Alive with Christ
Made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:5 (NIV)
God made us alive with Christ even when dead in transgressions — by grace you are saved. Love enlivening corpses. The dead never cooperate; grace operates alone. Spiritual resurrection precedes every response. God loved before, enlivened during, saved forever. Salvation's order: grace, life, faith.
Even when dead: timing reveals love. God never awaited our improvement; He acted at worst. Love loves corpses raising them. Transgressions stank; grace perfumed. Nobody looked presentable; all were enlivened. Gospels for the dead, never mildly sick. Acknowledge death receiving life.
With Christ: union is life's address. Raised with Him, seated with Him, heirs with Him. Love glues sinners to Saviors. Apart from Him, death; united, eternal life. Baptism seals gluing. Stay glued: cut branches dry, grafted ones bear fruit. Cultivated union produces holiness.
Today, live as living: walk, speak, love resurrected. Drop old-habit shrouds. By grace saved: repeat until believing, believe until living. Your death certificate tore at crosses; your life certificate signed empty at tombs. Alive with Christ, live for Christ.
And live resurrected: enlivened dead testify grace. Live resurrected today. Enlivened dead testify. Drop shrouds. Walk alive. Love freely. Serve risen. Shine bright. Abide. Grow.