From Death to Life: The Power of God's Word

 

Summary

In our journey through the series "The Inside Story," we have been exploring the profound truths of human nature and the Christian faith. Today, we conclude the first part of this series by addressing the question: Why is the world as it is? Despite centuries of human history, we have not achieved a world of peace and justice. The Bible provides a foundational understanding of this dilemma, beginning with the creation of Adam, who was made upright, yet humanity has pursued many schemes. Each of us is born in the image of God, which grants us dignity and worth, but we also inherit the sinful nature of our ancestors, Adam and Eve.

Ephesians 2 reveals the depth of our human condition: we are sinners by nature, children of wrath, and, most critically, spiritually dead in our transgressions and sins. This spiritual death means we are utterly incapable of changing our position or moving towards God on our own. The analogy of a dead man in a canyon illustrates our hopelessness; unlike someone trapped who can take drastic action, a dead person can do nothing.

However, the gospel offers hope. Ephesians 2:4-5 declares that God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. This transformation is not about our efforts but about God's action. Jesus, who has life in Himself, speaks life into those who are spiritually dead. This miracle of grace is akin to the physical resurrections Jesus performed, such as raising Jairus' daughter and Lazarus. The Word of God, when spoken, brings life where there was death.

This truth motivates us to share the gospel, knowing that God can bring life to the spiritually dead through His Word. It also assures us that there is hope for the worst of sinners. No matter how far one may feel from God, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can bring new life to anyone today. Conversion is a miraculous crossing over from death to life, and it is available to all who hear and believe in the Word of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Dual Nature of Humanity: We are created in the image of God, granting us dignity and worth, yet we inherit a sinful nature from Adam and Eve. This duality explains the persistent presence of sin and brokenness in the world. [05:19]

- The Depth of Spiritual Death: Our spiritual condition is one of complete hopelessness without divine intervention. We are not merely weak or indecisive; we are dead in our sins, unable to move towards God on our own. [08:00]

- The Miracle of New Life: God, in His rich mercy, makes us alive with Christ. This transformation is not about our efforts but about God's action, bringing life to the spiritually dead through His Word. [18:15]

- The Power of the Word: The Word of God is the means by which spiritual life is imparted. Just as God spoke creation into existence, Jesus speaks life into those who are spiritually dead, illustrating the power of His Word. [24:51]

- Hope for All: There is hope in Christ for the worst of sinners. No matter how far one may feel from God, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can bring new life to anyone today. Conversion is a miraculous crossing over from death to life. [37:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Ministry Update
- [02:43] - Prayer of Gratitude
- [03:52] - Introduction to the Series
- [04:33] - The State of the World
- [05:02] - The Dual Nature of Humanity
- [06:04] - The Condition of Sin
- [07:33] - The Reality of Spiritual Death
- [09:05] - The Hopelessness of Death
- [11:00] - Illustration with Manny the Mannequin
- [13:16] - The Offense of Spiritual Death
- [15:24] - Misconceptions About Sin
- [17:40] - God's Intervention
- [20:32] - Jesus Offers Hope
- [22:34] - How Christ Gives Life
- [24:22] - The Power of God's Word
- [27:15] - The New Birth
- [33:03] - The Motivation for Evangelism
- [37:10] - Hope for the Worst of Sinners
- [42:32] - Invitation to New Life

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:1-5
- John 5:24-25

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Ephesians 2:1-5, what is the state of humanity before God's intervention? How does this passage describe our spiritual condition? [07:33]

2. In John 5:24-25, what promise does Jesus give to those who hear His word and believe? How does this relate to the concept of crossing over from death to life? [21:15]

3. The sermon uses the analogy of a dead man in a canyon to illustrate our spiritual condition. How does this analogy help us understand our inability to move towards God on our own? [09:43]

4. What role does the Word of God play in bringing spiritual life, according to the sermon? How is this similar to the creation story in Genesis? [24:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the dual nature of humanity, being created in the image of God yet inheriting a sinful nature, explain the persistent presence of sin in the world? [05:19]

2. What does it mean to be "spiritually dead" according to the sermon, and how does this impact our ability to seek God on our own? [08:00]

