(2026-02-22) 在基督里的生命 (李偉強弟兄)

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering Our Past Without the Gospel

We were once spiritually dead, unable to respond to God or His truth. Our lives were characterized by following the patterns of this world, submitting to the enemy's influence, and indulging our sinful desires. We were, by nature, objects of wrath, completely lost and without hope. Yet, it is in remembering this former state that the magnitude of God's grace becomes truly breathtaking. This honest reflection is the first step toward a life of profound gratitude. [01:58]

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. (Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV)

Reflection: As you look back on your life before knowing Christ, what specific worldly pattern or value did you once follow that you now recognize as being in opposition to God’s truth? How does remembering this transformation fuel your thankfulness today?

Day 2: The Turning Point: God’s Rich Mercy and Great Love

The words "But God" mark the glorious turning point in our story. They signify the divine intervention that we could never achieve on our own. Motivated by His immense love and rich mercy, God acted while we were still helpless in our sin. This love was not passive; it was demonstrated decisively through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Our salvation finds its origin solely in the character and initiative of a loving God. [24:40]

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. (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your current circumstances do you need to be reminded of the "But God" moment, that His mercy and love are actively at work even when you feel spiritually stagnant or distant?

Day 3: Made Alive and Raised Up With Christ

Salvation is far more than forgiveness; it is a resurrection. God imparts His very life to us, making us spiritually alive together with Christ. But He does not leave us in the grave. In a stunning act of grace, He has also raised us up and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms. This is our new spiritual position and identity—victorious, accepted, and secure in Him, even while we remain on earth. [31:57]

...and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7 ESV)

Reflection: How might living with the conscious awareness of your heavenly position—seated with Christ—change the way you approach a specific challenge or relationship this week?

Day 4: Saved by Grace Through Faith

Our rescue from sin and death is entirely a gift of God’s grace. It is not a reward for our good works or religious efforts. We contribute nothing to our salvation but the sin that made it necessary. Even the faith to believe is itself a gift from God, ensuring that no one can boast in their own merit. This truth humbles us and simultaneously fills us with awe at the completeness of God’s saving work. [37:48]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

Reflection: Is there any area of your life where you are still subtly trying to earn God’s favor or feel you must achieve a certain level of goodness before you can approach Him? What would it look like to rest fully in His gift of grace today?

Day 5: Created in Christ for Good Works

We are God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus. Salvation is not the end of God’s work; it is the beginning. He has prepared good works for us to walk in, not to earn salvation, but as the natural outcome of it. As we yield to the Holy Spirit within us, engage with Scripture, and pray, God Himself works in us, shaping us to fulfill His purposes and reflect His character to the world. [42:08]

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific "good work" God has prepared for you that you may have been overlooking—perhaps a simple act of kindness, a word of encouragement, or a step of obedience—that you can walk in today?

Sermon Summary

以弗所书第二章描绘从属灵死亡到在基督里新生的清晰路线。经文先指出未信之人处于“死在过犯罪恶之中”的状态：随从今世潮流、受空中掌权者影响、任凭肉体私欲驱使，三重力量把人推向与神隔绝。随后神的行动打破黑暗：凭大爱与丰富怜悯，将人在基督里活过来，使人与基督一同复活并被高举到天上属灵的位份。救恩属神的恩典并且借着信心领受，既非人的功劳，也非行为所成就；信心本身也是神所赐的。这救恩既是过犯得赦，也是新的身份和权柄，预表将来在基督里完全的承受。

经文还继续把救恩看作起点而不是终点。基督在天上为人代求，圣灵内住并运行在信徒心里，使人立志行事都有神的旨意；圣经、祷告与苦难成为神成全信徒、塑造生命的工具。善行不是救恩的根本原因，却是救恩结果的自然流露：神在基督里造成人，使人去行神预备的善事，结果荣耀神并显明基督的生命。整段经文呼吁时常回想从前的黑暗与如今的恩典，以感恩的心行在基督里，脱离罪的捆锁，进入属天的自由与使命。结尾以祷告与盼望收束，强调神不断雕琢每一个信徒，直到显现那日使人成为与基督相称的形象。

