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Ephesians 2:1-6
September 8th 2019
Milk
Okay, so while we have moved into what has been labeled chapter 2 of Ephesians, this chapter is not in anyway disconnected from chapter 1 and really ought to be read in conjunction with it.
The subject, which was introduced to us in verse 19 in chapter 1, speaks to the POWER of God that is present and evinced in the salvation of believers – a power that raising Jesus Christ from the dead.
We recall from last week that Paul likens this power (God used to raise Jesus) to the power God uses to raise Christians to new life and just as Jesus left his former life in the flesh behind at resurrection so too are Christians empowered to overcome their former person and walk by their new man or woman.
In essence, by the power of God given by faith, human beings are equipped to become Sons and Daughters of God.
That is why this chapter begins with “and” – referencing the previous content we studied last week. So, let’s read:
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Okay, let’s go back to verse 1
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
We recall that Paul in chapter one differentiated in his use of “we and us” in the first verses when he spoke to the Jews being predestined by God to do what they did, and that at verse 13 he shifted to speaking to the Gentiles as “ye and you.”
AT this point Paul appears to divide his audience up and we will talk about that in a minute.
Now, in verse five of this chapter we read:
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Why am I bringing this up here at the start of our study of this chapter? The verb translated, “did he quicken” (or did he make alive) here in the first verse is not found in this first verse Greek and is generally agreed upon that it was added for clarity by scribes along the way.
It appears that borrowing from the content of verse 5 the scribes justified adding “hath he quickened” to the first verse. Based on what it reads in verse five this addition doesn’t alter the meaning at all, but just for your information.
In fact, I am going to read it as its written in the King James instead of as it ought to read which is:
Eph 2:1 (YLT) Also you–being dead in the trespasses and the sins,
So . . .
“And you, has he quickened or made alive who were dead in the trespasses and the sins.”
Paul’s object is to show the great power which God had evinced towards the people, which is a direct play off verse 19 which we covered last week in chapter one.
So just as God made Christ alive who was dead, You (too) has God quickened (or made alive) who were dead in the trespasses and sins.
Why trepasses and sins. There are two Greek words used here – one speaks to slip ups and the other to direct sins themselves:
Paraptomah and harmartia
Whether purposeful or accidental – all failures to meet the mark of God.
“We were dead in them,” Paul points out.
Now, I want to point something out that is really important in my estimation. Paul is speaking to people – living people – who had jobs, and perhaps families, and laughed and cried and lived lives, right?
But he says that they were dead in trespasses and sins. So we know that dead does not mean absent of existence – it means that we were walking about, existing – even living lives with joys and sorrows – but spiritually we were dead, due to the presence of our sins and trespasses.
Now, looking back on my life, when I used to think I was really “living it up” in sin and trespasses, I can actually see, by comparison to life in Christ, that I was actually the living dead. Dead inside.
Spiritually hollow – which compared to what I possess now, was void of life.
Now remember this when we consider the afterlife status of those who die without a faith or love for God and others – those who die from this life to the next without ever experiencing real spiritual life.
They will not go to where real spiritual livers will go – which is the New Jerusalem where God and Christ dwell.
They will go to places outside that Kingdom. Will they exist? They will? But will they be experiencing genuine life eternal? No, they will exist absent of the life that is found in Christ.
They will continue to be dead and yet they will live – the same way they existed prior to experiencing physical death!
And this is why we share the Good News with others – to give them the chance to really live, to experience genuine rebirth and new authentic life in and through Christ!
Its not to enhance their flesh and fleshly lives. In fact the introduction of real life will only serve to remove the focus of such. But it the means to offer them a life that will last beyond the grave!
Through Paul’s words we have it confirmed that prior to conversion, the people at Ephesus were “dead in sins.”
These words lend strongly to the Calvinist idea of total depravity as there is not a better way to describe the state of a person who has not been spiritually regenerated.
But yet I point out that they were NOT fully dead – they were dead spiritually in sin, lacking the life of God within them.
The Calvinist maintain that because we are all dead in sin there is absolutely nothing a human being can do to choose or recognize God in any spiritual sense, and therefore God must elect those who He will give power to as a means to bring them to life.
