Dead 2

God has reckoned every person ever born to a woman except for the Lord Jesus Christ, dead and trapped by the power of sin and unable to approach him in righteousness. His rescue was an event that needed to happen in order to change the dilemma of mankind; Hence, the miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ, salvation now available in and through the finished work of the cross.

Verse one of Ephesians chapter two makes this very clear; “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins”.

Verse two then addresses the Christian reminding us that we also once walk like the rest of the world; “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—“ (Ephesians 2:2)

Lets us unpack this in more detail…

There are three plugs that need to be understood concerning our state before we found forgiveness in Christ. - The first point that needs to be unpacked is that we were no different to the rest of civilization, even though we all chose our identity within the differing sects offered to us in the world. I was one that liked to be associated with the jock, whilst others liked to roll as an academic. The rich makes fashion the be all and end all of their existence and so on. And then there are those on the breadline who will at all costs want to be associated with the rich by wearing branded clothing, even though they can barely sustain their bodies with the necessary supplements required to keep them in a healthy state. The list is endless, I am convinced that no one is an original, we all take on an identity that we think fits us the best and then we do what we can to live within that reality. If honest with ourselves, we all need to conclude that we all once walk after the course of this world. Secondly unknown to us back then, we were all swayed by the devil, sin had taken care of that; following the prince of the power of the air, each and everyone of us was under the sway of the devils influence; Resulting in an obvious fact the same spirit that now works within the sons of disobedience; all those outside of God’s influence.

We are by nature bond-slaves to sin and Satan; it is obvious that the devil has some power over mankind (by God’s permission) here on earth or in the lower regions of the air. There he is at hand to tempt mankind and to be as destructive as he can. Prior to us receiving the Spirit of God as our helper when we were “born again” or truly saved through our repentance for our own sin if you prefer; where we found the light switch to God’s existence and it was flipped becoming our new found reality. Nevertheless we were all once under the sway of the devil. Do not think for a second that this was not your truth. It important that we understand this, for if not we will also miss the wonderful rescue that is now ours in Christ. It’s the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ that has saved us from Satan’s power; the mercies of God, who can fathom them?

Therefore, once we start to see what we were prior to our rescue from the world’s sway, Satan’s influence and our hopelessness outside of God’s intervention in our lives, we will understand the miracle of salvation in a new light, with the mercy of God in the forefront of our minds.

Let us never forget where we have been saved from; a place of absolute despair and destitute for damnation. BUT GOD felt a need within the character of His mercies to intervene and save some of us, all praise belongs to our God now and forever more, Amen and Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone