2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

2 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms

because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

“Dead” in Trespasses – stepping over the line

Sins – missing the target

“Going with the flow” – as a matter of course, because you didn’t know how to do anything differently

Followed the ways of the world –

the worldview that is opposed to God, one that results in…..

moral and spiritual perversity,

waste of good,

and the physical disorders and disruptions of a spoiled existence outside of God……

a path that includes people and attitudes indifferent at best and openly hostile at worst to God and his values….

a path we walk on……unconsciously unless we have a reason to take another one….

(Illus. Truth Project is a great way to learn more about the worlds view versus God’s view of things….)

Led by the ruler of this world – 2 Corinthians 4:4 - 4

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

(Illus. Islam is a good example of this, and the world is terrified of Islam.....Islam is a very clear religion, either convert....

or be run out of town
oppressively taxed

killed.....and unless we as believers decide to get close to them, they will die in their sins..... - so pray that God would open the eyes of muslims understanding.....oh, by the way, according to my latest info, the fastest growing church in the world is in Iran....)

Satisfying our body’s appetites –

turning to address the appetites of our flesh, the cravings

to strongly desire to have what belongs to someone else and/or to engage in an activity which is morally wrong—‘to covet, to lust, evil desires, lust, desire of our flesh, sinful nature and doing the will, desires of our flesh and the fleshly thoughts.......following its desires and thoughts.

(Illus. Feeding your appetites………p. 30-31.)

Objects of wrath

All of us – note there are no exceptions……..

Like the rest – everybody outside of God……which we were at one time…....

On autopilot - By nature – we were simply responding to our body’s appetites because we were by nature, slaves to them, unable to respond to God, to reach out for a remedy ……………

(Illus. As the New English Bible translates it…In our natural condition, we like the rest, lay under the dreadful judgment of God.)

But – a divine contrast that reminds us sin does not have the final word……
 
God displays His great love – it is not a mystery whether God loves us…..

he makes it obvious through a direct demonstration
 
God made us alive

– at a point in time God makes this happen – the place in history when we become his
means to assist someone in getting up

made us alive with Christ - word is a combination of with, to live, to do....to do life things together....whereas before we were busy doing death things together..... 

in by with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions

saved us by grace - perfect passive participle......

something done to us, made a connection for us to

the life giving power of Jesus where death reigned before , now life is…..
 
God raised us up -
 
God seated us with Christ in heavenly realms

After he establishes our position with Christ, our identity in Christ – he doesn’t stop there……

(Illus. Shows how God desires to save us from the problems of the present day as well as from the judgment of tomorrow……)
 
God keeps lavishing his kindness on us

over the top

farther than you would expect –

(Illus. Idea of watching a javelin thrower at a throw it farther than anyone in the competition…over the top performance and provision)
 
Don’t let anyone ever tell you that God doesn’t care…….
 
reminds me of the song - Redeemed How I love to Proclaim it…………

have been saved  again the perf passive participle.....to rescue snatch from certain destruction.

through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 1
0 For we are God’s workmanship his doing.....our lives are the work of the living gracious, kind, merciful God.....,this salvation thing is only something God can pull off
 
created aor passκτίσις (ktisis), εως (eōs), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 2937; TDNT 3.1000—1. LN 42.35

creation, exclusively God’s work (Mk 13:19; Mk 16:15 v.r.); 2. LN 42.38 creature, that which has been created (Ro 1:25); 3. LN 1.4

universe, the totality of what was created (Ro 8:20); 4. LN 42.39 institution, human social structure (1Pe 2:13), for another
 
 
 in Christ Jesus -
 
  to do good works, good activities versus bad ones......
 
 which God prepared - aorist - point in time when God made a decision about what it was he wanted you tod do.....

wrapped up in your spiritual gifts, your genetics, your place of birth......

none of which were a mistake a randoma ct of chance....but the sovereign act of a God who sets things in place for us ahead of time........ 

in advance for us to do - to live our lifes fulfilling as our manner of life,.....

Grace defined…. The word “grace” in biblical parlance can, like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God’s activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man.

The Old Testament. The word ḥēṇēn occurs around 60 sixty times in the Old Testament.

There are examples of man’s favor to man, but the theological concept of importance to us is the grace of God demonstrated toward man.

Favor in the eyes of the Lord.” emphasis on the unmerited favor of God is the conversation between Moses and God recorded in Exodus 33.

There, in the space of six verses, Moses is said to have found favor with God five times, ḥēṇēn being translated either “find favor” or “be pleased with.”

Salvation comes by grace – you don’t deserve it, God because of his great mercy chooses to extend it to us
(Illus. have been saved again the perf passive participle.....

to rescue snatch from certain destruction)
 
Salvation is through faith – do you believe that Jesus died for your sins?
 
Salvation is not something we do – not of yourselves……
 
Salvation is a gift – are you willing to receive this gift? Or do you remain too proud to “take help?”
 
Salvation cannot be earned – not of works……..
(Illus. Can’t bow enough, pray enough, be churchy enough, suffer enough, etc…..)
 
Salvation is God’s “doing” – workmanship………..his handiwork……..his creative expression…from the hands of the most gracious, kind, merciful God…HIS!
 
Salvation includes our whole life’s work

For we are God’s workmanship his doing.....our entire lives are designed to be redeemed, dusted off by the work of the great, living, gracious, kind, merciful God.....
 
 In Christ Jesus – the only place works can be described as “good” –

to good works, good activities versus bad ones......
 
  which God prepared - aorist - point in time when God made a decision about what it was he wanted you to do.....

wrapped up in your spiritual gifts, your genetics, your place of birth......

none of which were a mistake a random act of chance....but the sovereign act of a God who sets things in place for us ahead of time........ 

in advance for us to do - to live our life’s calling, fulfilling as our manner of life what God has set aside for us to do…...
 
Adds new meaning to the phrase

How are you doing?