1. EPHESIANS 2 “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.”

2. EPHESIANS 2 In Chapter 1 the Lord through Paul explained God’s eternal plan for all who hear the gospel and believe on the Son of God: eternal life as an heir to God through the redemption of Jesus Christ and the sealing by the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed for the saints that they would come to know God intimately (that is my prayer for all of us – we need or get our minds off of the things of this world dig into His word, and seek and obey Him), and that they would filled with wisdom and understanding. He also prayed that the saints would grasp what is the hope of our calling – His riches of glory and His inheritance….. We will now see how we go from the discussion of God’s incredible power and majesty to what He can perform in sinners who are caught up in the evil powers of this world and are in rebellion to God – He can transform them (just as He has some of us)!

3. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” The phrase “He made alive” is not found in many translations. In the King James it was added since the phrase “And you who were dead in your trespasses and sins” is an incomplete – dangling – sentence in the Greek. It can be assumed to have been implied. In verse 5 the concept is captured again, so the addition is not contradictory. We were all dead in our trespasses and sins. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23. Every one of us, and everyone who has or will ever be born, is born into sin. Through Adam sin entered the world, and death spread to all men. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom 5:12 and 6:23.

4. EPHESIANS 2 “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…” Each of us who are now saved once walked in rebellion to God. We wanted to live our own way, we walked like those of the world (the fallen world). How does the rest of the world walk? I can tell you that those who are of the world that I am in contact with at work are considered good people from the standards of most. They work hard, try and do right, and are very nice most of the time. Some even attend church occasionally. At the same time they lie if they feel it is necessary to protect themselves or to gain something, they go to clubs to get drunk and dance and look wantonly at the guys and girls there, they cuss and tell nasty jokes and they will look at most anything for the sake of “entertainment”. These people are separated from God because of their sin – just as we once were. They are all empty inside seeking something to make them feel loved and needed. They need the Lord, just as we once did. Who does this verse say they follow?

5. EPHESIANS 2 “2 … according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” They follow the “prince of the power of the air”. Who is that? _______________ The term “prince” here means: “ruler, commander, chief or lord”. Christ is the Prince of Peace, Satan is the prince of this world and the prince of the power of the air. He rules over the forces of darkness with whom we wrestle (Eph 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”) Those who are not saved are being ruled by Satan – (John 8:44: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.”) He works in the sons of disobedience. He is working in you if you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior. SATAN

6. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” We too were once lusting after all the things we desired in our flesh – we were full of “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” but that “is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16) We not only lusted after these things but we “fulfilled” these desires by taking action. We were following our sin “nature” and were “children of wrath”.

7. EPHESIANS 2 “Children of Wrath” – This phrase means “deserving of wrath”. We are all deserving of having the wrath of God fall fully upon us. Apart from the blood of Christ cleansing us fully of our sin, we too would inherit this wrath to come upon the world. Rom 2:5 - 9 – “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek…” (Separation from God – an eternal death, Rev 20:14)

8. EPHESIANS 2 NOW THE GOOD NEWS! “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.” How much does He love us?

9. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” Even though we were in rebellion with God, He saved us. Even though we rejected Him and broke His laws, He gave us life. Even though we did not seek after His mercy and grace, He called us. Even though we were children of wrath, He made us sit together in the heavenly places with Him.

10. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.” (Ps 103:8) MERCY Volunteer: You are in Dodge City and have just been tried and convicted for robbing a bank, killing two tellers and stealing a horse to escape. Jury, what is his sentence? DEATH BY HANGING! But wait? The Judge has ask you to say a few words in your defense. What will you say?

11. EPHESIANS 1 Three options: 1.Your honor please give me what I deserve! 2.Your honor, please have mercy on me! 3.I want my momma!!!! Which do you choose? MERCY This is what the Lord is telling us in verse 4. God is having “mercy” on us when He forgives our sins in love through the blood of Jesus Christ. The word mercy here means pity and compassion on us who are suffering the calamity of sin! He cares for us and gives us a way out of our predicament – This is what the Lord is telling us in verse 4. God is having “mercy” on us when He forgives our sins in love through the blood of Jesus Christ. The word mercy here means pity and compassion on us who are suffering the calamity of sin! He cares for us and gives us a way out of our predicament –CHRIST!

12. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” He made us alive with Christ. Our Lord does live. He died and was raised from the dead. We too are made alive through Him. We now have the power to live a spiritual life that is pleasing to our loving Father. (John 6:63 and Rom 8:11) Do you want to have this life? Here is the answer: “This is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”. (John 17:3) Volunteer….

13. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” Positionally and spiritually we are seated with Christ and we have the riches of Him right know. In the ages to come (i.e. when we are in the eternal kingdom with Him) we will see and experience the incredible riches that are at this time beyond our comprehension! (They are not the temporary “riches” that we experience now.)

14. EPHESIANS 2 “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.” This “grace” is repeated again from the parenthetical in verse 5 above. It is obviously important!!!! By grace we are what? ___________ From what? _______________________ We all want that don’t we? So how do we do it? By “grace” through “faith”. This means that if you, by faith ( truly and honestly in your heart), believe that Christ has died for your sins as the perfect Son of God, and was raised form the dead, God will give you, as a free gift, – ETERNAL LIFE. (It is free to you but that is because the price was paid by Jesus Christ). You cannot boast in this because it is not earned by you or any works that you do. (read Rom 10:13 and John 1:12) SAVED! THE WRATH OF GOD!

15. EPHESIANS 2 Spencer: We all were once dead in our sins – slaves to sin. Romans 6:16-23: “ Do you not know that to whom you present ourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We thought we were free to do as we liked. But each time we sinned we knew it was wrong because …

16. EPHESIANS 2 Romans 1:18-21: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. … because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Even though we knew God and knew He has standards, we followed the world and the prince of the power of the air. We were in bondage. We would sin and over time the sin would not satisfy and we would have to take it to one more level. God turns those who reject Him over to their sin and it binds them and deceives them more and more…

17. EPHESIANS 2 Romans 1:24-32: “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” We deserved death –we were dead – slaves in need of a redeemer – a savior. Christ has paid the ransom to set us free. We each had the choice to remain in this bondage or to accept the freedom from this bondage by the ransom paid by Christ through His precious blood. If you are still in your sins – you are deceived and in bondage. You can be set free. What do you want to choose to do?

18. EPHESIANS 2 “10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” We are His workmanship. This speaks of the fact that God has made us a new creation after salvation! It is His doing. His sanctification of us. He molds us as the potter molds the clay. Even our transformation into a child of light is done by God. We cannot boast even of what a great Christian walk we have compared to that hypocrite over at the church on the corner. What does He say is one of the reasons we were created for? ______________ “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt 5:16) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works… (Heb 10:24) “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Pet 2:11-12) GOOD WORKS

19. EPHESIANS 2 So what have we learned: Even the saved were once children of ________ and being ruled by the _________ of the power of the air. But because God is _________ and ___________ we can be children of _____. We are saved by __________ through ________ in ______ _______. One of the reasons we were created was to do ______ _______. As each of us get in the Word of God and build our relationship with the Lord; give up our own wants and desires and seek Him; and walk in the Spirit – we will grow in good works. God says he prepared the works beforehand. He has the works He desires us to do laid out before us. If we yield to Him and seek Him, He will clearly show us what He has for us to do! That is the exciting part of the Christian life. We seek the Lord with a pure heart and He will guide us down the path that He desires for our lives! WRATH PRINCE LOVINGMERCIFUL GOD JESUS CHRISTFAITHGRACE GOOD WORKS