The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 1 Death is Separation Death as the principle of life in the unbeliever (outlined nicely for us in Ephesians 2) –‘dead in trespasses and sins’ – ‘a walk according to the course of this world’ ‘according to the prince of the power of the air’ –‘the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience’ – ‘in the lusts of our flesh’ ‘fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind’ ‘by nature the children of wrath’ But what about nice people who do nice things? What is the source of this unbeliever’s life? –The natural or old man – separated from God Rom 5:12 – ‘Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned:’

The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 2 Death is Separation – I Cor 2:14 – ‘But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.’ What about the believer? How does the death principle apply to us? –Physical – any difference? Perhaps - I Thess 4:16,17 – ‘For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ –Eternal – quite a difference! Yes - John 3:36 – ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.’

The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 3 Death is Separation – I Cor 15:54,55 ‘So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? And the 2 nd death does not apply – Rev 20:12-15 Now, what about our lives down here? II Cor 5:17 – ‘Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ – Positional and/or conditional truth? » Rom 6:3-5 – ‘Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: ’

The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 4 Death is Separation How are you doing here? –What’s keeping us from that totally victorious life? Sin!!! So where does this sin come from - I thought we were crucified with Christ, buried and resurrected in Him, and sins were dealt with eternally? – 1 st Adam, old man, sin nature, flesh Positional and/or conditional truth? What are the results from this source? DEATH – I Cor 3:12,13 – ‘Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.’ Back to Ephesians – let’s look at Eph 4:17-24! –What is the basis of abandoning the former manner of life in the old man?

The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 5 Death is Separation Eph 4:20 – ‘But ye have not so learned Christ;’ Why does God allow the sin nature to continue to exist in the believer? –Sin nature was judged but not eradicated – Rom 6:6 –God used it to conform us to the image of His Son Rom 6:17-19 – ‘But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.’ Hungry Heart Series, Miles Stanford, What are the consequences of this death that continues to stem from the sin nature? –Fellowship, or lack thereof I John 1:6 – ‘If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:’ –Feeling guilty – the legal principle

The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 6 Death is Separation Gal 2:21 – ‘I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.’ –Confirmation to, and love of, the ways of the world I John 2:15 – ‘Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.’ How do we put this death walk behind us? –Faith – do we believe God and what He has revealed or not? Rest –Rom 8:1 – ‘[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus’ Trust –Rom 8:14-16 – ‘For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:’ Depend –Phil 2:12, 13 – ‘Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.’

The Epistle to the Ephesians Nov 8, 2009 Bob Eckel 7 Death is Separation ‘When God is molding the desires of the heart there is liberty. When He is empowering the life, there is victory’! Grace, The Glorious Theme, Chafer LS