Message Notes

25 May 2014

Text: Ephesians 2:10

“THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM”

(I) A PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF OUR LIFE…A WORK OF GOD IN CHRIST

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:10

1. Our life should be seen as God’s “workmanship”

2. “Poiéma”…poem, work…we are a work, a poem of God

3. It is His personal and divine work

4. He works in our life and specially crafts us to become His poem

(II) THE PROCESS OF SEEING OUR LIFE BEING RECREATED IN CHRIST

“Created in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:10

1. This life is “re-created in Christ Jesus” … ktizó…from nothing, something is created

2. Our life is not meant to be merely existing as before…”dead in trespasses”

a) Once walked according to course of the world (Ephesians 2:2)

b) Walked according to the prince of the power of the air…Satan (Ephesians 2:2)

c) A work of the evil one (Ephesians 2:2)

3. Our life should be a new/re-creation in Christ through His salvation

a) Gave us salvation through His grace (Ephesians 2:8)

b) Made alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)

c) Raised up together (Ephesians 2:6)

d) Made us sit together with Christ (Ephesians 2:6)

(III) THE PURPOSE OF OUR RE-CREATED LIFE…FOR GOOD WORKS

“Created in Christ Jesus for good works,” Ephesians 2:10

1. We have been re-created for a purpose

2. The purpose of our salvation is to do good works

a) “ergon”…a work of energy

b) This energy is from God

c) It is a good work

3. We can do good works as indicative of our salvation

“Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

4. Not doing work that is perfunctory and ritualistic

(IV) THE PREDETERMINED PLAN OF GOD FOR OUR LIFE

“Which God prepared beforehand” Ephesians 2:10

1. God planned this beforehand for our life

2. He had prepared already…that such good work should be done in our life

3. Part of the grand scheme of things that God has given for our life

4. Our part is to understand that plan and to fulfill it

(V) A PERSONAL DETERMINATION TO WALK IN GOOD WORKS

“That we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

1. Walk in these good works

a) Make it part of our life

b) A distinctive way of living

c) Putting things into action…”To walk in them”

2. To do good works

a) Emphasis given to doing good works

b) Ensuring good works are done

c) Done on a daily basis

3. A personal determination for our life

a) Commencement

b) Continuity

c) Completion of our work