Ephesians ch2 vs1 – 10.
Verses 1 – 3 concern
our death and disobedience – negatives.
Verses 4 – 10 concern our deliverance and destiny –
positives.
This letter was from the Apostle Paul, written to those who
were believers at Ephesus .
It begins by looking back at how they used to be, and the dead condition they
were in, before going on to say how they now are – through being “in Christ”.
Friend and reader, where are you right now – are you still
in verses 1 – 3?
Have you never
committed your life to The Lord Jesus Christ?
By simply confessing
your sins to Him tonight in repentance and faith, you can move into the
blessings of verses 4 – 10!
We are all spiritually dead until trusting Jesus Christ as
Lord and Saviour.
Verse 1 tells us we were all “dead in trespasses and sins” –
from the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden tree they
became spiritually dead, and the process of death in their bodies began.
We too have all broken God’s perfect rules…
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. –
Romans ch3 vs23.
God made man perfect, but we all utterly failed Him through
our sinful nature.
Why are we ALL sinners? –
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”. –
Romans ch5 vs12.
We are all sinners by descent… no-one has to ever teach a
young child to lie, steal or cheat – it comes natural because we are all sinful
by our nature!
Verse 5 – “But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love
wherewith he loved us” – His mercy is in not giving us what we fully deserve as
disobedient sinners…
“But God”!... we can never save ourselves from our due and
right punishment of an eternal Hell – but in spite of our position and sinful
nature God provided a way for all our sins to be forgiven… he is indeed rich in
mercy!
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and
plenteous in mercy”.
- Psalm ch103 vs8.
- “… but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. – 2nd Peter
ch3 vs9.
Reader, you may ask how then can God forgive sinners, being
holy, righteous and unable to turn a blind eye to all our sins?
Yes, sin HAS to be paid for, and God sent the only One who
could ever pay our debt in full – His Son, Jesus Christ. On the Cross, He gave
His sinless life and body as the acceptable sacrifice for your sins and
everyone’s. He paid for it in His own blood that flowed from many a wound. This
alone can wash and cleanse us from all our sins, providing full forgiveness
when we come to Jesus Christ in genuine repentance and faith. The grave could
not hold Him, rising again after three days – justified!
When we trust Him and accept Him as our Saviour, our old
life is dead and gone! – vs6 “And has raised us up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”.
We have new life in Christ, seeking eternal things!
- “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on
things above, not on things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid
with Christ in God”.
- Colossians ch3 vs1 – 3.
So now we receive by His grace all the blessings which we do
not deserve!
Vs8 & 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”.
None of us can ever have eternal life in Heaven by good
works. We can not earn it in any way, but God gives it to us free through His Son!
Faith is personally taking God at His word. Dear friend, if
you have not yet done so, then throw yourself on God’s rich mercy… accept His
Son and be saved! Jesus Christ died for YOU, and His great love is beckoning
for you to come to Him this night!
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