Ephesians 2:1-5 It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!
I don't know how many people quote this one sentence from its context as though being saved from our past sin is the end all of salvation. Being saved is only the door.
Let's read the context of the sentence that everyone quotes, and then we will break it all down.
Ephesians 2:1-5 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!
After reading the context we find that the opposite of being saved, is being spiritually dead.
We also find that being spiritually dead means we are under the sway of the Devil, who is the god and ruler of this world.
We also find that being saved means, we USE to refuse to obey God's Law, because we were being guided by our sin nature.
When you put all this together, it means that if we are truly saved, we are spiritually alive, so we no longer live under the sway of the Devil, we are no longer refusing to obey God’s Law, because we are no longer living by our sin nature.
What does it mean to, no longer live by our sin nature? It means we obey God's Law.
Romans 8:5-8 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
Pay very close attention to what Romans 8:5-8 is saying. If we have been saved by grace, it means we have now been made spiritually alive by the Spirit of God, even though we still have our old sin nature lurking behind the scene. If we don't submit to the Spirit, which is leading us to obey God's Law, we will spiritually die again.
Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
It's by grace that God has made us spiritually alive, but it's our responsibility to stay spiritually alive.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their sin nature, from the sin nature will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Being spiritually alive is eternal life, being spiritual dead, is not.
Being spiritually dead means all we have is our sin nature, but if we become spiritually alive, we are now free from sins complete control, and have been empowered to live a holy life, if we want to. The holy ways of God are what keeps life eternal.
Romans 6:22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.
Don’t be deceived…if we live by the things that please the sin nature, we will spiritually die. Eternal life does not dwell in spiritual death.
Spiritual death does not happen just because of one sin, it's a process. First comes the temptation. Temptation is not sin, Messiah was tempted, yet He never sinned. When temptation happens, we need to resist it, but if for some reason we give in, we are still not dead. It's only when we allow that sin to control our lives to the point that we are no longer submitting to the Spirit's lead. This is spiritual death i.e. hardening of the heart.
James 1:14-16 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Hebrews 3:12-17 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
Hardness of the heart is tough place to be in because it's where we reject any attempt from God or His people to bring restoration.
Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance.
The way to keep ourselves spiritually live, after sinning, is very simple, just confess that what you just did was wrong, and let it go. By doing this we are acknowledging to God that we don't want to do wrong, help us to do better. God is faithful and just to do that for us.
1 John 1-9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Don't let your short falls be your identity, and turn you away from God. Our true identity comes from being alive in Christ. Now, get back up, and continue living the holy life.
Amen...