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Ephesians 2:1-6 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Nicolas Roske, who attempted to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June 2022, was recently sentenced. The Justice Department sought a 30 year sentence, but Judge Deborah Boardman imposed an 8 year sentence. When asked about this, Senator John Kennedy (R-La) stated: “The sentence is way too little. He will be out in six years, and will be a danger to society.”

The Senator went on to say:

“I don’t know why people are like that. If I make it to heaven, I’m going to ask, but there’s some people that hurt other people, and they take other people’s stuff and, to protect everybody else, you’ve got to isolate them.”

I like Senator Kennedy. He seems down to earth, and speaks with common sense. Some of the things he’s said are very incisive:

“Power does not change you; it unmasks you.”

“If you believe that tax policy has nothing to do with the economy, then you’re pretty much like a rock, only dumber.”

“We don’t need more gun control laws. We need more idiot control.”

There’s two things I want to say about Kennedy’s statement on the Roske Sentencing. He spoke about the evil in the world, saying “I don’t know why people are like that. If I make it to heaven, I’m going to ask”. You don’t have to wait for Heaven to ask. The Bible tells you why people are that way. We’re going to see it today in our focal text. It will be very clear. But I also want to say this. Senator Kennedy said,

“IF I MAKE IT TO HEAVEN”

I think Senator Kennedy is a great guy. But his words expose a fallacy that people think is Biblical, but it isn’t. “IF I make it to Heaven”.

The devil has convinced people that they can work their way to Heaven. This is a common thought in the world today. I see it among Church members. I see it among preachers. We cannot work our way to Heaven. The reason bad people do bad things is tied to our inability to save ourselves.

The Apostle wrote in 1 John 5:13-15 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

The Christian KNOWS that he has eternal life. The Christian KNOWS that God is his Father, and God HEARS our prayers, as long as those prayers do not violate the character of God. We must pray “according to his will”. Then John goes on to say:

1 John 5:18-19 (ESV) We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him {self from sin}, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

There are two states of being in this world. There are those who are “sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26, NKJV). These people – commonly called “Christians” but Biblically called “Saints” or “Disciples of Christ”, are people whom God has saved. Those who are NOT saved by faith are “in the power of the evil one”.

There are the SAVED, born again of the Spirit, changed by God the Holy Spirit. They are QUICKENED. Then there are the LOST, those who are without Christ. They are SPIRITUALLY DEAD, unattached to God.

Let’s look at our text.

All Are Dead Apart From God’s Intervention

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Sometimes Bible translators add text that is not in the original language of the Scripture to aid in the reading of the text. That’s what’s happening in this verse. The words hath he quickenedare not found in verse 1 – and are not necessary to the truth taught. The text reads:

And you WHO WERE DEAD in trespasses and sins

When Adam disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:6) the Bible says:

Genesis 3:7 (ESV) … the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked

Before Adam sinned, his eyes were opened to God and God’s love. But after Adam sinned, his eyes were focused on the flesh, on his flesh, not on the Spirit of God. Adam immediately started walking apart from God. Adam did what HE thought was “good”. Adam “sewed fig leaves together and made themselves clothing”. When Adam heard God coming, “he hid himself from God” (Genesis 3:8). Whereas Adam loved God, now he wanted to be apart from God. When God called out Adam’s sin, Adam blamed others for his sin, rather than repent (Genesis 3:12). This pattern was repeated in Eve. By his actions, Adam brought spiritual death into the world.

The Bible teaches that when man fell from God that every part of man – his mind, his will, his emotions, his flesh – was corrupted by sin. As babies we are born into this world PHYSICALLY alive, but SPIRITUALLY dead.

