You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first. —C. S. Lewis
Who you are in Christ comes first. What you do comes second. It’s absolutely essential that we get the sequence right. We can only do when we know who we are. C. S. Lewis taught that. Paul and the New Testament writers almost always outlined their messages that way too. Check out Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He nails the message by reminding them of who they once were, then he tells them who they are now, and finally, later in the letter, he tells them how to live in light of their new Life.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-6)
Verses 1-3 make it clear that we all started with a big fat F in the school of life—with words like disobedient and deserving of wrath written in the comment section of our report card. BUT everything changed in verse 4. “Because of his great love for us” we are:
- Made alive with Christ
- Saved by grace
- Raised up with Christ
- Seated in the heavenly realms
Finally, in verses 8-10, Paul concludes the sequence with the words that emerge from us because of His work in us:
And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
C.S. Lewis had it right. Who you are in Christ comes first. What you do comes second. It’s absolutely essential that we get the sequence right.
Oh Lord, I am Your workmanship, Your masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus as a new creature in Christ. This will impact how I see myself as I live today. Amen.