Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV
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. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Rev. Charles Han
Total Depravity - corruption of every part of ourselves: mentally, physically, spiritually.
Before Christ, we were dead in our sins. So God resurrected us. Dead bodies don't need a bandage, a cast, or even resuscitation... they need resurrection. But why? Why would God resurrect those who hate him? Because God is rich in mercy and love.
Church is not about becoming nice people, or becoming more religious, or going to church regularly... it is about becoming new people. Being reborn.
The grace of God is not simply resurrection.
We are his workmanship. We are made for good works. This too is a gift from God. The faith you have is also a gift from God. Our obedience is not a response to God's grace; it is part of God's grace to you. Your salvation includes being rebirth as a new person, not just a small change in lifestyle.
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