Dead bones coming to life

 

Ephesians 2:4-6

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus...

In the book of the prophet Ezekiel we read that the Lord showed Ezekiel a valley filled with dead and dry bones and asked him a question: "Son of man, can these bones live?" The prophet answered: "O lord GOD, thou knowest." (Ezekiel 37:3)

Of course dead bones can't come to life by themselves, no more than a dead man is able to raise himself up from the grave. Such is the state of a fallen Man. The Bible teaches us that the Man is "dead in his trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). It is true that he is a living being that still breathes, walks, feeds itself, works, loves, multiplies, feels pain and comfort, cold and heat,  he rejoices and he mourns. However, that "life" is only an illusion. Every man is born into this world separated from God, who is the source of life. Therefore, although a man is physically alive, in reality he is spiritually dead. God's Word tells us that, through Adam, sin passed onto all humanity and with it, spiritual death (Romans 5:12). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

A lot of horror movies have been made showing walking deadmen called zombies, lifelessly wandering around and devouring everything that comes in their way. That is a very good picture of a fallen humanity. All men have a sinful nature, and that being the case, they sin naturally. For a man to sin comes as easy as drinking a glass of water (Job 34:7). Men love darkness and hate the light (John 3:19-20). All of humanity is firmly walking the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13) and is under the wrath of God which is being stored for the Day of Judgement (John 3:36; Romans 2:5).

If that is truly the case, if that indeed is the state of Man, is there any solution to it? Is there any hope for mankind?

Of course there is! Of course there is a solution and it is found in a wonderful and glorious phrase: "But God"!

The great God, creator of heaven and earth, lord of the universe, loves mankind with such an inexpressible love that he provided for their salvation. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."(John 3:16)

The Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to earth to save lost sinners (Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15). He lived a perfectly sinless life, "he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth" (Isaiah 53:9). He voluntarily offered himself on the cross and him who knew no sin, he (God) has made to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Lord Jesus "was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed."(Isaiah 53:5)

This is the Gospel: God, in his love and everlasting kindness, justifies the sinful Man freely, by his grace, through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary (Ephesians 2:8). Every man who believes the Gospel receives the Holy Spirit and is spiritually resurrected, united with Christ, and is, in the spirit, already positioned in the heavens, where the risen Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father (Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 2:13, 3:1).

God himself is the one who makes the dead bones come alive (Ezekiel 37:5-6).

What a glorious reality! Every true believer has passed from death to life and can already be completely assured in regard to eternity (John 5:24; 1 John 5:13).