Ephesians 2:1-10 (Part 2)

I. We were formerly dead without Christ.
-Three things held sway.
a. The value system of the world.
b. The influence of the devil.
c. The desires of the flesh.

-Three contrasts
1. We were dead in sins; now we have been made alive in Christ.
2. We were in bondage to evil powers of the world; now we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
3. We had carried out the desires of the flesh; now we are enabled to carry out the works of God He prepared beforehand.

II. We are now alive in Christ.
-made alive together = sunezoopoesen; from suzoopoieo = combination of zao = to live, be alive; poieo = to make; and sun = with
-Why has God done this?
a. God's abundant love.
-mercy = eleos = compassion, pity, mercy
-Two implications:
i. We are no longer under the authority of the devil.
ii. We are enabled to reject the devil's design.
-James 4:7
b. God's surpassing kindness.
-Peter O'Brien "God's further purpose in lavishing his mercy on sinners, raising, and exalting them in Christ Jesus, was that they should serve as a demonstration of His extraordinary grace for all eternity."
-surpassing = huperballo = to throw beyond
-Results of His kindness:
i. He saved us by grace through faith.
-saved = sozo = rescue
-grace = charis = grace, mercy, kindness, goodwill, favor
-Heb. 4:2
ii. He saved us eliminating any boasting.
-Rom. 11:5-6
iii. He saved us for good works.
-workmanship = poiema = what was created; word from which we derive poem