Alive in Christ

“ALIVE IN CHRIST” <Ephesians 2:1–22/>

I was in a conference recently, and the speaker, Dr. Steve, said something that struck me: “People we are telling about Christ need to know the holiness of God, the sinfulness of men, and the confession of sin and receiving forgiveness. When we realize this, it humbles us.”

For Dr. Steve, he finished his statement with “When we realize this, it humbles us.” So, for me, I’d paraphrase this to be “When we realize this, we become alive in our Christ nature.”

DEAD IN SIN <Ephesians 2:1–3/>

“Dead in sin” highlights the past condition of people who were living in sin, trapped in a lifestyle that lacked spiritual vitality and was devoid of God’s grace.

It points out how individuals allowed worldly influences, which are ignorant of true life in Christ, to dictate their behavior and choices.

People had immersed themselves in unbelief and lived in disobedience to God, following their own desires without regard for His will.

SAVED BY GRACE <Ephesians 2:4–10/>

In the Good Book here, we are pushed to understand God’s character of compassion and His active love towards humanity.

The transformative power of God’s grace, manifesting in our lives despite our spiritual deadness due to sin, God intervened through Christ’s resurrection, granting us new life and salvation purely out of His grace.

We become one in Christ, elevated to a higher position with Him.

As believers, saved by grace, we are intended to be a testament to God’s abundant love throughout eternity, showcasing His love and goodness.

Our salvation is not and never can be earned by our effort, but it is a free gift from God. Salvation is not based on our works or merit.

We are God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ for good works that God has ordained for us to walk in.

ONE IN CHRIST <Ephesians 2:11–22/>

A new humanity united in Christ was created. The legalistic barriers and animosities have been removed, allowing for a fresh start and unity among believers.

Believers are no longer outsiders or strangers but are now part of God’s kingdom and family. God is building a spiritual temple with Christ as the cornerstone, and believers are being filled together as living stones in this temple, where God dwells among His people.

The temple is not made of physical materials but consists of people, united in Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, serving as a dwelling place for God.

CONCLUSION

This week’s message reveals to us transformation, reconciliation, and unity through the work of Christ. It paints a picture of humanity’s condition without God — lost in, separated from His promises, and divided by barriers of culture and tradition.

However, through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, everything changes. We are no longer outsiders but are brought near to God, becoming partakers of His covenant and promises.