3. The sermon emphasizes that conversion is a miraculous crossing over from death to life. How does this perspective change the way we view evangelism and sharing the gospel? [33:28]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the power of Jesus' words in bringing life, and what implications does this have for our faith in the transformative power of the gospel? [24:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel spiritually dead or distant from God? How can you invite God's transformative power into those areas this week? [42:32]

2. The sermon suggests that there is hope for the worst of sinners. Is there someone in your life who seems far from God? How can you be a vessel of hope and share the gospel with them? [37:31]

3. Consider the analogy of the dead man in the canyon. Are there situations in your life where you feel trapped and unable to change? How can you rely on God's power rather than your own efforts? [09:43]

4. The Word of God is described as the means by which spiritual life is imparted. How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine to experience its life-giving power? [24:51]

5. The sermon highlights the importance of sharing the gospel. What practical steps can you take this week to share your faith with someone who may not know Christ? [33:28]

6. Reflect on the concept of being made alive with Christ. How does this truth impact your identity and purpose as a believer? How can you live out this new life in your daily interactions? [18:15]

7. The sermon encourages us to look to Jesus rather than ourselves. In what ways can you shift your focus from self-reliance to reliance on Christ in your spiritual journey? [30:48]

Devotional

Day 1: The Image and the Inheritance
We are created in the image of God, which grants us inherent dignity and worth. However, alongside this divine image, we inherit a sinful nature from Adam and Eve. This duality explains the persistent presence of sin and brokenness in the world. Despite our noble origin, humanity has pursued many schemes, leading to a world that falls short of peace and justice. Understanding this dual nature helps us comprehend the complexity of human behavior and the need for divine intervention. [05:19]

Ecclesiastes 7:29 (ESV): "See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes."

Reflection: In what ways do you see the image of God and the inherited sinful nature at work in your own life? How can acknowledging this duality help you in your spiritual journey today?


Day 2: The Reality of Spiritual Death
Our spiritual condition is one of complete hopelessness without divine intervention. Ephesians 2 describes us as spiritually dead in our transgressions and sins, unable to move towards God on our own. This state is not merely one of weakness or indecision but of total incapacity, akin to a dead man in a canyon who can do nothing to save himself. Recognizing this reality is crucial for understanding the necessity of God's grace and the transformative power of the gospel. [08:00]

Romans 5:6 (ESV): "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually stagnant or distant from God. How does acknowledging your spiritual helplessness change your perspective on seeking God's intervention?


Day 3: The Miracle of New Life
God, in His rich mercy, makes us alive with Christ. This transformation is not about our efforts but about God's action, bringing life to the spiritually dead through His Word. Just as Jesus performed physical resurrections, He speaks life into those who are spiritually dead. This miracle of grace is a testament to the power of God's love and mercy, offering hope and new beginnings to all who believe. [18:15]

Colossians 2:13 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses."

Reflection: How have you experienced God's transformative power in your life? What steps can you take today to embrace the new life He offers?


Day 4: The Power of the Word
The Word of God is the means by which spiritual life is imparted. Just as God spoke creation into existence, Jesus speaks life into those who are spiritually dead, illustrating the power of His Word. This truth underscores the importance of engaging with Scripture and sharing the gospel, knowing that God's Word has the power to bring life and transformation. [24:51]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine? What specific steps can you take to share the life-giving power of Scripture with others?


Day 5: Hope for All
There is hope in Christ for the worst of sinners. No matter how far one may feel from God, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can bring new life to anyone today. Conversion is a miraculous crossing over from death to life, available to all who hear and believe in the Word of Christ. This assurance motivates us to share the gospel and trust in God's ability to transform lives. [37:31]

1 Timothy 1:15-16 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the hope found in Christ? How can you be a vessel of God's love and grace to them today?

