There are 3 kinds of death mentioned in the bible. They are physical death, eternal/second death and spiritual death. In Ephesians 2:4-7, the Apostle Paul emphasized on spiritual death. Ever since Adam fell into sin in the Garden of Eden, man is born spiritually dead. Spiritual death is the blindness to God and the helplessness to do the things of God. As such, man will never regard God and will live his life in idolatry, self-centeredness and covetousness. He does not deserved to be saved.

However, “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us ” (Eph 2:4), has sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins that we may be saved and made spiritually alive. It is by God’s mercy that man can experience this transformation from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive, when he believes and accepts Christ as his Lord and Saviour. This is because he has identified himself with Christ and he (in his sins) died with Jesus and was raised up (made alive) with Him (Eph 2:5-6).

We must not take spiritual death lightly. We must remember that it is our sins that caused Christ to suffer and to die on the cross. It is because of His grace that our sins are paid for and no eternal punishment awaits us anymore. Therefore, we must be grateful and prove it by living a life that is pleasing to our Lord and Saviour. We must live a holy life for the glory of God, serving Him with love and in truth. And in heaven, Christ will present us to God the Father, the result of Christ’s glorious salvific work of life on earth and death on the cross (Eph 2:7). This is the climax for all Christians as we will be in heaven and in His presence for eternity.

Thus, having understood that we were once spiritually dead but have now been made spiritually alive, we must take time to reflect upon our Christian living. Have we been obedient and living for Christ? Or have we been careless and have neglected the urgent need to preach the gospel of Christ to our unsaved loved ones? Is doing God’s work a joy for us or have we become complacent in our faith and love for Christ?