1. 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2. 1. Why does God love people who are naturally objects of His wrath? Why did He destroy the world that was wicked during Noah’s time, but now decides to love us? God loves people because He Is Love. God’s nature is love. He would love, even if no one existed. Actually, human life and the creation is just an overflow of His Love. God cannot help Himself—He must love, because He is love. Someone said: “God loves you unconditionally, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.” Loving what you have made is natural, even if it is messed up. We see the mess, then we make provision to get the mess resolved, then we set about to do the work needed. God sees us in our mess. He has made the provision of an atonement to pay for the mess. Then, He, through the Spirit does a loving work in our messed up lives. Christ paid for the mess; God’s Spirit is at work in us to resolve it. God destroyed the world before Noah because “His Spirit will not always strive with man”. The superior strengths of mankind before the flood, gave them superior abilities to sin which led to the earth being “full of violence”. This destruction also became a type, or picture of God’s salvation in Christ. Christ is the Ark of safety. Just as those who entered the Ark were saved, so those who are “in Christ” will be saved from destruction.

3. 2. What makes God decide to pour out mercy from His rich storehouse on any particular individual? God pours out His grace and mercy on all who believe. Faith is the deciding factor. The Syrophonecian woman showed her faith. The woman with an issue of blood showed her faith. The Roman soldier showed his faith. The ruler of the Jews showed his faith.... Whoever believes shall be saved. 3. How does a Christian know that he is seated in heavenly realms with Christ? You will know when it happens to you. It is something you must experience before you can understand it. “Being seated” is an important concept, though. It tells us that we are not “working” for our salvation. Instead, we are “resting in” our salvation. However, the salvation we have impels us to do good works. All of our good works, however, are for one purpose: so that others might come and be seated together with Christ also. Being seated in “heavenly realms” is an awesome concept. It is sort of like being seated as a co-pilot at a very complicated instrument panel. This Pilot created this whole world and He alone knows how to operate it. We are seated next to Him and are in awe of His wonders, His power, His grace, His knowledge and understanding. It is going to take Him throughout the eternal ages to show us the riches of His grace, wonder, power, knowledge...

4. 4. Why are we “created in Christ” for the purpose of doing good works? The famous theologian John Calvin wrote, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.” We are not saved by faith plus good works, but by a faith which happens to bear the fruit of good works. We do not focus on those works, because we do not even notice them. The basic Scripture on this theme is James 2, where the writer points out that saving faith always results in a changed life. He says that is not enough to say that we have faith if that faith does not demonstrate itself as full of good fruit and good works. But don’t get the cart before the horse. Don’t do good works thinking that they will get you to heaven. They simply cannot. You must already be seated in heavenly places in Christ through faith before the proper kind of “working” takes place. We actually work more and work harder after our conversion than before. We don’t even see it as work, however. We are simply energized by God’s Spirit to do things which might result in the salvation of others. 5. How do we find out which good works have been prepared in advance for us to do? God leads us into these. He gives gifts to us. We must discover those gifts as we live in obedience to the Lord. When we exercise those gifts, we don’t even feel like we are working when we do good works. Our great desire is to glorify Christ and to see others come to faith in Him.

5. The Normal Christian Life Ephesians 2: 1-10 Selected for Life, Seated in Heaven, Sent into the World

6. I. Selected for Life vs. 1-5 A. Everyone is dead in Trespasses and sins. 1.Ways of this World 2.Satan’s kingdom of disobedience 3.Gratification of our own desires 4.Just like everyone else B. God Mercifully raises you to life 1.Why Me? The power of faith. 2.How do I get more faith? or some faith?

7. II. Seated in Heaven A. Seated as in Resting. 1. Not of works lest we boast 2. Christ has already done all B. Seated with Christ. 1. Co-pilots with a lot to learn 2. Amazed at what we see.

8. III. Sent into the World A. We are uniquely created to do good works in Christ. 1. We have been given gifts 2. These gifts make work easy 3. These gifts bring glory to God. B. God has pre-planned this for His Glorious purposes. 1. To show His love through you 2. To show His love to you.

9. Questions about the Normal Christian Life 1. Have you experienced being “raised” with Christ from being dead in sins? 2. Do you understand by experience what being “seated in Heaven” means? 3. Have you discovered your spiritual gifts so that you can be effective in glorifying God through your good works?