You Were Dead, Now You're A Sweet Sounding Poem

What would the Apostle Paul write if he hadn't had any heresies to correct, any fights to referee, or any false teachers to expose? The answer is Ephesians. It talks about what Christ has done for us, about being able to share in His riches, remembering that we were sinners, and being saved by grace. It is to strengthen the believers in our Christian faith and walk. The letter was delivered by Tychicus, possibly delivered to several Churches.

Chapter 2 talks about how we used to be dead! Then, it brings us to our conversion where we first saw the lord, to our seat in the heavenliness, and ends with Paul saying we are His workmanship, His poem!

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Books on the letter to the Ephesians Pathway to God's Treasure (Women's Bible Journal, 1) By Lenya Heitzig A Bible study and daily journal in one! This first book in the Tyndale's new Women's Bible Journal series guides women through an in-depth study of Ephesians and provides space for personal journaling. Ephesians contains 12 lessons with 5 days' worth of material per lesson. Life Lessons: Book of Ephesians (The Inspirational Bible Study Guides) by Max Lucado The letter of Ephesians, Lucado says, "celebrates the beauty of the church "the Bride of Christ," redeemed by the His blood and wearing spotless His righteousness." Each of the 12 lessons have a scripture passage, and inspirational reading, questions to answer, space for journaling, and a prayer.

Lets read Ephesians 2:1-10:

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 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

Our Miserable Condition Before Conversion
We simply were dead, walking mummies. Dead of course means separation, we were separated from God.

H. S. Miller says, "Death is the separation of a person from the purpose or use for which he or she was intended". What that means is, we could be alive and walking but if we are not doing the will of God or of we are not doing something for the Lord then we are dead. We're just receiving and receiving but not ever giving for the kingdom of God. We're filled with power and potential, but we are not sure where to go or what to do with it. The creation of man was to know, fellowship, worship, and serve God; but man does not do it. Men do not fulfill their purpose on earth, not the purpose for which he was created. They live a life and prosper but never come to the truth or meet their creator. They die without fulfilling the purpose that was intended for them.

That's why Paul starts off by talking about our miserable past without the Lord.

Verse 1 - "...who were dead in trespasses and sins..."
Is there a difference in the two words, "trespasses" and "sins"?

• Trespasses - means to fall, slip, blunder, deviate, turn aside, or wander away
• Sin - means to to miss the mark

When we have sin in our life's we fall short of the Glory of God. That's why we need a savior, we need Jesus to come and rescue us from our sin.

The apostle Paul wanted the Ephesians to view their former condition in the light of God's viewpoint. He wanted them to see their former deadness, which would create a greater appreciation for God's mercy and a greater desire to help others who also suffer from the control of sin and satan.

Many times we forget where we came from and how God brought us out of our miserable state. Sometimes we need to remember how God gave us a second chance. We in return need to do the same to others. Let's bless others with what we have.

Our New Condition After Our Conversion
In Chapter 2 there is a tremendous turning point:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us." - Ephesians 2:4

Just as fast as the transition of words in this chapter, God changed our lives in the same way. The song that we sing in Church, "He came into my life one very special day". In other words, God interrupted history and the doom of death and judgment. Despite all of our transgressions and sins, despite all our failures and mistakes we've committed, Christ changed our life.

We might ask why would God do that for us? By nature His mercy is rich and His love is great. That's what David said in amazement about God:

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor." - Psalms 8:3-5

Verse 7 - "That in the ages to come He (Jesus) might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus".

The next change in styles the Apostle Paul shifts to the future tense here in verse 7. If you think you have seen all that Christ has to offer, you're in for a big surprise. Paul begins to tell the Ephesians that in the ages to come Christ will show the Church that will be lifted off this earth, His riches and His grace and kindness towards us.

One day we will see Him as He is and all His splendor. But now that we are still in this earth we need to show our kindness, mercy and grace towards others. Do not forget where we came from and how God pulled us out. In return we need to help others.

Verse 10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

In the commentary on Ephesians, "The Bride's Pearl" by Brian Kinsey, verse ten is described this way:

"Paul describes this new creation as God's workmanship which comes from the Greek word poiema meaning the act of creating, work of art, or masterpiece.

From this word we get the English word poem. Human redemption is God's poetry, a work of art that God has penned for all the universe to read and rejoice in".

In other words, we are God's poem, we are His song. We are an expression of His heart:

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10

We are His poem for good works; the grace and mercy that God has shown us should be transmitted to others along with our good works. Before the creation of the world God prepared for us to do good works: "we are His workmanship". God prepared and designed His redemptive work so that it would cause us to do good works:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Good works are the crowning result of God's salvation in our lives. Let's not live dead or separated from the reason God created you and me. Lets do it!

The point of this message and Ephesians 2:1-10 is that God has taken us out of the mud and sinful lifestyle. He has brought us to repentance and has shown us his riches and mercy. All this so we may be able to do good works unto others and be the sweet sounding poem that God created us to be. Why don't you be that sweet poem that God created you to be and let someone else hear and feel the poem of salvation that you have to offer them.

"And you He made alive", "for good works", "that we should walk in them"

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Robert Figueroa is the co-executive producer for Inspired Christian.org.

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