MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST

Passage: Ephesians 2:1-10

Key verse: 5

NIV

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,(A) 2 in which you used to live(B) when you followed the ways of this world(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.(E) 3 All of us also lived among them at one time,(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a](G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us,(H) God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.(J) 6 And God raised us up with Christ(K) and seated us with him(L) in the heavenly realms(M) in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,(N) expressed in his kindness(O) to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace(P) you have been saved,(Q) through faith(R)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works,(S) so that no one can boast.(T) 10 For we are God’s handiwork,(U) created(V) in Christ Jesus to do good works,(W) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

By Grace Through Faith

2 (A)And you were (B)dead in the trespasses and sins 2 (C)in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following (D)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in (E)the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in (F)the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and (G)were by nature (H)children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being (I)rich in mercy, (J)because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even (K)when we were dead in our trespasses, (L)made us alive together with Christ—(M)by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and (N)seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable (O)riches of his grace in (P)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For (Q)by grace you have been saved (R)through faith. And this is (S)not your own doing; (T)it is the gift of God, 9 (U)not a result of works, (V)so that no one may boast. 10 For (W)we are his workmanship, (X)created in Christ Jesus (Y)for good works, (Z)which God prepared beforehand, (AA)that we should walk in them.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 2:3 Greek flesh
  2. Ephesians 2:3 Greek like the rest
  3. Ephesians 2:4 Or And
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Before meeting Christ personally, we were all dead in our sins, following the ways of the world around us. We were all rebellious to God, living under the power of the devil, the ruler of this world, and according to the cravings of our flesh. Either we broke his laws or omitted his commands. Thus, we were destined for destruction.

Verses 4-5 say, “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.” How powerful is this declaration of God’s love for his lost creation? In his mercy, I am made alive in Christ! The old me is dead, and the new me is alive!

Moreover, we are raised with Christ and showered with the riches of his grace in the heavenly realms. This is Christ’s kindness. It is all Him, God’s gift to us! It’s nothing that I have done. The only thing there is for me to do now are the good works which God has prepared in advance for me to do. It is the opposite of what I was – only by Jesus’ grace!

Prayer: Father, thank you for saving me by Jesus’ grace alone, freeing me from my transgressions, and making me alive in Christ, empowered to do good works which you have prepared for me to do.

One Word: Made alive in Christ to do good works