From Death to Life: The Power of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Depth of the Human Condition

The Bible presents a stark diagnosis of the human condition outside of Christ: spiritual death, enslavement, and condemnation. This perspective is often at odds with contemporary views that see human issues as mere sadness or dysfunction. However, understanding our true condition is crucial because it leads us to the profound solution offered by God. Superficial views result in superficial solutions, but the Bible offers a transformative answer: God makes us alive in Christ. This transformation is not about improving our circumstances but about addressing the root problem of sin. [01:28]

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV): "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."

Reflection: In what ways have you seen society offer superficial solutions to deep spiritual problems? How can you seek God's transformative solution in your own life today?

Day 2: Transformation Beyond Circumstances

The transformation in Christ is not about improving our earthly circumstances but about moving from spiritual death to life. This change may bring challenges, but it is a testament to the power of God at work in us. Our testimony is that we were lost and have been found, dead and now alive. This spiritual awakening is often perceived as foolishness by those who are perishing, but for those who are being saved, it is the power of God. [06:23]

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: How can you focus on the spiritual transformation in your life rather than your earthly circumstances? What steps can you take today to set your mind on things above?

Day 3: The Gospel's Call to Self-Examination

The gospel divides, prompting us to examine our stance towards God. Are we at enmity with Him, or have we been reconciled? The message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to those being saved. This division is a call to self-examination and faith. It challenges us to consider whether we are living in alignment with God's will or resisting His call. [08:20]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. Are there areas where you feel at enmity with Him? How can you take steps towards reconciliation and alignment with His will today?

Day 4: The Personal Call of God

God's call is personal and powerful, opening the door of our hearts. It is not just the external call of creation or conscience but an inner call that transforms us. Like Lazarus, we are called from death to life, a testament to the transformative power of Jesus. This personal call is an invitation to experience the fullness of life in Christ and to respond to His love and grace. [10:38]

John 11:43-44 (ESV): "When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out.' The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"

Reflection: How have you experienced God's personal call in your life? What steps can you take to respond to His call and embrace the new life He offers?

Day 5: Living in the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

As believers, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, a position of spiritual reality and warfare. This understanding should empower us to live boldly, recognizing the spiritual battle we are engaged in and the victory assured through Christ. Despite the challenges and opposition we face, we are assured of victory through Christ. This understanding should lift our spirits and empower us to live boldly for God, knowing that His mercy, love, grace, and kindness are at work in our lives. [14:25]

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Reflection: In what ways are you currently experiencing spiritual warfare? How can you rely on the victory assured through Christ to face these challenges with boldness and faith?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Ephesians, we confront the stark reality of the human condition as described in the Bible. Outside of Christ, humanity is depicted as dead, enslaved, and condemned. This diagnosis is often rejected by contemporary society, which prefers to view human issues as mere sadness, dysfunction, or sickness. However, the Bible's perspective is crucial because a superficial understanding of our condition leads to superficial solutions. Education, medication, legislation, or indoctrination cannot address the root problem of sin. The Bible offers a profound solution: God, through Christ, has made us alive, raised us, and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.

This transformation is not about improving our circumstances or making us feel better about ourselves. In fact, following Christ may lead to more challenges in our earthly lives. The true testimony of a believer is the transition from death to life, from being lost to being found. This spiritual awakening is often perceived as foolishness by those who are perishing, but for those who are being saved, it is the power of God. The gospel inevitably divides, prompting us to examine our stance: are we at enmity with God, or have we been reconciled to Him?

The call of God is powerful and personal. It is not merely the external call of creation, conscience, or preaching, but an inner call that opens the door of our hearts. This is exemplified in the story of Lazarus, who was called by name from death to life. Similarly, believers are made alive with Christ, raised with Him, and seated in the heavenly places. This spiritual reality transcends our physical location and circumstances, placing us in a realm of spiritual warfare and blessing.

As Christians, we are called to live in the light of this truth, recognizing our position in Christ and the spiritual battle we are engaged in. Despite the challenges and opposition we face, we are assured of victory through Christ. This understanding should lift our spirits and empower us to live boldly for God, knowing that His mercy, love, grace, and kindness are at work in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. examination and faith. [08:20]
4. God's call is personal and powerful, opening the door of our hearts. It is not just the external call of creation or conscience but an inner call that transforms us. Like Lazarus, we are called from death to life, a testament to the transformative power of Jesus.

5. As believers, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, a position of spiritual reality and warfare. This understanding should empower us to live boldly, recognizing the spiritual battle we are engaged in and the victory assured through Christ.

