May 14th | Ephesians 2
The Walking Dead
Sitting at my desk reading this passage reminds me of the Gospel. The truth that we ALL need Jesus to save us by grace and grace alone. As a pastor, I study the Bible regularly, I am constantly teaching God’s Word, counseling others to follow Christ, and seeking fresh ways to motivate people to love and walk with Jesus in the church. However, even though I have great knowledge about the Bible and a life that seems to follow Christ, I must continually remind myself of the grace I have received in Jesus.
I am not loved by God because I read my Bible daily, attend church, or serve regularly at church. Ephesians teaches that everyone is walking dead in their sins and needs a Savior. Too often, I walk around thinking I am the savior for others!
Lord, remind me of where you have rescued me from and help me to call others to experience that rescue of grace!
Ephesians 2:1-3 couldn’t be clearer. Our sins result in death. We are spiritually DEAD. Yet, this doesn’t mean we are inactive. No, it says in our death, we walked and followed the enemy and the passions of our flesh. We are to blame for our sins. Our death comes because we are following the wrong thing. And this condition affects not only the “bad” people but everyone. We ALL need a rescuer, someone to pull us out of our death march to Hell.
Ephesians 2:4 shows us the power of Christ. The only person capable of rescuing us. It says that he is RICH in mercy. He is not in debt; he is not scrounging up more grace to offer as if He won’t have enough. No, He is overflowing with mercy, and who does he want to show it? SINNERS!
Ephesians 2:5 says that He made us alive in Christ even when we were dead. When we are united in Christ, two things happen. We are raised from the dead just like Christ (v.6), and we are seated above (v.6) just like Christ is seated at the right hand of God. When we unite with Christ in faith, we are taken from the lowest death march to the highest heavens to experience fullness of life!
So what are we to do? Serve God and love Him so He will keep loving us? No! Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies that our works don’t save us but Christ alone! What is the purpose of our work and love for Christ? We were made to walk in those works and honor God. We can only walk in life instead of death by uniting with Christ (v.10).
Today, remind yourself of the Gospel. Remind yourself that you are not good, and every day, you really need to hear about God’s grace more and more. Don’t get caught thinking you are the Savior; submit to the Savior each day so you can walk in life.
