Ephesians 2:1-10: a reflection

1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2in 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 children of disobedience. 3We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, that no one would boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Few passages state the gospel more completely than this. Paul first describes what we were: dead in our trespasses and sins, following the course of this world, by nature children of wrath. That is the bleak starting point, spiritual death, no life in us toward God. And then come two words that turn everything: But God. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved.

Notice the great turn, and who accomplishes it. We were dead, and dead people cannot raise themselves; the change from death to life is entirely God's doing, out of his mercy and love. He made us alive; he raised us up; he seated us with Christ. And Paul is emphatic about how: by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Our salvation is God's gift from start to finish, not our achievement.

That truth humbles and comforts at once. It humbles, because we contribute nothing to our own rescue; we were dead, and grace alone made us alive, leaving no room for boasting. And it comforts, because our salvation rests not on our fragile efforts but on God's rich mercy and free grace. If you are ever tempted to think your standing before God depends on your own works, or to despair that you are too far gone, remember these words. You were dead, but God, rich in mercy, made you alive. Rest your whole hope on the grace that saved you, the free gift of God, and give him all the glory for a rescue that was entirely his.

Lord, your word says I was dead in my trespasses, unable to save myself, but that you, being rich in mercy, for the great love with which you loved me, made me alive together with Christ. Thank you that my salvation is your gift, by grace through faith, not my own doing, not a result of works, so that I cannot boast. Humble me, that I contribute nothing to my own rescue but the sin from which you saved me. And comfort me, that my standing rests not on my fragile efforts but on your rich mercy and free grace. When I am tempted to trust my works or to despair, remind me: I was dead, but you made me alive. To you be all the glory.