September 23

From Dead to Alive: The Gift You Can’t Earn

In our culture, we like to think we’re “good enough.” Look at social media and you’ll find many versions of this message: “Follow your heart,” “Do what feels right,” or “Trust yourself.” Scripture is much less gentle. When it comes to our spiritual state apart from God, the Bible is very clear. “You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:1–2). That’s not “good enough.” That’s spiritual death.

This isn’t only talking about the “bad people” out there. Paul was including himself and every Christian when he wrote, “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” (Ephesians 2:3). Sin was our default setting. Whether we were active or passive, whether our sinfulness was expressed in rebellion or pride, lust or greed, self-righteousness or self-indulgence, we were spiritually dead and on our way to God’s judgment.

But then there’s the greatest “but” in the Bible: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4–5). We didn’t claw our way out of the grave. We didn’t flip the page and start over. We didn’t “find ourselves.” God, full of mercy, reached into our deadness and breathed life into us.

And here’s the jarring part, it had nothing to do with us. “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Salvation is not about piling up good works, volunteering at church, donating money, or trying harder to be good. It is a gift, freely given through Jesus Christ, purchased by His blood and guaranteed by His resurrection. If we could earn it, we could boast in it. But God made sure all the glory would go to Him alone.

But then Paul makes it clear this grace isn’t intended to leave us as we are. The passage concludes with an imperative: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God doesn’t just rescue us from death; He recreates us for life. The works don’t save us, but they prove we are saved. The fruit shows the health of the root.

Here’s the stinger for today: Are you still walking dead? Or have you been made alive in Christ? There is no middle ground. We are either dead in our trespasses, following the world and the devil around, or we have been raised to life by the mercy of God. The good news is this, today can be the day of life.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). It’s as true today as it was then. Grace is still free. New life is still available today.

Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Ephesians 2:1-22
Psalm 67:1-7
Proverbs 23:29-35

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New Testament: Ephesians 2:1-22

Summary: By Grace Through Faith, One in Christ

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
~ Ephesians 2:10

How can we do what is good?

Ephesians 2:10

We think about an artist, and how he uses his great skill to make a beautiful object (Exodus 31:1-11). God shows greater skill than any artist as he works in the lives of his people. By the death of Christ, he has changed their lives completely (2 Corinthians 5:17). By the power of his Holy Spirit, he continues to work in their lives. God wants their lives to achieve what is truly good (Mark 4:1-20; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Perhaps we tried hard to do good things with our lives before we became Christians. However, we had a very serious problem (Ecclesiastes 2:10-14). We were simply too weak always to do good things (Romans 7:18-21). The natural desires of our bodies were constantly tempting us to do wrong things. Every kind of evil act is the result when people simply follow the desires of their minds and bodies (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:3).

When we invite Christ into our lives, God changes us completely. We still have our natural desires, of course, but now God’s Holy Spirit is present in our lives (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit makes us free (Romans 8:2); so now we can do those things that please God. So, the Holy Spirit causes God’s people to live in the way that is good, right, and truly beautiful (see Galatians 5:22-23). Because of God’s work in their lives, God’s people can be kind and gentle, loyal and patient. They can show true love (1 Corinthians chapter 13) to other people. God fills their hearts with joy.

God does these wonderful things for his people, not just for their own benefit, but so that they can serve him. He wants them to do the work that he has prepared for them. He wants them to help other people and to show his love to those people. It brings great joy to Christians to see how God is using their lives to help other people. From: usefulbible.com – by Keith Simons