BUT, "GOD LOVES ME!" - Ephesians 2:1-10

Every month it seems something is in need of scheduled maintenance. Spark plugs need replacing, tires rotated, and oil changed in my vehicle (oh, I have two vehicles). I must have annual doctor visits to maintain a lower cholesterol count. Even my computer needs regular maintenance or unnecessary files will build up; slowing it down. I broke down this past year; buying one of those external hard drives so that we can do less deleting and more saving – something aches inside me – I’m just deferring the problem.

Do you know where I am leading you? Yes, I’m a Pastor; I care about spiritual things. It is true: you need spiritual maintenance. A couple good encounters with people who don’t live God’s way will leave you on the examination table needing repair. The world is a hard, selfish place. The Bible says, “Don’t be conformed to its image.” There must be a good amount of pressure from the world for the Bible to address it so straight up. You may say to yourself, “I don’t need any maintenance; I’m doing just fine.” Maintenance is still needed when we cannot see it. The need for your car to have a four wheel alignment will not be realized until many miles down the road as your tires begin to wear uneven. So it is with spiritual maintenance; you may not be able to recognize your need for a little adjustment now but in a few days, weeks, years, you will be in rough shape. You must allow the Scriptures to examine you, placing yourself under its diagnostics.

One of the primary Biblical texts to study for spiritual alignment is Ephesians 2. I will break it into two parts: teaching 2:1-10 on Jan. 4 and 2:11-22 on Jan. 11. Because I will be walking through the chapter verse by verse, I want this blog to turn a new corner. Here I will provide you additional scripture for further study and thoughtful questions to consider. I welcome your feedback.

Ephesians 2:1-10
This paragraph can be broken into two parts: Life without God (v. 1-3) and Life with God (v. 5-10). They are linked together by verse 4; the answer for getting across the line of life without God to life with Him. Another chapter in the Bible to help illustrate this transfer is Romans 6:1-11.

1. The result of sin is always the same, What? (Colossians 2:13; Romans 5:21, 6:23; James 1:13-15)

2. Will sin always keep you from God’s promises? (1 Corinthians 6:5-11)

3. Who took the initiative to move you from life without God to life with God? (2 Corinthians 5:18)

4. What motivated God to take such initiative? (Psalm 145:8, Habakkuk 3:2)

5. What three words describe the work of God in you? (Note: God does for you what God has already done for Christ.)

6. Think about the meaning of these three works in your life? What is their impact?

7. What is the main point of this paragraph: (Ephesians 4:17-32)

That you are saved by grace through faith.
That you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ, for good works.