Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10

In this passage Paul describes the marvel by which we are changed from corpses to works of art. The first problem everyone must overcome in their coming to Christ and their life as a disciple is to comprehend the extreme evil of our conditions before and apart from Christ. We would like to imagine ourselves as pretty good folks who at worst might need a little touch here or there. Paul says in “Trespasses and Sins” that is either minor occasional infractions or all-out gross rebellions, we are a corpse. The picture is more than lifelessness; it carries the ideal of rot, filth, and decay—a physical nightmare. Jesus did not come to make nice people better; there are no nice people, nor to make bad people good; we are all worse than bad. The purpose of Christ was to make dead people alive. The analogy of a dead body is especially powerful because a dead body can’t do anything to improve itself but can only go on to greater levels of decay. It is completely helpless to solve its own problem. We need to remember that the disgusting condition is not the result of only horrific acts of evil but also those things we might think are inconsequential things or minor trespasses. 

The rescue is not a result of any act of holiness or goodness we can accomplish. We accept His grace but are but passive participants of what God does because of His mercy motivated by His love. Mercy carries the implication of actions that treat the misery caused by sin. Verse 6 has given rise to a number of fantastic and complex explanations about our spiritual place in the universe. But all things being equal, the simplest answer is most likely the best. The language of v. 6 is shared in Romans 6:4 and Col 2:12 to refer to baptism. In baptism God seats us in the heavenly order as a people who are to do good works or live holy lives. The manifestation of His greatness is accomplished in our holy living. Again, this life is itself not the result of our goodness but God’s great grace. As a result we are God’s workmanship, that is, His highly crafted, skillfully produced work of an artisan, made for the purpose of good works. The life of good works is vital for the disciple, not as a way to earn salvation, but because it is our new life. Good works are as much a part of who we are as walking, talking, breathing, and eating. The person who claims to be a disciple but isn’t living holy needs to examine themselves and ask if they are a corpse or a work of art. 

“Lord, grant that I will live holy because that is what You made me to do. AMEN”