Being Refreshed with the Gospel
From Spiritual Death to Life
If you remember from last week, we traversed the dark and gloomy reality of Ephesians 2:1-3, examining the haunting truth of our former life. Scripture paints a vivid picture of spiritual deadness—using the Greek word nekros, we were spiritual corpses, oblivious to the metaphysical realm, unaware of spiritual horrors and blessings, constantly offending God under the pressure of his wrath.
Being spiritually dead created two problems: legally, nothing in ourselves commended us to God; personally, nothing moved us toward him. It's like a drunk driver crashing into a pole—reeking of alcohol, flopping out of the car, unable to flatter the officer or deny guilt. As unbelievers, we couldn't stand against God's judgment nor desire kingdom things. In fact, 1 Corinthians 2 describes the natural man rejecting spiritual truths as moria—moronic foolishness.
Verses 1-3 reveal utter hopelessness, total darkness. Then, verse 4 bursts in: but God.
Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, 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 ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as 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 so that we would walk in them.
The Power of "But God"
This conjunction shatters the darkness, greater than Christmas morning or any earthly joy. God, rich in mercy because of his great love, lavished on us even in death, made us alive with Christ. No dead person can enjoy satisfaction—sin deceives, like Israelites chasing idolatry in Ezekiel, finding no rest.
Imagine talking to a corpse in a morgue: asking advice on college, crushes, or weekend plans. Disgusting and morbid. Unbelievers respond similarly: "When you're done with that God thing, we can hang out." They can't grasp sanctification, kingdom realities, or God's love. Christians receive that love to give, yet relationships with the dead feel awkward.
Don't avoid unbelievers, but see them truly. Preach the gospel or live it so vibrantly they ask, "What's different about you?" Why joy amid tragedy? Why youth group recharges like plugging into spiritual vitality? No neutral ground—either graves or life.
Pursuing old deadness is grotesque, like stepping back into the grave. But God revitalizes, performing spiritual CPR. He magnifies in our eyes, making Christianity joyful and sin terrible.
Rich in Mercy, Great in Love
"Rich" means beyond normal experience—God's mercy exceeds worldly versions. When needy, he's the limitless source who pulled you from the grave. His love is vast in quantity (endless supply) and quality (intense, for your greatest good). Even spiritually dead, he loved you as Lazarus, calling you out.
God's mercy provides actual needs with what's needed. His love is effective self-giving:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...
God gave himself, opening the Trinity to us, seating us with Christ. Proper response: "Lord, you have outdone yourself"—surpassing riches of grace.
The Riches of Grace
Grace: God's unearned love-motivated personal involvement in your life for your best and his glory. He orchestrates every moment, fighting sin, leading to eternal enjoyment. From deadness to life, trust him with anything—you've been given the best from the worst.
This demands thanks, worship, commitment, love. Pride shatters: salvation not by works, lest anyone boast. You weren't worth dying for in deadness; God's glory was. Value comes from new identity as his workmanship.
Created for Good Works
Not off the hook—you're saved for good works God prepared beforehand. Radical change marks old vs. new life. Ergon (works/energy) means all activity: good or evil, useful or useless, no neutral.
Good works advance the gospel or sanctification (Hebrews 12:14—holiness essential). Clutter yields stale Christians. Pursue God-prepared works making him famous, not you—useless deeds burn up.
Challenge: Examine activities. Do they profit sanctification, make God famous? Live so unbelievers notice difference, then preach verbally. Be "selfish" Christians—obsessed with spiritual profit. Choose useful over useless.
