Our Former Manner of Life

Exegetical/Homiletical Idea: 

      Before coming to faith in Christ, we were dead in our trespasses and sins, influenced by the fallen culture affected by the evil powers, and living in a society of spiritually dead people. 
 

  I. The origin of spiritual death (2:1)     cf. Rom. 5:12

             A. The condition of spiritual death (2:1a)

            B. The sphere of spiritual death (2:1b)   cf. Col. 2:11-14 

      II. The dynamics of spiritual death (2:2) 

            A. The cultural dynamics (2:2b)    Gal. 1:4 

            B. The satanic dynamics (2:2c-d)    Eph. 6:12 

      III. The society of spiritual death (2:3)    Rom. 6:4 

            A. The spiritual necropolis (2:3a-c)    1 Pet. 2:11, 18 

            B. The universal catastrophe (2:3d-e) 

      Conclusion:  But God, . . .  

            A. Made us alive in Christ delivering us from the curse of Adam’s sin (2:4-5). 

            B. Raised us in Christ, extricating us from a society of spiritual death (2:6a). 

            C. Enthroned us with Christ, giving us authority over the forces of evil. (2:6) 

2Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

Rom. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Eph. 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Eph. 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

Eph. 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 

Rom. 6:13b . . . present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life . . .

 

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