From Spiritual Death to Purposeful Life in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering Our Past Condition Without Christ

Before coming to Christ, every person is spiritually dead—unable to save themselves, dominated by sinful desires, and destined for God’s righteous judgment. This is not just a matter of making mistakes, but of being fundamentally separated from God, following the ways of the world, and unable to break free from the pull of sin on our own. Recognizing this past condition is essential, not to shame us, but to remind us of the depth of God’s rescue and the hopelessness we once faced apart from His intervention. [13:09]

Ephesians 2:1-3 (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.

Reflection: In what ways do you see evidence of your old “dead” ways of thinking or living still trying to influence you, and how can you intentionally remember God’s rescue from that today?

Day 2: God’s Powerful Compassion and Saving Grace

God, rich in mercy and great in love, intervened when we were helpless, making us alive with Christ and raising us up to a new life we could never have earned. Salvation is entirely a gift—God’s initiative, not our own effort—rooted in His grace and kindness, so that no one can boast. Even when we were at our worst, God’s compassion reached down, rescued us, and gave us a secure place with Christ, both now and for eternity. [16:25]

Ephesians 2:4-9 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: When you consider that your salvation is entirely God’s gift, how does that change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship today?

Day 3: Living Out Our God-Given Purpose

God did not save us just for our own benefit, but for a greater purpose—He created us in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared in advance for us to do. Every believer is God’s workmanship, uniquely designed to walk in these good works, living with intention and mission rather than just drifting through life. This calling is both individual and collective, inviting us to discover and pursue the specific ways God wants to use us for His glory and the good of others. [20:30]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: What is one specific “good work” you sense God has prepared for you to walk in this week, and how can you take a step toward it today?

Day 4: Living for the Glory of God in All Things

The purpose of our lives is not just to do good, but to do everything for the glory of God—letting our gratitude and worship rise to Him as we enjoy His gifts and live out our daily routines. Whether eating, drinking, working, or spending time with family, we are called to let our hearts overflow in praise to the Giver, not just the gifts, and to keep our focus on honoring Him above all else. This transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for worship and keeps our lives centered on the One who deserves all glory. [22:53]

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Reflection: As you go about your day, what is one ordinary activity where you can intentionally pause to thank and honor God, turning it into an act of worship?

Day 5: Fulfilling the Great Commission Together

Jesus’ final command to His followers is to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching and baptizing in His name, with the promise of His presence always. This is not just a task for a few, but a shared mission for every believer and every church—to bring the good news of Jesus to others, both near and far, and to help them grow as His disciples. As we participate in this mission, we join in God’s work of redemption and experience the joy of seeing lives transformed for eternity. [25:22]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who needs to hear or see the love of Jesus, and what is one step you can take today to share Christ with them?

Sermon Summary

Ephesians 2:1-10 reveals the journey from spiritual death to new life in Christ, highlighting both the depth of our need and the greatness of God’s mercy. Every believer, regardless of when or how they came to faith, is called to grow and mature, not remaining stagnant but becoming more like Jesus over time. Growth is a sign of spiritual health, just as it is in the physical world. To remain unchanged is to miss the purpose for which God has saved us.

Our past condition was dire: we were spiritually dead, dominated by sin, and destined for wrath. This wasn’t just a matter of making mistakes; it was a total inability to save ourselves or even seek God on our own. Like a lifeless body, we could not respond to God until He intervened. But God, rich in mercy and love, acted on our behalf. He made us alive with Christ, raised us up, and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. This salvation is entirely a gift—nothing we could earn or boast about. It is God’s grace from start to finish.

Yet, salvation is not the end of the story. God has a purpose for each of us beyond our own rescue. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that He prepared in advance for us to do. This means living intentionally, not meandering through life without direction. Our calling is to glorify God in all things and to participate in the Great Commission—making disciples, sharing the gospel, and serving others in love. Whether our influence is wide or seemingly small, each of us has a unique role in God’s mission.

