Ephesians 2:1-5

Ephesians 2:1-5 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.

Since we all sometimes make mistakes and obey our fleshly desires, are we still dead in our transgressions and sins? If not what is the evidence of us being alive to God? These questions and our lack of understanding God's grace confuse many believers. Many of us still try to save ourselves through living by the Law. One day we feel we are alive IN CHRIST, but the next day we feel nothing but defeat and despair. Most of us think it is our obligation to live obedient and holy lives to prove that we are alive in Christ and no longer dead in our sins. Our weaknesses allow questions to remain in our minds: When and how did we become alive? Are we alive if we continue to sin? If we continually evidence deeds of the flesh, does that not indicate we are still following the ruler of this world, the devil? James said, by your works will I know you. John said, the world will know us by our love for each other. What if we exhibit neither of these testaments to our salvation consistently in our lives? What if we fail to back up our confessions of faith with good works and the love of our brethren seems negligible at best. Then, are we indeed new creatures?

We are new creatures because of God's work and not ours. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. Because of his grace and everlasting love for us, God births new creatures, newborns. It is his actions that lead to freedom from sin and eternal life, not our actions. We live and walk by faith, not by sight or confidence in our human strength or abilities. Faith is believing in and trusting in God's actions, not ours. Paul understood this amazing plan of salvation: even when we were dead in transgressions, God lifted us up into heavenly places in Christ and destined us for eternal life. Though we were without hope, He made us new creatures and brought us into his own family.

How dead were we? Completely dead and without any hope, separated from God and bound by the chains of sins. Even now as new beings in Christ, our earthly bodies will die someday, testifying to how dead we really are in the flesh. Otherwise, our current existence and all of its transactions will never see God. So what about sin in our lives? Should we not to be holy in our present bodies? Yes, we should flee from evil and seek good; we should allow the Holy Spirit to change us and to make us more like Jesus. But God makes our eternal spirits holy and acceptable to him, not our natural bodies and their deeds. Today, we live by the Spirit of God. But when sin manifests itself through human errors and failings in us because of our fleshly will, we should reckon the "old man" as dead and accept our new identity in Christ. As we repent of unrighteousness, turn to Jesus, and testify of his good works and not our own, we shine like stars in the universe and the things of Earth grow dim. In other words, people of faith constantly and emphatically exclaim that the old man and his actions no longer hold us captive or determine our destination. We have turned our eyes toward Jesus Christ and put our trust in his works, not our own. Blessed be the name of the Lord!