"And you...were dead in...sins,...but God...made us alive together with Christ...." (From Ephesians 2)
The Interlinear says, "of the sins of you." There is no escaping it, that is, if one accepts the Bible as Authority, that, "The sins of you," is the reality of human existence. People can blame God, ask their "whys" of this and that, but God says the malady of humanity is traced back to, "....the sins of you." If anyone is to "blame," it is you and I. We could perhaps say that sin is the defining DNA of the human race.
One dictionary defines DNA as, "The fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable." This is sin in mankind. Eve accepted the lie "first," and when Adam took up a follower-posture instead of a leader-posture, it was over for us. One can complain all they wish that it's "unfair," but he can take it up with the Almighty. I "report; you decide." All the terribleness of human existence began in The Garden. I'm sure commentaries are full of theology on how long Adam and Eve walked in obedience before they succumbed to the Satanic Lie. It does not matter; at some point, they obviously did. They died, "in trespasses and sin," and so did their descendants; that would include you and me.
Our text tells us that we were, "dead in...sins." The Word of God, Jesus, then tells us, "But God, Who is rich in mercy,.." did something about this. Romans 5 says, "Therefore, just as through one, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all humanity, because all sinned--...So then as through one transgression to condemnation there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through ONE ACT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to justification there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through...one disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous."
So there you have Truth. Our malady is we ourselves. Our "cure" is Jesus Himself. We could do nothing about it. In His Blood, Death and Resurrection, Jesus did everything about it. Now in Jesus, you and I now, "....sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...." I had a "moment" today of remembering 46 years ago. It was a battle. "But God, Who is rich in mercy," turned the moment and imparted the reality that I and Stephen, indeed all of those who have gone before us in Jesus, and only because of Jesus, are sitting in a good place.
Father, I realize more and more just how little this is all, "and that not of yourselves." Thank You that it is all of You. Amen.
***********************
* Please pray for our October Berlin Mission, and my time with Dennis in California
The Interlinear says, "of the sins of you." There is no escaping it, that is, if one accepts the Bible as Authority, that, "The sins of you," is the reality of human existence. People can blame God, ask their "whys" of this and that, but God says the malady of humanity is traced back to, "....the sins of you." If anyone is to "blame," it is you and I. We could perhaps say that sin is the defining DNA of the human race.
One dictionary defines DNA as, "The fundamental and distinctive characteristics or qualities of someone or something, especially when regarded as unchangeable." This is sin in mankind. Eve accepted the lie "first," and when Adam took up a follower-posture instead of a leader-posture, it was over for us. One can complain all they wish that it's "unfair," but he can take it up with the Almighty. I "report; you decide." All the terribleness of human existence began in The Garden. I'm sure commentaries are full of theology on how long Adam and Eve walked in obedience before they succumbed to the Satanic Lie. It does not matter; at some point, they obviously did. They died, "in trespasses and sin," and so did their descendants; that would include you and me.
Our text tells us that we were, "dead in...sins." The Word of God, Jesus, then tells us, "But God, Who is rich in mercy,.." did something about this. Romans 5 says, "Therefore, just as through one, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all humanity, because all sinned--...So then as through one transgression to condemnation there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through ONE ACT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to justification there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through...one disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous."
So there you have Truth. Our malady is we ourselves. Our "cure" is Jesus Himself. We could do nothing about it. In His Blood, Death and Resurrection, Jesus did everything about it. Now in Jesus, you and I now, "....sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus...." I had a "moment" today of remembering 46 years ago. It was a battle. "But God, Who is rich in mercy," turned the moment and imparted the reality that I and Stephen, indeed all of those who have gone before us in Jesus, and only because of Jesus, are sitting in a good place.
Father, I realize more and more just how little this is all, "and that not of yourselves." Thank You that it is all of You. Amen.
***********************
* Please pray for our October Berlin Mission, and my time with Dennis in California
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
