Text: EPHESIANS 2:1-9 AMP
“And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God]. Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind]. But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace--His undeserved favor and mercy--you have been saved from God’s judgment). And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].”
Introduction.
A. THREE COMMUNICATION LOOKS.
( 1 ) We look backward to remember Christ's death for us.
( 2 ) We look inward to face up to what's within us.
( 3 ) We look forward to the Lord's return for us.
B. THREE OTHER IMPORTANT LOOKS
( 1 ) We need to look to the past to be humble
( 2 ) We need to look to the present to be grateful
( 3 ) We need to look to the future to be joyful
LOOKING AT IT ONE AFTER THE OTHER
A. THE PAST OF EVERY CHRISTIAN (vs.1-3 )
1. We don't see a pleasant picture when we look back honestly.
2. We were all dead in trespasses and sins.
3. We all walked according to the course of this sinful world (1 John 2:15-17
(a) We were living to get (the lust of the flesh )
(b) We were living t gaze (the lust of the eyes)
(c) We were living to gloat (the pride of life)
4. We were overcome by Satan ("the prince of the power of the air")
(a) Our lives were centred in lust
(b) Our minds were captivated by greed
5. We deserved the wrath of God (John 3:36)
B. THE PRESENT OF EVERY CHRISTIAN (vs. 4-6)
1. We have the blessed "but " of salvation:"But God"
(a) But God is rich in mercy.
(b) God is rich in everything having to do with salvation.
(c) His love enters our lives and changes them.
2. We were dead , but He has made us alive (vs. 5-6)
(a) We were dead in trespass and sins.
(b) Now we are alive in Christ.
(c) This new life is the result of His grace.
3. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ.
(a) This is made possible by His death for us on the Cross.
(b) We who were far off are made near by His grace.
C. THE FUTURE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN (vs 7)
1. The best is yet to come.
2. The future ages hold great blessings for believers in Christ.
(a) Demonstrates of riches of God 's grace to us
(b) Experience that prove His kindness to us
3. The grace of God was not used up in salvation.
(a) This was just the beginning of His many kindnesses.
(b) No wonder grace will be our song for endless ages.
CONCLUSION
A. Our Past, Present, and Future Should Motivate Us to Serve Christ.
B. What Are You Doing for His Wonderful Saviour Right Now?
