We Are A Family of Supers – Part 3

Review 

Earlier this month, we started a series titled: “We are a family of Supers” 

In this series, we are drawing parallels between us and the fictional characters we celebrate in comic books and superhero movies. 

Last Week’s Main Idea 

• But let’s review the high points of what we discussed last week. 

What are some qualities, attributes and powers that Ephesians Chapter 1 says that we have in Christ? 

Last Week’s Key Words 

In Sum: We have a supernatural identity with supernatural powers 

• “The forces for you are greater than the forces against you”– Dr. A.R. Bernard

Our Origin Story 

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV): 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  

Key Words 

How Did Children of God Become Sons of Disobedience? 

• Ephesians 2:3 (ESV): 3 . . .were by nature children of wrath. . . 
• Children of Wrath = People whose actions and attitudes draw God’s wrathful condemnation. 
• By Nature = We were born this way 
• We are born with a genetic pre-disposition to defy God’s law 
• We are born criminals, participating in crimes worthy of death 
• high treason: the crime of making war against the government of your country, or attempting to help an enemy take control of your country (Cambridge online dictionary) 

The Difference Between Spiritual Death and Biological Death 

• Spiritual death is when you are separated from God’s Spirit. 
• Biological death is when your body is separated from your human spirit. 
• Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV):1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 
• Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV):1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world,

Three Major Influences on People Who Disobey God  

The three major forces shaping us while we are spiritually dead: 

• The World
• Satan
• The Flesh
• Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV):1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 
• The World = satan’s advertising agency  
• Rebranding bad as good and good as bad 

Ephesians 2: 3 (ESV): 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

• Passions of the flesh = desires of the body and mind 
• Desire (in this context) = “a strong desire that is negative and forbidden [Daniel L. Akin, “Lust,”in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, electronic ed., Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 500.] 
• The passions of the flesh stir and carry out strong desires in the body and mind, which violate God’s holy boundaries.
• The flesh is not the same as the body. 
• The flesh is  
• a rebellious force within us
• the lingering effect of our fore parents’ crimes
• a genetic pre-disposition to defy God’s law
• a network of thoughts, beliefs and actions “that opposes God and seeks sinful gratification.”[Article titled “What is the Flesh?” from the website, gotquestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/the-flesh.html] 

• Pastor Mark Bubek defines the flesh this way: “The flesh is a built-in law of failure, making it impossible for natural man to please or serve God. It is a compulsive inner force inherited from man’s fall, which expresses itself in general and specific rebellion against God and His righteousness. The flesh can never be reformed or improved. The only hope for escape from the law of the flesh is its total execution and replacement by a new life in the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Article titled “What is the Flesh?” from the website, gotquestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/the-flesh.html] 
• Ephesians 2:3 (ESV):3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 
• Our connection to sin is not just in sinful acts.
• Our connection to sin is through a sinful nature 

Sin in the Heart is Exhibit A 

The presence of sin in the heart is the evidence that leads to our conviction of guilt in God’s holy court. 

• Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV): 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 

• Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV):21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 

• Matthew 5:27–28 (ESV):27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

• Matthew 15:19–20 (ESV): 19 For out of the heartcome evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” 

God judges us by things that are in our hearts but that haven’t’ been acted on yet. 

• As far as God is concerned, what we think in our hearts is who we are. 
• Romans 3:10–12 (ESV):10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 

There’s a degree to which the world admits this because we don’t trust ourselves 

• We don’t trust people with money, power or fame who have no accountability:  
• “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” –Federalist 51 (Either Alexander Hamilton or James Madison)
• The rationale for checks and balances in our government 
• Because we don’t trust human nature 
• Our ungodly nature will eventually cause the world to be like the days of Noah: 
• Genesis 6:5 (ESV): 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

Four Reasons Ungodly People Don’t See the Evil Within Them 

There are three important reasons that people without God don’t see the evil withing them 

• The Deceptive Heart
• Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV): 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
• The Conscience
• Everyone has a conscience, even ungodly people 

• Romans 2:14–15 (ESV):14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 
• The conscience is the capacity in us to recognize the need to do good and the motivation to pursue it 
• Pride in our own goodness
• Romans 1:22 (ESV): 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 
• The righteousness of Jesus inherently challenges the validity of our righteousness.
• Spiritual Blindness
• Satan actively blinds people from seeing the truth 
• 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV):4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 
• Only light from God will cause them to see the truth: 
• Isaiah 6:1 (ESV): 1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 
• Isaiah 6:5 (ESV):5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 
• We participate in the conversation of unbelievers by praying that their eyes be open 
• Turn the words of Paul’s commission into ministry into a prayer for unbelievers:  
• Acts 26:18 (ESV):18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 

The Good News 

• Ephesians 2:4 (ESV): 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 
• Ephesians 2:5 (ESV): 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  
• Ephesians 2:6 (ESV): 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  

 Before you can walk in righteousness, you must believe that you are seated with the righteous one. 

• Ephesians 2:7 (ESV): 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  
• Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  
• Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 
• This is a mini version of the gospel 
• Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.