From Death to Life: Embracing Our Faith Journey
Summary
Today, I explored the profound transformation that occurs when we accept Christ's gift of salvation and the subsequent call to live out our faith actively. We delved into the essence of being God's workmanship, created for good works, as outlined in Ephesians 2:10. This theme is central to understanding our purpose post-salvation.
The journey began with a reflection on our state before Christ. We were spiritually dead, ensnared in sins and transgressions, as depicted vividly through the metaphor of zombies—walking dead, unaware of the life we were called to live. This deadness was not just a physical state but a spiritual reality, where our trespasses kept us from the divine life God intended for us.
However, the focus shifted dramatically as we explored the transformation through Christ. By grace, a concept reiterated throughout Ephesians, we've been brought from death to life. This isn't due to our own efforts but solely because of God's love and mercy. It's crucial to grasp that our salvation is not a result of our deeds but a gift, underscoring the nature of grace—unmerited favor.
Post-salvation, the question arises: "Now what?" It's not enough to merely accept salvation; we are called to live it out. This involves understanding our identity as God's handiwork and embracing the good works He has prepared for us. These works aren't just random acts but are part of a divine strategy, crafted by God from the beginning of time.
In practical terms, living out our faith means engaging in the mission of Christ. This includes making disciples, a directive from the Great Commission. We discussed how every believer is equipped and called to participate in this mission, whether through evangelism, service, or simply living out faith authentically in daily interactions.
Throughout the sermon, personal anecdotes and biblical narratives were interwoven to illustrate these truths vividly. From the story of my early Christian life struggles to the powerful scriptural reminders of our new life in Christ, each element was aimed at driving home the reality of our calling in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding Spiritual Death and New Life: Recognizing our former state of spiritual deadness is crucial. Only by acknowledging our deep need for salvation can we fully appreciate the life Christ offers. This understanding is foundational to our Christian walk. [04:42]
2. Salvation as a Divine Gift: Salvation is not something we can earn or deserve; it is a gift from God. This truth should keep us humble and grateful, and it should also motivate us to live in a way that honors this incredible gift. [10:39]
3. Created for Good Works: As believers, we are God's workmanship, created for good works that He has prepared in advance for us. This understanding should shape our daily lives and choices, steering us towards activities that align with God's purposes. [15:29]
4. The Call to Discipleship: Following Christ means more than just believing; it involves active discipleship. This includes both growing in our own faith and helping others to do the same, fulfilling the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. [31:54]
5. Living Out Our Faith Through Love: The greatest commandment—to love God and love others—summarizes the law and the prophets. This love is practical and should be evident in our daily interactions and choices, reflecting our deep commitment to Christ. [24:58]
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome
02:25 - Introduction to Post-Easter Series
03:12 - Reading from Acts Chapter 2
04:42 - The Reality of Spiritual Death
10:03 - The Gift of Salvation
14:28 - Engaging with the Congregation
15:29 - We Are God's Workmanship
19:07 - The Body of Christ in Action
24:58 - Living Out the Great Commandment
31:54 - The Great Commission and Discipleship
34:27 - Call to Public Faith
40:47 - Practical Steps in Living Out Faith
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 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 flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving 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 is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 2:1-3 say about our state before accepting Christ? How does the metaphor of zombies illustrate this state? [04:42]
2. According to Ephesians 2:4-5, what is the reason for our transformation from death to life? [10:03]
3. What does Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasize about the nature of salvation? [10:39]
4. How does Ephesians 2:10 describe our purpose after salvation? What does it mean to be God's workmanship? [15:29]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding our former state of spiritual deadness help us appreciate the gift of salvation more deeply? [04:42]
2. What does it mean that salvation is a gift from God and not a result of our own efforts? How should this truth impact our daily lives? [10:39]
3. In what ways can recognizing ourselves as God's workmanship influence our choices and actions? [15:29]
4. How does the call to discipleship and making disciples relate to the Great Commission mentioned in the sermon? [31:54]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life before accepting Christ. How does remembering your past help you stay humble and grateful for your salvation? [04:42]
2. How can you actively remind yourself that your salvation is a gift and not something you earned? What practical steps can you take to live in a way that honors this gift? [10:39]
3. Identify one "good work" that you feel God has prepared for you. How can you start or continue to engage in this work this week? [15:29]
4. Think about someone in your life who might benefit from discipleship. How can you reach out to them and offer to walk alongside them in their faith journey? [31:54]
5. The sermon mentioned living out our faith through love. What is one specific way you can show love to someone in your community this week? [24:58]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of making disciples into your daily routine? What are some small steps you can take to share your faith more openly? [31:54]
7. Reflect on the personal anecdotes shared in the sermon. How do these stories resonate with your own experiences, and what lessons can you draw from them to apply in your life? [08:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Life Beyond Spiritual Death
Understanding our past spiritual deadness is essential to fully appreciate the new life in Christ. Before encountering Christ, we were like the walking dead, spiritually unresponsive and disconnected from the life God intended for us. This realization isn't meant to condemn but to highlight the dramatic transformation that occurs through Christ's salvation. By recognizing our previous state, we can truly value the vibrancy and purpose of our new life, which is a gift of grace, not a result of our own efforts. This perspective is foundational, as it shifts our understanding from mere existence to meaningful living through Christ. [04:42]
Ephesians 2:1-5 says, "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world...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—by grace you have been saved."
