That is a favorite passage. I call Ephesians "Romans Lite". It's interesting that the word dead is Necros. It really frames the passage well.
Not to make a point on the cause of the Cause I believe that much of what the southern states fought for was right and much of what the northern states fought for was wrong.. However, the south lost. In my mind, I see God's providence at hand molding, moving, shaping events and nations for His express purpose in (redemptive) history. Can't remember the New Test. reference to God raising up nations but it fits here. What I am left with is an understanding that in a fallen world right is not always the victor or so it would seem. In the Psalms, David wrestled with the fact of the wicked prevailing while the righteous suffered (and I believe this to be appropriate for the results of TWONA). In Proverbs, Solomon notes that all things are created for the glory of the Lord, even the wicked for the day of destruction. While there are many things that don't make sense to the human mind and reason God controls all things for a purpose beyond which this mind was made to comprehend but all wrongs will be paid. So back to the point of grace and Soli Deo Gloria.
All things are moving to an end and the events that we discuss in this sub forum demonstrate this in the futility of men's wills and ways. Both north and south share a burden of blame at some level yet we see honest and trustworthy men caught up in and overpowered by forces that they could not control. I believe that not a few of these men entered these events with heavy hearts, broken and contrite hearts, and did what they had to do. IMO Dabney and Jackson bore fruit in keeping with repentance and are now across Jordan and resting. Were they of right motive on the side of a wrong cause or of wrong motive on the side of a right cause or were they raised up for the purpose for which they are seen through hindsight? May we all remember to walk humbly with broken hearts and contrite spirits as we walk through our days as we do not know what our days will hold for us.
lc
