Ephesians 2:1-10 – The Believer’s Personal Resurrection
Resurrection Sunday Morning Sermon
First Baptist Church of Ticonderoga, NY
The literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ is an undeniable, historical event. There were over 500 witnesses that saw Jesus alive after he had been crucified (1 Corinthians 15:6). There are many who believe in the historical fact of the resurrection, but they have not embraced Jesus to give them eternal life. So, let me ask you a very important question…
QUESTION: Have you experienced resurrection with Jesus Christ? Have you received new life through faith in him?
I. Context of Ephesians 2:1-10
A. Brief Overview of Ephesians: Chapters 1-3 = Our Position in Christ / Chapters 4-6 = Our Practice in Christ
B. Ephesians 1:1-14 – Blessings in Christ
C. Ephesians 1:15-23 – Prayer for understanding our blessings in Christ
D. Ephesians 2:1-10 – God has saved us by grace
E. Ephesians 2:11-22 – Peace with God through faith in Jesus – the war with God is over
II. Spiritual Death (2:1-3) – Dead in trespasses and sins…
A. Definition – separation from God, no eternal life, and total inability to rescue ourselves
B. Past Tense – For believers in Jesus this is who we once were and how we lived
C. Present Tense – This is the present condition of all who have not trusted in Jesus – “…the spirit that is NOW at work in the sons of disobedience…” (emphasis mine).
D. Description of Spiritual Death
1. Something we walked in – behavior
2. Following the anti-God world system
3. Following Satan
4. Characterized by disobedience/rebellion against God
5. Carrying out selfish desires of the body and mind
6. Characterized as deserving God’s wrath
III. Spiritual Resurrection(2:4-5) – “But God…made us alive together with Christ”
A. God – rich in mercy
B. God – great love toward us
C. Even when we were dead in trespasses
D. God – made us alive
E. God – made us alive TOGETHER WITH CHRIST
1. United to Christ by faith
2. When Christ was raised, we were raised with him (just as we were crucified with him – Romans 6:1-11; Galatians 2:20)
3. Looks forward to future physical resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:11-58).
BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED!!!
– Totally by God’s work
– Totally apart from our work or deserving
– Totally by God’s undeserved kindness that he shows in Christ
IV. Spiritual Ascension (2:6-7) – “…and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
A. Christ went back up to the Father after his resurrection (Acts 1:8-11)
B. Christ is now seated at the Father’s right hand until he returns (Ephesians 1:20)
C. Spiritually, we are seated with Christ in God – our position is set (cf. Colossians 3:3)
D. Looks forward to glorification – Forever with Christ, like him, as trophies of God’s grace (cf. Romans 8:28-30; 1 John 3:1-3)
E. IN CHRIST!!!
V. ALL OF GRACE! (2:8-10)
A. By grace saved
B. Through faith in Jesus
C. Not by our works – no boasting
D. The gift of God
E. New creations in Christ
F. FOR (NOT BY) good works – saved to serve God according to his plan, by his enablement
VI. Application:
A. Have you experienced this resurrection? Have you been made alive with Christ to serve God? If not, entrust yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ today! (More on the Good News of Jesus)
B. If you have been raised up with Christ, rejoice! Jesus is alive! He is coming again! We will be with him forever! As we have been saved by his grace, let us live for him by that same grace. Also, share this resurrection hope with others!
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