I was listening to a trivia podcast recently where the four hosts were discussing Christianity and the Bible. Some of the four had a religious background, but at least one did not. He expressed shock over a miracle in Acts where Paul brought a man named Eutychus back to life (see Acts 20:7-12). As an explanation, the host who told the story said, "It's the Bible... That's the kind of thing that happens in the Bible." Another host replied, "Yeah. Zombies. Very common. "15
The hosts were correct in that the Bible often talks about dead people rising up and walking again, but the idea of the walking dead couldn't be further from the truth. The Christian life is about the dead being made alive, and we see this in both spiritual and literal ways throughout the Bible. As you've read and studied the last few days, without Christ, you were dead in your sin; in Christ you are fully, abundantly alive (John 10:10).
Look up the book of Ephesians, one of Paul's letters in the New Testament. Then READ EPHESIANS 2:1-10.
These verses are often cited as one of the most powerful pictures of the gospel in all of Scripture, and it all hinges on the "but God" transition of verse 4. Paul, the author of Ephesians, pointed out that all our befores looked similar - dead in our sin, walking according to the ways of the world, living in our fleshly desires.
Think back to your English classes in school. What tense is employed in verses 1-3? Circle one:
Past Present Future
What about the end of verse 5? What tense does Paul arrive at? Circle one:
Past Present Future
Everything before that famous "But God" is in past tense. That means "But God" makes it no longer true. You were dead; but now you are saved. Our befores were the same-dead. Our afters are also the same-alive! Now and forever.