Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ

I figured today i'd go on into Eph 2 cos Eph 1 was so awesome...

1 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 nature [a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Before Christ, we were under the jurisdiction, ways and power of the prince of this world - the devil. And even now, the Bible says, he is at work in those who are disobedient. Other translations call them the sons of disobedience. I believe this is refering to non believers. Because we believers are now sons of God. Strong's translation of the word disobedience is actually unbelief. And we are now believers of Christ. But as the Word goes on to say, we were all deserving of wrath.

But it is because of ONE reason that we are now no longer sons of unbelief, sons of disobedience, subjected to the whim and fancy of the prince of the air. It is for the ONE reason that we now sit in Christ, clothed with His majesty and authority. Clothed in the robe of righteousness that is from God. That we are seated with Him in Christ Jesus so that as He is, so are we in this world. That ONE reason is this..

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.

Why have we been saved? From a position of sin and death, from being called sons of unbelief, sons of disobedience. How were we saved? Did we fulfill the commandments? The Bible says that death is the penalty of sin. Jesus Himself said :"19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven... 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." ... "21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire."

Which of us have never been angry with another? Which of us have never insulted another? "Raca" means "worthless". Jesus said that even anger and insult is worthy of the charge of murder before God according to the commandments! Is this an insult to the law? No! It is the uncompromising, unwavering upholding of the law!

So then how were we saved? Go back to Ephesians 2:4 again.

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.

And to emphasize again, the letter to the Ephesian church went on..

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.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for us all. That those who believed on Him would be saved. That we who were once sons of disbelief, sons of disobedience are now brought near to our Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ. Now we are reconcilled with the Father and can be called the sons of God. Believers.

How? Because Christ set the law aside in His flesh. And gave us, the Holy Spirit.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Thank you Jesus for your Sacrifice. That I may now call God Abba Father. That the Holy Spirit now dwells in me. That as You are seated at God's right hand in heaven, so am I in this world. Amen.