Ephesians 2:1-22
Introduction
Continuing our sermon series on the letter to the Ephesians, we delve into Chapter 2 today. This chapter is a powerful reminder of our journey from a life of wrath and separation to a life of grace and unity through Jesus Christ. Whether you feel undeserving of God’s grace or overly confident in your righteousness, Ephesians 2 has a word of encouragement for you.
Our Life Before Christ: Wrath and Separation
What Does It Mean to Be Dead in Sin?
Paul begins Ephesians 2 by describing our state before knowing Christ. He says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). This deadness signifies a life devoid of God’s Spirit, living against His will. This isn’t just a historical condition for the Ephesian church; it’s the state of all humanity since Adam and Eve.
Influences of a Life Without God
Paul identifies three influences that mark our deadness in sin:
1. The World: Following cultural norms rather than God’s ways.
2. Satan: Subjecting ourselves to the ruler of the kingdom of the air.
3. The Flesh: Gratifying our own desires and thoughts instead of God’s.
The Consequence: Wrath
Living a life devoid of God leads to deserving His wrath. Paul states, “Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). This wrath is a consequence of living against God’s instructions and commands.
Separation from God’s People
Paul also highlights our separation from God’s chosen people. Before Christ, Gentiles were excluded from the citizenship in Israel and the covenants of promise, living without hope and without God (Ephesians 2:11-12). This separation created hostility between Jews and Gentiles, a division that Christ came to dissolve.
Our Life in Christ: Grace and Unity
Made Alive with Christ
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:4-5). To be alive in Christ means to have the life of God, saved by grace through faith. This salvation is a gift from God, not something we earned.
Participation in Christ’s Resurrection
Paul emphasizes that our salvation is a participation in the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. The same power that raised Christ from the dead raises us from our deadness. We are no longer bound by the powers of this age, our desires, or the rule of Satan.
A New People in Christ
Through Christ, the division between Jews and Gentiles is dissolved. God has created a new people, not bound by ethnicity but united in Christ. This unity means that Christians should be the last to harbor racism or ethnophobia, recognizing that we are all part of God’s family.
Life Application
Embrace Your New Life in Christ
As we go into this week, let’s remember the transformation from wrath to grace that God has worked in us. Reflect on these questions:
1. Do you remember what your life was like before Christ?
2. In what ways have you seen God’s grace transform your life?
3. How can you live out this new life in Christ more fully this week?
Challenge for the Week
Take time each day to thank God for His grace and mercy. Reflect on areas where you may still be influenced by the world, Satan, or your own desires, and ask God to help you live according to His will. Share your testimony with someone who may need to hear about the transformative power of God’s grace.
Conclusion
Ephesians 2 reminds us of the incredible journey from a life of wrath and separation to a life of grace and unity in Christ. As we navigate our daily lives, let’s hold on to the truth that we are made alive in Christ, saved by grace through faith, and united as one people in Him. Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!
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Let us pray:
God, we thank you that though once we were not part of Your people, through the work of Jesus, we are now part of Your family. Thank you for rescuing us from a life of wrath and separation and bringing us into a life of grace and unity. Help us to live out this new life in Christ, empowered by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.