** [08:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - The Human Condition
[02:39] - Superficial Solutions
[03:53] - The Bible's Diagnosis
[05:04] - Made Alive with Christ
[06:23] - The Believer's Testimony
[07:43] - The Gospel's Division
[09:12] - God's Personal Call
[10:38] - Transformative Power of Jesus
[11:29] - Raised with Christ
[12:18] - Seated in Heavenly Places
[14:25] - Spiritual Warfare
[16:02] - The Church's Role
[18:36] - Living in Light of Truth
[20:22] - God's Mercy, Love, Grace, Kindness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ephesians 2:1-6
1 Corinthians 2:14
Romans 6:6-8

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Observation Questions:

According to Ephesians 2:1-6, what is the condition of humanity outside of Christ, and what has God done for us through Christ? How does this align with the sermon’s description of the human condition? [01:28]
In 1 Corinthians 2:14, what does Paul say about the natural person's ability to understand spiritual things? How does this relate to the sermon’s point about the gospel being perceived as foolishness by those who are perishing? [07:27]
Romans 6:6-8 speaks about being crucified with Christ. How does this passage describe the transformation that occurs in a believer's life? How does this connect with the sermon’s message about being made alive and raised with Christ? [11:49]

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Interpretation Questions:

The sermon mentions that superficial views of the human condition lead to superficial solutions. How does this idea challenge contemporary approaches to addressing human problems? [02:39]
The sermon describes the gospel as a message that divides. What does this division look like in practical terms, and how might it manifest in a believer's life? [08:20]
The sermon emphasizes the personal and powerful call of God. How does this inner call differ from the external calls of creation and conscience, and why is it significant for a believer’s transformation? [09:29]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your understanding of the human condition. How does recognizing the biblical diagnosis of being spiritually dead, enslaved, and condemned change your perspective on personal and societal issues? [01:28]
The sermon suggests that following Christ may lead to more challenges in life. Have you experienced increased challenges since becoming a believer? How do you find strength in these situations? [06:23]
The gospel is described as foolishness to those who are perishing. How do you respond when others view your faith as foolish? What steps can you take to remain confident in your beliefs? [08:20]
Consider the personal call of God in your life. Can you recall a moment when you felt God calling you by name? How did that experience impact your faith journey? [10:23]
The sermon speaks about being seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. How does this spiritual reality influence your daily life and decisions? What practical steps can you take to live more boldly for God? [14:25]
The sermon encourages believers to live in the light of their position in Christ. What specific changes can you make in your life to better reflect this truth? [19:44]
Reflect on the sermon’s message about God’s mercy, love, grace, and kindness. How can you actively demonstrate these attributes in your interactions with others this week? [20:22]

Sermon Clips

The Bible declares that we are spiritually dead on account of our trespasses and our sins and that only God is able to raise the dead. Paul then goes on to say and that of course is good news because that is exactly what God has done and beginning here in verse four he is going to explain to his readers and we are his readers now what God has done and then why he has done it. [00:04:02]

The testimony of the believer is not that God has helped us to feel better about ourselves or somehow or another has improved our circumstances or our living conditions because in actual fact some of us having professed faith in Jesus Christ have found that our circumstances have actually got worse. [00:05:08]

The story of the believer is I was dead and Jesus has made me alive we were so lost that we didn't know we were lost now we needed to be shown that we were lost before ever we were found because you don't need to be found if you're not lost. [00:06:30]

The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing who are they, everybody but to those who are being saved who are they those who have been raised up to life it is the power of God so in other words when the Bible is proclaimed when the gospel is proclaimed it inevitably divides. [00:08:09]

The real effectual call of God the inner call of God is that which unlocks and opens the door of our hearts that's why we often say don't we I think I probably said it last week I say it to redundancy that my voice can unlock nothing can unlock no heart. [00:09:37]

He called him by name he was deaf but he heard him he was dead but he was alive that is the transforming power of Jesus and all of this is accomplished on account of the fact that Christ rose from the dead and sat down at the right hand of God we have been made alive with Christ. [00:10:29]

We have been raised with Christ raised with Christ now notice that each of these verb is in the past tense in the past tense because all of this has already taken place all of this was accomplished when Christ rose from the dead and he himself then sat down at the right hand of the father. [00:10:52]

We have been made alive verse 5 and we have been raised verse 6 and I'm doing this from memory now because I turned to John and we have been seated with him I think it's there isn't it in verse six still yeah raised up with him and seated as with him in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. [00:12:56]

The Heavenly places is just a just another way of talking about the Unseen World of spiritual reality the Unseen World of spiritual reality when we did our studies in Daniel we said there are evil forces that are at work in our world if we could ever actually see the the the the uh the reality of this Pres. [00:13:29]

To become a Christian is to be reconciled to God and to be antagonized to the evil one we're now antagonized to the evil one as long as we were simply going down Broad Street with him he didn't really care one way or another as long as we were simply going down Broad Street and seeking to be as ethical as we could or as nice as we might he was quite content to leave us on our own. [00:15:11]

The manifold fold wisdom of God the triumph over enslavement the victory over death the pardon over sin the life that is really life might now be made manifest so that the forces of evil recognize that that is actually the case says John start and this is not a piece of meaningless Christian mysticism no it Bears witness to a living experience brought to New Life we were dead brought to a new victory we were ins slaved. [00:16:21]

Part of this message this morning needs to say to some of us let's get our chins out of our chests let us start to live in the light of what is true of us as individuals and as a church in a nation that largely has turned its back on God in an environment where the hosts and the hordes of evil seem increasingly oppressive move amongst the average church member you'll find them either angry or depressed why because we're not actually living in the light of the work of the spirit of God within our hearts and lives. [00:19:36]

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From Death to Life: The Power of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Depth of the Human Condition

Day 2: Transformation Beyond Circumstances

Day 3: The Gospel's Call to Self-Examination

Day 4: The Personal Call of God

Day 5: Living in the Reality of Spiritual Warfare

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

From Death to Life: The Power of Christ

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