Word Study: Those without God like to think that they can earn their way to Heaven by their works. But the Bible says we are born into this world “DEAD in trespasses and sins”. The word “TRESPASSES” (Greek paraptōma) literally means “to fall short of a goal or a target”. When Adam sinned, he thought he could make it better by building a suit of clothes out of fig leaves. But that didn’t please God. People today think, “Well, if I do this, or do that, it will please God”. But the person WITHOUT God cannot please God by his works. The Bible says:

Isaiah 64:6 (ESV) We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Apart from the power of God, even our “good deeds” are like “POLLUTED GARMENTS”, or as the King James says, “FILTHY RAGS”. Our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 7:17-18 (KJV) every GOOD tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

We are born into this world sinners. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

People are born separated from God. The only exception is in the case of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is God incarnate, and so was born without sin (Hebrews 4:15; 9:28). But for everyone else that is not Jesus, we are born spiritually dead, addicted to the flesh. People love darkness. It’s in their very nature. Jesus said,

John 3:19 (ESV) … the Light has come into the world {this is Jesus}, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

People love the darkness. People love their sins. People are born into this world enslaved to their sins. Jesus said:

John 8:34 (ESV) … Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

So why do people do the evil, Senator Kennedy? Because they are born into this world spiritually dead. Before God intervenes and saves a person, the Bible says:

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Born apart from God, we “walk according to the COURSE {Greek aiōn, the Age, Period, or Time} OF THIS WORLD”. Until God intervenes, we are all born into THIS PRESENT EARTH, in this TIME, walking apart from God. No one is naturally “good”. Now, not everyone is as bad as they can be. But no one, unless God intervenes, wants to walk with God. We “walk” or live our lives as unbelievers “according to the prince of the power of the air”. This is one of the titles of Satan. He is a “PRINCE” because he has authority (1 John 5:19, the whole world is in the power of the wicked one). Satan has power over “THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE”. He entices, he fans the flames of rebellion against God and His Christ. Satan told Jesus that “I own the world, all the kingdoms and their glory” (Matthew 4:8-9). Jesus didn’t correct the devil, but said that only God is to be worshiped (Matthew 4:10).

The whole world lies in the power of the wicked one. But Jesus is greater than Satan!

Before a person meets Jesus, before God causes a change in a person, the Scripture says:

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our CONVERSATION {anastrephō} in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Word Study: Without God’s intervention, we are all bound to sin. The word “CONVERSATION” is the Greek anastrephō, which means “the place we live, our home”. The lost person makes themselves at home with “desires of the flesh and of the mind”. We are our own gods, for we have rejected God and His Son Jesus Christ. Because of this, the Bible defines the lost person as “by nature the children of wrath”. People have the concept that God loves everyone as they are. Not true. God loves you as His creation. But God placed all His love for you in Jesus Christ His Son. Listen to me:

God Cannot Love You Apart From His Son

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

God shows His love for us, His mercy, His great Kindness by offering us a way out of spiritual death. That Way is Christ, faith in the Lord Jesus! God raises us from a state of spiritual death when we receive Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior. I heard a preacher make this statement:

“There is no place in the New Testament where God says we are to REPENT OF OUR SINS.”

That’s a profound statement – and it is true. God calls us to repent. But it doesn’t mean to be sorry for our sins. The word “REPENT” is the Greek metanoeō, which means “to change the mind”. Here’s the thing. IF we are DEAD IN SINS, blinded to our sin, and are born into this world DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS, then how are we to REPENT and feel sorry for our sins? Repent means to LOOK GODWARD, and give your life to Him. It means to look upward and say,

“Lord, I’m broken. My way of life isn’t working. I give myself to You. I will follow You. I am no longer my own god. You and You alone are my God! I love You, Jesus!”

Word Study: God opens our eyes at the point of salvation, and gives us a choice to either accept or reject Jesus Christ as Lord. If we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, God responds to this and “quickens us together with Christ”. The word translated “QUICKENS” is the Greek syzōopoieō which means “to make ALIVE TOGETHER WITH”. This word is found twice in the Scripture. Here, and in:

Colossians 2:13 (KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together [syzōopoieō] with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

At the point of salvation, you are removed from the Kingdom of Satan and are moved into the Kingdom of God.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB) {God the Father} rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

When you REPENT and STOP BEING YOUR OWN GOD, when you CALL ON JESUS for salvation, falling in love with Him, God makes you alive TOGETHER with CHRIST. Before you were without God, and were your own gods. NOW you follow Jesus, you love Jesus. You are bound to Jesus. As Jesus lives, you live. As Jesus is alive forever, you are alive forever. As Jesus is the Son of God, you are sons and daughters of God. Your destiny is with Jesus. This is not by your works, but “BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED”.

Your first birth brought you to spiritual death. Now, born again Saint, you are spiritually alive. You do not belong to the domain darkness and sin – but to the Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son.

