Ephesians 2 - Introduction

Ephesians

Chapter Ephesians 2:1-10

Outline:

I. The former condition of Christians: Ephesians 2:1-3

II. God's rich mercy and love: Ephesians 2:4-7

Saved by grace through faith to serve: Ephesians 2:8-10

Remember what you once were: Ephesians 2:11-12

Access to God only through Christ: Ephesians 2:13-18

No longer strangers and aliens: Ephesians 2:19-22

“I sometimes wonder if good and thoughtful people have ever been more depressed about the human predicament than they are today. The media enables us to grasp the worldwide extent of contemporary evil, the spread of social conflict (racism, tribalism, the class struggle, disintegrating family life), the absence of accepted moral guidelines (leading to violence, dishonesty, and sexual promiscuity). Man seems incapable of managing his own affairs or of creating. just, free, humane and tranquil society. Against the sombre background of our world today Ephesians 2:1 stands out in striking relevance” (Stott p. 69). The first three verses of this chapter and the reality of the human condition over 1900 years later demand some conclusions: Man is incapable of solving his own problems without God. 1900 years have passed and we have not eradicated even one sin. In fact, is seems that addictive and deviant human behaviors have only multiplied. The answer is not found in technology. The answer has not been found in any social science, such as psychology. Money and federal programs have not solved our moral programs. The social idealism of the 60's did not help.

“Since 1960, population has increased 41 percent; the Gross Domestic Product has nearly tripled; and total social spending by all levels of government (measured in constant 1990 dollars) has risen from $143.73 billion to $787.0 billion--more than. five-fold increase. Inflation-adjusted spending on welfare has increased 630 percent and inflation-adjusted spending on education has increased 225 percent...But during the same 30-year period there has been. 560 percent increase in violent crime; more than. 400 percent increase in illegitimate births;. quadrupling in divorce rates;. tripling of the percentage of children living in single-parent homes; more than. 200 percent increase in the teenage suicide rate...Although the Great Society experienced some success, there is. growing body of evidence which indicates its remedies have, in many cases, reached their limits. Many of the most serious social and behavioral problems we now face (particularly among our young) are remarkably resistant to government cures...Over the years teachers have been asked to identify the top problems in America's public schools. In 1940 teachers identified talking out of turn; chewing gum; making noise; running in halls; cutting in line; dress code infractions; and littering. When asked the same question in 1990, teachers identified drug abuse; alcohol abuse; pregnancy; suicide; rape; robbery; and assault” [Note:. The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators. William J. Bennett. pp. i-ii] In addition, Ephesians chapter. continues the thought presented in chapter 1. Not only has God raised up Christ, but He has also raised us! This chapter graphically describes the depth of sin from which God has delivered us. Here is one more reason to praise God for the riches of His grace.

“ Alienation is. popular word in contemporary society. There are many people, especially young people in the so-called developed world, who are disillusioned with ‘the system', critical of ‘the technocracy' and hostile to ‘the establishment', who describe themselves as ‘alienated'. Some work for reform, others plot revolution, others drop out. But long before Feuerbach and Marx the Bible spoke of human alienation. It describes two other and even more radical alienations than the economic and the political. One is alienation from God our Creator, and the other alienation from one another. Nothing is more dehumanizing than this breakdown of fundamental human relationships. It is then that we become strangers in. world in which we should feel at home, and aliens instead of citizens” (Stott pp. 89-90). Paul had mentioned earlier that we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3), now Paul gets very specific and points out the hopeless condition that Gentiles are in apart from Christ.