Wednesday, July 1 — God Makes Us Alive through Christ

If you have ever felt spiritually numb — going through the motions, technically alive but not really living — Paul has a word for you this morning, and it starts with two of the best words in the Bible.

Ephesians 2:1-10 — KJV

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:1-10 — WEB

1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions 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 children of disobedience. 3 We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in 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, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Explanation

Paul wrote this letter to a mixed congregation in Ephesus — Jews and Gentiles together, people from very different backgrounds learning to be one church. Before he tells them anything about how to live, he tells them what God has done. And he does not soften the starting point: we were dead. Not sick, not struggling, not behind — dead in our trespasses, walking through a life that looked busy but had no real pulse to it. That is honest about something we all sense in our quieter moments.

Then the whole passage turns on two words in verse 4: "But God." Everything before them describes our condition; everything after describes His character. He is "rich in mercy," moved by "his great love," and what He does about our deadness is not to coach us back to health but to raise us. The same power that lifted Christ out of the tomb is the power that lifted us off the floor.

Notice how many times Paul insists this is a gift. "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast." This is the great relief of the Christian life. You did not climb your way up to God. He came down to you while you were still in no condition to help yourself. Nobody gets bragging rights. Everybody gets grace.

And here is the connection to Sunday. The centurion we will meet did not come to Jesus with a résumé. He came with empty hands, saying, "Lord, I am not worthy." That posture — admitting you bring nothing and trusting Christ to bring everything — is exactly the grace Paul is describing. The Gentile soldier lived out Ephesians 2 before Paul ever wrote it.

But grace does not leave us idle. Verse 10 is the beautiful turn: "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for them. The word "workmanship" is the root of our word "poem." You are God's craftsmanship, His handiwork, made alive on purpose and for a purpose. So today, if you have felt numb, hear both halves: God did the raising, freely; and He has good work prepared with your name on it. You do not earn the life. You live the life He gave.

Thought for the Day We were dead. But God. Grace did the rest.

Reflection Question Are you still trying to earn what God already gave you for free — and what would change if you simply received it today?

Prayer Father, thank You for those two words: "but God." When I was dead and could do nothing, You loved me and made me alive in Christ. I cannot boast and I do not need to. Help me stop trying to earn what You have already given, and free me to walk in the good work You prepared for me. Let my life be Your poem today. Amen.

This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: The Believing Centurion, A Gentile Whose Faith Jesus Commended.