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5
April 2009
Text: Ephesians
2:1-9
“MADE
US ALIVE TOGETHER IN CHRIST”
(I) THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER
1. Located in the
Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
a) Jesus as the
lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
b) He was the sacrificial
lamb that was slain to take away our sins
c) He was resurrected
from the dead as His display of triumph over sin and Satan
2. Death of Jesus Foretold
“From that
time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem,
and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matthew 16:21
3. Resurrection of Jesus Fulfilled
“But the
angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I
know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where
the Lord lay.” Matthew 28:5-6
(II) THE THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER
1. Taught by the
apostle Paul
a) As part of his
theological system
b) As part of the
gospel he espoused
2. Applied in the context of Salvation
“And you
He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…
But God, who is 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)” Ephesians 2:1, 4-5
a) The reality of
being spiritually dead
Because of trespasses
and sins
b) The raising of the spiritually dead
i) Made alive
ii) Made alive
together with Christ
c) The rationale behind God’s work of raising the spiritually dead
i) Because of
God’s rich mercy
ii) Because of
His great love
iii) Because of
His grace
d) The result of the application of God’s grace
i) Delivered from
trespasses and sins
ii) Given salvation
(III) THE PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER
1. Personal understanding
of the doctrine of being raised with Christ
2. Personal experience
of receiving Jesus as Saviour
3. Personal application
of living as one who has been raised with Christ from the dead
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