TOPIC: MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST
Read: Ephesians 2:1-8
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
MEMORISE:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8).
EXPOSITION
The Christian life is a resurrected one. It is a new life in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote in Romans 6:13 that we are alive from the dead. He explained further in Ephesians 2 that it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. This is the core meaning of the Christian faith. What does it mean to be dead?
Separation-an end to this physical life wherewith a dead person ceases to have relationship/fellowship with the living. To be spiritually dead however, means having no fellowship with God. Such a soul is insensitive to God through nature, Gospel messages, and the Bible. This is dead in sin (Eph.2:1,5).
But thanks be to God, who caused us to be “dead to sin” that we are made alive in Christ Jesus (Rom.6:11). Being dead in sin and being dead to sin are two dramatically different things. What does it mean when an individual becomes dead to sin?
He is free from sin’s control (dominion); free from the world’s pressure, and free from the fear of death (Rom.6:6b; Heb.2:15). When you are dead to sin, you are free from the tyranny of sin. Sin will no longer be the habitual practice of life (Rom.6:14).
Being made alive in Christ is the same as being dead to sin and alive to God. That is genuine salvation. The experience of salvation links us with the creative purpose of salvation links us with the creative purpose of God and causes us to rise above our circumstances to triumph over every experience of life.
Salvation changes our lives. Have you experienced this new life personally? Do you have that salvation? You can have it today through faith in Jesus Christ. Through your commitment to Him, you can know what it means to be made alive in Christ Jesus. Happy New month to you and your family.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. I declare my new life in Christ. Sin no more has power and place in me, in Jesus name.
2. Devil, you have woefully failed over my life because I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and you are under my feet permanently.
3. Lord, let us be more aware of our choice place in Christ and to live our lives, individually, corporately, privately and publicly accordingly.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
2 Chronicles 18:11 – 20:28, Acts 7:11 – 7:32
Be Blessed