We are alive in Christ!

    “And you He made alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, 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, among whom we also once conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh and of the mind, and were children of wrath, just as the others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

    Wow! Paul tells us that God has made us alive but then he quickly reminds us of where we were before He came along and saved us from a life of selfishness, pride, and lust! Before we were saved, we lived under the control of the devil himself, who is the prince of this fallen world. (If you have a little trouble believing there is a devil you should read my blog entitled: The devil is for real.)

    “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (By grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of a His grace in a His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Verses 4-7) 

    Are you standing up and singing praises to God yet? We should be! Look what God is telling us through the words of His apostle: By grace, (not because we deserve it), God has wonderfully saved us and has ordained that we will sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus for ages to come because He loves us that much! Can you really comprehend that He loves us that much? Read on!

    “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works least anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Verses 8-10)

    Through Gods’ wonderful, awesome grace we have been saved because we put our faith in Christ and in Him alone. And it is not a gift from God, “it is a gift of God”. He has given us Himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit, who now resides in each one of us! Hallelujah! Now all we have to do is be obedient to His word and the leading of the Holy Spirit and we can do the works He has ordained for us since the creation of the universe!

   There is more of course! “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are also being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Verses 19-22)

    We are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God! It doesn’t get any better that that! Jesus is the cornerstone of the temple that is now your body filled with the Holy Spirit. Now that is what I call Good News!

PRAY

1.   Thank You Lord for making it so easy for us to accept You by faith as our Savior and Lord and for giving us Yourself to live within us.

2.   Fill us completely with Your Spirit today that we might live this day for You and be used by You in any way that You choose.

3.   Help us to see people with Your eyes and with Your heart that we might reflect Your love to all we come in contact today.