Not Just Sick, Dead In Sin
James E. Farley
Many times we think of those who are not in the body of Christ as being “sin sick.” Often we hear of people saying that sin is the greatest sickness or disease with which the world has to deal. Those who are in sin, who are not in Christ, are not just sick: They are “dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1.
Death comes from the Greek word thanatos and means, “separation.” When we speak of physical death, we simply mean that the body has been separated from the spirit. James 2:26; Ecclesiastes 12:7.
Paul, in that Ephesian text, says that some were dead in sin. That is, they were separated from God because of sin. Isaiah 59:1-2; Proverbs 14:12; 2 John 9. Sin is the great separator. Sin causes a great chasm between man and God. Jesus came to reconcile, to bring man and God back together. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. Paul says that God accomplished this reconciliation through the work of Jesus the Christ and through the apostles, who had been given the “ministry of reconciliation.” The apostles wrote down what the Spirit directed them to write (Ephesians 3:3-5), and we now have the “word of reconciliation” that must be taken to the entire world and preached so people can hear, believe, and obey. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:1-3, 13-17. Those who submit to God’s revealed righteousness (Jews and Gentiles), though they are dead in trespasses and sins, can be made alive in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:1-22.
These, then, are Christians, called out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9-10) and called to walk worthy of a sanctified life. Cf. Ephesians 4:1) These are they who were buried with Christ in baptism and who were raised through faith in the operation of God to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12. They no longer mind earthly things, but now seek those things which are above. Colossians 3:1-. They have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man. Colossians 3:3-15. These seek now to do all things in the name of, or by the authority of, the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17; cf. Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46. They are now “in Christ” and, therefore, “new creatures.” They are born again of water and the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:26-27; John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:22-25.
Though they had been “children of disobedience,” they are now “light in the Lord,” and they walk now as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:6-11). They had been “servants of sin,” but they obeyed from the heart the gospel of Christ. They, then, willingly became “servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18) That is, though they had been dead in trespasses and sins, they are now dead to sin and separated from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:1; Romans 6:1-2. They no longer live in sin, for now they have been washed, sanctified, and “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.
Is Jesus not great indeed? Just as He could physically raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11), He can raise a sinner from spiritual death today.
Sinner, you are dead – dead in trespasses and sins. You are separated from God because of your sins, and, if you do not repent, you will be eternally separated from Him. Turn from your sins and turn to God. He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by Him. Hebrews 7:25. There is not a sin He cannot forgive if you are willing to repent and turn from it. He is the Savior! -1179 Mark Wayne Drive, Louisa, Kentucky 41230. preechfarley@yahoo.com