Paul opens Ephesians 2 with the bluntest possible description of what we were before Christ.
Dead.
Not struggling. Not off course. Dead.
Dead is dead. Can't improve their situation by trying harder. Can't contribute anything to their own resurrection.
God didn't give grace to people who were doing pretty well and just needed a little help. He gave it to people who were dead. Purely out of mercy. Purely out of love.
Then He raised us, seated us with Christ, and gave us good works to walk into.
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." — Ephesians 2:10 NLT
