We all are in need of being saved from the quicksand of our sin.
Sandra McCracken, on her album Live Under Lights and Wires, tells a story of two young boys who play together near a river. Sadly, the two boys fall into some quicksand. When the rescue workers finally come, they only find the younger brother standing on top of the sand. When the boy is asked where his brother is, he says, "I'm standing on his shoulders." The older brother had sacrificed himself to save his younger brother.
Just like that younger brother, we all are in need of being saved from the quicksand of our sin. Fortunately, Jesus, our older brother, saves us.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10
Read through these verses and find ways that Paul contrasted our old nature of sinking in sin with our new nature in Christ.
OLD NATURE
NEW NATURE
Separated from Christ
United with Christ
Dead
Alive
Disobedient
Obedient
Ruled by spiritual evil
Sharing in Jesus' rule over spiritual evil
Objects of God's wrath
Objects of God's affection
Walking in sin
Walking in good works
Prayer
Thank God that you are a new creation in Christ. Consider taking this list, writing it down, and taping it to your mirror to remind you of your new identity in Christ.
Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Oddly enough just a few months ago when I asked at the church about some spiritual warfare stuff, I was pointed to a guy in the church and he told me I needed to write down a several things... one of which was what Jesus meant to me.. I also made a similar analogy.. I compared him to an older brother that I look up to and is a hero to me ans others because he gave his life to protect others in some other place.. more specificly my brother didn't die either, but he is not the person he used to be, so it is like he died. Before he left for Iraq and Afghanistan, he told me that he was going to war over there to protect everyone and to keep the danger away from us.. isn't that kinda what Jesus did... he went to war for us and sacrificed himself to save us all from the dangers of sin that would come and kill us.. He (Jesus) is my hero... who's yours?
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