August 6, 2012
BUT GOD . . .
Ephesians 2
Kelly Walker
Central Truth
Because of God's great love for us, He draws us to Him before we even recognize our need for Him. He only wants us to put our faith in Him, mercifully freeing us from always wondering if we are "doing" enough for Him.
Key Verse | Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Ephesians 2
By Grace Through Faith
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body 1 2:3 Greek flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 2 2:3 Greek like the rest 4 But 3 2:4 Or And God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
One in Christ
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, 4 2:19 Or sojourners but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by 5 2:22 Or in the Spirit.
Dive Deeper | Ephesians 2
As a young adult trying to find my way after college, I processed decisions and discerned truth through a worldly sieve. My beliefs were based upon what the world told me was true. Even though I thought I was alive, I was spiritually dead. I had grown up in the church, but had never understood the need for a relationship with Jesus or the purpose of His death and resurrection.
On a blind date many years ago, I was challenged in who I believed God to be. What I believed was "it was none of my date's business!" I thought he was a weird Christian guy. But God used him to plant seeds in my unregenerate mind. At that time, I was not making good choices. I was not doing good things that would earn God's love and salvation. I spent the next week after the date making fun of him and his religious views. I was definitely filtering my date's beliefs through my worldly sieve. But God drew me to Him, though it wasn't because I deserved His salvation or had earned His love.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:4-5)
As humans, we want to work our way to God. We incorrectly believe that we know what box to check to be good enough for Him. Thankfully, it's not up to us to be good enough.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
When I finally accepted His free gift of salvation, everything in my life changed. The Holy Spirit replaced my worldly sieve with a biblical one. I was truly a new creation.
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Praise God!
Discussion Questions
1. Are you working your way to God? Do you think that your good works are enough to please Him and get to heaven? If good works are what gets you into heaven, how do you know when you've done enough of them?
2. Where do you stand on the issues of the day? Are you swayed by what is socially acceptable, or do you stand on what is biblical?
3. If you have not put your faith in Jesus, what is holding you back?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
August 6-10 (Ephesians 2-6)
Read Ephesians 6:10-20.
In verse 11, Paul talks about the schemes and strategies of the Devil.
• What are they?
•
What does Paul say we should use to fight those schemes?
• Make a list of all the pieces of God's armor. What does each piece do?
• Go through your house and find articles of clothing to represent all the pieces of God's armor.
Take time to review and memorize what each piece is and what it represents. Example: a hat to stand for the helmet that represents our salvation.
Activity: Write each of the following words on a separate piece of paper: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, Word of God. Now put the clothing that represents each one across the room. If you have enough family members, you can make this into a competition by getting two piles of clothes that represent each thing. Now, draw one card from the pile, read it, and run down and get the item that represents that word. You can make it more difficult by pulling out more than one card.
Daily, we are to put on our armor so that we can withstand the attacks of the enemy. Talk together about what it looks like to put these things on every day (spending time in God's Word, praying, reminding yourself of your salvation, etc.).