Quotes


We learned that every child born into the world in every generation since Adam bears the enigma of a double image in other words you are born in the image of God and that gives your life unique dignity value and worth but it is also true of every one of us that we are born in the image of our Father and our mother that goes all the way back to Adam and to Eve and what that means is that we also are sinners by nature and by practice. [00:05:11]

By nature we are sinners from birth by nature we are children of Wrath and that is the inside story of human life now you may remember if you were here that last week we used a simple parable the parable of the biggest problem and we told a story about a man who comes to see a pastor because he wants to be more generous it soon emerges that the real problem over his money isn't his generosity it's the fact that he's raided two million dollars from his company's pension fund. [00:06:18]

Now do you see immediately why I say that this is this is the capstone as it were on the problem this is that this is the biggest dimension of all by nature we are sinners from birth that's one thing by nature we are children of Wrath that's another thing but now here we're discovering from the Bible that by nature we can do nothing to change our own position that's the capstone that's the worst of all. [00:07:40]

A man who is trapped in a canyon may be able even after 127 hours to take some drastic action to find an extreme way to get himself out even if it pushes him to the limit of personal pain but a man who is dead in a canyon is in a different position right there is no hope for him he cannot move he cannot feel you cannot act we all use the phrase while there's life there's hope but you see where there's death there's no hope is there. [00:09:36]

The Bible does not say here that you were trapped in your sins see we spoke a few weeks ago about the story of Aron Ralston you remember that guy from Indiana who was out in Utah and he's exploring a canyon on his own and he gets his arm trapped underneath a falling rock and he's there for 127 hours and he keeps hoping that someone will come and help him but nobody does. [00:08:51]

The problem for the sinner is this he is dead towards God he can't act he can't feel he can't move he is without hope and that is why it says in the same chapter in verse 12 you went without hope you've got to take that seriously you were without hope and you were without God in the world now I have to tell you and this is why I say some of us will be struggling even right now that no doctrine is more offensive to the sinner than this even the wrath of God causes less offense than this. [00:13:52]

God made you alive in Jesus Christ look at that in verse four will you you see the first three verses of this chapter are really laying out the inside story of human life sinners by birth children of Wrath unable to change our position completely dead in it the situation is hopeless but then look at verse four it is glorious but but you think oh after all these weeks of looking at the doctrine of sin we finally got there but because of his great love to us God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Jesus Christ. [00:17:29]

Jesus is speaking about how a person who is in the realm of death unable to move unable to respond may cross over jesus says from death to life and here Jesus holds out this marvelous offer he says whoever hears my word whoever believes him who has sent me so here's the son of God and he has life in himself he has life and he's able to give life and he says he gives this life to those who hear the word that he speaks and believe in the father who sent him. [00:21:25]

The Son of God speaks and physical life is imparted in these resurrections from the dead and you see it has been precisely that way that we are being told that the Son of God speaks into spiritual death into our own inability our own unresponsiveness towards God and and brings a new heart and brings a new mind brings a new spirit the Bible calls this the new birth being born from a bath it's wonderful it's glorious the dead hear his voice and live so here is Jesus he is in the business of raising people who are spiritually dead and he is still doing this today. [00:27:02]

It is always worth sharing the gospel I have to tell you that the truth we've been looking at today is to me the single most motivating truth with regards to sharing the gospel that I know it encourages me it drives me it sustains me in the work of evangelism here's why some of you will remember one of the best-known stories in the Old Testament this valley of dry bones in Ezekiel in Chapter 37 and remember that God takes Ezekiel in a vision to see this vast vast valley and it's full of dry bones nothing's living there. [00:33:03]

If you are a Christian today the miracle that has happened in your life is every bit as great as what happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus if you don't see that it's probably because you don't believe that you were spiritually dead or maybe you are like me brought up in a Christian home and maybe like me you did come to Jesus in a very simple way early in life and you had not committed any gross sins at that time but I'm saying to you it was no harder for God to save Saul of Tarsus than it was for him to save you the miracle was exactly the same. [00:40:30]

The resurrection of Jesus Christ when he was lying in the grave and the father raised him from the dead it happened in a moment up from the grave he arose that could happen to you today spiritually God is able to do that for you today as you have heard the word of Jesus Christ he's able to give you a new mind he's able to give you a new heart new desires new affections new power new direction and you spirit he's able to make you a new creation he's able to do it right now that's what conversion is. [00:42:02]

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Transcript
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