Dakota Community Church
March 13, 2011
Grapes of Wrath I
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 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.
So far we have covered:
1. Dead in transgression and sin
2. Conformed to the pattern of this world
3. Enslaved to the chief enemy of God
4. By nature objects of wrath
Ephesians 2:3
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.
Before we come to saving faith we are all conformed to, followers of the ways of this world. We are born in sin and we know nothing else. We are incapable of glorifying God in our sin.
There remains one more thing to say concerning our condition without a Savior. At the end of verse three Paul says that "we were by nature children of wrath."
Whose wrath are we under, who has been so offended by our sinfulness?
Ephesians 5:5-6
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
So it is God's wrath that is coming.
We were "by nature children of the wrath OF GOD."
We naturally do the things God hates. It is normal for us to reject the knowledge of God.
Romans 2:8
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Self-seeking is the norm!
1 Corinthians 2:14
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The truth of God’s word, His justice, His anger, His punishments – even His justification of the wicked by faith is foolishness to the normal thinking human being outside of Christ.
Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
Because of the normal human behavior of fallen man; the “earthly nature” – the wrath of God is coming.
To be continued next week
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
