Our Hope in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10) - 3/31/24

INTRO

• Easter Sunday.  He is Risen?

• Luke 24:36-49; Acts 1:1-11

• What now? What does this mean for us today?

• I am afraid we have turned Easter into and event.

• Sunday best… going to church

• Easter is about a person

• And the hope we have in that Person…JESUS

• As we consider:

• Who we were without Christ

WITHOUT CHRIST

We are spiritually dead – v. 1

• Dead to spiritual things

• Not sick, but dead

• In trespasses and sins
  

We are spiritually enslaved – vv. 2-3a

• Dead, but alive

• To the world

• Values and morals apart from God’s truth

• To the devil

• To our own flesh

• Sin nature
  

We are spiritually condemned – v. 3b

• Children of wrath

IN CHRIST

But God did something!

God’s rich mercy – v.4a

• Not getting what we do deserve
  

God’s great love – v. 4b

God’s immeasurable grace – v. 7

• Giving us what we do not deserve

• His Grace through Faith

• Precious gift of eternal life
  

We are alive together with Christ – v. 5

• Clothed with His righteousness

• Resurrection power…ALIVE
  

We are raised up in Christ – v. 6a

• Death to life

• New creation
  

We are seated with Christ – v. 6b

• Authority

• Lord and master

FOR CHRIST

So that we may live for Christ.

• It is a gift

• His workmanship

• Our value, purpose, mission

• For good works

• Living for His glory

• Which God prepared before hand

• GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES

• Walk in them

• Daily, Passionately, Purposefully