Get your Bible out; read, study, and meditate on these verses. The word of God is powerful.
Ephesians 2:1-6
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,
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**Devotional:**
In Ephesians 2:1-6, we find a powerful message of heart transformation and redemption. These verses vividly depict our condition before encountering God’s grace. We were spiritually dead, enslaved to our sins, and under the dominion of the enemy. But in the midst of our hopelessness, two words emerge like a beacon of light: **”But God!”**
1. **Dead in Sin:** Before God’s intervention (our salvation is all of God), we were spiritually lifeless, entangled in our trespasses and sins. We were enslaved and followed the world’s corrupt path and were influenced by the evil ruler of the air, Satan himself. We were in a state of disobedience, far from God’s holiness.
2. **But God’s Mercy and Love:** Here comes the turning point. “But God” reveals His character and His incredible love for us. He is “rich in mercy,” and it’s His “great love” that prompted Him to die for us, shed His blood for us, and raised us from the dead (the gospel). Despite our unworthiness, God chose to rescue us.
3. **Made Alive with Christ:** Through His boundless grace, God made us spiritually alive. He didn’t just resuscitate us; He resurrected us with Christ (Romans 6:3-5). We are no longer slaves to sin; we are sons and daughters of the living God. This transformation is entirely by His grace and not by our own efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9).
4. **Seated in Heavenly Places:** God’s grace not only restores our spiritual life but also places in Christ in the heavenlies (this is our position right NOW!). We are raised up (resurrected) and seated with Christ in the heavenly places. This signifies our new identity and the inheritance we have in Him.
**Reflect and Respond:** As you meditate on these verses, consider the magnitude of God’s grace in your life. Remember the “But God” moments when He intervened, and let it inspire gratitude and a deeper commitment to living in alignment with His will. Rejoice in the fact that you were once dead in your sins, but now, through God’s incredible love and mercy, you are alive in Christ. By the finished work of the cross alone.
*In your prayers today, thank God for His transformative grace and ask for the strength to live out your new life in Christ.*
100% Unashamed of the gospel of grace.
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