Doomed … But God

We were born into a world ruled by evil forces and were na?ve participants before we became saved. We were living our lives, doing our best, while all the time participating in a Satan-led rebellion against God, totally unaware we were being deceived. Ephesians 2:1-3: “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil-the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else.” The apostle Paul tells us that we were not only dead and deceived, but disobedient to God. The Word of God tells every human being who does not have a relationship with Him, through personal faith in Jesus Christ, that he or she is dead spiritually. Regularly, people boast of their superb health, their athletic abilities, or how talented they are, but without Jesus Christ all are spiritually dead: dead toward God, dead toward the things of God, and deaf to His voice.?And what is so sad, countless people are convinced that their virtues and merits qualify them to go to heaven. They frequently use the words “good”: to describe themselves: good person; a good husband or wife; a good father or mother; a good church member; and generous towards the needy. They create their own rules and come up with their own plan of salvation. The Scripture warns all, Proverbs 20:9: “Who can say, I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? or 1 John 1:8: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” And while there may be good people by the world view, to God they are physically alive and spiritually dead. Without trust and faith in Christ, all people lack the power necessary to talk with Almighty God and have a relationship with Him. They are dead in their trespasses and sins, living according to the ways of the world. Like zombies; dead men and women, walking around and living an existence that is spiritually and morally corrupt, oblivious that there is an escape. Doomed … But God! Ephesians 2:4-6: “But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead, it is only by God's grace that you have been saved! For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” When Jesus Christ comes to live within our hearts, He changes us from the inside out and makes us the person God created us to be; we are justified by God and declared righteous. Our salvation is sealed and unconditional.