Series EPHESIANS with Pastor Mark Finley  |

Lesson 4: How God Rescues Us |

Memory Text: Ephesians 2:4,5 – But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.  |

Content:
4.1 Once Dead and Deceived by Satan
The verses in Ephesians 2:1–10 emphasize how Paul describes the past of the believers in Ephesus as characterized by sin, spiritual death, and the dominion of Satan. He highlights the reality of spiritual warfare in which both worldly customs and Satan acted as corruptive forces. At the same time, Paul expresses hope and comfort that through Jesus Christ, who achieved victory, the believers have been freed from this past and can now partake in this triumph.

4.2 Once Deluded by Our Own Desires
Paul describes in Ephesians 2:3 the previous way of life dominated by the eager inclinations of the flesh and the wrath of God. It illustrates that without divine intervention, people are guided by their own desires, leading to a life far from God’s purpose and ultimately to divine wrath. This reminds us of the enduring significance of clinging continually to Jesus to stay on the path despite our corrupted nature.

4.3 Now Resurrected, Ascended, and Exalted With Christ
According to Paul in Ephesians 2:6-7, believers have an extraordinary participation in the essential historical events connected to Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and glorification. This shared participation allows believers not just to be spectators but active participants in these transformative events, enabling them to transition from a life shaped by demonic influences to a life of fullness and spiritual strength in Christ. Reflecting on these verses helps us understand that the power of the Spirit given to us through Christ liberates us from fear and instead provides strength, love, and sound-mindedness to live amidst our connection to Jesus.

4.4 Now Blessed Forever by Grace
The timeless generosity of God is highlighted in Ephesians 2:7 as an essential part of His eternal plan of salvation, encompassing both the past and the future of the believers. This plan, based on grace, involves not only identification with Christ in the past and present but extends into eternity as God endlessly and timelessly presents His abundant grace and love. This immeasurable grace will be an eternal, fascinating subject for both the saved and unfallen beings, evoking eternal adoration for the sacrificial love of Christ.

4.5 Now Saved by God
It’s crucial to recognize that our salvation comes from God and His inexplicable grace, not based on our own merits or efforts. This understanding grounds us in humility by reminding us that our salvation is a divine gift that we cannot attain through our own actions. It emphasizes the fact that God’s sovereign grace is the foundation of our salvation, not our own efforts or merits.

0

0