Ephesians 2  Verses 1-3 describe the unbeliever - dead!   Trespasses and sin cause death.  This way of living is the way of the world, it is the way of "the prince of the power of the air", it is a spirit that leads men to disobedience.  Dead men live to satisfy their lusts, to indulge their flesh and their minds.  Their passions rule their existence.  This is the state of every man, woman, and child without Christ.  We are born with this nature and it does nothing but grow worse... unless God intervenes!

"But God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ..." ( v4-5)   God is merciful.  He has great compassion and is gracious, because He is filled with Love.  In Christ, we have been made alive, raised up, and placed into His family.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God".  Again, Paul emphasizes the fact that there is nothing that we have done or can do that will save us from the judgement we deserve.  We cannot ever make ourselves alive when we are dead!  Only God brings life.

Why does He do this for us?

".. in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  (v7).. For eternity we will display God's kindness.  We won't walk around heaven bragging that we got there by our own works... we will have nothing to boast about.  We will give all the glory to Him!

" We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..."  We are His product, manufactured in Christ.  This "new self" is "in the likeness of God".   It is created, manufactured, in "righteousness and holiness of the truth" ( Eph 4:24) It is "being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" (Col. 3:10).    In Genesis 1:26  God said, " Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..."  Now, in Christ, we are being restored to that image and likeness.  God Himself is sculpting and painting and finishing us, His creation, His product, which will forever display His greatness.

Father, full of love and grace and glorious in every way,  we bless Your Name.  You have shown us mercy and compassion, for You are altogether kind.  Thank You.  Complete the work You have begun in us that we might fully display Your greatness. Have Your way, O Divine Potter, we are Your clay.
Spirit of God, our Helper, come and fill us with the knowledge of God, with wisdom and truth.  May our every breath be in You.  May our every step be in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord, in whose Name we pray. amen.