dead vs alive

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 - Ephesians 2:1-10

This passage has impacted me greatly by pointing me to many realizations:

• salvation is by grace so that no one can boast
• salvation through faith will produce good works
• marvelous grace that saves a dead man 
• the contrast of who I was (before knowing God) vs who I am now 

I will focus on the last point. Realizing that I was dead and an object of wrath, that there is nothing in me that should attract God, really makes God's grace so much greater and glorious.

And out of his grace, we are made alive in Christ. This is something that I have heart for, to see fellow brothers and sisters to be grasp that we are fully alive in Christ, and therefore our faith should grow, generating fruits and good work.

When we were dead, it's like a dead plant that can't move, can't do anything, decomposes, etc. But now that we are alive in Christ, we can move, we can do things, we can grow, and produce the fruits and results for what we have been made for.

Perhaps, there are many of us who are "passive", believing that doing things for God is only reserved for those qualified, and that attending fellowship and church is enough. I want to challenge that.

I will start a series of posts about serving and leadership, and why this is important for every one who profess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

To start, I want to share a great post by a dear brother (who has encouraged me intensively) about how serving (works of service) is the key to unity of faith, knowledge of the Son of God, and attaining the fullness of Christ.

And also, this article about serving reminds that serving is for everyone.