Redeemed through Faith
A study on Ephesians 2 showcases the transformation that occurs when one goes from living in sin to embracing life in Christ.
In a message titled, “Redeemed Through Faith,” Pastor Jocelyn Perez of V1 church shared the importance of transformation and separation when becoming a Christian. Before coming to faith people are enslaved to sin as they follow their own desires. We are influenced by the things around us – family, religious tradition, society, horoscopes, etc. These things separate us from God because we weren't created to take up the nature of the flesh.
Some who confessed Christ as savior may still be living in the old nature but as Ephesians 2 shares: God wants us to give up the old nature. Salvation is a gift from God, not earned by works but believers are to abandon their old sinful nature to receive His free gift through grace.
“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—by grace you have been saved and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
—Ephesians 2:4–7
Sin Wages War Against God
When believers are not transformed because they continue to sin, their hearts get hardened against God. Sin wages war against the holiness of God as stated in Romans 8:7. Sinning is when a person is under the influence of Satan. Galatians 5:19–21 talks in detail about what the carnal nature looks like: “Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.”
Pastor Jocelyn lists selfish ambition as a major sin that brings separation between people and God because in the equation of selfishness, no one else matters, it’s all about you. We tend to use terms such as: Follow your heart but the Bible says our hearts are desperately wicked. In scripture, King David prays to God, “Create in me a new heart.” There is a necessity for renewal and transformation in God.
The New Order in God
By God's grace, believers are saved and united with Christ. This salvation cannot be earned, only received as a gift. The minister told the congregation not to fret if they were not given an inheritance from their families because in Christ every believer has an inheritance. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ, No one can boast about their works because salvation is not based on human effort.
Ephesians 2:11 reminds the Christians in Ephesus not to forget that they were once an outsider. We were all once outsiders but are now united with Christ through His sacrifice. This sacrifice emphasizes a new beginning and unity with others who are from God. In verse 14 the Apostle Paul explains that Christ's sacrifice brought peace and unity between Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the barriers of hostility at the time. He advocates for racial unity and peace. Christ's sacrifice removed the dividing effect of the law.
We are not to be like the Jews in Ephesus and lean on the law, but instead lean on Christ's work on the cross which was sufficient for salvation, surpassing the need for the law. What Jesus did on the cross broke barriers. Politics can't bring unity, our citizenship is based on Christ, built on Him as our chief cornerstone. Believers are no longer strangers but members of God's family, united as one holy temple through Christ. Our citizenship is based on Christ, not ethnicity or background. The work we now do in God should flow from what God has done in us. There is a new order in God, He wants to change our desires and our situations.
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
At V1 Church we believe in teaching Bible-based relationship principles so that you can your family can be strengthened. Connect with us using one of the links below – we’d love to see you and help you walk through the process of reconciliation.