We Are God’s Workmanship
Ephesians 2:1-10
Key Verse 2:10

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

  In today’s passage Paul reminds Ephesians how much they were blessed when they believed in Christ compared to their old life of sin and death. By revealing their unimaginable blessings compared to their old life Paul was saying the whole purpose of God’s salvation and blessings for them is to do good works which God prepared in advance for them to do. So there are three major teachings in today’s passage. 
1.	The past cursed life of Ephesians, the life of all unbelievers\
2.	Blessings beyond our imagination together with Christ
3.	The purpose of God’s salvation and all blessings.

1.	Read v.1-3. How were the Ephesians dead? (v.1)  What and whom had they followed? (v.2b) Who is “us” referring to in verse 3? (v.3a) What does everyone do while following the ways of this world? (v.3b) What is the result of living this life? (v.3c)

1.	Read v.1-3.

Ephes. 2:1-3 
    As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [2] 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. [3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 

2.	How were the Ephesians dead? (v.1)

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.” (v.1)

They were spiritually dead in their transgressions and sins. They were physically alive but they were dead once in their sin. To be dead in their sin means spiritual meaning. Sin separate one from God. So to be dead because of sin means they were separated from God due to their sin. 

Paul reminds them of their past spiritual condition (being dead due to their sin) in order to emphasize their present blessings and encourage them to be thankful and keep their blessing all the more.

3.	What and whom had they followed? (v.2)

[2] “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) They followed the ways of “this world” and “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” Following the ways of the world is the same as following the ruler of the kingdom of the air because the world is ruled by the ruler of the kingdom of the air. The prince of this world is the devil (John 14:30). 

b) The word ‘air’ refers to invisible and spiritual world. The visible world is ruled by invisible ruler of the air, the Satan.

The word ‘follow’ shows that the Ephesians made their choice in following the way of this world and the ruler.

c) Now the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the Satan, spiritual being, is still working for those who are disobedient – disobedient to God. 

There are people who are disobedient to God. Rebellious people are the first prey of the devil. We should never be rebellious. That is one of the reasons why God ask his people to submit themselves to every authority because there is no authority which is not established by God. (1Pe 2:13)

God does not encourage his people to be rebellious even against evil and cruel rulers. The only exception of disobedience God allowed for his people is when we are forced not to preach Christ. But even in doing so believers should disobey with spirit of submission to God’s authority.

Paul reveals what caused their spiritual death – they followed wrong things.

4.	Who is “us” referring to in verse 3?

It refers to Paul and Ephesian believers.

Now Paul includes himself as the one who lived like Ephesians by using the word ‘us’. Paul once lived in the same way like them. So he understands them perfectly. 

5.	What does everyone do while following the ways of this world? (v.3b)

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” (v.3) 

He gratifies the craving of his sinful nature and follow its desires and thoughts. We think it is okay to follow the ways of this world and the ruler, but we follow nothing but our sinful desires and its thoughts. 

6.	What is the result of living this life? (v.3c)

We are objects of God’s wrath. By nature we are all supposed to perish under God’s judgment which is expression of his wrath. 

2.	Read v.4-7. What does God have for us? (v.4a)  What is He rich in? (v.4b) What does God make us? (v.5) What has God done in addition to saving us? (v. 6) Why does He save us? (v.7)

2-1) Read v.4-7.

Ephes. 2:4-7 
    But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

2-2) What does God have for us? (v.4a)

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy”.

The word ‘but’ shows turning point. God has great love. 

2-3) What is He rich in? (v.4b)

He is rich in mercy. 

2-4) What does God make us? (v.5)

“[5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.”

He made us alive with Christ. This happened even before we were born spiritually. While we were still dead in transgressions God made us alive with Christ. 

This salvation is revealed at God’s right time in our practical life. Indeed we have been saved only by God’s grace because no one can save himself from his transgression.

2-5) What has God done in addition to saving us? (v. 6)

“[6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”

Not only God saved us but also God exalted us together with Christ. Through the resurrection and ascension of Christ he has raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly realms. 

It happened when Christ was seated at the right hand of God after his resurrection and ascension.  It happened ‘in heavenly realms’. It did not happen in ‘earthly realms.’ It will happen in earthly realms when Christ comes again.

2-6) Why does He save us? (v.7)

“[7] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

The purpose of God’s saving and exalting us is to show the incomparable riches of his grace which is expressed in his kindness to us in Christ. 

Simply speaking in order to show his unfathomable grace and kindness. His salvation and exaltation us with Christ reveals his unlimited grace and kindness for us. 

3.	Read v.8-10. By what are we saved? (v.8a) Where is our salvation from? (v.8b)  Where is our salvation not from? (v.9) What are we and what are we created in? (v.10a) Why are we created in Jesus? (v.10b)

3-1) Read v.8-10.

Ephes. 2:8-10 
    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

3-2) By what are we saved? (v.8a)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—“ (v.8)

By grace.

3-3) Where is our salvation from? (v.8b) 

God.

3-4) Where is our salvation not from? (v.9)

“[9] not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Not from our works.

Our salvation completely depends on God’s grace alone because even our faith in Jesus is God’s gift. So no one should boast about his salvation saying, “Oh I believed and therefore I am saved. I am better than others because I believed.” No one can boast as far as salvation goes. 

3-5) What are we and what are we created in? (v.10a)

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We are God’s workmanship (handiwork). 

We are created in Christ Jesus.

3-6) Why are we created in Jesus? (v.10b)

“To do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

The purpose of God’s salvation is to do good works God had prepared for us to do in advance. God made us. We are made by God and we are newly made alive and created in Christ Jesus through his blood. God did all this for us to do good works. There are many bad works. But only the works God prepared for us in Christ is good works- life saving work.