The Church – Alive With Christ

TEXTEph. 2:1-10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      LAST LESSON è GOD’S POWER SEEN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

B.      THAT DEMONSTRATED HIS ABILITY TO RAISE AND EXALT US.

C.      IN OUR TEXT, WE ARE ALREADY RAISED ØØØ SPIRITUALLY.

I.      THE PAST CONDITION OF GENTILE CHRISTIANS (vs. 1-3).

A.      THEY WERE SPIRITUALLY DEAD IN SIN (vs. 1;  Rom. 6:23;  Eph. 2:12).

B.      “WHEREIN YE ONCE WALKED” – REFERS TO THEIR MANNER OF LIFE.

          1.       According to the course of this world (1 John 2:15-17).

          2.       According to the prince of the powers of the air (John 8:44;  Eph. 6:12).

          3.       According to the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience (Phil. 3:18-19).

C.      AMONG WHOM WE ALSO ONCE LIVED IN THE LUST OF OUR FLESH.

          1.       Both Jew & Gentile were lost before Christ (Rom. 3:9-10).

          2.       Doing the lusts of the flesh and mind (1 Pet. 2:11;  5:5-6).

          3.       By nature children of wrath – habitual practice – raised in a sinful environment

                   – a wicked and perverse generation (Phil. 2:15;  Acts 2:40).

II.     PRESENT CONDITION (vs. 1, 5-7). 

YOU DID HE MAKE ALIVE!”

A.      TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (1:3, 9-10)

B.      RAISED US UP TOGETHER WITH HIM (Rom. 6:4).

C.      MADE US TO SIT AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN HEAVENLY PLACES (Rev. 5:9-10).

D.      HIS PURPOSE (vs. 7):  IN AGES TO COME – THIS POINT FORWARD – HIS

          GRACE TOWARD US IS MANIFEST IN HIS MERCY & LOVINGKINDNESS.

E.      WHY?  WHAT MOTIVATED GOD? (vs. 4GOD LOVED US (John 3:16).

F.      IT WAS BY GRACE AND MERCY.

          1.       Mercy implies action.  Includes emotional aspect of God’s action.

          2.       Grace.  Man’s own merit could not compel this action – It was undeserved.

III.    WHAT BROUGHT US HERE? (vs. 8). 

FOR BY GRACE HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH.

A.      GRACE IS GOD’S PART IN OUR REDEMPTION.

          1.       Before it can save it must find expression in Christ.

          2.  What does Grace do?

              a.  Justifies (Rom. 3:24)

              b.  Saves (Eph. 2:5).

              c.  Redeems & Forgives (1:7)

              d.  Thru it we reign (Rom. 5:17)

 

          3.  How is Grace Expressed?

            a.  Christ’s death (Rom. 3:24-25).

            b.  In Christ’s prayer (Luke 23:34).

            c.  In the first and subsequent gospel

          sermons (Titus 2:11-12).

B.      FAITH IS MAN’S PART AND, LIKE GRACE, MUST FIND EXPRESSION.

          1.  What does faith do for us?

             a.  Justifies (Rom. 5:1).

             b.  Motivates (2 Cor. 5:7).

             c.  Directs (Rom. 14:23).

             d.  Protects (1 Pet.1:5;  Eph.6:16).

 

2.       Faith finds expression in what it

          causes one to do.

    a.   What’s faith? Trust (Heb. 11:6).

    b.   Old Testament (Heb. 11:7, 8, 24).

    c.   James (Jas. 2:22-24; Gal. 5:6)

    d.   What specifically does faith express

          itself in?

 

Romans 6:1-7

                                i.  (vs. 7) He that hath died is justified (by grace thru faith – Eph. 2:8).

                               ii.  Baptized into his death so that we die to sin (vs. 2-3).

                              iii.  United with him in the likeness of his death (vs. 4-5).

                              ivWhen do faith and grace justify? When we die? When is this?

(Rom. 6:6-7, 8,11)

CONCLUSION:

A.      IF YOU BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS, EXPRESS YOUR FAITH BY DYING

          TO SIN WITH CHRIST THROUGH HIS DEATH.

B.      BE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH RIGHT NOW.