You Were Dead, But Now You're Alive
An abstract of Connor Kraus’ sermon on October 5, 2025, in the Book of Ephesians series. Watch the sermon video here.
The Bad News You Need to Hear First
Have you ever been asked, "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" Most of us want to skip straight to the good news. But sometimes you need to understand the problem before you can appreciate the solution.
The apostle Paul was definitely a "bad news first" kind of guy. And in his letter to the Ephesians, he doesn't hold back. He starts with words that sound shocking: "You were dead."
Wait—dead? But the people reading his letter were clearly alive, right? They were breathing, walking around, living their lives.
Paul is talking about a different kind of death. Not physical death, but spiritual death. It's the kind of death that's harder to see but just as real. Your body can be alive while your soul is completely separated from God.
What Caused This Death?
This spiritual death comes from something the Bible calls "sin"—rejecting God and His plan for us. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when the first humans, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against God. From that moment on, every generation has been born into a broken world filled with sin, death, and destruction.
And here's the hard truth: we all contribute to that brokenness through our own choices.
Think of it like driving into a city covered in smog. You're entering the pollution to breathe it, but your car is also adding to the problem. That's what Paul is saying. The world was already corrupted, but it keeps getting worse because of our individual choices to do wrong.
Paul adds another layer to this problem: spiritual forces of evil. He describes Satan as "the ruler of the air" who has temporary authority in this corrupted world. Satan's rebellious spirit works in people when they disobey God. So you have masses of people in active rebellion against God, influenced by the world around them, by Satan, and by their own selfish desires.
Why "Dead" Is the Right Word
The problem isn't just that we sin. It's the state that sin creates. Sin produces a spiritual deadness that's impossible to overcome on our own.
A famous preacher named John Stott once said that spiritually dead people "are as unresponsive to God as a corpse." They're like animated bodies with no spiritual life inside. They can't change their situation or reverse their destiny.
Paul makes it clear that everyone is part of this corrupted world—not just certain people. All people, no matter their background, are spiritually dead because they live according to their sins, the ways of the world, and the schemes of the devil.
And the natural result of rebelling against God? Judgment. Rejection by the King. Paul says this is our original state and the destiny of everyone who has rejected Christ.
That's the bad news. And the bad news is crushing.
But then comes the greatest plot twist in history.
But God...
Those might be the two most powerful words in the entire Bible: "But God."
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!"
We are the problem, and God is the solution.
Who wants to deal with something that's dead? God does. He chooses to come to us—dead in our sins as we are—and save us by grace. Why? Because of His character. Specifically, His mercy and His love.
And Paul says God is "rich" in these things. He uses that word more in Ephesians than in any other book in the New Testament. God isn't just kind. He's overflowing in mercy and love. He has more than enough, above and beyond what's required. His love never runs out or gets exhausted. He saves and redeems because that's who He is—a God who loves.
Here's the simple, powerful truth: though you have nothing to give, God loves you anyway. Though you were dead, through Christ you can be made alive.
The free gift of salvation has been delivered to you through the gracious love of God in Jesus. He's the only pathway to overcoming our dead spirits.
Complete Reversal
But the good news gets even better. We're not just made alive in Christ. We're also raised with Christ and seated with Christ in heaven. This offers a complete reversal of our situation under sin:
Rather than death, we are made alive
Rather than being subject to Satan, we are set free
Rather than being destined for judgment, we are destined to rule with Jesus
You might be thinking, "Wait, if I'm sitting here right now, how can I also be seated with Jesus in heaven?" Paul is talking about the spiritual realm—the unseen reality where Christ reigns and where believers are united with Him. Just as your spiritual death was invisible but real, your spiritual life is invisible but just as real. You are truly raised and alive with Christ right now, even while your body remains here on earth.
Grace Through Faith
"For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—not from works, so that no one can boast."
Salvation is entirely the gift of God's grace. But this gift comes through faith. You must believe that God has done this work for you, raising your dead spirit and bringing you into His kingdom.
While renewing your soul is entirely God's initiative, your role is faith. True faith calls you to leave behind the habits and beliefs you once followed when you were under the control of the world and Satan.
But here's an important warning: even demons believe God is real. They know their destruction is certain, yet their belief doesn't move them to obey. It's not enough to admit that something exists. Saving faith must lead to a response. The faith that saves reaches the very core of your heart. It stands against the ruler of this world and chooses the side of the living over the side of the dead.
The question isn't just "Was Jesus real?" Of course He was. The deeper question is: Who is He to you? Is He your King?
Faith Produces Action
How do you show this kind of faith? Through action. But the order matters.
We are not saved by works. We are saved by grace, through faith, which then produces works. That's why Paul says, "this is not from yourselves." The whole process—salvation by grace through faith—is the gift of God. No matter how many good things you've done, you were dead until Christ made you alive. Only then, empowered by God's Spirit, do good works flow out of your new life. That's why no one can boast. Salvation is God's work from beginning to end.
Yet faith is never idle. God has prepared good works in advance for you to do. Think about that. Before the foundation of the world, God planned how your life could serve His purposes. Through Christ, we are restored to our original calling: to walk with God and reflect His goodness.
Here's the beautiful full circle of Paul's words: once, you walked in sin and rebellion. Now, you walk in the good works God prepared beforehand. Your old way of life has been reversed and redeemed.
Where Are You?
So here's the question for you: Are you dead? Your heart is beating and your lungs are working, but your soul may still be lifeless—separated from God by sin.
Maybe this message has uncovered a truth you've been ignoring. Your life has been shaped by the world, by evil influences, and by your own desires. You may be kind, generous, and sincere, but apart from Christ you are still in rebellion against God.
That was true of every believer until we received the grace that comes through Jesus. You may struggle with the idea of judgment, but remember the promise—judgment is not the only option. God offers life, freely, through faith in Christ. If you believe, He has already prepared a future for you, full of good things, and He is waiting.
Or maybe you've trusted in Christ, but your life shows little evidence of it. You believe, but your faith has stalled out. Real faith produces fruit. God saved you so your life would look different, so people would see Christ in you. If your faith looks the same as it did before, it's time to wake up. God raised you to walk in new life, and He has already set that path in front of you—so start walking.
Or perhaps this message reminds you of the grace you already know. You were dead, but now you're alive in Christ, and you've been walking in that new life. Your faithfulness is not wasted. Every act of obedience is evidence that God's grace is alive and working in you. Keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep serving.
Your Invitation
By the grace of God, through faith in Christ, you can be alive. That's what the cross is about. Christ's body was broken and His blood was shed so that your sins could be forgiven and your future secured.
Whether you're exploring faith for the first time, feeling stuck in your spiritual journey, or walking faithfully with Jesus, there's a place for you here. Come discover more about God's amazing grace and what it means to be truly alive.
Join us this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. We'd love to meet you and help you take your next step with Jesus.