Saved By Grace Ephesians 2:1-10

Verse 1: God made us brand new when we accepted Jesus Christ. We are new creatures. His resurrection power infused us with new life and life abundance.

Verse 2: Being born in sin caused us to relate to Satan and to follow his system. We were lost and in bondage without even being aware. Jesus shined a light to reveal that we were in darkness. We were shaped in iniquity and caused us to form a mindset centered in death and fear. We were trapped by lies and embraced mirages and camouflaged curses as presumed blessings. We were blind and lived in disobedience but now we can see the truth.

Verse 3: our conversations and thoughts were rooted in and governed by demonic forces. We engaged in foul language, gossip, stealing, lying, adultery, fornication, etc and sadly many still do. Many are deceived to justify their actions as to compare the severity of them to that of others. Sin is wrong. There is no justification for willful sin. We also cannot use sin to redeem any wrongs afflicted on us. God is truth and He avenges in His time. We spoke all the ungodly desires that the enemy wrote on our minds. We had an appetite to please the flesh. The influence of television, rap, and entertaining drama made things seem pleasant and acceptable because it was common and easy. While Satan made holiness look hard to attain. Flesh has to die and we can only do that by feeding our spirits. There is no good thing in the flesh. It is continuously hostile toward God because the spirit wrestles to be free and dominant.

Verse 4: God knew before He made Adam and Eve that there would be a fall. His mercy is so great that He had fulfilled it before He made us. Before the foundations of the world, a lamb was slain. Mercy was already in play. he loved us so much that He willingly instituted a plan of redemption. he knew He would have to sacrifice Himself for His own creation.

Verse 5: We were born in sin and destined to die in sin but God did not see fit for us to be condemned. Yet, in His grace, He gave us a choice to allow us to choose life. His graced redeemed us from the ultimate consequences and it is sufficient.

Verse 6: God has no respect of persons. He is proud of His creation. He gave resurrection power to Jesus and extended it to us. We rose when Jesus rose. We are joint heirs now being adopted back to God. We were raised above the wiles of the devil. We are able to sit as a royal priesthood to enjoy the benefits of life in the kingdom. We are being prepared to reign with Jesus.

Verse 7: God rescued us from spiritual death. His redemptive plan only needed to be done once. We are to demonstrate who He is in the earth. It was not just for those who Jesus trained, or those who saw Jesus in person, but for all who believe throughout all generations. We have not tapped into the exceeding riches of His grace. None of God's people should be poor, worried, afraid, sickly, powerless, weak, etc. We should speak and see. As He is so are we. We just do not pay the cost or want to do the work.

Verse 8: Our measure of faith is predicated on our measure of the word. We must believe and walk out what we understand. Experience does not always equate to faithfulness. Just because God does something in one person's life does not mean they will believe. They can endure only for a moment. Those who truly believe bear fruit. Evidence equals confidence, change, godly fear, wisdom, and the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, faith, peace, temperance, meekness, kindness, gentleness,& longsuffering). We should appreciate the gifts because we did not earn them nor could we.

Verse 9: No works qualify but only provide a scale for rewards in heaven.

Verse 10: God determined who we are, what we will do, when we will do it, how we will do it, and knows every decision we will make. He already knows who will bring Him glory. He foreknew us. There is no need to compete because the end has already been established. We should just live righteously. To end this lesson, please take time to read Romans 8:29-30