Ephesians 2
Made Alive!
Ephesians 2. In three short verses, Paul covers some major ground. After reminding us that we have been made alive, he recounts our former state: dead in trespasses and sins. Note, that all of this has been done to us. We do not have the ability to make ourselves alive!
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 2:1-3, NKJV
Ephesians 2
Made Alive!
In three short verses, Paul covers some major ground. After reminding us that we have been made alive, he recounts our former state: dead in trespasses and sins. Note, that all of this has been done to us. We do not have the ability to make ourselves alive!
Backing up, let us think about our former state, which by the way, is the current state of the vast majority of people who are living today throughout the world. Formerly, we were dead in trespasses and sins. From the time of the fall of Adam and Eve, every single person born into this world was actually dead! In other words, the sin natures we possess blocked us from a living fellowship with a perfect and holy God.
Being dead, we walked according to those of this world where the lusts of the flesh rule. Is it no wonder we see the world captivated by greed, anger, selfishness, etc.? Is it no wonder we see the propensity of people of the world to run as far away as possible from the holy standards of living set forth in God's Word? One by one, monuments stating the Ten Commandments are being torn from their foundations. People do not want to be reminded of their sin.
We live in an "I'm OK, you're OK" world. What is good for you is not necessarily good for me. I want to live as I please without being told I am a sinner. A new "reality" has been created where a holy and righteous God does not exist!
However, does the non-belief of the people of this world change the true reality which exists? No! God is God; He is the ruler of all of heaven and earth. Whether or not a people choose to believe that, does not make it go away.
Does that mean that we, as children of God, are better than the non-believers of this world? No! Notice that Paul begins verse 1 with these words: And you He made alive. It is God who made us alive. We must never forget our roots or our own natural propensity to revert back to the sin nature which still exists within our hearts. All of our days on this earth, we will struggle with sin. Let us then walk in humility, having a spirit of love and compassion for those of this world. Let us fervently pray that God will open their hearts and minds to the truths of His Word.
Let us also immerse ourselves in His Word and in prayer to Him, remembering that, "There but for the grace of God go I!" Let us also remember that God has left us here to be an encouragement and a testimony to the lost of this world. We, as believers, have a God-ordained job to do. Each of us has the unique opportunity to influence the lives of those whom God brings into our day-to-day existence. By His grace, let us be faithful to Him!
As we continue through Ephesians 2, let us also never forget to continually give thanks and honor to this wondrous and holy God through Whom we have been made alive!
More devotional from the 2nd chapter of Ephesians
Aliens from Israel, Verses 11-13
Devotional Reflections from the Bible Home Page
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.