Being Refreshed with the Gospel (Part 1 of 2)

Ephesians 2:4-10

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

The Horror of Spiritual Deadness

If you remember from last week, we traversed the dark and gloomy reality of Ephesians 2:1-3. The Scriptures paint a vivid picture of life before Christ: spiritually dead, necros in Greek—spiritual corpses existing among the graves and tombs. Completely oblivious to the metaphysical realm, unaware of spiritual horrors or the blessedness of a right relationship with God. Every action offends Him, living under the pressures of His wrath, incapable of anything spiritually pleasing.

Being spiritually dead creates two problems. First, legally, you have nothing commendable to offer God. Nothing worthy of justice, forgiveness, or innocence in His courtroom. Second, personally, nothing moves you toward God. No stirring of spirit for relationship, satisfaction, or delight in Him.

Imagine a drunk driver crashing into a pole. Police arrive, you flop out reeking of alcohol. Nothing you say flatters or builds a credible relationship; it's obvious justice must be served. That's spiritual deadness: no standing against God's judgment, no desire for kingdom things. In fact, Christianity seems foolish—mōria in Greek, moronic. Repentance, faith, salvation, judgment, sin's consequences—all dismissed as stupid by the spiritually dead.

Verses 1-3 reveal utter hopelessness, total darkness, like the sun will never rise. Children of wrath by nature.

But God: Rich in Mercy and Great Love

Then, light pierces the darkness: but God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

This "but God" is the conjunction heard 'round the world. Greater than Christmas morning, better than any earthly relationship or sin's fleeting pleasure. While dead, unable to enjoy or be satisfied—like Israelites chasing idolatry in Ezekiel, finding no satisfaction—God intervenes.

Picture talking to a corpse in a morgue: asking advice on college, crushes, or weekend plans. Disgusting and morbid. The spiritually dead don't understand sanctification, the kingdom, or God's love. An unbelieving friend once told me, "When you're done with that God thing, we can hang out." Relationships with unbelievers feel weird because they can't grasp spiritual realities. Christians receive God's love to give away.

Don't avoid unbelievers, but see them as they are: dead. Preach the gospel or live it so vibrantly they ask, "What's different about you? How do you find joy in tragedy? Why does youth group recharge you amid unchanged circumstances?" No neutral ground with the dead. Pursuing what you were saved from is like stepping back into the grave—a grotesque image.

God makes alive. He changes us, nothing of ourselves. Rich in mercy because of great love. He steps into creation, performs spiritual CPR, defibrillates our dead hearts.

Understanding God's Mercy, Love, and Grace

Examining salvation magnifies God. "Rich" means beyond normal experience—mercy superabundant, not mere niceness. When you need, God provides beyond the norm that pulled you from the grave. His sky-high mercy meets actual needs with what's truly needed—not wants or societal impressions, but the defined life He grants.

God's love: effective self-giving. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son." God gave Himself—the Trinity opened to us. Seated with Christ in heavenly places, enjoying unimaginable fellowship.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Great love exceeds others in quantity (endless supply) and quality (intense, for your greatest good). Even if spiritually dead, God loves you—not leaving you as Lazarus in the tomb. Trust His love forever.

Grace: surpassing riches, outdoing normal riches—"Lord, You have outdone Yourself." Grace is God's unearned love-motivated personal involvement in your life for your best and His glory. He orchestrates every moment, fights sin, leads to eternal enjoyment of Him. From deadness to life, trust Him with anything. You've been rescued from the worst, given the best—worthy of thanks, worship, commitment, love.

His Workmanship for Good Works

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works God prepared beforehand, that we walk in them. Not by works, so no boasting. Pride destroyed: saved not by proving worthiness—you were worthy of damnation. Christ died for God's glory, mercy, praise—not your old self. Value comes from new identity as God's workmanship.

Not off the hook entirely. Saved from old life to new—marked change. From legalism to good works with new motivation. Works (ergon, energy) mean activity, effort. You're always doing something. Live for good works, not dead ones.

Good Works: Useful or Useless Activity

There is no neutral ground. Every activity is either good or evil. The Greek words for good and evil refer to what is useful and what is useless.

The application from Ephesians 2—realizing you were spiritually dead, raised to life, and God's workmanship—is to examine the activities in your life. Are they useful or useless?

A good work is any activity useful to the gospel or your sanctification. Don't fall into the trap that salvation alone is enough, relying on a past profession of faith regardless of how you live now.

Hebrews 12:14: "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord."

Salvation, properly defined, results in sanctification. You must pursue holiness, being conformed to Christ's image, though not perfectly.

Youth often clutter lives with good things, but some of the stalest Christians engage in useless activity that doesn't benefit sanctification—not gross immorality, but things that don't advance spiritual growth.

I'm not saying eliminate sports, jobs, or extracurriculars unless they're stumbling blocks. As regenerated believers, pursue non-sinful activities in a way that aligns with good works.

Works God Prepared Beforehand

Good works are those God prepared beforehand.

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

These useful works make God famous and bring Him glory. When pursuing activities, ask: Who gets the fame—me or God?

If you're made famous, those deeds are like wood, hay, or stubble—burned up in fire, useless except to warm briefly.

Christian activity isn't limited to extreme asceticism like robes and camel hair. But in everything, make God the focus. Pursue activities for His glory, not your own benefit.

The Challenge: Make God Famous

From now until you die, let everything you do make God famous. People should say, "You're good at that, but something's different about you." Use those moments to explain: you're alive in Christ while they're spiritually dead. Speak the gospel verbally—don't just live it quietly. Preach with words; confirm and tell people they need Jesus. Live so people are curious.

Examine activities: keep what's useful, discard what's useless. Be selfish in your Christianity—obsessed with what profits sanctification, makes God famous, and advances spiritual maturity. There you find life's greatest advantages.