Lesson 4 Review: How God Rescues Us

Introduction

Memory Text: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4, 5, ESV).

God’s effort to redeem humanity is the grandest, most sweeping rescue mission of all time. Rescue stories like the one in the lesson
about how eighteen-month-old Jessica McClure was rescued from the well after two days were quite gripping, but God’s effort to save humanity is even more gripping.

What is the summary of Eph. 2:1-3, Eph. 2:4-7 and Eph. 2:8-10?

These three sections of the passage are summarized neatly in the phrases of Ephesians 2:5: (1) “we were dead in our trespasses”; (2) God “made us alive together with Christ”; (3) “by grace you have been saved” (ESV).

What was the sad reality of the pre-conversion existence of the audience of Ephesians?

In Ephesians 2:1,2, Paul underlines the sad reality of the pre-conversion existence of his audience by noting that they were spiritually dead, practicing trespasses and sins as their regular pattern of life (Eph. 2:1), and were dominated by Satan (Eph. 2:2).

What two external forces dominated Paul’s hearers reflecting on their past lives?

The first of the external forces is “the course of this world” (Eph. 2:2, NKJV)-the customs and behavior in the wider society of Ephesus that misshaped human life into rebellion with God. Satan is the second external force that dominated their prior existence. He is described as “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2, NKJV), he is also described as “the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2, NKJV).

What internal forces dominate human existence as well?

“the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and mind” (Eph. 2:3, ESV; compare James 1:14, 15; 1 Pet. 1:14).

What is the nature of human beings?

Human beings were “by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph. 2:3, ESV). We are bent toward rebellion against God and default, are caught in a pattern of self-destructive, sinful behavior, following the dictates of Satan (Eph. 2:2) and our own innate, sinful desires (Eph. 2:3). Though Paul’s phrase is in the past tense, it doesn’t mean that an inherent bent toward evil is no longer a reality for believers.

How can we overcome this nature of human beings that is bent to sinning?

Through the power of Christ, we can “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24, ESV) and do away with this “old self” that is bent to sinning.

What three compound verbs does Paul deploy to unleash the truth that, through God’s initiatives, believers themselves participate in important salvation history events that center on the Messiah, Jesus?

‘Believers are (1) co-resurrected with Christ; (2) co-raised up with Christ (which Paul probably uses to indicate the participation of believers in Christ’s ascension to heaven); and (3) co-seated with Christ “in the heavenly places” meaning that believers participate in Christ’s “seating” on the throne of the cosmos.’

How do we know that Jesus is over all evil and spiritual powers, the very ones who once dominated the lives of believers?

In Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation, He gains the victory over all evil and spiritual powers, the very ones who once dominated the lives of believers.

What is the magnitude of the grace God has bestowed upon us through His Son?

God’s plan, though, does not end with a grace-filled past and a mercy-bathed present. God’s plan, rooted in divine councils in time immemorial (Eph. 1:4), stretches forever into the future.

What does Paul think of God’s grace?

Paul thinks of God’s grace as a treasure or fortune of unfathomable value (compare Eph. 1:7, Eph. 3:8) from which believers may draw to meet any need.

Jesus was to reveal God to?

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels.

What is the root of the salvation of believers?

The salvation of believers does not occur because of their good behavior or winsome qualities. Instead, their salvation is rooted in God’s inexplicable love-a love that cannot be explained based on any worth in the object of that love. The Salvation of believers is a divine work, not a human one. It does not originate in us but in God’s gift.

In Conclusion,

God rescues us from the death that awaits sinners. We receive this salvation not by any physical effort from us, but by grace. We only need faith to accept this grace, I pray that God grants us the faith to accept this grace of salvation in Jesus’ name.