Ephesians 2:2-3

 

Ephesians 2:2-3

Once You Were Blind but Now You See

 

Eph 2:2  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: 

Eph 2:3  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. 

            1.       Once Upon a Time You Blindly Followed the Path of this World to Destruction – vs. 2a

a.       The Apostle Paul wants us to understand the desperate situation that were in before Christ.

                                                              i.      The unsaved believe they are free to do what they want

1.       John 8:43-44 

                                                            ii.      The unsaved think they are sovereign over their destiny

1.       2 Timothy 2:25-26 

                                                          iii.      The unsaved do not realize that their actions serve the Kingdom of Darkness

1.       Colossians 2:13-15 

           2.       Once Upon a Time You Followed the Orders of the Greatest Tyrant in History: Satan – vs. 2b

a.       Satan is the one that controls the unsaved of this world – vs. 2c

                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 4:4 

b.       Now that you are a believer you oppose the Kingdom of Darkness

                                                              i.      Ephesians 6:12 

            3.       Once Upon Time You Were Controlled by the Passions of the Body – vs. 3a

a.       What kind of sin were you under the control of?

                                                              i.      Galatians 5:19-21 

            4.       Once Upon a Time Your Mind and Body Were Controlled by a Wicked Power – vs. 3b

a.       The unsaved cannot earn the favor of God

                                                              i.      Romans 8:7 

            5.       Once Upon a Time You Were Under the Righteous Wrath of God, Just the Same as the Rest of                   the Unsaved of this World – vs. 3c

a.       What is the sin that God hate?

                                                              i.      Ephesians 5:5-6 

b.       The blood Jesus Christ appeases the wrath of God toward sin

                                                              i.      Romans 5:9 

                                                            ii.      1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 

Ephesians 2:1

 

Ephesians 2:1

You Have Been Made Alive!

 

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

         1.      You Were Dead in Sin

a.       A dead man cannot fix his past

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:11-18 

b.      A dead man cannot see the light

                                                              i.      Ephesians 5:6-8 

c.       A dead man cannot comprehend

                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 4:4 

d.      A dead man’s brain is empty

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:17-18   

e.       A dead man cannot perceive the spiritual world

                                                              i.      1 Corinthians 2:14 

f.        A dead man has no life

                                                              i.      Romans 8:5-7 

g.      A dead man must be brought back to life

                                                              i.      John 3:5-8 

h.      A dead man must be given a new heart

                                                              i.      Ezekiel 36:25-27 

                                                            ii.      “I am not what I ought to be

I am not what I want to be

I am not what one day I will be

But I am not what I was

And by the grace of God I am what I am”

 

-          John Newton

Ephesians 1:21-23

 

Ephesians 1:21-23

Hath Put All Things Under His Feet

 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

        1.      Christ Reigns Over All – vs. 21-22a*

a.       All earthly governments submit to Him

                                                              i.      Psalm 2:1-12 

b.      All spiritual powers submit to Him

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:8-10 

c.       All military might submit to Him

                                                              i.      Psalm 33:16-18 

d.      All regional jurisdictions submit to Him

                                                              i.      Revelation 21:23-24 

e.       All individuals submit to Him

                                                              i.      Philippians 2:9-11 

f.        Both in this world and that which is to come

                                                              i.      Colossians 2:14-15 

g.      Everything has been conquered by Him

                                                              i.      Isaiah 66:18 

        2.      Christ Reigns Over the Church – vs. 22b*

a.       Christ is the sol authority over the Church

                                                              i.      Colossians 1:15-18 

         3.      The Church Will Reign with Him – vs. 23*

a.       The Church is the body of Christ

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:15-16 

b.      The Church will conquer all

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 2:12 

                                                            ii.      Revelation 3:20-21 

“THAT'S MY KING!” EXTENDED VERSION - S. M LOCKRIDGE 1970's

Said so much more eloquently than I could ever. My inspiration for this week's sermon...

Paul, Romans, & Textual Variants | Doug Wilson & James White

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Ephesians 1:19-20

 

Ephesians 1:19-20

You Who Were Wrought in Christ

 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

        1.       An Incredible Gift of Power Has Been Given to All Those that Have Faith in Christ – vs. 19a

a.       The Gospel has the power to save us from sin

                                                              i.      Romans 1:16 

b.      The gospel has power to save because of the work of the Holy Spirit

                                                              i.      1 Thessalonians 1:5 

c.       Even our labor for Christ is a work of grace

                                                              i.      Colossians 1:29 

d.      The Holy Spirit also has the power to preserve our salvation

                                                              i.      Philippians 1:6 

         2.       Incredible Energy Comes to the Believer by God’s Work Within Them – vs. 19b

a.       The book of Ephesians gives us overwhelming evidence of God’s faithful work in our salvation

                                                              i.      Ephesians 1:5 

                                                            ii.      Ephesians 1:7 

                                                          iii.      Ephesians 1:9 

                                                           iv.      Ephesians 1:11 

                                                             v.      Ephesians 3:7 

                                                           vi.      Ephesians 3:11 

                                                         vii.      Ephesians 3:16 

                                                       viii.      Ephesians 3:20 

         3.       The Incredible Power Comes from the Resurrection of Christ – vs. 20a

a.       When we die with Christ, we rise again with Him in newness of life

                                                              i.      Romans 6:6-8 

b.      Do you believe that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can conquer your fleshly nature?

                                                              i.      Romans 8:11 

          4.       The Incredible Energy Comes from the Exaltation of Christ – vs. 20b

a.       Hebrews 2:5-11