By Ben Winslett
Ever read Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1? In that verse we find the following: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins..”
Paul is writing about Almighty God giving Spiritual life to those who are in a state of death in sin. Notice that verse begins with the word “and.” This means that this precious verse is directly tied to the context of the preceding chapter. Allow me to share with you a portion of chapter 1 and the very thoughts of the Apostle Paul leading up to this well known, glorious verse.
Notice the following scripture from Ephesians chapter 1:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places…
Notice a very important phrase in this paragraph! How do men believe? Does every human even have the ability to believe in Christ? This verse answers those questions.
Remember, Paul’s thoughts are culminated with the phrase “And you hath He quickened,” which means “made alive.” Paul says that EVERY person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, believes “according to the working of His mighty power.” What is this telling us? This verse is telling us that the only way a person believes is if God works His mighty power upon the said person. Let me say that a little differently, God must work His mighty power upon a person for that person to be able to believe!
Also, according to the above scripture this event in which God “works His mighty power” is tantamount to the event in which God raised up the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. In simple terms, this “working” of God’s mighty power is the same type of event as Christ’s resurrection. For an individual to believe, it takes no less power that the very power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead! Christ must resurrect our souls.
Why? Well, the answer is simple. Prior to this event a person is “dead in trespasses and in sins.” This refers to death in a spiritual sense. Just as a physically dead man can do nothing, being dead, a spiritually dead man can do nothing in a spiritual sense, including repentance and belief. Dead means dead! This is why, naturally speaking, there is “none that seeketh after God” and why “the natural man receiveth not” the things of God (Romans 3, 1 Corinthians 2:14).
We believe because a loving and holy God has given our dead, depraved souls new life in Jesus Christ, in essence making us “new creatures” (new creations) in Christ Jesus.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. – Jesus Christ, John 5:24
Originally published June 2011