Reflection: Reflect on your life before you knew Christ. How does understanding your past spiritual deadness make the life you have in Christ now more significant?
Day 2: Salvation: A Gift, Not a Reward
Salvation is a divine gift, not a paycheck earned by our deeds. This fundamental truth keeps us humble and grateful, recognizing that we could never earn our way to God's favor. It's all about His mercy and love. Understanding salvation as a gift helps us live in constant gratitude and motivates us to honor God with our lives. We are called to respond to this gift not with a sense of entitlement but with a heart of thanksgiving and service, reflecting the unmerited favor we have received. [10:39]
Titus 3:4-7 states, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: How does viewing salvation as a gift from God change the way you approach your daily responsibilities and interactions with others?
Day 3: Crafted for Purposeful Action
As believers, we are not just saved from something; we are saved for something. We are God's workmanship, created for good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do. This understanding should shape our daily lives, steering us towards activities that align with God's purposes. Our actions and decisions should reflect our new identity in Christ, demonstrating His craftsmanship in our lives through the good works we engage in. This is not about earning God's favor but about living out the purpose for which we were recreated. [15:29]
Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: What are some specific good works you believe God has prepared for you to do in this season of your life?
Day 4: Active Discipleship: More Than Belief
Following Christ involves more than intellectual assent; it requires active discipleship. This means growing in our own faith while also engaging in the mission to make disciples of all nations. Every believer is equipped and called to participate in this mission, whether through evangelism, service, or living out faith authentically in daily interactions. This active participation is a direct response to the Great Commission and is an essential aspect of our calling in Christ. [31:54]
Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from your mentorship or discipleship? How can you begin to engage more actively in this calling?
Day 5: Love as the Foundation of Faith
The greatest commandment—to love God and love others—summarizes the essence of our faith. This love is not abstract but practical, manifesting in our daily interactions and choices. It reflects our commitment to Christ and is the foundation upon which all other commandments rest. Living out this love involves tangible actions that demonstrate our allegiance to Christ and our desire to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. [24:58]
Colossians 3:12-14 states, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate Christ's love in a practical way to someone in your community this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Here's the deal. God calls us out of darkness, into the light, out of our sin, doing things we know we shouldn't be doing. And he reaches out and he draws us to himself. Right now, in this very room, God is doing the drawing. He's reaching out, touching your heart, ministering." [11:56]
2. "Apart from Jesus, we are dead. We are living dead. But that shouldn't have stopped me from going to the church because everyone are hypocrites. We always say one and do something else. We are all sinners." [05:41]
3. "God is awesome. In fact, verses four through nine say it all. He says, 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 our trespasses, it is by grace you've been saved." [10:03]
4. "You are here today because God brought you. You are here because you are responding to his deep call on your life. You recognize there may be something missing in your life. Maybe you've made a mess of it, not unlike I did. Today is the day of salvation." [34:27]
5. "We were buried. We are now alive. Yeah. Alive for we've been unified with him in death. We will also be unified for him in life. I wrestled with as a young believer why I'm supposed to be set free from sin. Then why do I still sin?" [29:53]
### Quotes for Members
1. "We are God's handiwork. He's been molding you and shaping you for this very moment. And the time is now to no longer mess with a dead guy. Time is now to leave the zombie behind and by the power of the Holy Spirit, begin to walk as an ambassador of Christ." [18:05]
2. "That's doing the stuff, however it takes to express that love. One of the things I like to do, just one thing I, when I'm at the supermarket, I love to take the carts and take them back to where, you know, my simple act of love." [25:57]
3. "For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared hand for us to do in advance. We are his workmanship. He created us. God, he formed us in our mother's womb." [15:29]
4. "The mind governed by the flesh is death. But the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. In other words, what's governing you? If you're focusing on the flesh, that's a euphemism for my badness, for my scum, my ugliness, my flesh." [28:19]
5. "Then Jesus came to them and said, all authority in heaven on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded." [31:54]
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