From Death to Life

Ephe 2:1-2 “… you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

You and I are spiritual beings. We have a material body, but we are spirits. Before we were born again we were 'dead' spiritual beings. I don’t know about you but I was dead in sins and transgressions, I was dead to God. I thought I was alive as I responded to the pull of the world, the flesh and the devil. I was tuned in to the enemy’s voice, deceived by the father of lies. I listened to him as he urged me to be self-sufficient, to create my own destiny without bothering to consult with my Maker. Though I am neither omniscient nor omnipotent I was trying to be god to myself. That is the sin nature!

Where was God through all this?  He was there. I had tuned Him out, but He never let me go because He had chosen me, before the foundation of the world, to be conformed to the image of his Son. That is your incredibly glorious destiny as well, if you are a believer. We were not chosen to become rich and famous. We were chosen to be Holy!  That is the destiny God is calling us to, and it has already been accomplished in the heavenly realms by the power of the cross. When we were crucified with Christ the old version of self, controlled by the world the flesh and the devil died. When we were raised up with Christ we came to life spiritually for the first time. Christ’s Spirit is now united with ours and our true identity can emerge. The destiny for which we were created can be fulfilled because we are in union with our Creator. Though we still have a body, we are now living spiritual beings. A battle still rages between the flesh and the spirit 'in Christ,' but we can win that battle. The Apostle Paul tells us how, "The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." We win the battle by developing our 'faith muscle,' to use a picturesque expression of pastor Mike Plunket. We do not win by self-will or self-effort. We win by uniting with Christ and yielding to his Spirit within us. We win by Holy Spirit power!