Understanding Our Spiritual Condition and God's Justice

 

Summary

In our exploration of Ephesians 2:1-3, we are confronted with the stark reality of our spiritual condition before encountering Christ. The passage begins by describing humanity as "dead in trespasses and sins," a state that is often misunderstood in our culture. Many equate life with pleasure and self-indulgence, yet the Bible presents a contrasting view, equating such pursuits with death. James 1 provides a vivid illustration of how temptation, when nurtured, leads to sin, and ultimately, to death. This is a sobering reminder that what the world often celebrates as life is, in fact, a path to spiritual demise.

The concept of sin is not subjective; it is defined by God. Sin is missing the mark set by God, not a target we can redefine to suit our preferences. Our culture often attempts to justify lifestyles by drawing targets around their actions, but God's standards remain unchanged. This passage challenges the notion of inherent goodness, emphasizing that we were once followers of the world and, by extension, followers of Satan, the prince of the power of the air. This is a difficult truth to accept, but it is crucial for understanding our need for redemption.

The passage also highlights the influence of demonic forces in our lives. While not every struggle is demonic, we must recognize that spiritual warfare is real. Jesus and His disciples cast out demons, demonstrating the power of God over evil. We are reminded that we have the power to overcome temptation through Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:13. God provides a way of escape from every temptation, and we are without excuse when we choose to sin.

Finally, the passage speaks to the wrath of God, a topic often avoided in modern discourse. Yet, understanding God's wrath is essential to comprehending His justice and holiness. Throughout Scripture, God's judgments are portrayed as just and true, and we are called to worship Him even in His wrath. This is a challenging concept, but it is part of the fullness of God's character.

Key Takeaways:

- Our spiritual state before Christ is described as "dead in trespasses and sins," highlighting the deceptive nature of worldly pleasures that lead to spiritual death. This understanding challenges us to reevaluate what we consider life and fulfillment. [06:48]

- Sin is not subjective; it is defined by God as missing His mark. Our culture's tendency to redefine sin according to personal preferences is a dangerous deviation from God's truth. We must align our lives with His standards, not our own. [09:16]

- Spiritual warfare is real, and demonic influences can affect our lives. While not every struggle is demonic, we must be vigilant and prayerful, recognizing the power of God to overcome evil. [16:51]

- God provides a way of escape from every temptation, and we are without excuse when we choose to sin. This truth empowers us to live victoriously, relying on God's faithfulness and strength. [20:29]

- Understanding God's wrath is essential to comprehending His justice and holiness. We are called to worship God even in His wrath, acknowledging His judgments as just and true. This challenges us to embrace the fullness of God's character. [34:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:26] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:1-3
- [06:48] - Dead in Trespasses and Sins
- [07:57] - The Deceptive Nature of Sin
- [09:16] - Sin Defined by God
- [11:03] - Following the Course of the World
- [13:32] - The Influence of Satan
- [15:18] - Spiritual Warfare and Demonic Influence
- [18:41] - Power Over Temptation
- [20:29] - God's Faithfulness in Temptation
- [23:28] - The Reality of Excuses
- [26:22] - The Wrath of God
- [31:10] - Worshiping God for His Justice
- [34:46] - Understanding God's Judgments
- [39:21] - Worship and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:1-3
- James 1:13-15
- 1 Corinthians 10:13

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Ephesians 2:1-3, how does Paul describe our spiritual state before encountering Christ? What does it mean to be "dead in trespasses and sins"? [05:26]

2. In the sermon, how is the concept of sin described in relation to God's standards versus cultural standards? [09:16]

3. What role does the "prince of the power of the air" play in influencing humanity, according to the sermon? [13:32]

4. How does 1 Corinthians 10:13 provide assurance about facing temptation, as discussed in the sermon? [20:29]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean for sin to be defined by God and not by personal or cultural preferences? How does this understanding affect one's view of morality? [09:16]

2. How does the sermon explain the reality of spiritual warfare and demonic influence in our lives? What are the implications for believers? [16:51]

3. In what ways does understanding God's wrath contribute to a fuller comprehension of His justice and holiness? How does this challenge modern perceptions of God? [34:46]

4. How does the sermon suggest believers can rely on God's faithfulness to overcome temptation? What practical steps are mentioned? [20:29]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you might be redefining sin to fit personal preferences? How can you align more closely with God's standards? [09:16]

2. Consider a recent temptation you faced. Did you recognize the "way of escape" that God provided? How can you be more vigilant in identifying and taking these opportunities in the future? [20:29]

3. How do you perceive the concept of spiritual warfare in your daily life? Are there specific areas where you need to be more prayerful and vigilant? [16:51]

4. The sermon discusses the importance of understanding God's wrath. How does this aspect of God's character influence your worship and relationship with Him? [34:46]

5. Think about a time when you felt justified in your actions because they were culturally accepted. How can you ensure that your actions are aligned with biblical truth rather than societal norms? [11:03]

6. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with sin. What practical steps can you take this week to rely on God's strength and overcome this challenge? [20:29]

7. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's justice and holiness in your personal study and worship? [34:46]

Devotional

Day 1: The Illusion of Worldly Pleasures
Before encountering Christ, humanity is described as "dead in trespasses and sins," a condition that is often misunderstood. Many equate life with pleasure and self-indulgence, but the Bible presents a contrasting view, equating such pursuits with death. This understanding challenges us to reevaluate what we consider life and fulfillment. James 1 illustrates how temptation, when nurtured, leads to sin, and ultimately, to death. This is a sobering reminder that what the world often celebrates as life is, in fact, a path to spiritual demise. [06:48]

Ephesians 5:6-8 (ESV): "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."

