The Power of Grace That Brings Life
We don’t like to think of ourselves as helpless. The world tells us we’re naturally good, that we just need to find ourselves, improve ourselves, or express ourselves. But Paul’s words in Ephesians 2 shatter that illusion.
“You were dead in your trespasses and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1)
Not sick. Not struggling. Dead.
This isn’t just a countercultural message—it’s a rebel cry against every human effort to save ourselves.
But then, two of the most powerful words in Scripture appear:
“But God.”
The Reality of Our Condition
Before we can understand grace, we have to come to grips with our reality apart from Christ.
Paul describes three forces that led us in our rebellion against God:
• The Devil – The deceiver who blinds people to the truth.
• The World – A system that normalizes sin and tells us we don’t need God.
• The Flesh – Our own desires that crave sin and push us further into death.
On our own, we weren’t just making bad choices—we were enslaved. We were “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3), deserving judgment. No self-help book, no education, no activism could change our spiritual condition.
Dead people don’t improve.
But God…
Just when the story seems hopeless, Paul interrupts it with the greatest news imaginable:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, made us alive with Christ…”(Ephesians 2:4-5)
This is not a call to try harder. This is a rescue. We were lifeless, but God made us alive. Not because we deserved it, but because He is rich in mercy.
He raised us up and seated us with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). That means our identity is no longer tied to our past sins, our failures, or the world’s expectations. We are secure in Christ—right now and for eternity.
Grace, Not Achievement
Paul makes it clear:
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift, not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Salvation is not a reward for effort. It’s a gift. It’s God’s power toward us (Ephesians 1:19), the same power that raised Christ from the dead, reaching down to rescue us.
We bring nothing to the table except our need for Him.
A Life with Purpose
We aren’t just saved from something; we are saved for something.
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Our lives are not random. We are God’s masterpiece, His intentional creation. That means every moment, every opportunity, and every act of obedience is part of His plan.
Living in the Truth of Who We Are
• Are you still living like someone who is dead? If you are in Christ, you are alive—walk in that freedom.
• Are you striving to prove yourself? Remember, you are already seated with Christ.
• Are you chasing identity in things that won’t last? You are God’s workmanship, created for something greater.
This week, ask yourself: What are the good works God has prepared for me today?
You were dead. But God. Now you are alive. Live in that truth.