Dead In Sins

 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV

Paul's message is clear: when we lived according to our selfish desires and walked according to the flesh, we were dead in sin. As believers, it's crucial that we understand that anything that we do that is not of faith is sin. But here's the thing: we shouldn't dwell on our past mistakes or beat ourselves up over specific sins. Instead, we should confess it to the Lord, and then focus on the internal motivations of our hearts and minds not necessarily what we do—that can change, but more how we respond as obedient sons and daughters of God. Through Christ, we have been entirely forgiven of all sins and wrongdoing against God. Therefore, we should demonstrate this same forgiveness to others in how we live our lives.“Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves…For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:22b-23b

Let us not forget that the mores of society shaped us before we found salvation. We were once driven by self-ambition, pride, and selfishness. However, the revelation of Jesus Christ brought a new perspective to our lives, one that showed us the true meaning of life and what is right in God's eyes. With Jesus as our savior and our motivator, we realize that there is more to life than just satisfying our selfish desires. Through His example, we learn that serving others is the key to finding true spiritual fulfillment. As we let Jesus reside in our hearts, we become more aware of the things that break His heart, and we are compelled to take action to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this fallen world. “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:17–18 ESV

The prince of the power of the air is none other than Satan himself, who relentlessly and characteristically corrupts God's children and lures them away from Christ. He inflames their carnal desires which prevents them from experiencing the goodness of God. This is not a new strategy, for Satan has been using it since the beginning. In Eden, he led man astray from God's plan, and he is doing the same thing today. However, this serves as a test of our devotion, and what we choose will determine our fate. We can either follow the ways of the world or embrace the love of God and His plan for us. The choice is ours, and it is a decision that has eternal consequences. “And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”1 Peter 5:6-10 NET

Looking back at my journey, I am amazed by how far I have come and excited about where I am headed. Initially, I had no idea what being a follower of Christ meant. All I knew was that Jesus loved me, and that was enough for me back then. But today, after serving Him for fifty years, I can confidently say that His love remains the foundation of my faith, and my love for Him has only grown stronger over time. His love has stood the test of time, and has been my anchor in every situation. However, what has changed in me is the realization that Jesus desires to use me to bring more people to know Him. The clock is ticking, and the need to gather more people to Christ is greater than ever before. Christ is the only hope for humanity. "...Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:34b-38 ESV

Jesus taught us that by sharing the Kingdom with others, we can reap the benefits of their salvation even if we didn't sow the seeds ourselves. It's a powerful example of how the Kingdom of God works in beautiful symmetry, concert, and cooperation with one another. Every one of us has a role to play, and we all reap the benefits. In God's kingdom, there are no superstars, only faithful servants who have surrendered everything to Him. So when we admire or look up to successful individuals or ministries, we must remember not to lose sight of our own mooring and what God has called us to, and who we are anchored to. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NET

Stephen Barnett