Ephesians
2:1-10
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 desires 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 ordained that we should walk in
them.
Here
Paul affirms two essential truth`s
1.
we are all born with an evil nature
powerless to stand against our tendencies toward sin and failure
2.
God is rich in mercy and love and even though
we are far from him and entrapped by sin God graciously reaches out to us with
love and mercy
God
wants to forgive us and give us the power to rebuild our lives through the work
of Jesus Christ God has already conquered the power of sin and death
When
we admit that we need God's help and ask him to act on our behalf that empowers
us to overcome the problems and dependencies of this life
1 Corinthians 10:13(KJV)
There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Sin is the death of the soul. A man dead in
trespasses and sins has no desire for spiritual pleasures.
A state of sin is a state of conformity to this
world.
Romans
12:2(KJV)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Wicked men are slaves to Satan. Satan is the author
of that proud, carnal disposition which there is in ungodly men; he rules in
the hearts of men.
2 Corinthians
4:4 (KJV)
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds
of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who
is the image of God, should shine unto them.
From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have
been most prone to sensual or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being naturally
children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath.
What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for
that grace which will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and
heirs of glory!
God's eternal love or good-will toward his children,
is the fountain whence all his mercies flow to us; and that love of God is
great love, and that mercy is rich mercy. And every converted sinner is a saved
sinner; delivered from sin and wrath.
The grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness
and favour of God; and he saves, not by the works of the law, but through faith
in Christ Jesus.
Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul.
Ephesians
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved ;)…2:8, 9 for
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives
a life of holiness, being born of God: He lives, being delivered from the guilt
of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace.
Sinners roll themselves in the dust; sanctified souls
sit in heavenly places, are raised above this world, by Christ's grace.
The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners
heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy.
Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation,
are not of works, lest any man should boast.
These things are not brought to pass by anything done
by us, therefore all boasting is shut out.
All is the free gift of God, and the effect of being
quickened by his power.
It was his purpose, to which he prepared us, by
blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such
a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good conversation, and
perseverance in holiness.
We may feel like we are not good enough to be an
example for others.
We may realize that we need other people but find it
hard to believe that our story of deliverance could help anyone else.
The Apostle Paul said,"
Romans 12:4-5
For as we have many members in one body, and all
members have not the same office: so we, being Many, are one body in Christ,
and every one members one of another"
Ephesians
2:10 (KJV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
We need to see that God has a purpose for our life.
God created each of us with abilities and talents,
If you isolate any one part of the body and examine
it apart from its proper place among the other members, It
may seem odd and useless.
And so it is with us we need to find
a place where our talents and abilities
can be used to help others. Doing this will show that we have gained an honest
understanding of who God created us to be. He loves us and wants us to help
each of us realize our place in the body
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