Ephesians - Alive

ALIVE

Question of the day: What did you get in trouble for the most when you were a kid?

Happy Sabbath!  Today we are starting the second chapter of Ephesians.  

Read together Ephesians 2:1-10

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 flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving 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 is 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 handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Verse 1:

You were dead in your transgressions and sins....

What evidence do we have that we are dead when in sin and our transgressions? (Besides biblical)

How has the deceiver convinced us that sin is fun? 

I am not speaking of anyone other than myself.  I have struggled much of my life with issues with food and I still struggle.  I know I feel better, more alive even when eating food that is nourishing and good for me, but I would rather eat junk that kills me... why? Why do I more often than not find myself, "gratifying the cravings of our flesh", than really LIVING!  

Verse 3:

Why does he write, "LIKE THE REST..?"

Who are the rest?

We must be careful as a church (the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the University City SDA Church and as Christians at large) not to start thinking that this amazing plan is only for us.  We must never start looking at ourselves as being part of an elite club or in anyway better than the rest.  

We will explore this more next week, but honestly this is a wonderful theme in this book.  A necessary reminder for us all that God made a way for all! We need to make sure we aren't patting ourselves on the back for our "truth", but instead are putting our efforts into making sure the rest, understand what is available for them!  Instead of walking into this amazing life and then and basking in all the glories we need to be out there inviting all to join us! 

Verse 4:

"BUT.." 

Here the word "but" is such a wonderful word.  

I love that right off the bat before he even speaks to what God has done, he gives us the motive, the reason.  

"because of His GREAT love for us..."

I have been very fortunate in my life to know some GREAT love.  I think it makes it easier to understand and accept, however, perhaps it really only lets me understand how small my wildest imagination about God's love is.  

HIS GREAT LOVE.

Right here is the good news.  The Gospel.  We always talk about the amazing John 3:16 but here is another amazing text that gives us the good news and it also starts with Love. 

How do we begin to understand His love for us?

How do we get others to see and understand His great love for them?

I have heard people talk about how they are tired of hearing about love, and they want more meat...  

I argue that LOVE is the meat!  It is the foundation of it ALL!  It is the foundation of this earth, the universe and is the very make up of God himself.  The more we understand it, know it, live it, share it, taste and see it, the more we are likely to accept it, believe it, embrace it and ultimately let it transform us. 

Verse 5

ALIVE

Alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions...

What does this mean?

To be alive, to live, is such a beautiful thing! Have you ever had one of those moments where you walked outside and the air was crisp and fresh and you take a deep breath and just feel very alive and energized by nature?  To be alive in Christ is so much more and all that combined.  It is like breathing fresh air, hiking and getting to the top of a mountain and experiencing the view while your heart rate subsides.  It is experiencing emotion instead of trying to numb it.  

All this ALIVENESS is available to us all right now just as we are.   It is available to us even though we live in the city with very little fresh air, when we can't hike a mountain and while we are still numbing our emotions.  Right in the midst of it all we can be alive in Christ because of what He has done!!!!

Verse 6 

Raised us up with Christ...

This past weekend we were in Asheville for the birth of our grandson Nolan.   After his birth Beth and I were invited to go into the room and meet him for the first time.  As I watched my son, I could tell he just couldn't get close enough.  He was bent over trying to get as close as he could to his son who was being held by Rebecca.  She then suggested that Andrew take Nolan and have some skin to skin time.  Andrew in a second had his shirt off and took Nolan into his chest and wrapped the blanket around them both.  Andrew couldn't wait to have his son being held close to his chest.  That is what this is.  Christ has us close to His chest, right with Him.  

Now what? 

Verse 7-10

God the father wants us there with Christ why? 

Why did Andrew scoop up Nolan and put him on his chest?  

God the father wants us to know how much he loves us, His kindness toward us!

Why?

He knows that we must understand that He created us and He saved us! We didn't do anything to be created, and we can't do anything to be saved.  It is what He has done and He alone.  

Why is this important?

This is vitally important for us to get before we move forward in this book.  Saved by grace and grace alone, because of His great love for us is the foundation for EVERYTHING!  If we put buts in or after these statements we nullify and start trying to take credit for our great works. 

Why is this so hard for us to get?

Why do I read this and hear the buts, and the qualifiers and start to doubt?

If you hear nothing else today please hear this!!!!!  God the father has given you life, just as you are, he is scooping you up in His arms and you did NOTHING and can do NOTHING to get it!  

Over the years I have enjoyed telling my kids how cute they are but I also enjoyed reminding them they didn't do anything to get those features.  They are a gift from God.  

He created us, He saves us!

THEN    

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Then....then.... with this new life comes a purpose! This purpose he has planned for you and has gifted you with all the tools needed.  This new purpose we will continue to look at as we move forward in this book. 

We do have something to do but it is not in the saving, it is in the living!  He gifts us with the life and then we have the opportunity to live! 

KNOW Love.

LIVE Love.

SHARE Love.