“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. 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— 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. 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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) 1. THE DESPERATE CONDITION BEFORE SALVATION.

Ø Spiritually DEAD. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…” Ephesians 2:1-2a (ESV) “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...” Romans 3:23 (NKJV) Ø Totally DEFEATED.

“…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…” Ephesians 2:2-3a (ESV) Ø Hopelessly DOOMED.

“…and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:3b (ESV) ‘He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 (NKJV) “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36 (NIV)

2. THE DIVINE PROVISION OF SALVATION. “But God…” Ephesians 2:4a (ESV) “But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; He will surely take me to Himself.” Psalm 49:15 (NIV) “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26 (NKJV) “You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” Acts 3:15 (NIV) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…” Romans 5:8 (NKJV) “…being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us…” Ephesians 2:4b (ESV)

3. THE DYNAMIC PROCESSION INTO SALVATION. “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) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

v Faith is the God-given CONVICTION that the promise of forgiveness of sin, resurrection life, and eternal heaven through Jesus Christ is TRUE.

4. THE DRAMATIC POSITION BECAUSE OF SALVATION. “…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 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 2:5-7 (ESV)