Reflection: What worldly pleasures or pursuits are you tempted to equate with true life? How can you seek fulfillment in Christ instead?


Day 2: God's Unchanging Standard of Sin
Sin is not subjective; it is defined by God as missing His mark. Our culture's tendency to redefine sin according to personal preferences is a dangerous deviation from God's truth. We must align our lives with His standards, not our own. This passage challenges the notion of inherent goodness, emphasizing that we were once followers of the world and, by extension, followers of Satan. This is a difficult truth to accept, but it is crucial for understanding our need for redemption. [09:16]

Isaiah 5:20-21 (ESV): "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!"

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to redefine sin to suit your preferences? How can you realign your understanding with God's unchanging standards today?


Day 3: The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is real, and demonic influences can affect our lives. While not every struggle is demonic, we must be vigilant and prayerful, recognizing the power of God to overcome evil. Jesus and His disciples cast out demons, demonstrating the power of God over evil. We are reminded that we have the power to overcome temptation through Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:13. God provides a way of escape from every temptation, and we are without excuse when we choose to sin. [16:51]

Ephesians 6:11-12 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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: What specific steps can you take to be more vigilant in recognizing and resisting spiritual warfare in your life?


Day 4: God's Faithfulness in Temptation
God provides a way of escape from every temptation, and we are without excuse when we choose to sin. This truth empowers us to live victoriously, relying on God's faithfulness and strength. We are reminded that through Christ, we have the power to overcome temptation. This understanding encourages us to seek God's help and guidance in moments of weakness, trusting in His provision and strength. [20:29]

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV): "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

Reflection: Identify a recurring temptation in your life. How can you actively seek God's way of escape and rely on His strength to overcome it today?


Day 5: Embracing God's Wrath and Justice
Understanding God's wrath is essential to comprehending His justice and holiness. We are called to worship God even in His wrath, acknowledging His judgments as just and true. This challenges us to embrace the fullness of God's character, recognizing that His wrath is a part of His divine justice. Throughout Scripture, God's judgments are portrayed as just and true, and we are called to worship Him even in His wrath. [34:46]

Nahum 1:2-3 (ESV): "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty."

Reflection: How does understanding God's wrath and justice deepen your worship and reverence for Him? How can you embrace the fullness of His character in your daily walk with Him?

Quotes


Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1-3 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. [00:05:36]

The Bible is telling us that we were all of us were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked so the Bible says we were dead when we are living in sin what a lot of people in the world would call life and pleasure the Bible says no that's opposite that's actually death. [00:06:32]

Sin is determined by God this word for sin means to miss the Mark it's the idea of a bullseye like a bullseye has been drawn a target has been drawn and the idea to miss that Mark which God has painted he says that's sin now we live in a world where people like to shoot an arrow and then wherever it lands they draw the Target around it and go Bullseye I nailed it. [00:08:46]

When you're walking in your sin you're following what the whole world does you know how this you know you can go to whatever Netflix or Hulu or Spotify and you just look at what's trending what's trending well the Bible says what's trending is sin what's trending is missing God's Mark he says the world when you are walking in your sin and your trespasses you're just following the course of the world. [00:11:18]

He says if you're following the course of this world you're really following Satan who is behind all of it so why is all of this trending because Satan is the spirit behind it and that's his desire is to kill and destroy the thief comes to steal kill and destroy and so his job is to get as many people on that wide road that leads to death. [00:14:00]

You see Jesus go to so many places and one of the things he does is he casts demons out of people right you've seen that where maybe they're have a physical ailment others you know there're just some sort of evil in them and God casts the spirit out Jesus cast you don't see that anywhere in the Old Testament okay that's why the disciples were so freaked out when they went and healed people. [00:15:06]

1 Corinthians 10:13 he says no temptation has overcome you except that which is common to man and God is faithful he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle but with the Temptation we'll give you away way of Escape so that you can come out from under it okay so whether it's demonic or physical or psychological or whatever else he says whatever you're tempted with right now you have no excuse you have power over it. [00:20:06]

Every time I've sinned it was my fault not my dad's not my pastor not my wife my kids not anyone who got me angry or whatever it was always my fault and I always could have escaped it there was always a way out and I didn't take it we need to understand this and again I don't want to belittle anyone's Temptations but again I want to be very careful that we do not belittle the holy spirit of God. [00:25:08]

The Bible says then you're dead and you're trespasses and sins and you become a child of Wrath like the rest of the world does this is this is so hard because we rarely hear about the wrath of God even though God says vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord that's why he says hey I don't want you guys taking revenge on each other because he goes Vengeance belongs to me I will repay. [00:30:00]

Revelation 15 verse three it says they sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the lamb saying great and amazing are your Deeds O Lord God the almighty just and true are your ways oh King of the Nations it's a great verse right do you agree with that verse do you believe that great and amazing are his deeds oh Lord God the almighty just and true are your ways oh King of the Nations. [00:33:17]

I heard the angel in charge of the waters say just are you oh holy one who is and who was for you brought these judgments for they have shed the blood of saints and Prophets and you have given them blood to drink it is what they deserve and I heard the altar saying yes Lord God the almighty true and just are your judgments again here are people that are worshiping God for his wrath. [00:34:25]

They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the lamb saying great and amazing are your Deeds O Lord God the almighty just and true are your ways oh King of the Nations it's a great verse right do you agree with that verse do you believe that great and amazing are his deeds oh Lord God the almighty just and true are your ways oh King of the Nations. [00:33:17]

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Transcript
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