We read words like these in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and it behooves us to try and suss out what they really mean. Why?

1 – So that we can know our true condition outside of Christ.

2 – So that we can properly marvel at the miracle of salvation – it is nothing less than being raised from the dead.

Hear the words of old J.C. Ryle as he opens this description of being “dead.” For it is not merely a euphemism. And its signs are not what some religionists might make it to be. Ryle writes: “[W]hen a man’s heart is cold and unconcerned about religion,—when his hands are never employed in doing God’s work,—when his feet are not familiar with God’s ways,—when his tongue is seldom or never used in prayer and praise,—when his ears are deaf to the voice of Christ in the Gospel,—when his eyes are blind to the beauty of the kingdom of heaven,—when his mind is full of the world, and has no room for spiritual things,—when these marks are to be found in a man, the word of the Bible is the right word to use about him, and that word is “dead.” _{J. C. Ryle, Living or Dead? A Series of Home Truths (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1851), 10.}

If you recognize yourself here, then let me share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In His sovereign love, mercy and grace – He has undertaken the only remedy for your condition – faith in the substitutionary atonement for sin on the Cross of Calvary.

There, on that hill that day in Jerusalem, the incarnate Son of God willingly stood as a substitute for fallen men. He willingly allowed the God and judge of the universe, to place the guilt and shame of humanity on Himself. There, He suffered and died. He was buried. And on the 3rd day, He rose again. And so the Scripture records that “the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Rom. 4:4-8)

Bow before Him today. Acknowledge your sin and rebellion against Him. Plead for His mercy. And place your trust in Jesus’ death as your only means to be reconciled to the Father – and born again out of death – into new life in Christ.

And Believer, take this moment to reflect once more upon how it is you are alive in Christ Jesus today. Marvel at the miracle of grace that has been bestowed upon you. How one day, Jesus stood by your spiritual graveside as truly as He did Lazarus’ physical tomb. And there, in sovereign glory He spoke your name and cried “Come out.”

Glory!