How the saints in the church are to live? Eph.2:1-2
The scriptures as recorded in the Bible:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
A. “As for you”.
This “you” were the saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Eph.1:1
In order to understand and apply the scripture correctly,
we must always remember this!
Otherwise, we will miss apply the scriptures and convey the messages that were not originally intended!
This was and is happening!
B. “You were dead in your transgressions and sins”.
This means the saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus were dead in their transgressions and sins.
1. The original word for “transgressions” is fall from doing righteousness.
The difference between a child of God and a child of the devil-->
A child of God is able to live a life that strives to do righteousness! 1 Jn.3:10
2. “Sins” is violation of God’s law or evil deeds. 1 Jn.3:4
3. When one falls from doing righteousness and turn to do what is against the law of God, he is dead spiritually.
a. Eze.18:20 The soul that sinned, it shall die.
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son;
the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
b. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ro.6:23c. This dead means the 2nd death in hell! Rev.20.14
C. “In which you used to live”!
1. This means the saints in the church, the faithful in Christ Jesus used to live in their transgressions and sins.
And this was why they were dead.
2. This means people in the world were and are living a life
that falls from doing righteousness and violate God’s law!
D. “When you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
1. As we know this is the cord problem all over the world! Good and evil is always at war with each other!
2. People can choose to follow the ways of good or the ways of evil!
People always succumb to choose to follow the ways of evil!
3. Water baptism is the beginning of being back to follow God’s way!
a. The saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus were buried with Christ
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life! Ro.6:4
b. The death Christ died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Ro.6:10 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God. Ro.6:!1
***You are the one who has to count yourselves! No one else can count for you!
c. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life;
and offer the parts of your body to God as instruments righteousness. Ro.6:12-13
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.6:18
***It is you who have to offer the parts of your body to do righteousness.
d. Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Ro.6:22
May the Lord bless you and keep you always. Preach this on October 3, 2010.