20-20 EP1 - Dead To Alive

Understanding our identity in Christ begins with recognizing the reality of our spiritual condition before salvation. Scripture describes us as being 'dead in trespasses and sins' - not spiritually sick or injured, but completely dead and separated from God. This spiritual death manifested through trespasses, which means crossing into forbidden territory that God marked as off-limits, and sin, which refers to falling short and having internal corruption that separates us from God's presence. In this state, we naturally followed worldly philosophies and demonic influences that kept us in rebellion against God. The great reversal comes with the phrase 'But God' in Ephesians 2:4, representing God's intervention in our hopeless condition. Despite deserving His wrath, God acted in mercy by not giving us the penalty we deserved, and in grace by giving us unmerited favor we could never earn. Our salvation comes entirely by grace through faith, with faith serving as the connection to Jesus Christ, the true object of salvation. We contribute absolutely nothing to this salvation because only Jesus could provide the perfect life required for reconciliation with God. This understanding transforms our purpose and identity. We are God's masterpiece, His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared before we were even born. We're not saved by works, but we're saved for works - good works become evidence of our salvation and the fruit of a transformed life. Our lives have divine meaning and purpose as we reflect God's glory to the world, serving from gratitude rather than obligation, and walking daily in the opportunities God orchestrates for us to demonstrate His love.