Quickened

Quickened means made alive and that is what Jesus did for every believer because every believer was spiritually dead at one time before their rebirth in Christ.  All of us were dead in trespasses and sins.

This is made very clear by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1-7, “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.”

This is very powerful when you wrap your heart and mind around it.  Think about it, every believer that lived on earth was in this situation until the Lord extended His grace and drew them to Jesus, opened their eyes and ears and removed the veil from their minds.  He allowed them to hear the truth, causing a miracle to take place in each of their lives.  

When I think about this it helps me to put things into perspective especially when it comes to the non-believer and their response to believers.  Being spiritually dead, how can they understand anything about the Word, it is foolishness to them.  Even the religious people in the churches are in this dilemma, they may be full of religion, traditions and dos and don’ts, but have no relationship with the Savior.  They are just going through the motions with no real peace and joy in their lives outside of what they get carousing in the bars, drinking themselves silly, or being so pious that they look down on everyone else but cannot see their own hypocrisy.  

I have talked and witnessed to many people in the world, as well as in the church, over the years and their responses were downright shameful at times.  I remember one man that laughed and said he knew more about religion than I would ever know.  I knew the man very well and the only thing different about this man, and many others that I knew, was that he went to church, which I only knew because of being told or overhearing it.  Just because you go to some building people call a church doesn’t mean that you are born-again and a true believer.  I asked another man that worked in the same place, and went to church also, why he went to church and his response was that his parents went so he went.  Another person responded to a similar question this way, I did my duty.  

Some people think that going to a church building is good works and that is how they think they are going to be right with God, by doing good works.  But, Paul makes it very clear that this can never happen in Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.” 

We become born-again believers because of God’s unmerited favor and grace, and we can add nothing to it.  It is a miracle, something man cannot do, so man gets no credit whatsoever for it.  I think in the process people will repent, maybe even weep and mourn over their sins and even confess some, but even that only happens through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  So, re-birth only happens through a miracle of God without any help whatsoever by man, I want to make that very clear, so if you are trying to work your way to heaven, stop it, you are just wasting your time.

If this Tidbit is speaking to you and you have been trying to appease God somehow through good works but you would like a relationship with God, come to Him through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, which is the only way to God, the Father.  Ask Jesus to be your Savior and the Lord of your life, tell Him you are sorry for your sins, if you are, and ask Him to forgive you.  Then you can do good works because you love God and want to honor Him and show your appreciation for what He has done in your life, but never do them because you are trying to appease Him.  Start reading and studying the Word and growing in your faith by putting God’s Word into practice, letting it transform your life.  Find a Bible believing church where you can grow and mature in the Lord.  Something to think about; have a super day and may God bless you and yours!!