Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, July 22, 2023.

Main Theme: Ephesians 2:1-10 describes our rescue story.

Read in Class: Ephesians 2:1-10. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What is the main idea that Paul is giving us here about what Jesus has done for us?

Apply: What do these verses teach about the reality of the great controversy? At the same time, how can we draw comfort and hope in the knowledge that Jesus has been victorious and that we can share in His victory now?

Share: Your friend says, its okay to continue in sin because we are saved by grace. What do you share with your friend? Does grace save us from death or from sin? Or both? See Ephesians 2: Sitting With Jesus in Heavenly Places.

Read in Class: Compare Romans 1:5 and Titus 2:11-12 with Ephesians 2:8-10. What are the common threads in these passages?

Study: What distinct qualities does each passage tell us grace produces in our lives?

Apply: In Ephesians 2:8-9 is God’s grace responding to our faith or is our faith responding to God’s grace? What is the difference and why does it matter? Notice also that in Romans 2:4 God’s goodness leads us to repentance instead of our repentance leading to God’s goodness.

Share: Your friend notices in Titus 2:11-12 it says we are to live righteous and godly lives in this present age. Your friend says he thought our characters would be changed at the second coming, and then we could live righteous and godly lives. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 2:6-7. Define the main theme of this passage.

Study: what sense do believers participate in Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and exaltation? When does this participation occur?

Apply: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7, NKJV). How do the verses we looked at today help us understand what Paul writes here?

Share: Your friend asks, how does knowing your are currently sitting in heavenly places with Christ right now, change they way you look at your every day struggles? What do you tell your friend?

Read Again in Class: Ephesians 2:1-10. After the discussions you have had, what new insights do you see in this passage?

Study: What points does Paul highlight as he concludes this passage?

Apply: While the good works of believers play no role in their redemption, in that they can never give people saving merit before God, what important part do they play in God’s plans for believers? Eph. 2:10.

Share: Can you think of someone who has been struggling in their own power, who may need to hear about God’s grace? How can you share the plan of salvation by grace with them this week?