But God
Ephesians 2:1–10
But God . . . Ephesians 2:4
Our position as sinners (apart from God) is hopeless for three reasons. First, we are “dead in [our] trespasses and sins” (v. 1). We are no more able to help ourselves spiritually than a corpse is able to improve its condition. Second, we are enslaved by sin. Although we are dead in sin so far as our ability to respond to God is concerned, we are nevertheless alive enough to be quite active in the practice of wickedness. Third, we are under God’s just sentence for our transgressions so that we are “by nature children of wrath” (v. 3).
But God! Here is where the beauty and wonder of the Christian gospel comes in. We were hopelessly lost in wickedness. But God has intervened to save us and he has saved us by intervening sovereignly and righteously in each of these areas.
Notice how this works out. We were dead in sins, but God, “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (v. 5). Our experience as Christians is like that of Jesus’s friend Lazarus. We were dead to any godly influence. But God can awaken the dead. Like Lazarus, we have heard the Lord calling us to “come out” (John 11:43); his voice brought forth life in us, and we have responded, emerging from our spiritual tomb. Now life is no longer as it was. Life is itself new, and in addition we have a new Master and a new standard of righteous living to pursue.
Again, not only were we dead in our sins, we were also enslaved by them. Even though we might have desired to do better, we could not. Instead our struggles to escape only drew us down, plunging us deeper and deeper into sin’s quicksand. But God! God has not only called us back to life; he has also “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). There are no slaves in heaven. So if we have been raised up with Christ and been made to sit in the heavenly realms in him, it is as free men and women. Sin’s shackles have been broken, and we are freed to act righteously and serve God effectively in this world.
Third, God has dealt with the wrath question. In our sins we are indeed “children of wrath” (v. 3). But since Jesus has suffered in our place for our sin and we have been delivered from it, we are no longer under wrath. Instead we are objects of “the immeasurable riches of [God’s] grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
The words “but God” show what God has done. If you understand those two words—“but God”—they will save your soul. If you recall them daily and live by them, they will transform your life completely.
Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865
Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.