The following words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to the saints of God, who are God’s holy people, his called out ones, who are now to be separate (unlike, different) from the world. For we should be being made (molded, formed) by God into the likeness of the character of Jesus Christ. And Paul’s words were also written to the faithful in Christ Jesus, who are faithful (committed, obedient) to our Lord and to his will for our lives, who are no longer walking in sin, but who are now walking in holiness and righteousness, in the power of God (see Ephesians 1:1).
Ephesians 2:1-7 ESV
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
So, pay close attention to the verb tenses here – we were dead, we once walked, we once lived, we were by nature – and at least two of these are action verbs. So this isn’t just about a change of status and relationship. This is about a change of heart and mind and lifestyle and behaviors.
So, outside of genuine faith in Jesus Christ we were people, not only who were dead in our sins because we are born with sin natures, but we were people who walked in sin, in practice, in conduct, by habit. We were living as slaves to sin and not as slaves to God and to his righteousness. For we once followed the course of this world, following Satan and not God. And Satan is the one at work in the lives of the disobedient, who do not obey our Lord, in practice, and who do not live godly and holy lives, pleasing to God.
We once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. We once were liars and adulterers and murderers and idolaters and slanderers and tricksters and manipulators, and those who practiced sexual immorality, and who covered up our secret sins with lies, and who were hypocrites, and who could not be trusted, etc. And this is not saying that all of us did all of these things, but that this is what this looked like. We made lying, cheating, and stealing our practice, our habit.
So, what is this saying? It is saying that if God truly made us alive in Christ, and if truly we have been saved from our sins, by the grace of God, our lives should no longer look like what the Scriptures and I just described. These things are to be in our past, not in our present. For faith in Jesus Christ is not just a change of status and relationship. True biblical faith in Jesus Christ is a change of heart, and mind, and attitudes, and behaviors. Our lives should no longer look like they did before. We should be different now!
So, if you want to be assured of your salvation from sin, and be guaranteed heaven as your eternal destiny, then sin must no longer be your practice, but righteousness should be your practice. Following the course of this sinful world should no longer be your “go to,” but now walking in obedience to the Lord in faithfulness should be your “go to.” For the Scriptures teach us that if sin is our practice, our habit, and if it is what we obey, and if righteousness and holy living and walks of obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, then we are not going to inherit eternal life with God. So take this to heart.
[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
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What the Lord Says
An Original Work / February 24, 2014
Based off Isaiah 43:1-44:5
This is what the Lord says to you:
Fear not, for I have chosen you.
I have summoned you by your name.
You are mine. I died, you to save.
When you go through your trials, so deep,
I will be with you; you will not sink.
You are so precious always to me.
Trust in your Lord, Savior and King.
This is what the Lord says to you:
He who gave salvation to you;
Who delivered you from your sin;
Takes your burdens now upon Him:
Forget the former things of your life.
Give of your heart not now up to strife.
See all the new things I have for you.
Walk in vict’ry. Trust in what’s true.
This is what the Lord says to you:
He who made you; who will help you:
Do not fear what humans may do.
Walk in freedom. Follow what’s true.
Drink of my Spirit given for you.
Trust in my mercy, for I love you.
I have a plan for all of your life.
Follow my ways. Do what is right.
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