4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—“ (Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)
I threw my phone out of the window, I’m so over it
Weight on my shoulders, every day another stone to lift
I’m standing at the ledge
My foot’s about to slide
What if it takes the fall for me to learn to fly
I try to run from what I’ve done
And it cost me everyone, all it left me was feeling numb.
Sunrise stayed up ’til the morning
Eyes stay bloodshot from the smoking
Another round and I’m locked and loaded
Faith has faded
Living on the edge one foot in the coffin
Lord knows I don’t pray too often
Knees down when the devil come calling
Ain’t no saving.
A dead man walking.
A dead man walking.
I am not a fan of country music, so it may surprise you that I am quoting lyrics from a song by country rap/country rock singer and composer Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord). The lyrics to his song Dead Man Walking, even in part, are compelling and honest. They are also devoid of any hope; especially when he says Ain’t no saving a dead man walking.
Ephesians 2:5 says otherwise. Even though the Apostle Paul acknowledged that sinners are dead men walking (Ephesians 2:1-3), there is hope for a resurrection. That hope is solely found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—.“ God the Father made deadened sinners alive. The phrase made us alive together (συζωοποιέω; syzoopoieo) describes an active work by God at a particular point in time in a particular sinner’s life.
This new life joins every believer. There are no other options. It is found solely in Jesus Christ. He alone is the sinner’s redeemer, reconciler and justifier (Romans 3:21-26).
This is because Jesus Christ took upon Himself the unbeliever’s sin while on the cross and suffered the just and rightful wrath of God the Father on the sinner’s behalf. In exchange, by grace alone, through faith alone, the believing sinner is declared righteous with the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ alone (Rom. 4; 2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus Christ is the object of saving faith. Jesus Christ is the only hope for dead men walking. Jesus Christ is the only Savior.
God the Father’s motivation for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to this fallen world to save dead people walking was His sovereign grace alone. It was His unmerited favor. God did not give sinners what we deserve but rather what we do not deserve. This is why believers in Christ praise Him for His glorious grace (Eph. 1:3-14).
Consider the lyrics from another song. It’s also entitled Dead Man Walking. Its composer is Jeremy Camp.
Freedom was something I never found
Trying to find six feet underground
Under the weight of all of my sin
Fighting the fight that I couldn’t win
Then You rescued me
Now I can breathe.
I look for the words but cannot explain
A new kind of love ran into my veins
You are the key to all of my chains
To all that I was now I’m not a slave
Then You rescued me
And now I can breathe.
I was a dead man walking
Until I was a man walking with You
I was a blind man falling
Until I felt the life You’re calling me to
Pulling me out of the darkness
Pulling me out of the lies
Putting the beat in my heart again
I was a dead man walking
Until You loved this dead man walking back to life.
I have tasted and I’ve seen the wonders of Your heart
I do not deserve a thing, but that’s just who You are.
Are you a dead man walking? Which song best describes you today? The only hope for dead men walking is found in Jesus Christ (John 14:1-6; Acts 4:12).
Soli deo Gloria!