OBBC Sermon Notes

Introduction

Koine Greek Refresher Course

My First Sermon

Read Ephesians 2:1-10

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (NKJV)

Pray

Exposition, Explanation, & Illustration

The Magnum Opus - God Makes Us Live Forever

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Dead - In Trespasses and Sins

Obstinately - Sons of Disobedience
Naturally - By Nature
Impulsively - Children of Wrath

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

But God - Made Us Alive

Together With Christ - Raised - Seated

In spite of our dead condition, God has made us alive, and raised us up, just as Jesus was raised from the dead. And, with Jesus, we are to live forever with God.
Love - Mercy - Grace

This is all possible only because of God’s mercy, love, and grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Saved

By Grace
Through Faith

Paul now explains exactly how this rescue (‘saved’) from death has been accomplished. He mentioned it briefly already and now expands on the idea. He has already stated that it is God’s grace that saved us, but now he explains that this is accomplished through faith.
- Not of Yourselves
  
  However, he tells us that the faith is not ‘of yourselves’, what exactly does that mean? Without God’s merciful, loving, gracious action, we would never believe. And, even once we do believe, without God’s merciful, loving, gracious action, we would never be saved.
- Not of Works
  
  To emphasize this, Paul declares that salvation is not accomplished by works. There is no sense in which we have saved ourselves.

Without God’s merciful, loving, gracious action, we would never believe. And, even once we do believe, without God’s merciful, loving, gracious action, we would never be saved.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Created - For Good Works

In Christ Jesus
Prepared Beforehand

Application

Made Alive Together With Christ

If Jesus is dead, salvation is impossible. If Jesus is alive, then your ultimate enemy, death, has been conquered.

Invitation

ALIVE

You are the Work of God

DEAD

Is Jesus Dead, or Alive?