Life after Death
Ephesians 2:1-5; Romans 6:1-13
From Death to Life, by Grace, via Faith! – Ephesians 2:1-5 …
The Origin of Life – Genesis 2:7 John 1:1-4
The Origin of Death – Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6
What have we Done?!?
- This choice to disobey God in favor of our own will infects every member of the human species! Romans 3:23
- The disobedience was called SIN.
- Sin, as does every choice, has consequence:
Romans 6:23 … the wages of sin is death…
- “But wait! Adam & Eve lived 100’s of years after!”
- Did they?
Life and Death – another view
- Death in Scripture is not cessation but rather separation from that which is life.
- We tend to think of life as biological function
- God sees it as spiritual viability.
- We see death as an irreversible biological condition;
- God sees it as the need for His intervention.
- His intervention is called “being born again.” – John 3:3
Born … anew
- The word translated “again” is ἄνωθεν,
- can be understood as temporally (a second time), or
- locationally (from above).
- Nicodemus understood the former,
- Jesus meant the later in their discussion.
- The “Teacher of Israel” was so fixed on the present and the physical that he missed the eternal, spiritual reality.
- Jesus “met him where he was” and tried to open his mind to Truth.
- By implication, he finally did understand, three years too late
- John 7:50; 19:39
Physical Analogies …
• •The “natural” person is expected to grow, and • take increasing responsibility to look after himself, and • to contribute to his community in a positive way.
| • The spiritually alive person is expected to grow in maturity by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit. • We become caring, contributing members of the Kingdom of God. • We take His message to the world. |
The Flesh vs. the Spirit
- The “Walking Dead” have no desire to please God –
- Romans 8:6-8
- They are besieged by 3 forces: Ephesians 2:2-3
- The “World”
- The devil, and
- The “Flesh”
The “World”
- The “World System” is the secular, humanistic world-view
- It challenges God’s sovereignty and seeks to supplant it in man’s “reasoning.”
- We know that it has a three-pronged approach in seducing us (1 John 2:15-17):
- The “lust of the flesh” – seeking physical pleasure / satisfaction – 1 Cor. 9:27
- The “Lust of the eyes” – Greed; the hunger for more – 4:11
- The “pride of life” – seeking to be “#1” at the expense of others. 2:1-4; 1 Peter 5:5-6
The devil
- A real, powerful spiritual being,
- a displaced and exiled angel
- He seeks to destroy the works and steal the glory of God.
- He is the embodiment of evil,
- but he is not all-powerful.
- He has no real power over the Child of God – 2:14
- We are to resist him – 1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7
- We are to give him no opportunity for division or disruption – Ephesians 4:27
The “Flesh”
- “The flesh” represents the natural desires of a person
- These desires are not, in themselves, evil
- Because we are essentially spiritual beings
- we have the capacity by Grace…
…to suppress (master) these desires –
- when they lead us away from God’s
- plan,
- purpose, and
1 Peter 4:1-2
A Forever Relationship
- When we have been made alive by the grace of God, we are forever joined together with God.
- Never again to be separated from Him!
Romans 8:1,38-39
We are New & Improved!?! 2 Cor. 5:17
- Christians are brand-new people on the inside.
- The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore.
- We are not
- reformed,
- rehabilitated, or
- reeducated—
- we are re-created (new creations),
- living in vital union with Christ (Col_2:6-7).
The New Life: New Purpose, Plan, Desires
- At conversion we do not merely “turn over a new leaf”
- Rather, we begin a new life under a new King.
- Our new King is not a “titular head of state”
- Our King is absolute Sovereign of the universe,
- And He now calls us His children!
John 1:12; 1 John 3:1
As Children of our King…
- Our Purpose is to make Him known throughout the world.
- We are to glorify Him in every aspect of our lives
- In our most intimate personal life
- In our homes and families
- In our community relationships
- In our work
- Our plan / strategy: We are to make disciples of all nations – Matthew 28:18-20
- Our Desires – the driving forces of life –
- To please Him and not ourselves
- To show His love to every person He brings
- To care for those who cannot look after themselves
- We are to glorify Him in every aspect of our lives
Matthew 6:33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. [CEV]