When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
I knew a man who worked at a funeral home. He helped prepare dead bodies for burial. When I asked him if he liked his job, he said, “Yes! My customers never complain at all.” I’m sure he’s right! Dead bodies don’t complain much. In fact, they can’t complain at all. Dead bodies can’t do anything at all.
God says that’s what we were like: Dead. “When you were dead in your sins…” According to the Bible, a person without faith in Jesus is dead. Sure, they still have physical life. They can walk around and talk. But they are spiritually dead. Dead in sin. We were dead without Jesus.
What can dead people do? Nothing. So how much could we do to save ourselves? Nothing. Just like a dead body can’t help prepare itself for burial, you and I are completely helpless to save ourselves. This is why it’s impossible for you or me to accept Christ or make a commitment to Christ on our own.
If we were going to come alive, who had to do it? God. That’s what he did! “When you were dead in your sins, God made you alive with Christ.” God does more than prepare dead bodies for burial. God is able to raise the dead. God has made you and me alive with Christ.
How? “He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” This is such a cool picture! It’s as if all our sins were written on a bank note. Our debt to God. And what did God do with it? He nailed it to Jesus’ cross. When Jesus died, he yelled, “It is finished.” “Paid in full!” Which sins? All our sins. Past sins. Present sins. Future sins. Nailed to the cross. No more guilt. You are forgiven!
The best news from the Bible is that salvation doesn’t depend on us. We were dead! It depends completely on Jesus. He brings the dead to life!
Dear Jesus, when I was dead, you made me alive again. What a thought! Thank you for taking all my sins to your cross and forgiving me. Give me your power to live a new life each day for you. Amen.
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