He Made Us Alive!

Ephesians 2:4-5

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.

So many people actually believe they can work their way into heaven or work their way into God's blessings.  The Bible actually tells us something different.  We cannot work our way into heaven or work our way into God's blessings.  We are sinners (Romans 3:23).  The punishment for our sin is death (Romans 6:23).  At our very best we are still unclean, and our very best efforts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  However, we see in Ephesians 2:4-5 that God loves us; God is rich in mercy.  In His great love for us and through His mercy and grace, HE MADE US ALIVE!  Yes, we deserve death...BUT GOD!  In Romans 5:8, Paul declares, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Jesus lived a perfect life for us.  Jesus went to the cross and died sacrificially for us.  Jesus rose from the grave for us.  God, through His Son, did what no one or nothing else can do for us: HE MADE US ALIVE!  I pray that we never get over this truth!  We can't earn our way into heaven.  We can't earn our way towards God's blessings.  And we don't have to!  God loves us just as we are...sinners...unclean...filthy rags and all.  When we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus to save us, God cleanses us and washes us whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7).  And Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us that because of God's great love for us and because of His rich mercy, God makes us come alive!  We are no longer dead men and women walking in the condemnation of our sins.  We are free men and women!  We are regenerate men and women!  We are alive!  This is not by our hands; it is by the hand of God.  That is why Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 2:8-10, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  I pray that we hear the Word of God and believe it and receive it today.  I pray that our good works are a RESULT of what God has done for us and to us and not an EFFORT to go somewhere or to gain something that is not possible from our own hands.  

Father, thank You for Your hands...Your hands that do what only You can do...Your hands that provide what only You can provide.  Father, thank You for Your great love for us...for Your rich mercy.  Father, thank You for making us alive with Christ.  Amen.