“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” (Ephesians 2:3–5).
Religion and spirituality are common today. People everywhere are willing and ready to talk about religious practices and spiritual experiences, though these are usually vague and personally defined. However, the Bible speaks in certain terms regarding spiritual life and faithful living.
First, spiritual life is not something we naturally possess, since we are the progeny of our first fallen father – Adam (Rom. 5:12-21). Adam sinned, and every human of natural birth since has been marked by spiritual death rather than life (Eph. 2:1-3).
Second, spiritual life is a gift from God, especially from the Holy Spirit. While we are dead in sin, we are not incapable of being brought to spiritual life through the miraculous power of God’s Spirit. Indeed, this is the elementary and profound teaching of Christ in John 3.
Finally, because we are passive recipients of God’s spiritual work on our behalf – bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life – we give Him all glory and honor for what He has done. Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps. 3:8).
Holding the Line 