From Spiritual Death to Sacred Life in Christ

The journey of elevation begins not with our ambitions, intellect, or even our morality, but with a radical transformation that only God can accomplish: moving us from the secular to the sacred. Every one of us starts out spiritually dead—separated from God, unable to respond to Him, and incapable of making ourselves holy or acceptable by our own efforts. The biblical standard for what is sacred is perfection, and in the Old Testament, only the flawless—whether objects, animals, or people—could be set apart for God’s use. This perfection was not just about morality, but about being wholly set apart, without blemish or defect.

Yet, none of us meet that standard. We are all born with spiritual blemishes, dead in our trespasses, and under the dominion of sin. No amount of moral improvement, religious activity, or self-discipline can bridge the gap between our secular state and God’s sacred presence. Dressing up our lives, cleaning up our behavior, or trying to “do better” is like putting a suit on a corpse—it may look good on the outside, but it does not bring life.

But God, rich in mercy, intervenes. Through Christ, God does what we cannot: He makes us alive, elevating us from spiritual death to new life. This is not a reward for our efforts, but a gift of grace received by faith. Christ’s death and resurrection justify us—making us “just as if we never sinned”—and move us from the realm of the secular to the sacred. We are not just improved; we are made new, set apart for God’s purposes.

This elevation is not a one-time ticket to be used at our convenience, but a new way of living. Christ must not only die for us, but live in us, and we must live in Him. Our lives become sacred, not to be used for common or profane purposes, but dedicated to God. This means developing new habits, living on purpose, and pointing others to God—not out of moral obligation, but because we have been made alive and set apart. The true mark of elevation is not self-improvement, but surrender to Christ as Lord, allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True elevation begins with recognizing our spiritual deadness. We are not simply “bad people getting better,” but spiritually lifeless, unable to respond to God or make ourselves holy. Accepting this reality is the first step toward genuine transformation, as it humbles us and opens us to God’s intervention. [36:42]
• 2. The standard for the sacred is perfection, not mere morality. In God’s eyes, being set apart (kadosh) means being wholly dedicated and without blemish—something none of us can achieve on our own. This exposes the futility of trying to earn God’s favor through good works or religious rituals. [28:03]
• 3. God’s grace is the only means by which the secular becomes sacred. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God justifies us, making us alive and moving us from spiritual death to new life. This is a gift, not a reward, and it requires us to receive it by faith, not by effort. [58:40]
• 4. Living as sacred people means refusing to secularize what God has made holy. Our lives, once set apart by God, are not to be used for common or profane purposes. This calls for intentional boundaries, new habits, and a mindset that aligns with our new identity in Christ. [66:59]
• 5. The evidence of elevation is a life lived on purpose, with Christ as Lord. When we truly see Jesus as the only way, our lives reflect His lordship: we develop new habits, live intentionally, and point others to God. If these marks are absent, it may be time to re-examine whether we have truly moved from the secular to the sacred. [79:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:29] - Introduction to Elevation Series
• [01:42] - Elevation: From Secular to Sacred
• [04:13] - Foundational Text: Ephesians 2:1-10
• [06:41] - Reading and Explaining the Text
• [08:40] - The Desire for Elevation
• [10:30] - The Secular and the Sacred: Our Starting Point
• [13:33] - What Does It Mean to Be Holy?
• [16:13] - Kadosh: The Hebrew Concept of Sacredness
• [19:39] - The Consequences of Mishandling the Sacred
• [24:10] - The Standard of Perfection for the Sacred
• [28:03] - The Problem of Blemishes and Disqualification
• [36:42] - Our Position: Spiritually Dead
• [43:13] - The Universal Human Condition
• [50:52] - God’s Solution: Elevating the Secular
• [58:40] - Grace and the Gift of Salvation
• [66:59] - Living as Sacred: Boundaries and Habits
• [76:37] - The Right View of Jesus and Living on Purpose
• [80:58] - Final Challenge and Call to Surrender

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

1. According to Ephesians 2:1-3, what was our spiritual condition before God intervened?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor mean when he says, “Dressing up our lives, cleaning up our behavior, or trying to ‘do better’ is like putting a suit on a corpse”? ([38:08])
3. What is the biblical standard for something to be considered “sacred” or “holy” in the Old Testament, as described in the sermon? ([28:03])
4. How does Paul describe the way we are saved in Ephesians 2:8-9? What is the difference between a “gift” and a “reward”?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why is it important to recognize that we were “spiritually dead” rather than just “bad people getting better”? How does this change the way someone understands salvation? ([36:42])
2. The sermon says, “No amount of moral improvement, religious activity, or self-discipline can bridge the gap between our secular state and God’s sacred presence.” Why do people often try to earn God’s favor this way, and what does this reveal about our understanding of grace? ([12:16])
3. The pastor talks about the standard for the sacred being “perfection, not mere morality.” How does this standard expose the futility of trying to be “good enough” for God? ([28:03])
4. What does it mean for Christ to not only die for us, but to live in us, and for us to live in Him? How is this different from just “using” salvation as a ticket when we need it? ([01:05:46])

Application Questions

1. The sermon compares trying to improve ourselves without Christ to “putting a suit on a corpse.” Are there areas in your life where you are trying to “dress up” or fix yourself without relying on God’s grace? What would it look like to surrender those areas to Christ? ([38:08])
2. The pastor says, “Living as sacred people means refusing to secularize what God has made holy.” Are there habits, relationships, or environments in your life where you are treating what God has made sacred as common or profane? What boundaries might you need to set? ([01:06:59])
3. Ephesians 2:10 says we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.” What is one specific way you can live “on purpose” this week, intentionally pointing others to God because of your new identity in Christ?
4. The sermon challenges us to examine if we have truly moved from the secular to the sacred. What are some “marks” in your life that show Christ is Lord and not just a helper? Are there areas where you need to let go of control and let Christ lead? ([01:19:43])
5. The pastor says, “If you’re not pointing anyone else to God, not developing new habits, and not living on purpose, it’s probably a good indication you don’t have a right view of Jesus.” Who is one person you can intentionally encourage or share your faith with this month? ([01:19:43])
6. The sermon describes God’s grace as a gift, not a reward. Do you struggle to receive God’s grace freely, or do you feel like you have to earn it? How can you remind yourself this week that you are accepted because of Christ, not your performance? ([58:40])
7. The pastor uses the image of “fine china” to describe our new identity in Christ—set apart for special use. What is one practical way you can honor God with your life this week, treating yourself as someone set apart for His purposes? ([14:13])