the core of our lives, specific infractions naturally follow. Satan tempted Eve to experience life apart from dependent relationship with God. Satan will tempt people even up to the last war to throw off God’s rule over their lives. Disregard for God’s place in our life is a life lived on the level of base passions.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind… 2:3a
This failure to submit to God’s rule in our life made us enemies of God; objects of His wrath.
were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 2:3b
What a predicament!
• Unable to relate to God.
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8
• Living a lifestyle designed and directed by the devil.
• Trapped in a life of fleshly indulgence (Whatever feels good do it).
• Destined to face God’s eternal wrath.
What hope do we have? Without some sort of outside intervention there is no hope. There is as much of a chance of personally bringing our bodies back as there is bring our dead spirit to life. Only God can do something. What did He do?
2. God’s wonderful correction – Alive in Christ
The next words are beautiful and form the core of this passage.
“But God”
God did do something. He did something supernatural. He exhibited power equal to that which raised Jesus from the dead.
a. The corrector -- God
God is the subject of this correction. Paul includes a motivation to His action.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,
“being rich in mercy”
“because of His great love with which He loved us”
“even when we were dead in our transgressions.”
His action is based on His character not our conduct. In fact, His actions were despite our conduct; we were DEAD! We were enemies.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
b. The correction
Paul focuses on three actions of our merciful and loving God. These are all point in time action verbs. They are competed actions at a point in time.
• “made us alive together with Christ”
Before going on Paul wants it clear that this had NOTHING to do with our merit. We are saved on the basis of God’s grace. He came to our tomb of death and called, "David, come forth into life ever more."
Once unable to respond to the things of God...
Once unable to produce anything but death…
Once unable to know life as it really is...
God breathed life into my spirit as sure as life breath was given to Adam and Eve that week of Creation. The very resurrection power that left an empty tomb is available to the spiritually dead.
If any man be in Christ, He is a new creation, old things passed away, he has become new. 2 Cor 5:17
God granted life, in every sense of the word, to me that day.
His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, though the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. By these (His glory and excellence) He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become sharers of His divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1
• “and raised us up with Him”
God went beyond breathing new life into the spiritually dead. He raised to a new sphere of life. We were raised to life whose energy resides in the heavenlies. "The heavenlies" is a term we encountered in chapter one. It refers to the spiritual dimension of life. There is a dimension beyond what can be seen with the physical eye. At times God has given sight into this dimension to various saints. It is the world of spiritual realities that coexists with material realities. It is a reality only known though spiritual eyes and senses. God opened our spirit to this new world around us. He enabled us to respond to the world as Christ saw and lived. He raised us to operate in this life from a whole new eternal perspective. Just as we walked according to the ways of this age, we were raised to operate another dimension.
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:10-11
We have a new mind, a new heart, a new outlook, a new source of strength. Just as Christ operated in a new way after His resurrection, we too are translated into a new world of life.
This is not a someday hope. This world is a present reality. We are raised to live our life in a dimension which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in it. Paul told the Colossians to focus on this reality.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
We are part of that world now but one day when Jesus returns to earth the two dimensions will be equally evident.
• “and seated us with Him in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus”
Not only has God breathed new life into us and opened us up to a new spiritual reality, we are also granted spiritual authority as with Christ.
This is what Paul had in mind when he prayed our eyes would be enlightened.
The surpassing greatness of His power toward believers equal to the power toward the Son.
o Jesus was made alive – we are made alive because of Jesus.
o Jesus was raised – we are raised to live in the heavenlies because of Jesus.
o Jesus was seated – we are seated with Christ with authority over the same things He is.
c. The result of correction
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 2:7
This is not a temporary thing. God did this so that we would eternally experience this blessing.
It will be an eternal demonstration of His kindness toward unnerving creatures.
d. The corrected
What is our part in this action? We know that God acted out of His mercy, love, kindness and grace. Do we have anything to do with it? Yes!
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
• Receive it by faith
God saves us, gives life, raises us and seats us next to Him on the basis of His grace our faith.
This is based of Christ’s work not ours. It is a free gift. Our responsibility is to receive the gift.
There is NO work that can save us. Any action we do apart from trust in His promise and His provision would be cause for boasting and God will not tolerate it. None of our works before salvation count because they come from tainted motives.
• Live it by faith
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10
His transforming work in us is His masterpiece, His poem, His piece of art, His creation.
“Created” is the word for manufacturing something. Paul did not use a continuing tense but a point in time sense. We are a work in progress is true but this passage sees us as a fully finished creation. The purpose of transforming us is that we would live life the way He designed it originally. He designed man to reflect His very nature. He designed man to live in full dependence and intimate relationship with Him. God designed us to live in a particular way. Adam decided to deviate from the divinely dictated course and alter his course to one dictated by the devil. God recreates us that man would again walk in a way pleasing to Him.
It is His continual work in us.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-14
It is a life that can only be lived by the same faith that it began.
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:3-5
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3
There are so many passages that emphasize God’s work in us relate to living pleasing to Him.
Application
Trust Jesus today.
If you have never trusted Jesus for salvation, you are dead and doomed. There is only one correction for your condition. Come to Jesus for life.
Understand and rejoice in your new life.
Through the surpassing greatness of His power toward you…
God made you alive with Christ.
God raised you to a new spiritual dimension of living with Christ.
God seated you in a position of authority with Christ
Live according to your new status.
God save you to live differently so live that way by laying aside every sin and encumbrance looking to Jesus the author and perfector of you faith.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Personal Note
I have been pastoring full time for nearly 30 years. Many pastors take time off every seven years to refresh, renew, retool, and even take a continuing education course. It is called a sabbatical. The length of time varies between denominations and churches. I have not taken time off all these years except regular vacation time. I have consulted the elders who have consented to allow some extra time off this summer to refresh and renew. I do not feel burned out or discouraged; in fact I have been greatly encourage of late. I want to do this to take some time away from the hectic rigors or ministry to focus on deepening my walk with God. I feel will only make me a better pastor. The amount of time I have requested is shorter than usually recommended (Most recommend a minimum of three months). Since I have not done this before, maybe this will be a test run for a longer time down the road. I will be taking six weeks beginning July 1st and ending August 8th. I may or may not attend service here but I will suspend my regular pastoral duties during this time. Thank you for your understanding and support. Please pray that my time will be spent wisely and efficiently.