Key Takeaways

1. 属灵上死需要复活 信徒原来在罪中如同死人，灵性对神毫无反应，问题并非简单的疾病而是需要复活的根本改变。认识这事实能撼动自义的安全感，迫使人寻求外来的救赎和神的大能。记住过去的黑暗，有助于常存谦卑并珍惜新生命。 [10:38]
2. 神以丰富怜悯拯救 神凭着祂的大爱与丰富的怜悯，主动向死者施恩，不按人应得的刑罚，而赐不配的恩典与生命。十字架既显明神对罪的憎恶，也彰显对罪人的救赎之爱，救恩因此既公义又满有怜悯。将救恩看作神主动的恩赐，能带来感恩并重定人生的根基。 [24:40]
3. 得救本乎恩因着信 救恩完全出于神，不靠人的功德；人回应的信心同样是神的恩赐。把信心看为对神已成就救赎的回应，能避免把行为当作得救的资本，同时催生真实的信心生活。这样的理解既保护福音的纯正，也激励持续地倚靠并顺服神。 [37:48]
4. 成圣靠圣灵与话语 成圣不是自我努力的产物，而是圣灵在内住、基督在天上代求、圣经和祷告在日常中运行的结果。苦难也常成神用来引导人回到话语与祷告的工具，形成成长的循环。把成圣视为神用具体手段做工，能把焦点从“做更多”转向“与神同行”。 [44:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:58] - 以弗所书第二章导入与回想
[05:06] - 讲章纲要：三部分展开
[10:38] - 没有福音的生命：死在过犯中
[24:40] - 神的怜悯与救赎之路
[31:57] - 与基督一同复活并坐在天上
[37:48] - 得救本乎恩、因着信
[44:44] - 成圣的工具：圣灵、话语、祷告
[49:19] - 善行作为救恩的果子
[54:24] - 呼召：活出在基督里的生命

Bible Study Guide

以弗所书 2:1-10

Observation questions

根据以弗所书2:1-3，一个人在信主之前，其生命状态被哪三种力量所控制和描述？
第4节以哪两个词开始，这标志着叙述的重点发生了怎样的转变？
根据第5节和第8节，人的得救是哪两个因素共同作用的结果？
第10节如何描述善行与救恩之间的关系？善行的源头是什么？

Interpretation questions

为什么将未信之人的状态描述为“死在过犯罪恶之中”（第1节）比描述为“生病”更为准确和严重？这种描述对理解救恩的必要性有何影响？ [10:38]
神“丰富的怜悯”和“爱我们的大爱”（第4节）是如何在十字架上同时彰显祂对罪的憎恶和对罪人的爱的？这如何使救恩既公义又满有怜悯？ [24:40]
第8节说“得救是本乎恩，也因着信……这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的”。如果连信心本身也是神所赐的恩典，那么人在救恩中扮演什么角色？这如何彻底排除人自夸的可能？ [37:48]
根据第10节和讲道的解释，神使用哪些具体的工具（例如圣灵、圣经、祷告等）来塑造信徒，使他们能行出神所预备的善事？ [44:44]

Application questions

时常回想自己信主前“死在过犯中”的光景，以及“随从今世风俗”、“顺服空中掌权者”、“放纵肉体私欲”的具体表现，对保持现今生活中的谦卑和感恩有何实际帮助？ [10:38]
认识到救恩完全是神主动的恩典和怜悯，而非自己的任何功劳，这会如何改变你与神相处时的态度（例如在祷告、敬拜或失败灰心时）？这如何能重定你人生的根基？
在日常生活中，是把“信心”看作一种自己发起的、用以换取神祝福的行为，还是看作对神已成就之救恩的回应和倚靠？这种理解的差异会如何具体影响你面对试探、困难或决策时的反应？ [37:48]
在追求成圣和生命成长的过程中，是更容易陷入“自我努力”的挣扎，还是学习倚靠“圣灵的内住、基督的代求、圣经的话语和祷告”？
神所预备要你去行的“善事”可能是什么？这些善行不是为了换取救恩，而是救恩生命自然的流露。你最近是否经历到神在你心里运行，使你“立志”并“行事”成就祂的美意？
苦难常是神用来引导人回到祂话语与祷告的工具。回顾一次经历，思考神如何藉着那段困难时期，使你更深的转向祂、依靠祂，并因此生命得着造就？ [44:44]
你目前的生命在哪些方面还像一颗“尚需雕琢的钻石”？你愿意如何配合那位“神圣的工匠”——圣灵，让祂在你里面继续动工，使你越来越有主耶稣基督的形象？ [55:13]

Ask a question about this sermon

CCFC Alhambra This sermon · AI assistant

未信之人有何属灵状态

神为罪人做了哪四件事

得救靠恩典还是行为