The Mystery Revealed Pt2

The Mystery Revealed Text: Ephesians 2: 1-13

Paul writes this letter from a prison somewhere in Rome, so many call this the prison Epistle. The theme of this letter is the mystery unveiled, and the mystery is that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the promises of Christ Jesus. Another mystery unveiled is the church becomes Jesus’ living body on earth.

Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:1NLT Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

The whole makeup; the total sum of any believer is Christ. Without Christ there wouldn’t be any Church body.

Unbelievers are dead in trespasses because of their unbelief, not because of their sinful acts. (The remedy of all sinful practice is Jesus.)

Matthew 12:35NLT A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.

Ephesians 2:2NLT You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

The world order is all about human values and ideologies that are like fortresses.

2 Cor. 4:4NLT Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Paul shows every believer how to handle these strong towers in 2 Cor. 10:4-5NLT We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Ephesians 2:3NLT All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

What has it taken to bring freedom unto you?

Ephesians 2:4-5NLT But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Salvation is for God’s glory; it’s nothing we deserve. The very power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that raises us out of our sinful nature.

Romans 6:11-13NKJ Paul tells us, 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.