The first recorded lie in the Bible is “you will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). It was spoken by Satan to tempt Eve to disobey God. When she and Adam fell, they began to experience death. Immediately they knew evil, shame, conflict, hiding, pain, exile, and the gradual aging/decay of mortality. In Ephesians 2:1, Paul writes that, apart from Christ, all people are “dead” in their trespasses and sins.

Despite this truth, people often look very much alive. They can seem athletic, intelligent and successful. Eventually, everything that happened to Adam and Eve will happen to them. A spiritually discerning person can see that they are “dead to God,” meaning they have no love for him or sensitivity to him and they definitely reject his Word. Death includes following the misdirected course of this world, being under the influence of evil, suffering slavery to the sinful desires of the mind and body and in a state as “children of wrath” (see verses 1-3).

God in his mercy makes the spiritually dead alive in Christ.

It is by grace that Christians are saved. That phrase “by grace you’ve been saved” is in this passage twice. It is an undeserved gift of God. When a person is made alive in Christ, a real transformation happens. It’s dead to alive, not just bad to better. They have great energy for God, great thoughts of God, great boldness for God, and great contentment in God (“Knowing God,” J.I. Packer).

Taking It Home: Read the Ephesians passage again and assess if it is describing you. Are you spiritually alive or not? Pray for the Lord to increase your desire for the new life in Christ. Embrace this value: “We expect transformation by the Cross.”