Living on mission is not reserved for a select few; it is the calling of every believer. It means letting our gratitude for God’s mercy overflow into purposeful action, both in our daily lives and in our community. As we grow in Christ, we become better—better on purpose, better in our mission, and better together as the body of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual growth is essential for every believer. Just as it would be unhealthy for a child to never grow, it is a sign of spiritual unhealth for a Christian to remain unchanged year after year. God calls us to continual transformation, becoming more like Christ as we journey with Him. This growth is not about perfection, but about progress and intentional pursuit of maturity. [01:30]
2. Our past condition apart from Christ was one of total inability and spiritual death. We were not merely misguided or in need of improvement; we were dead in our sins, unable to respond to God or choose Him on our own. Recognizing the depth of our lostness magnifies the wonder of God’s saving grace and keeps us humble and grateful. [04:55]
3. God’s intervention is rooted in His rich mercy and great love, not in our merit. The “but God” of Ephesians 2:4 is the turning point of our story, reminding us that salvation is entirely His work. Even when we were dead, He made us alive, raised us up, and secured our place with Christ—demonstrating the immeasurable riches of His grace. [14:55]
4. Our salvation is not just for our benefit, but for a greater purpose. God has prepared good works for us to walk in, giving our lives meaning and direction beyond personal comfort or achievement. Living on mission means embracing this calling, seeking to glorify God in all things and to serve others as Christ has served us. [20:30]
5. Fulfilling our purpose involves both worship and witness. We are called to live for the glory of God in every aspect of life, letting gratitude for His gifts turn our hearts to praise. At the same time, we are commissioned to make disciples, sharing the gospel and investing in the spiritual growth of others—locally and globally. [25:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Introduction: The Call to Grow
[03:27] - Our Mission and Purpose in Christ
[04:55] - Understanding Our Past Condition
[07:15] - The Reality of Spiritual Death
[08:50] - Doomed to Follow the World
[11:04] - Dominated by Passions and Desires
[13:09] - Destined for Wrath
[14:55] - God’s Powerful Compassion
[16:25] - Mercy Illustrated and Applied
[17:29] - Rescued from Death: A Personal Story
[19:30] - Raised for a Purpose
[20:30] - Living on Mission: Our Present Commission
[22:53] - Living for the Glory of God
[25:22] - Fulfilling the Great Commission
[27:15] - Communion and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 2:1-3, what was our spiritual condition before knowing Christ? What words or phrases does Paul use to describe it?
In verses 4-7, what does Paul say God did for us, and what motivated Him to do it?
What does Paul mean when he says, “by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works, so that no one may boast”?
What is the purpose of our salvation according to verse 10? How does Paul describe our new identity and calling?
The sermon described our past as being “dead, doomed, dominated, and destined for wrath.” Which verses in the passage support these descriptions? ([04:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important for believers to remember their past spiritual condition? How might this shape our attitude toward God and others? ([13:09])
The sermon emphasized that salvation is “100% a work of God by his grace and mercy toward us.” How does this truth affect the way we view our own efforts or “good works”? ([14:55])
What does it mean to be “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”? How does this challenge the idea that salvation is only about going to heaven? ([20:30])
The sermon talked about “meandering” through life versus living with purpose. What are some signs that a Christian is living with purpose rather than just going through the motions? ([08:50])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Healthy things grow. Our kids are supposed to grow... So too for Christians. If we don’t grow, there’s a problem.” In what areas of your spiritual life do you see growth? Where do you feel stagnant? What is one step you could take this month to pursue growth? ([01:30])
Paul says we were “dead in our trespasses and sins.” How does remembering your own spiritual lostness before Christ affect the way you see people who don’t know Jesus yet? ([04:55])
The phrase “But God, being rich in mercy...” is described as the turning point of our story. Can you recall a specific moment or season when you experienced God’s mercy in a powerful way? How did it change you? ([14:55])
The sermon said, “God saves us not just for our own good, but for a greater purpose.” What do you think are some of the “good works” God has prepared for you? Are there any you feel you’ve been avoiding or putting off? ([20:30])
Living on mission was described as “letting our gratitude for God’s mercy overflow into purposeful action.” What is one practical way you can serve someone in your family, neighborhood, or workplace this week out of gratitude for what God has done for you? ([20:30])
The sermon mentioned that fulfilling our purpose involves both worship and witness. Which of these comes more naturally to you? Which one do you find more challenging, and why? ([25:22])
The idea of “meandering” through life was contrasted with living intentionally. Are there areas of your life where you feel you’re just “going with the flow”? What would it look like to live with more purpose in those areas? ([08:50])

Sermon Clips

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. That is our purpose as a Christian. That is who we are called to be. Created by God through Christ Jesus. Salvation comes through Christ. For good works. To do the things that God himself has prepared for you and for me to do. [00:03:37] (27 seconds) #createdforgoodworks

With the body that is dead there, you can't coax the body to start breathing again. You can't say, get up and start walking. They're gone. They're dead. And the apostle Paul says to us today, remember, believers, what you once were. You were dead because of your trespasses and sins. You couldn't get good. You couldn't take a breath. You couldn't take a step. This is your past condition. Remember it. [00:08:21] (28 seconds) #rememberyourpast

There's a saying that a dead fish can float downstream with the current, but it takes a fish that is alive to swim against the current, and that's what we're called to be as people. But before we get there, Paul says that's you. You were dead, and so you were doomed to just go along with the worldly waters, just to go along with it. [00:09:25] (22 seconds) #aliveagainstthecurrent

``God's rich love and his mercy saved us. He grabbed us. He lifted us up. And he says he seated us in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. Now you and I are here. We're not in heaven seated with Christ, who's at the right hand of God the Father. So what does he mean by that? How are we raised up? Well, in one sense, it's the...already but not yet. In one sense, we're already up there, seated with him. That's how powerful God is. That's how sure his promises are. And so if you're trusting in Christ, if you've been saved, part of you is already there. And it's a matter of time before he delivers fully on that promise. [00:15:47] (38 seconds) #greaterpurposecalling

God saves us not just for our own good, but for a greater purpose. How many people are thankful for the promise of heaven today? Yeah, and the forgiveness of sins? Man, you can lay your head on your pillow at night and rest well, because God Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, he loves you. He's your heavenly father. He's going to take care of you. He's going to see you through the hardships of life. He's going to see you through to heaven. That's a great and marvelous blessing, but it's only really a secondary blessing. We're saved for a greater purpose than just our own salvation and our own good news. [00:20:24] (41 seconds) #gospelimpact

We as believers, as Christians, we have a calling on our life. And here, the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit to us today tells us it's good works. It's good works that God has made us to live out. [00:22:27] (15 seconds)

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, in Matthew chapter 28, he says, all authority on heaven and on earth is given to me. What an amazing statement, by the way. We could spend a half hour on that. All authority on heaven and earth is given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. This is the final command that Jesus gave to us to go, take this message out. [00:25:22] (35 seconds)

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