Post by Oluwatosin Oni (@oloriireoni)

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 9 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Colossians 2:13
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

This verse describes the spiritual condition of every person before Christ.

BIBLE READING: Ephesians 2:1-6
This passage is one of the most complete summaries of the gospel in Scripture. Paul describes the pre-conversion state of every believer: dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (Satan), living in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind, and by nature children of wrath, even as others. But then the great transition: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ… and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.“

The City of the Dead: A Sobering Illustration
1. The Cemetery That Became a Home
“Years ago, I visited a country which had one of the largest cemeteries in the world. On top of every grave in that cemetery, there is a concrete slab, and some homeless residents of that city lived in tents that were built over these slabs. For that reason, the cemetery was called ‘the city of the dead’.”

This is a haunting image:

The Physical Reality The Spiritual Parallel
A cemetery filled with graves The world without Christ
Concrete slabs over each grave Spiritual deadness covering every lost soul
Homeless people living on top of graves Lost people going about daily life while spiritually dead
They called it “the city of the dead” The Bible calls the lost “dead in trespasses and sins”
These homeless residents were physically alive—eating, sleeping, moving, talking. But they lived in a cemetery, surrounded by death. They called their dwelling place “the city of the dead” because they slept on graves.

“Beloved, do you know that people who have not given their lives to Christ or who claim to have done so but are still indulging in sin are living in a spiritual city of the dead?”

The Spiritual City of the Dead Who Lives There
Those who have never given their lives to Christ The unreached, the resistant, the unrepentant
Those who claim to be saved but live in sin Nominal Christians, hypocrites, the self-deceived
Those who are spiritually dead but physically alive The majority of the world
They may look alive. They may go to work, raise families, laugh, and plan for the future. But spiritually, they are corpses walking. They live in the city of the dead.

2. What It Means to Be Dead in Sin
“Today’s Bible reading tells us that we were once dead in our sins and trespasses before Jesus made us alive through His death and resurrection.”

What Spiritual Death Means What It Is Not
Separation from God, the source of all life Physical death (cessation of bodily functions)
Inability to respond to God without His grace Inability to make choices in natural life
Under the dominion of Satan (“prince of the power of the air”) Under the control of every demon
A child of wrath by nature A child of God by nature
Ephesians 2:1 – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

The lost person is not sick; he is dead. He does not need resuscitation; he needs resurrection. He does not need reformation; he needs regeneration. Only the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can raise a sinner from spiritual death.

3. The Escape: Jesus Took the Keys
“He went to the city of the dead and took the keys of hell and death from satan (Revelation 1:18). Jesus died so that nobody would have to experience the torture of eternal death.”

Revelation 1:18 – “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

Before Jesus After Jesus
Satan held the power of death (Hebrews 2:14) Jesus took the keys of hell and death
Death was the final enemy Death is a defeated enemy
The grave had dominion The grave has been conquered
The city of the dead was a permanent address There is an escape: Jesus
“If you are currently living in the city of the dead, I implore you to escape from there right now by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour before it is too late. Turn to Him today, and He will change your address from the city of the dead to the Kingdom of Life.”

Your Address Without Christ Your Address With Christ
City of the dead Kingdom of Life
Dead in trespasses and sins Alive together with Christ
Children of wrath Children of God
Following the prince of the power of the air Seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus
Do not stay in the cemetery. Do not live on top of graves. Jesus has taken the keys. He has opened the door. Escape now.

The Responsibility of the Living: Go Back to the City of the Dead
1. Preach the Gospel to Those Still Dead

https://rccglive.com/open-heaven-9-july/

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