And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from ourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:1-10
God’s grace makes us alive.
Our sin makes us
Ephesians 2:1-3, Genesis 2:16-17; 3:4-7
“dead in your trespasses and sins…according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.”
“there is no-one to blame for our plight but ourselves. It is a grim corporate resume, the imago dei gone astray – that is, the image of God in deep need of reformation.” —Darrell Bock
God’s love
Ephesians 2:4-7, Ezekiel 36:26-27
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you” —Ezekiel 36:26-27
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,…even though we were dead in trespasses.”
In Christ, what we
Ephesians 2:8-10, I Corinthians 1:31, Matthew 11:30
“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:30
“We are saved by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone.”
For Further Study:
Scripture: Genesis 2-3, Ezekiel 36:24-30
Resources: “Exalting Jesus in Ephesians” by Tony Merida
To prepare for next week: Ephesians 2:11-15