In Christ: Know It, Live It - 26 (Me, B.C. - 2)

"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world..." Ephesians 2:1,2

Our biography BEFORE Christ could be described in 3 ways: We were DEAD, We were SLAVES, and We were UNDER WRATH. Here we have the trinity of helpless hopelessness that described our life before the Savior. We have already considered what it meant to be SPIRITUALLY DEAD. What did it mean to be SLAVES to SIN?

There has always been discussion and debate in the church regarding whether or not people are FREE, and if so, what does "FREE" mean? The Bible teaches that man IS FREE to do what his heart is bent by nature to do...SIN. But he is NOT FREE to truly and by nature turn away from sin and to pursue God (see Romans 3:10-12; 8:5-9). In another sense, man is NOT FREE, even in his sinning. He sins because his sin bent nature is being pushed and pulled by 3 primary influences: the WORLD, the DEVIL, and the FLESH. Before Christ every man is a SLAVE to sin. We do not all sin in the same ways or to the same extent or with the same passion or suffering the same consequences. But we all sin from natures that are CORRUPT in the sense that sin AFFECTS all we do and think and say.

Let's consider what Paul says in v.2 about this slavery. Not only did our spiritual DEADNESS demonstrate itself by a lifestyle of TRESPASSES and SINS, but we committed those trespasses and sins as we FOLLOWED the "course of this world." That is, there was an influence drawing us, dragging us towards sin, an influence that we FOLLOWED, like a handcuffed man being dragged onward by a chain hooked to a wench. ONE WENCH pulling our chain was THE WORLD. What is the WORLD and what is the "course of this world"?

WORLD does NOT speak of this physical planet. Here it speaks of a SYSTEM, a way of thinking, feeling, acting, valuing, and speaking that is opposed to God. Perhaps no clearer passage can be found that defines this system than 1 John 2:15-17:

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. "

Here the WORLD is opposed to GOD and all that the world is about originates in it and not in God. The WORLD is about: seeking PLEASURE, getting STUFF, and building a REPUTATION. And these things, John writes, are PASSING AWAY. That is, THEY WON'T LAST. Pursuing them is ULTIMATE LOSS...period.

However, it was this world system of seeking pleasure, getting stuff, and building a reputation that used to pull the chain of our slavery before Christ. We STILL struggle with these things, to be sure. But they no long DOMINATE our lives nor do they have "chain pulling" power over us (see Romans 6!).

I used to live for the next cheeseburger, the next king sized Snickers bar. I used to live for the next stylish piece of clothing or cool shoes that I could buy and then have the look that would draw the looks. I wanted so desperately as a high schooler to break records in track and field with the ultimate goal of being somebody in everybody else's eyes. WHY? I was BORN SPIRITUALLY DEAD and I lived that deadness out as I disregarded and rebelled against God's laws in order to PURSUE the WORLD'S AGENDA. Pleasure, stuff, reputation...that was my life. And...it was YOURS too, BEFORE CHRIST.

Let us PRAISE HIM that now we do have bonifide FREEDOM in the Spirit to love the Father and others and to live self-controlled, contented, God and other-centered lives. What a transformation by grace.