Ephesians 2:6-7 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

GOD raised us up. We are SAINTS, not sinners. We are His DISCIPLES, not the devil’s. We are, right at this moment, “MADE to SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS”. We didn’t get there by our power, but by God’s power. We are quickened TOGETHER WITH CHRIST.

At the Pastor’s Conference, one Pastor asked the question “What is repentance?” I said that I believe repentance is acknowledging our helplessness, and relying on the riches of God’s Grace. You see, when we sin, we have three HUMAN options:

1. We can minimize the sin, and try through our own ‘good works’ to cover up our sin, or

2. We can blame someone else for our sin, or

3. We can hide from God, ignoring Him

Repentance is to do none of these things. It is to cast yourself on the riches of God’s Grace, for that is the only way you can be right with God. Repentance is to look upward, and with humility say “You, God, are God. I am not. I am a broken thing. But I want to be Yours. I ask You, in the Name of Jesus, to change me, to change my state, to change my kingdom. I rest on what Jesus Christ did for me at Calvary. I believe in You, O Lord. Not in me, but in You!”

What is my part in salvation, and what is God’s part? The best answer for this is seen in the earthly ministry of Christ. When Jesus said “stretch out your hand” the man with the withered hand did as Jesus said. He obeyed Jesus! When Jesus said “take up your bed, and walk” the crippled man heard Jesus. He picked up his bed and walked. He didn’t care what the Pharisees said. He didn’t care that is was the Sabbath. He just obeyed Jesus! He heard, and followed. When the blind man needed sight Jesus told him, go, wash in the pool of Siloam, the man had to do as Jesus said before he could see. In each and every case when a person was healed they obeyed Jesus. They did absolutely nothing to heal themselves.

They came to Jesus, they did as Jesus said, and they were healed.

God did not use man in the creation of all things. God spoke, and it came into being. God the Father planned creation, and created all things through His Son Jesus. God the Spirit moved on creation. God’s Word brings life. The Psalmist said (Psalm 119:50) “Thy Word, O God, hath quickened me. By You I am alive!” How does salvation come? God says, “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else” (Isaiah 14:22). Here is the text that saved C.H. Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher, and this same text will save you. Look unto God and be saved. Look unto God, knowing that what I try to do God will not do. My sufficiency and my salvation is in God.

Salvation Is – From Start To Finish –
Entirely A Work Of God

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Spiritual life cannot come forth out of that which is dead unless God bring it forth. God speaking through the Prophet said:

Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Those whose nature is evil cannot make themselves good, any more than the Ethiopian can change his skin, or the leopard his spots. Job asked,

Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

There is not one person who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean thing. We cannot clean ourselves up. We cannot get better over time. That which is dirt stays dirt, and that which is bitter stays bitter, unless God enact the change. How does God change a person? Not by our efforts, but by Grace through faith. We believe what the Lord has said. We REPENT and RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST. He is both Lord and Savior to the Saint. The Bible says:

John 1:12-13 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

New Birth or the Quickening does not come about because we are better than others. It does not come about because we will it. We are quickened – made alive together with Christ – when we surrender our lives to Him Who loves us, and gave Himself for us. Once a person is saved:

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The Saint of God no longer walks in the darkness with Satan and the lost. The Saint of God walks with Jesus. We who are saved do the works that are pleasing to God. So … here’s a little test.

Once you were “saved”, were you more aware of God in your life?

Once you were “saved”, did you want to please the Lord with what you do?

Once you were “saved”, do you look forward to being with other Saints?

Once you were “saved”, do you care more for people than you used to?

Saints, We ARE His workmanship. If you have been saved by God, and are a new creature, then God is at work in you. We ARE His. God does not start a story and then fail to complete it. We are His. He is ours. God will complete what He has started. The Bible says we ARE His workmanship. We keep on being His. The baby will not be abandoned by the parent. The child will not be aborted because it is unwanted. God, Who created the New Creature in the crucible of Christ, will finish the New Creature.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ…

The mark of the Christian is the changed life. We are not perfect. But we are God’s, and it shows in our lives. God the Father “made Jesus, Who knew no sin, to be SIN FOR US, that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

We are children of light and life. Not of darkness. God is at work in us. Praise His holy Name! Jesus tells His people:

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.