Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 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. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What does it say?
• The Ephesians were dead in transgressions and sin
• The Ephesians used to live in sin
• The Ephesians use to follow the ways of the this world
• The Ephesians use to follow the ruler of the kingdom of the air
• The “ruler of the kingdom of the air” is the spirit who was at work in those who are disobedient
• Everyone lived among those who were disobedient at one time
• Everyone gratified the cravings of the our sinful nature
• Everyone has a sinful nature
• Everyone has followed the desires and thoughts of the sinful nature.
• Everyone has been an object of wrath.
• Paul and the Ephesians are no longer the objects of wrath.
• God has a great love of Paul and the Ephesians
• God is rich in mercy
• Because of God love He made us alive with Christ
• We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms
• We are both made alive and seated with Christ so God can show His grace
• God’s grace is incomparable
• God’s grace is rich
• God grace is expressed to us in Christ.
• God expressed His kindness to us in Christ
• The effective cause of our salvation is graces
• The instrumental cause of our salvation is faith
• The faith through which we receive salvation is not our faith.
• The faith through which we receive salvation is a gift
• The faith through which we receive our salvation is from God.
• Our salvation is not through any thing we do.
• Because salvation is not through anything we do we have nothing to boast about.
• We are God workmanship
• We are created to do good works
• We are created in Christ
• God has prepared good works for us to do.
• These works were prepared for us in advance.
What does it mean?
In this short section of scripture Paul answers a question every Christian must ask themselves once they realize that they have been chosen by God. Why me? What was there about me the caused God to choose me? Was it because I was smart enough or good enough? Was it because God knew I would respond positively to His call? Did God see something in me that was worthy to save? If so, what was it? Was it because I was more spiritual and had more faith. Maybe, I was obedient.
Paul starts by strongly pointing out that there is nothing good in us. We are all sinners. We all were objects of wrath. Not only were we objects of wrath we dissevered that wrath. Our very thoughts are sinful. We craved sin. So, why me? Why you? Paul answers this by stating very clearly that the reason God saved any of us is to show His grace. What better way to show grace than to give His love to someone who does not deserve it! He showed us grace because His loves us. We do not deserve God’s love. God loved us when the very core of our being was evil and depraved. God did not see in us anything worth redeeming. In fact, Paul goes on to say that the salvation we received because of the grace of God we received through faith. And even that faith is not even ours. It had to be given to us as a gift from God.
So then what is the answer to the question, why me. It has nothing to do with you. It was nothing to do with me. It is so God can demonstrate His grace and His glory. That is a shock to many to learn that it is not about you at all. It is about God.
How does it work?
The doctrines of grace are so sweet. God has given us such a wonderful gift. And we do not deserve it. I was speaking to a friend one day about the doctrine of predestination and he said what if the start point for better understanding God is not His sovereignty but rather His love. That is exactly where Paul starts, the love of God. But we fail to realize the greatness of His love if we fail to realize the sinfulness of man or the holiness of God. Every heresy in the church has faced is because of under estimating either or both the sinfulness of man or the holiness of God.