What is the New Life in Christ?

Made Alive in Christ Ephesians 2:4-10

 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us to do.

Normally when we think of death, we think of literal physical death.  Today Paul talks about a different kind of death, spiritual death.  Paul describes this death as being "dead in our trespasses".  This resulted from, "Following the ways of this world, the ruler of the air (the devil) and living only to gratify the desires of the flesh."  While they were living and breathing, their soul was lifeless.  Our body and soul come from God and our soul is meant to be connected to its Creator.  But when we are separated from the One who made us and fashioned us in His image because of our sin, we are spiritually dead.  

But God loved us and wanted us to be intimately connected to him.  He wanted us to be free to worship him, and not be ruled by the cravings and desires of our sinful nature.  Instead of giving us what we deserved, in His love he made us alive in Christ.  People who are living this kind of life and come into a personal relationship with Christ describe the power of being "born again".  The term "born again" is very much like what it means to be "made alive in Christ".  

Notice is is GOD who made us alive in Christ and by grace we have been saved through faith.  This is the most succinct summary of the Gospel, "We are saved by grace through faith in Christ so we cannot boast."  

Then Paul concludes with the result and evidence in our lives of being saved by grace.  We begin living a life of purpose and show our new life in Christ by doing good works.  Good works are not done to get grace, but because we have it.  Good works come out of our new life in Christ.  Good works show we are God's handiwork and give glory to God.  In fact when we are doing good works, we are doing what God already prepared for us to do.  

So let me ask you are you living the new life in Christ?  Do you feel alive with His Spirit working in you?  Do you naturally do good works because of His Spirit living His life through you?  Unfortunately many Christians go back to a life of following the ways of the world.  Though they were once alive, they are now spiritually dead.  The good news is that God who started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.  In Christ, you have been made alive so continue to do the good works God prepared for you in advance to do.  Live for God's glory as a child of God marked by the cross of Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit forever.