Ephesians 2:1-10

1 “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

As we start in verse one it is very clear that we (speaking to true converted Christians) were at one time spiritually dead.  We, at a time before our conversions, were indeed separated from God.  We were living in sin, being disobedient to God and His commandments.  It also says that yes, the world obeys Satan and his kingdom of demons.  If you are not a saved, born-again, Christian serving Jesus Christ then yes you are serving the Devil.  The sad part is that most people don’t even know it.  People say they are good, well just how good?  Better than a criminal?  Who set the scale of morality?  Well, on this planet man did.  People just assume they are good or that person is good, but according to whom?  Them!  Well according to our Lord and the Word of God, “There is none righteous, no, not one”!  Romans 3:10.  No one is good enough on their own to receive salvation, it is only through Jesus Christ that salvation is possible.  We live in a sinful, fleshly body which has a desire to follow after the world, to seek out sin.  When we invite our Lord Jesus into our lives and the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us, we can intentionally stop sinning; we can die to our flesh.  The Bible says in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

This world is corrupt, it has no moral compass.  It survives off of instinct.  The inhabitants follow after all the lusts that the devil and his demons have corrupted it with.  Everywhere you look, turn, walk, sit, or go, the demons and the devil wait.  Satan has the vast majority of the world fooled into believing many lies, lies that keep them from a true relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.  There are far too many Christians these days, or so-called Christians, that just seem to not get it.  It’s almost like they are hardwired NOT to get it.  They just continue in their sin and are okay with it.  I can understand as a baby Christian you’re on milk and you’re changing process is slow.  Spiritual growth is a continual process and one day you will come into spiritual maturity.  We do this by spending time with God, reading His word, studying and meditating on it, and worshiping Him.  We do this by being devoted to it. 

Nowadays there are many churches teaching water-downed, feel good, prosperity messages.  It’s a real shame how Satan has worked his way into the modern day church and corrupted it to fit the lustful lifestyles of this world.  You try and lead people, and we are talking about church people, and you get shunned.  People love their sin and their lifestyle.  Don’t come up to me and judge me is the attitude.  They love it so much, they just linger in it and act as if Christ is okay with it.  What a shame!  I am so, so sorry Lord.  Please forgive them.  Lord I just pray that you place us where you see fit and make your path clear and illuminated so we may travel the road you have set before us. 

Ephesians 2:11-22

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ, himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”

We have to remember that at one point in time we were not part of God’s chosen people.  We were the outsiders, the gentiles.  We were looked down on, the uncircumcised.  But God did away with His current set of rules and regulations and through Him, new people were formed through the Oneness in Christ.  Christ came to create one body, united in and through him.  Seeing that the old laws were abolished, Christ stepped up to the plate sacrificing Himself as the ultimate blood sacrifice.  So that now anyone who believes in Him and accepts Him as their Savior, they will be grafted into the new body and live according to His will.  Then we will be gifted, showered with all kinds of blessings and riches and glory.  We are still going to face adversity and trials, but we will have our Father, His son, and the Holy Spirit on our team.  This will get you through any storm and any battle, but living according to His will is the secret to this success.  Anything less will not have a good result, as stated in the previous entry of this book.

So before I was dead, a dead man walking around in sin.  But, because Christ died for me paying the ultimate blood sacrifice for me.  He paid the price so I may be clean.  Now I am alive in Christ.

When I was dead in sin, God was angry with me.  I was an enemy of Gods, serving the devil and listening to his lies.  But now that I am alive in Christ and gifted into His loving family, God has given me grace and mercy and He has gifted me with salvation.

Before I was dead in my sin and God was angry with me.  Before when I was an enemy of God and followed the ways and patterns of the world, I was a prisoner to the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life.  This is before I was saved, reborn, grafted into the Lord’s loving family.

While I was serving the devil, walking and wallowing in the worldly lusts, I was dead in my sin, all while I was an enemy of God.  While I was following the patterns of this world, it was clear that I was a slave.  I was enslaved to Satan.  I chose sin, I chased after it with all that I had.  Every chance I had as a slave, my job was to sin and make God angry.  “Oh Lord, I am so, so sorry!”

But now I am wonderfully made, a new creation in Christ Jesus, the one who saved me from my sin, from my slavery to Satan.  Christ freed me to love and serve Him.  He filled me with the Holy Spirit so I too can be lead.  I too can have a helper to lead me, to guide me, to communicate on my behalf to our wonderful Lord God Almighty.  Praise be to our glorious Savior for I was once dead, but now I am alive, ready to do the will of my father in Heaven.  Use me from this day forward Lord.