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Intro
Scorpion and the frog
Ephesians 2

THE CONTEXT OF THIS IS PAUL IN PRISON AND WRITING TO THE BELIEVERS IN THE CITY
OF EPHESUS AND HERE SPECIFICALLY TO A GROUP OF GENTILES WHO WERE
APPARENTLY DOUBTING THEIR POSITION AND BEING PERSECUTED BY WHAT WAS CALLED
THE CIRCUMSISION GROUP.
THEY WERE BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERENT DOING ENOUGH TO BE SAVED, THAT IT WAS
FAITH IN JESUS PLUS SOMETHING
Ephesians 2
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And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 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
3among 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. 4But God, being rich in mercy,
because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us
alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved 6and raised us up with him and seated us
with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been
saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no
one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1. What it means to be dead in sins

2. Gods response
3. What it means to be dead to sin and why the struggle
EPHESIANS 1 LOOKS AT SALVATION FROM GODS POINT OF VIEW, THATS WHY ITS
DIFFICULT TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND, PREDESTINATION, ELECTION, PURPOSE,
REDEMPTION, GUARANTEED INHERITANCE, MYSTERY, WHAT GOD HAS DONE, WHY HE DID
IT, WHAT HE PLANS
EPH 2 LOOKS AT SALVATION FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW. ITS MORE EARTHY, MORE
RELATABLE, WE LOOK AT IT AND REALIZE ITS ALL ABOUT GOD BUT WE GET TO BE A PART
OF THE STORY
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As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

DEAD: SPIRITUALLY, NO SENSATION, NO AWARENESS NO PERCEPTION OF THE THINGS OF

THE SPIRIT

WHEN IT COMES TO SPRITUAL TRUTHS DEAD PEOPLE BELIEVE THOSE TRUTHS ARE
EITHER ABSTRACTIONS (BELIEVE IT BUT ONLY AS KNOWLEDGE, NOT FAITH) OR NONSENSE
(2 COR 4: 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who
is the image of God.)

DEAD PEOPLE MAY BELIEVE THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH OR THAT THEIR GOOD OUTWEIGHS
THEIR BAD, OR THAT THE CHURCH IS FULL OF HYPORCRITES SO THEY WILL TAKE THEIR
CHANCES ON THEIR OWN, OR THE CLASSIC, RATHER LAUGH WITH THE SINNERS THAN
CRY WITH THE SAINTS THE ATTITUDE THAT THOSE WHO FOLLOW JESUS ARE SLAVES TO
BEING GOOD AND I PREFER BEING FREE FROM ALL THAT, ITS IRONIC THAT MANY OF US
EQUATE WHAT GOD CALLS DEAD TO FREEDOM
PAUL GOES ON TO SAY THAT WE (AS DISCIPLES OR FOLLOWERS OF JESUS) ONCE WERE
THAT WAY
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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 3among 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.

WE USED TO LIVE THAT WAY, LIKE THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY LOST
SIDE NOTE: THIS IS WHERE CHRISTIANS CAN TEND TO GET FORGETFUL AND A LITTLE
UPPITY
DISNEY
DRUG ADDICTS
DONALD MILLER, WHAT AM I CAPABLE OF?
SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM
1 Cor 5
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I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people 10not at all meaning the
people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would
have to leave this world. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to
judge those inside?

DOES THIS MEAN WE JUST ACCEPT AND CONDONE SIN? NO, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT I
SHOULDNT EXPECT A MAN IN SHACKLES TO BE ABLE TO RUN A RACE WITH ME
EXPECT A CAT TO ACT LIKE A DOG
*FREEDOM FROM SIN DOES NOT COME FROM NOT SINNING, BUT FROM REDEMPTION
THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT CANNOT BE PASSED UP THAT ARE KIND OF BURIED IN V 3

1. GRATIFYING CRAVINGS AND DESIRES (LUST OF THE FLESH, EYES, PRIDE)

2. CRAVINGS AND DESIRES OF WHAT? OUR NATURE, FLESH
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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 3among 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.

HERE WE SEE SINS BUT WE ALSO SEE SIN

WE WERE DEAD IN OUR SINS BUT THAT IS DUE TO OUR SIN NATURE, THE DISEASE WE
WERE ALL BORN WITH PASSED DOWN FROM ADAM (IF I JUST DONT SIN I WONT BE A SINNER
RELIGIOUS VIEW)
ROM 5
12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned (KJV)

NOW ALL THIS DEATH AND SIN TALK IS SETTING UP PAULS MAIN THOUGHT FOR THIS
CHAPTERTHE BIG BUT
FIRST A RECAP, WE WERE DEAD, BLIND, BUT BEYOND THAT WE WERE BY NATURE AN
ENEMY OF GOD CAPABLE OF THE MOST HEINOUS OF ACTS. YEAH, EVEN ME, THE NEVER
GOT A DETENTION, NEVER GOT GROUNDED, TRIED TO FOLLOW THE RULES, HELPED OLD
LADIES ACROSS THE STREET, STILL HAD A NATURE THAT WAS SELFISH AND EVEN
THOUGH RESTRAINED BY CULTURAL RULES OF MORALITY, STILL WAS SELFISH.
STILL WAS AN OFFENSE TO A HOLY GOD WHO MADE ME TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT I AM, WHO IS JUST AND JUDGES PERFECTLY AND IS TOTALLY WITHIN HIS
RIGHT TO REJECT ME. SO WHY? WHY AM I GOING TO HEAVEN? WHY CAN I CALL MYSELF A
CHILD OF GOD?
HERE WE GO
I AM AN ENEMY OF GOD, BUT
I AM A SLAVE TO WHAT I WANT, BUT
EVEN WHEN I DO SOMETHING GOOD, MY MOTIVES ARE ULTIMATELY SELFISH, BUT
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But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we
were dead in transgressionsit is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might
show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9not by
works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do .

BIG QUESTION ANSWERED HERE AND A FOUNDATION FOR ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
DOCTRINES OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATIONWE ARE NOT SAVED, JUSTIFIED, NOT
GOING TO HEAVEN, NOT PLEASING GOD BY OUR WORKS BUT BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
IN JESUS
THIS IS ONE OF THE MARKS OF A CULT, ANYONE WHO ADDS TO FAITH FOR SALVATION OR
REPLACES FAITH WITH SOMETHING FOR SALVATION IS CORRUPTING WHAT THE CROSS IS
ALL ABOUT
BUT WE LIKE THATIF I OFFER YOU $1000
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS WORKS ARE MENTIONED TWICE HERE, WE ARE NOT SAVED BY
THEM BUT ARE CREATED TO DO THEM
ISAIAH 64 VS. REV. 19
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We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright

and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the
saints.

WHY AND HOW DID OUR WORKS GO FROM BEING FILTHY RAGS TO RADIANT LINEN?
SOMETHING HAPPENED BETWEEN ISAIAH AND REVELATIONTHE CROSS
THE WHY IS GRACE AND THE HOW IS THE CROSS
SO WE WERE DEAD IN OUR SIN, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE. BECAUSE OF GODS , GOODNESS
AND GRACE, WE WERE SAVED BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS DEATH AND
RESURRECTION. AND LASTLY, WE SEE A MIRICLE IN V. 5 AND 6.
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made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressionsit is by grace you have been
saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus

BECAUSE OF THE PENALTY CHRIST PAID ON THE CROSS, THOSE SINS AND
TRANSGRESSIONS FROM V 1 ARE NO LONGER ON MY ACCOUNT, BUT ADDITIONALLY I HAVE
BEEN MADE ALIVE, MY NATURE HAS BEEN CHANGED (JUST AS ADAMS WAS CHANGED IN
THE GARDEN) MY ENTIRE IDENTITY HAS BEEN CHANGED
Rom 8
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You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does
not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet
your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

SO IF I HAVE A NEW NATURE THAT MUST MEAN I NEVER MAKE A WRONG CHOICE, MY LIFE
BECOMES PERFECT, I HAVE A STRESS FREE MARRIAGE, KIDS THAT NEVER MISBEHAVE,
AND PERFECT TEETH
DO WE EVER HEAR OF CHRISTIANS FALLING INTO SIN?
DO I EVER STRUGGLE WITH BEHAVIOR UNBECOMING A REDEEMED CHILD OF GOD?
WHY?
ROMANS 7-- PAUL IS EXPLAINING THE BATTLE WITHIN HIMSELF AND EVERY BELIEVER
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I have discovered this principle of lifethat when I want to do what is right, I

inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love Gods law with all my heart. 23 But there is another
power[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin
that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this
life that is dominated by sin and death?
SO WHY DO WE FALL? ITS BECAUSE WE LISTEN TO A DEAD MAN (ROM 8:10 SAYS OUR
BODY IS DEAD DUE TO SIN)
DEAD MAN WALKING, THOUGH OUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN CLOTHED WITH CHRIST, OUR BODIES
ARE STILL CLOTHED WITH FLESH, A FLESH THAT IS STILL WARRING AGAINST OUR SPIRIT
FOR EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, I AM GOING TO LIVE ETERNALLY, BUT MY FLESH WILL DIE
AND BE RESURRECTED NEW, TILL THEN, THIS DYING MAN, MY FLESH WANTS ITS OWN WAY
2 WEEKS TO LIVE
DOES THAT MEAN WE DONT HAVE A CHOICE?
OR IS OUR SIN OK CAUSE ITS JUST A CASUALTY OF OUR FLESH?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! OUR FLESH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED (KILLED) WITH CHRIST
GALATIONS 5:24: Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh and its desires.
MADAGASCAR
WAYS WE DEAL WITH THE FLESH:
-DENIAL
-CONQUEST/TRAINING
-CONFESSION
-EXPERIENCE (REVIVAL)
IN REALITY TO CRUCIFY THE FLESH WE MUST ADHERE TO THE GREATEST OF
COMMANDMENTS: LOVE GOD. BY LOVING OUR SAVIOR WE MORE EASILY RECKON OUR

IDENTITY IN HIM. WE RISE TO THE STATION HE HAS PLACED US, A SANCTIFIED, REDEEMED,
IMAGE BEARER OF OUR CREATOR. WE MORE FULLY REALIZE WE ARE ALIVE
CS LEWISWEIGHT OF GLORY
Indeed, if we consider the
unblushing promises of reward and the
staggering nature of the rewards promised
in the Gospels, it would seem that Our
Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but
too weak. We are half-hearted creatures,
fooling about with drink and sex and
ambition when infinite joy is offered us,
like an ignorant child who wants to go on
making mud pies in a slum because he
cannot imagine what is meant by the offer
of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily
pleased.
LAZARUS
DEAD MAN WALKING, THOUGH OUR SPIRIT HAS BEEN CLOTHED WITH CHRIST, OUR BODIES ARE
STILL CLOTHED WITH FLESH, A FLESH THAT IS STILL WARRING AGAINST OUR SPIRIT FOR EVERY
DECISION WE MAKE, I AM GOING TO LIVE ETERNALLY, BUT MY FLESH WILL DIE AND BE
RESURRECTED NEW, TILL THEN, THIS DYING MAN, MY FLESH WANTS ITS OWN WAY
PAUL SAYS WE ARE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, SO NOT ONLY ARE OUR SINS TAKEN CARE OF, OUR
SIN NATURE IS AS WELL, I JUST DONT LIVE IT SOMETIMES. WE CAN MUSTER LIVING IN VICTORY
OVER DEATH, BUT THE VICTORIES GO BEYOND THAT, I AM NO LONGER A SLAVE TO SIN, I HAVE
BEEN SET FREE BY BEING CRUCIFIED
ITS SO EASY TO DEFAULT TO THE FLESH, EVERYTHING HERE IS DESIGNED TO PLEASE AND
SATISFY THE FLESH, ITS A BROKEN WORLD PERFECT FOR BROKEN PEOPLE, JUST LOOK AT THE
MAGAZINE COVERS, CAR COMMERCIALS, CLOTHES, FOOD
MOSTLY DESIGNED TO SATISFY EVERY CRAVING OF OUR FLESH AND OUR FLESH IS DYING SO IT
DOESNT CARE THAT GIVING INTO THOSE DESIRES CAUSES: HEART DISEASE, ADDICTION,
DIVORCE, SICKNESS, BROKEN HOMES, BROKEN PEOPLE, NO THE FLESH WANTS WHAT THE FLESH
WANTS NO MATTER THE COST
BUT GOD CAME IN THE FLESH AND DENIED IT. JESUS FOUGHT THE HUNGER, FOUGHT THE
TEMPTATION FOR RICHES AND PRIDE AND WON WHERE WE COULDNT.
HE SAW ME AS A BROKEN MAN AND A SPIRIT DESTINED FOR DARKNESS. HE STEPPED OUT OF
HEAVEN, INTO THE MUD AND RESCUED IT THE ONLY WAY POSSIBLE, BY BUYING IT BACK WITH HIS
OWN DEATH. NOW I AM HEALED AND BEING HEALED.

YES, MY FLESH STILL DESIRES TO TAKE ME DOWN ROADS THAT BEGIN IN PLEASURE AND END IN
PAIN, BUT MY RESCUER HELPS ME, RESCUES ME, BECKONS ME TO LOVE HIM, TO LISTEN TO HIM,
NOT TO A DEAD MANONCE DEAD IN SINS, NOW DEAD TO SIN