Series Title: The Heavenly Reserve Bank of God (Ephesians)
Message Title: Spiritual Tycoons (Ephesians, Chapter 2)
Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10
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.
On late night TV in the U.S., there are always those ‘info-mercials’ (or ‘seminar TV’) that try to convince us that we can have the same purpose, position, potential, and the perfection that will enable us to one day be counted with the richest people in the world. They tell us how to focus our ‘inner-man’ on organization and goal-setting, while always looking for that right opportunity. And, what to do with that opportunity when it comes. Boil all that down and it means we are on a treasure hunt, and that’s not what God is all about.
Many years ago someone asked me if it was all right to be rich. I asked them to clarify what they meant by being rich. And, they were a little surprised at my question.
“Well, you know, having lot’s of money. What other kind of ‘rich’ is there?” they asked.
There are many kinds! There are material riches (such as how much money you have, how much stuff you have, or both). There are educational riches (how much knowledge you’ve gained from college or experience). But, you know the riches of this world, that’s not what God is all about.
Many years ago (1964) there was a wonderful movie with Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn, called “My Fair Lady.” The plot of the movie centered on a learned and well-mannered man attempting to teach a young woman of low position, the richness of good manners and proper etiquette.
In the beginning, the man was basically self-confident, or proud of what he thought he would be able to do, so he made a bet with another gentleman.
Well, the woman, on the other hand, had seen and heard about good manners and proper etiquette, yet she had never chosen to put them into practice. She had never chosen to claim them for herself. Instead she had chosen to live her life like those around her. And, her life had suffered because of it.
Through the teaching of the man, and the determination of the woman, she was able to see what she had in her all along. And, she was also able to witness the change that occurred in her life and environment due to her better habits and manners.
The Ephesians were like that young woman. They had seen and had heard about the riches that they had in Jesus, but they had not claimed them for themselves. Rather than choosing to claim the spiritual wealth that God offers, they had instead unknowingly chosen to remain poor.
In our verses today, Paul is trying to explain to the Ephesians, and to us, the riches that we have in Christ Jesus and how it all came about.
Paul is telling you and I today that:
We have purpose!
We have position!
We have potential!
We have perfection!
We have purpose!
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--
First, let’s ask this question:
What direction are you going right now?
Now, let’s go back to our verse.
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--
In this verse, there are three separate issues: 1) “Dead,” because you’re not saved,
2) “Alive,” because you are saved and living for Him, and,
3) “Not really Alive,” because you’re not following God’s direction for your life.
Let’s look at those a little deeper.
If you have put your faith in the finished work of the cross by Jesus Christ, then God, Who is rich in mercy, has made you alive with HIM! At that one point in time, He took your heart and reformed it! He took your
1) body,
2) mind, and
3) spirit,
and changed that order to
1) spirit,
2) mind, and
3) body.
He changed the way you look at things. The nagging thought of death after death, or, ‘is this all there is?,’ was changed in an instant to knowing that you’re saved and going to heaven. No longer are you counted among those that are ‘dead in transgressions.’ In an instant, that hole in your heart was filled by a loving God wanting to grant you the desires of your heart in accordance with HIS will for your life.
There is no longer an empty feeling inside of you, or that constant dread or fear of death. That was changed to a constant hope and longing for that time when you will be called home to heaven and spend eternity with HIM!
That all happened when you put your faith in HIM. That all happened when you were saved! That all happened at that one point in time. You’re not ‘dead in your transgressions.’
But, what are you doing now?
“… alive with Christ” means more than just claiming Jesus as Savior of your life, it also means that you claim HIM as LORD of your life, too. You are “alive with Christ.”
There are many people who claim to be saved, yet they don’t realize their purpose…or, another way to say that would be God’s will for your life.
Yes, it is good to have a ‘purpose-driven’ life, but if that purpose is not based on God’s will for your life, you’re not “…alive with Christ” and it’s really no purpose at all, but a vain pursuit.
To give you an idea of what exactly I’m trying to say, pretend you are the pilot of a small single engine airplane. When you were unsaved, you were sitting in that airplane on the ground. But, as you started to go to church, you began to pilot the airplane down the runway. When you got saved is when you are finally able to take off in that plane. As you fly forward, it’s example of the Christian life. As you go higher, it’s example of Christian maturity. Isn’t that a great example? But, listen to this, there are some people that taxi down the runway, take off, get a little bit up I the air, then they turn off the engines! Only one thing is going to happen, they’re going to fall!
Now, where does purpose fit into all this? Every plane that takes off must have a flight plan. You need to know in what direction you need to be heading, don’t you? That’s God’s will for your life.
Look at the end of verse 5 “…it is by grace you have been saved.” Here is something worthwhile to remember, God did not save you, so that you could wander around aimlessly without a purpose in life. Remember, you have a purpose…
We have position!
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.
This is a very important section of scripture. There are several things we need to focus on.
=Raised up with Christ (v. 6)
Jesus was laid in the tomb, and, through the power that Paul tells about in Ephesians 1:19 & 20, God raised Him from the dead. Then, when we put our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior, we, too, were raised up with Christ.
=and seated us with Him (v. 6)
Ephesians 1:19 & 20, tell us where Christ went after He ascended to Heaven, and now it tells us our position as well. You were raised up with Christ, and “seated” with Him. That’s past tense. It doesn’t say, “after a long life, after working your way into heaven, then, and only then, you’ll be allowed to enter heaven based on your works.”
We can quit working like we’re working our way into heaven! Enjoy it now! Paul is telling the Ephesians, and us, you are spiritually in heaven RIGHT NOW, start acting like it! Start enjoying it.
In Philippians 3:20, Paul tells us,
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If our citizenship is in heaven, why do so many people act like they have not attained that position yet? Verses seven through 9 tell us how much it cost us, NOTHING!
If you have Christ, you have the position. And, it was free!
We have potential!
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We have purpose and we have position. Now, he tells us we are the best possible, he says, “…we are God’s workmanship.”
We’ve been given the gifts and the talents to glorify God in the area or areas that He has chosen for us to pursue.
He has prepared the best possible life for you. God’s will for your life is a path that takes into serious consideration:
Your strengths (mentally, physically, and spiritually)
Your weaknesses
Your desires
Your passions
So, you see, each and every Christian has within themselves the potential to not only complete God’s will for their lives, but to reach an exciting level of spirituality.
We have perfection!
10 For we are God’s workmanship,
God doesn’t make things that have no purpose, no position, or potential. No, what God makes is perfect. You are God’s workmanship. You are perfect for the job that He has called you to do. You have been created in the Son of God to do good works, for those things that God desires are always good.
A good workmanship, a good work… what has He prepared for you to do?
Going back to our ‘airplane illustration,’ are you flying high, or, have you turned off all the power and are now falling back to the ground?
Conclusion:
Purpose
Position
Potential
Perfection
It’s a logical progression.
>He takes us from the miry clay
>He sits us beside Him
>He gives us gifts and talents to glorify Him
>He provides everything to make it right.
