Made Alive. Ephesians 2:1-22NIV
The book of Ephesians was written some 70AD. The apostle Paul wrote this book from prison. What would make a man go to such extremes? -Paul had been made alive! He had a Damascus Road experience. -When you are made alive, you’ll do anything for the sake of Jesus Christ, you are changed!
God’s word is clear, Do not forget the day you were illuminated or changed.
Ephesians 2:1AMP And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins,
The famous Baptist pastor D.L. Moody used to say, “Some day, you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don’t believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now!”
You were once, spiritually dead, separated from Jesus Christ, but now, you have been made alive!
How alive are you? Well, you’re breathing. -But how much of the life of God is displayed through your spirit on a day to day basis? The gospel according to, John states that Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit without measure, John 3:34.
Ephesians 2:2AMP 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].
Notice, the disobedient fight against God’s purpose. The disobedient do disobedient things, they sin. The disobedient are law breakers. -Those who follow the law, break the law.
Galatians 3:9-11NIV So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
“When you are made alive, you rely on the Holy Spirit.” P.H
Ephesians 2:3AMP 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].
Always remember, We were once among the unbeliever. Without. Without God, Without the Holy Spirit. Without hope.
Proverbs 13:12NLV Hope that is put off makes the heart sick, but a desire that comes into being is a tree of life.
I think it’s very important to write down your hope, and always act of this hope.
Jesus offers hope in this life, and hope in eternity!
Ephesians 2:4AMP But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 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).
The believer will participate in the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10NIV Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
This judgement is also called bema, The purpose of the bema is an exhaustive evaluation of our lives. First Corinthians 4:5 says the Lord will come and, "bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God."
Ephesians 2:6-7AMP 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, 7 [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].
When you are born again, you spiritually receive redemption. This redemption raises you all the way into the heavenly’s.
What causes this? Ephesians 2:7b... immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].
Ephesians 2:8-9AMP 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; 9 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].
God won’t, nor does He need our help. -We are saved by grace! Illustration- A little boy was leading his sister up a mountain path and the way was not too easy. "Why this isn't a path at all," the little girl complained. "Its all rocky and bumpy." Her little brother kept on up the mountain, pausing just long enough to call out "Sure, but the bumps are what you climb on."
Ephesians 2:10AMP For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Workmanship- All human beings are created in the image of God, Genesis 1:26. The English Bible translations use words such as “handiwork, masterpiece, accomplished, creative work, or the product of His hand.”Heaven’s poetry etched on lives.
Ephesians 2:11AMP Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands—
Physical circumcision always prefigured, or foreshadowed, the true and greater circumcision God wanted, which was spiritual circumcision of the heart (Colossians 2:11-12 and Romans 2:28-29).
Spiritual circumcision of the heart occurs when people repent and put their faith in Jesus and are saved.
Ephesians 2:12AMP remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.
No hope, No salvation. John 1:11-13NLT He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
Ephesians 2:13AMP But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
What can wash away all my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.
We go back to, Ephesians 1:7NLT He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Hebrews 9:14NLT Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds[a] so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Ephesians 2:14-16AMP For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us], 15 by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace. 16 And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.
If there is division, or prejudice, it’s sure not God. Jesus broke down all barriers, all dividing walls!
The cross, and the resurrection of Jesus produces, one body, perfect reconciliation. Paul stated, One Lord, One faith and One baptism, Ephesians 4:5-13.
Ephesians 2:17AMP And He came and preached the good news of peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away, and peace to those [Jews] who were near. 18 For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.
You once were far away, and unreconciled. One day in the South Pacific, a navy ship saw smoke coming from one of three huts on an uncharted island.
Upon arriving at the shore they were met by a shipwreck survivor. He said, "I’m so glad you’re here! I’ve been alone on this island for more than five years!"
The captain replied, "If you’re all alone on the island why do I see THREE huts."
The survivor said, "Oh---that’s easy to explain---I live in one, and go to church in another."
"What about the THIRD hut?" asked the captain.
"That’s where I USED to go to church."
Jesus is the answer! All other answers are wrong. John 14:6NLT Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Ephesians 2:19AMP So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,
If someone ask who you really are? You are a believer, a Christian, the Redeemed, “You are a member of the household of God.”
Ephesians 2:20-21AMP having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
You have the making and the marking’s of the apostles Paul, Your foundation is rock solid, because Jesus is our chief cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:22AMP In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
“Your body becomes God’s dwelling place!' ‘God loves to have church, and He loves to watch the church grow! -You are His church! P.H
Charles R. Swindoll, The Church.
The church is not an ark for the saving of a select few.
The church is not a ferryboat to take effortless passengers to the shores of heaven.
The church is not a life insurance company, with no obligation on policy holders except the payment of a small annual premium.
The church is not a social set, welcoming certain people and excluding others from its fellowship.
The church is not a Sunday pleasure club for the providing of pleasant occupation on the day of rest.
The church is:
The church is a lifeboat for the rescue of sin-wrecked and perishing souls.
The church is family, in which love and service are expected from each member to each member.
The church is an organized community, with constant activities and continual growth and development.
The church is a company of believers who have found the one way of life and obey the one Lord of life.
The church is a union of those who love for the benefit of those who suffer.
The church is a center of social worship, in which the spiritual life of each is helped by the spiritual life of his fellow.
The church is the representative- the "body" of Jesus Christ on the earth, reflecting His spirit and controlled by His will.
Benediction.
