3. God’s Masterpiece
“...this is far more a lyric of the love of God than a careful theological exposition. The song of the nightingale is not to be analysed by the laws of musical composition. The lark sings for the joy of singing. That is what Paul is doing here. He is pouring out his heart, and the claims of grammar have to give way to the wonder of grace.”
[William Barclay]

4. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“Paul first plumbs the depths of pessimism about man, then rises to the heights of optimism about God.”
[John Stott]

5. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil - the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.”
[Ephesians 2 v1-2]

6. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”
[Ephesians 2 v3]

7. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.”
[Galatians 5 v19-21]

8. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”
[Ephesians 2 v3]

9. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”
[Ephesians 2 v3]

10. God’s Masterpiece God Saves Us (v1-4)
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.”
[Ephesians 2 v4]

11. God’s Masterpiece God Seats us with Christ (v5-7)
“For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” 
[Ephesians 2 v6]

12. God’s Masterpiece God Seats us with Christ (v5-7)
“Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it.” 
[Ephesians 2 v7, The Message]

13. God’s Masterpiece God sets us apart for good works
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” 
[Ephesians 2 v8-9]

14. God’s Masterpiece God sets us apart for good works
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” 
[Ephesians 2 v10]

15. God’s Masterpiece God sets us apart for good works
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” 
[Ephesians 2 v10]