“Divine Intimacy”
Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God uses GRACE, MERCY, and TRUTH to Express His LOVE
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth John 1:14
1. RECOGNIZE We were once ALIENATED from God (vs. 1-3)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath
- The Ways of the World
- The Ways of the Devil
- The Ways of the Flesh
2. REGENARATED and made ALIVE in Christ (vs. 4-6)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus
- It was GRACE, MERCY, and TRUTH that Saves us NOT God’s LOVE
- Our ability to Love is Rooted in our capacity to demonstrate GRACE, MERCY, and TRUTH
3. RECONCILED us in order to ACCOMPLISH His Purpose (vs. 7-10)
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- God’s Love infused with Grace, Mercy, and Truth brings about an INVASION of GOD’S Supernatural Power in our mundane day to day lives.
- We were created not just to Experience God’s Love but to Express it through grace, Mercy, and Truth.
AS JESUS WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN WITHOUT SIN SO TO MUST BE BORN AGAIN TO RECEIVE A NEW NATURE – ONE THAT IS NOT BORN OF NATURAL BIRTH BUT A NEW BIRTH FROM HEAVEN