Ephesians Study Three - A Great Life

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

Study No. 3

A GREAT LIFE 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful naturea and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 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. EPHESIANS 2 vv 1-10 1

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desiresa of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordainedb that we should walk in them. AV Here in this wonderful section of Ephesians – the letter to any and every Church – we can see FOUR GREATS: Study 3 : Page 1 of 7

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

1.

Great CHANGE

2.

Great LOVE

3.

Great GRACE

4.

Great WORKMANSHIP

GREAT CHANGE

vv 1-3 v 5a v4 vv 5b, 7,8,9 v10

vv 1-3 and 5a

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful naturea and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But…5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… {AV

1

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;}

Paul frequently reminds his hearers of what they were like before God transformed them by His Holy Spirit in saving grace. This is so that they can give all the praise to God for what He has done in Christ. He tells them here that there were FOUR characteristics of their state before grace transformed them and made them alive: (a)

DEAD

That is, spiritually dead just as God had warned Adam and Eve in Eden – a deadness of disobedience and sin. An existence characterised by slavery to sin and helplessness

“dead in your transgressions and sins”

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ This hope is rooted in what has gone before in Chapter 1 15-23 – where Paul presents a picture of Christ rising, ascended, glorified and triumphant. Because He lives – we may live. (b)

SUBJECT TO SATAN

2

in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

We may live in an era where Satan is sidelined – but the reality is quite different. Paul makes it clear that before God’s gospel reached us we followed HIS WAYS and HE STILL WORKS in those who have not believed.. Secondly – Paul shows us that it is not merely a sinful nature – but sinful living that made us subject to God’s judgement. (c)

SUBJECT TO EVIL WAYS AND THOUGHTS

3

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful naturea and following its desires and thoughts.

The effects of sin and Satan in our lives permeated everything – cravings, desires and thoughts. (d)

SUBJECT TO JUDGEMENT

Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. V 3b We were indeed dead – dying – and deserving of judgement. BUT all that changed – was a very great change – to what we are now in Christ

But…5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… What a GREAT CHANGE!

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

GREAT LOVE

v4

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 WHY?

because He loved

HOW?

because He loved us so much

WHEN?

When we were dead in transgressions

WHAT?

He MADE US ALIVE with CHRIST

Paul makes it very clear that the work, motive and initiative is ALL OF GOD “Nothing in my hands I bring Simply to Thy cross I cling…” Because He loved me so much: 1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: 1 JOHN 3 v 1

And anticipating a later section:

EPH 3 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (1) (2) (3)

rooted and established in love the vastness of that love the knowing of a love that surpasses knowledge!

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

GREAT GRACE

5b 7, 8 and 9

it is by grace you have been saved. . . . 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. GRACE has been described as the smile of God. It is much more than that – it is all the character of God poured out on undeserving sinners to transform them into saints – into nothing less than the Body of Christ. It is the GIFT of God that cannot be earned or won And although it operates through faith (verse 8) even that faith is in God’s gift. (1)

By GREAT GRACE we are rescued

(2) Grace does not wear out or grow dim – nor ever lose its value – on the contrary one day He will demonstrate His grace in us. . 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. What are these riches? They shine in what we will be in Christ They are expressed now in “his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (3)

Grace is

never never never never

earned deserved substituted failing

It is ALL OF GOD so that no one can boast.

— 9 not by works, so that no-one can boast Do we need such a reminder? Yes, emphatically – for we are prone to pride even in this. Study 3 : Page 5 of 7

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

GREAT WORKMANSHIP 6, 7 and 10 . 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. 10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. There are two strands to this theme: An expectation – or prospect of being celebrated in Christ vv 6 and 7 A present recognition of a past and perfect plan

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seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (a)

A place beside Him! What a prospect! Sharing His glory – contributing to His triumph.

(b)

Evidence of God’s incomparable Grace

This is something we often miss because we are preoccupied with OUR BENEFITS in Him. He intends to exhibit us as evidence of HIS GREAT WORK OF GRACE A living evidence of the kindness of God to us 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.

(c)

GOD’S WORKMANSHIP Study 3 : Page 6 of 7

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. The two great themes of PREDESTINATION and SANCTIFICATION meet in this statement. This is our end and chief joy – to do good works as He intended This is the way His plan is worked out now. Paul will make it clear elsewhere that we are designed to do good works – but that those works are God working out His plan and purpose in us. So then there is a PRESENT EXPECTATION and a FUTURE EXPECTATION Today it is required of us that we do good works. That we demonstrate in our daily lives the wonderful way in which we have been transformed – so that in a world of sin and sinners we may be seen as evidence of Gods plan to work for good. And in the glorious future - IN THE AGES TO COME - we shall celebrate with Him, and our lives will be a living example of the perfection of His grace. We have a GREAT GOD - a GREAT SAVIOUR – risen, ascended, triumphant He works GREAT WORKS in us A great CHANGE Great LOVE Great GRACE and

Great WORKMANSHIP

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