Beyond BeliefSample

From whence does true saving faith come? It is something we cannot accomplish on our own.

First, we should ask these questions, "Where or who was I before the Lord adopted me?" "What condition was I in?" "Could I save myself from this state?" Review Ephesians 2:1-3, the first Scripture passage from today's Bible References. What does the Apostle Paul say?

Paul boldly proclaims that we were dead, following the devil, living according to the passions of our flesh! Listen to his words, "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."

Do you know this was true of you before you came to know Christ as your Savior? Is it hard for you to comprehend this? Reflect for a moment. What do you remember of yourself before Christ? Think of a few words or phrases that you could choose to describe yourself before Christ.

Some of us cannot remember ourselves before Christ, or we do not see who we were. We may not have felt dead, but most of us sensed something was missing. Paul helps us understand why true, biblical belief in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, is impossible apart from God's mercy and grace. The Bible is clear that we can do nothing apart from Him. Why? Because we were dead!

Say a brief prayer to the Lord. Thank Him for not leaving you in the state in which He found you. We are sinners. We have sinned against our Lord, but we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous! The truth is that He took our sin upon Himself, the wrath we deserved, and He has given us the righteousness of God. We are no longer who we used to be. We are a new creation and children of God! Because of this new identity, we can and must walk in the light by confessing our sin and practicing the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.