Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1–10

Introduction

A. Although they had been “dead in trespasses and sins,” the saints in Ephesus were “made alive together with Christ.”

B. When God restored life to Jesus’ physical body, He empowered us to live again spiritually (Ephesians 1:18–2:5).

Discussion

I. There are dead people walking among us today.

A. They are dead in a physical sense (Ephesians 2:1; Luke 15:24).

B. God has often demonstrated His ability to restore life to those who are physically dead (Luke 7:11–15; 8:51–56; John 5:28–29).

C. More remarkable is the fact that God is able to restore life to those who are spiritually dead.

II. How and when are we made alive?

A. We are made alive by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:5–8).

B. We are made alive when we are baptized (Colossians 2:10–13).

C. This marks the moment when we begin a new life with Christ (Romans 6:1–8; John 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

III. Once you are born again, you can live forever

A. Jesus came to this world to bestow everlasting life (John 3:16).

B. To enjoy this gift, however, we must continue to hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him (John 10:27–29).

C. After we are born again, it is still possible for us to fall from God’s grace (Galatians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11–12; Romans 6:23).

D. Just because we can fall does not mean that we have to!

Conclusion

If you have never been made alive by the grace of God, you can be buried with Christ today and rise to begin living a new, more abundant life with Him (John 10:10).