by Philip Thompson

Ephesians 2:1-7

1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

This is a passage written by Paul the Apostle to the Church at Ephesus, among all else he says is this gem, full of Spiritual food and comfort, for starters in verse 1-3 we see the sad spiritual state of our past selves, and unfortunately of those who are currently lost. We were dead in trespasses and sins, we were going along with the horrendous world around us and walking hand in hand with the devil, and we were walking with our own desires and lusts as our focus. A truly horrible and godless life.

“But God”, Those sweet words should have our hearts ringing out with thankfulness to God who changed our course, and that’s exactly what he did!

He has “quickened” us, meaning to make us alive, together with Christ! And as we see in V. 4 its because of His great love that He has toward us! We see God characterized as being rich in mercy, it really is incredible how much God has forgiven Adam’s race of!

To forgive, have mercy toward, and love this fallen and sin cursed world is truly beyond all the acts of mercy and goodness on earth combined!

When we were dead in trespasses and sins God did not say, “you must be better in order to receive salvation!”, instead He “commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Which is why “by grace ye are saved” in V. 5.

In V.6 we see that we are already to be of a heavenly order for Christ our Lord, who we are joined with already, has ascended and we are to act as His ambassadors on this earth, living righteously according to His word and following His commands so that we may be pleasing in His sight!

But in V. 7 is the thought that has brought the name “Christ, The Eternal Sacrifice” to the writing,

All this love is not on a timer, this is all eternal, and it’s because of Jesus’ eternal sacrifice! God has quickened us and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that He can, in the ages to come, show “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ”!

What does this mean?

It means that Jesus paid for every one of our sins and all who come to Him will be “quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33), not just for this life, not just for a few centuries in heaven, but forever and ever, all the while in heaven as the ages roll, we will have no fear of evil, God will be our protector and provider! He will show the saved great comfort!

If you have never been saved then you need to be, because all who do not heed this call are heading to hell where it is not so comfortable.

This is how the same Jesus who died for you described it in a parable about a rich and godless man, and a poor and saved man –

Luk 16:22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 

Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 

You have a choice, you can accept the eternal sacrifice, repent of your sin and stand righteous before God and be in heaven with Him,

Or you can go on and open your eyes in hell, forever to be tormented and void of God and His comfort forever, one more scripture –

Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

Choosing life means repenting of and forsaking your sin and believing in and trusting in Jesus Christ as your individual savior, letting go of relying on your goodness to get you to heaven because “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Choosing death means doing nothing and neglecting salvation.

Choose life.