Who We Were

SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 2; Romans 3

Who We Were

Text: Ephesians 2:1-7

The Past is educational and instructional for every person to consider. It is by studying the Past, and by contemplating our own history, that we are able to eliminate mistakes that we are perhaps prone to; or it is by considering the Past that we can improve in certain areas that we have been lacking; or it is by careful examination of our Past that we can determine what has been profitable in our lives (and what has not been profitable!), and then we are able to build upon those profitable areas. Those people who learn from their mistakes are most usually those people that are the most proficient and most successful in life. Today, I want us to consider our own lives from a spiritual perspective. I want us to look at Where we have been, What we have done, and Who we were. Let us consider our own Past and Despicable Condition that we were in before Jesus Christ came unto us – and marvel again at Who Jesus Christ is, and What God has done for us! Those that are unsaved, I want you to apply these questions to your present state – Where are you now? What are you Doing? Who are you? Without and Apart from Jesus Christ, do you have any hope of Heaven? I pray that God will impress upon you an answer that will show you your need of Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

Where We Have Been

We were all of us (and Paul includes himself in this number) in the World. We were closely entwined with the elements of the World and of Satan himself. Where we Were, is smack-dab in the middle of Sin and Self! The Scriptures before us today, reveal that “Where we Were” (spiritually) is Dead, and in Sin, and without Hope.Just as Lazarus was dead in the grave, even so we were walking dead men and women. Col. 3:5-7; Ps. 56:13; 2Cor. 1:8-10; Jn. 11:43; 10:27

What We Have Done

Was there ever any good thing that you or I did in our former state? We see that we were in a Place of Wickedness and Death. While we were there, what did we do? I am sure that you and I must acknowledge, if we will be honest with ourselves and God, that the things that we did were never done in order to be pleasing to our God. There was never any good thing that we Did, when we were in the Place that we Were.Every work of our hands; every thought of our minds; every word of our lips; everything that we do, say, or think, is done for our own benefit – or for those for whom we desire to be a benefit – in our natural condition. (At least we can say that everything that we say, do, or think is not meant to glorify God or obey Him.) Gen. 6:5; Rom. 3:13-18 

Who We Were

We were not good people, when God came to us. (Even now we are not good people – only that the Holy Spirit has taken up abode in us and quickened the inner man.) This is Who we Were before Christ came unto us: We were His enemies, and we hated everything that had to do with God.It provides a good dose of Humility to pause and to consider just Who we Were. It glorifies God’s Grace to pause and to consider Who we Were. It gives us further reason to Praise and Extol the Name of our God when we pause to consider Who we Were. Rom. 6:17: 3:10-12; Ja. 4:4

What God Has Done

Yes we Were among the Children of Disobedience – but He has made us Obedient! Yes we Were workers of Iniquity and Wickedness – but He has made us workers in the vineyard of the Lord. Yes we Were Lost, Miserable, and Dead in Trespasses and Sins – but He has Found us, and Quickened us and made us alive in Christ Jesus! These things will be marveled at, throughout Eternity, to the Glory of our Gracious God. Eph. 2:4-7