By Grace Through Faith (Eph 2:1-10)

2:1 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. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Can anyone describe or understand what it means to be dead? I imagine it means that I can't think, move, eat, talk to others, feel emotion, or.....  The list could go on.  I believe that is how Paul is describing us, fallen human beings.  Because of our original sin through Adam, I am dead, finished, can't think, etc.  That's a pretty tough place to be isn't it?

But there's GOOD NEWS!!!  While I was DEAD, Christ DIED for me, for me!  That's the amazing part, that someone cares enough to die for me and you!  He gave me a new heart, a new mind, a new will so that I can do the good things He already planned for me to do, before I was even born.  It's like rising out of a coffin with a new body, not only to live and work on this earth but also to live with Him in the heavenly places.  Wow!