WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

READING: Eph 2:1-22

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through
Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that
we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that
which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from
the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to
make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the
household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner
stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I. DEAD
A. In trespasses and sins.
1. Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2. 2 Cor 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all,
then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

3. Eph 5:13-14 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth
make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give thee light.

4. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He
that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
 B. Ruled and held captive by the devil.
1. Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

2. 2 Tim 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach,
patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of
the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

C. Ruled by their own desires.

1. Flesh
a. Gal 5:16-21
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh .
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

2. Mind
a. Acts 8:18-22
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered
them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be
purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be
forgiven thee.

D. Without Christ.
1. Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

E. But wanted by God.

1. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

2. Rom 5:6-9
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners , Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
 3. Luke 15:22-24 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and
put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat,
and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to
be merry.

4. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

II. ALIVE (IN CHRIST – 1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive).
A. Made near to God in Christ.
1. Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of
Christ.

2. Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

B. Reconciled unto God in Christ.

1. Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the
enmity thereby:

C. Growing into a holy temple in Christ.

1. Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

D. Made fit as a dwelling place for God in Christ.

1. Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

E. Wanted by the devil.

1. Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren.

F. Wanted by God
1. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2. John 17:9-11
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep
through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.
If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered with you and for you.