And as you all know, this leads us down the path of Five Point Calvinism described by the TULIP acronym.
So while we cannot possibly argue against the plain teaching from Paul that all people prior to regeneration are in fact, spiritually dead and therefore unable to relate to God on any sort of Spiritual level, I would suggest that though dead, we are all still living.
And that this is where “God calling” to all, and human beings, made in His image, choosing from their mind, will and emotions to receive or pursue His call, manifested in so many ways around us, effectively answers both facts presented – that where Human beings are in fact dead in sin, they are capable, equipped, and created to make decisions relative to the evidences God gives them as a means for God to raise them to new life by and through the power of His Spirit.
Herein is the two way street between God calling and Men and Women responding.
So, Paul, speaking to this state says:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Where in the PAST you walked (like all of us) according to
The course of this world
And we are brought to a bit of an impasse – which causes me to present something that is debatable but to me it seems that this is what Paul is saying.
The Greek term, after the course of this world, is Aionos – age.
In times past you walked according to the course of this age. What age? The former age, where they were under the Law. That was the world that they operated under.
Who? The Jews. Not the Gentiles for sure.
So it appears that here Paul has returned to addressing the Jews and their Nation when he uses you.
It’s the only way that I can make sense of what he is saying here that in the past they – the Jews – walked after the course of that age then – which was an age of “touch not, taste not” under the law.
Now, perhaps his audience would have readily understood these distinctions when he wrote to them – sort of like if you addressed a letter to a place that rented only to senior citizens and young adults.
When you speak of living with the aches and pains being mobile the audience would know you were addressing the seniors, and when you covered content specific to young adults, it would be easy for them to distinguish this.
Because this letter is believed to have been a letter circulated and not just to the Ephesians, this could have been the case when it was read by either Jewish converts or to gentiles.
So in verse it appears that Paul was speaking directly to Jewish converts to the faith. And his meaning is, that in the former age under the law they tried to live after the demands that it brought.
Now, remember, the strength of sin is the Law, and the accuser when the Law was in place had a purpose to tempt and try and accuse the brethren who had lived under it.
So, Paul says plainly that in that former age they walked in trespasses and sins.
And he adds in the rest of verse 2:
According to the Prince of the power of the air
the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.
Now, Paul is in all probability speaking of Satan here and interestingly enough the term translated, PRINCE, is one closely related to a term we discussed last week for principality – which is arkay – here Prince is translated from the word, Arkone, which means the first or primary power and authority of the air.
So, when Paul says “according to the arche of the power of the air,” he is plainly suggesting that some being – again in all probability Satan – was the principle power over the realm.
What realm? The air is what Paul says.
Recall what Paul will write in Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, (arkays) against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Going back to the age of the Law, Satan reigned (until the Law was nailed to Jesus cross and he subsequently overcame the punishment for failing to obey it – death.)
The phrase, “the prince of the power,” may mean either “the powerful prince,” or it may mean that “this prince had power over the air and lived and reigned there particularly.”
The title prince for Satan is not surprising as he is called the Prince of this world, and the Prince of Darkness, but the full line, “the prince having power over the air,” it is not so easy to determine.
A number of early scholars and some as late as the 20th century believe that Satan is Lord over the “the powers of the air,” which are demonic and actually dwell in that atmosphere.
We know that Satan and his angels were not sequestered in hell at this point and therefore there had to be a location where these dark spirits would reside – and the air seems to be one of these places.
Some suggest that the term translated to “air” here can also be translated “darkeness” but to me and the Greek that is a major leap.
Bottom line: the most reasonable explanation here is simply that at one point in time Satan, who held the proverbial title deed to the earth, was the one who dwelt-in and reigned-over the air as the prince of that region.
But Paul does not speak of this as if it was a tradition, opinion, or some strange superstition – he writes of it as though it was fact. This is acceptable for a few reasons, including:
We know that there are demons and wicked spirits mentioned in the Bible.
Apparently in that age they had a lot to do with this world including the fact that they tempted man, inflicted disease in the time of the Savior, and took possession of human beings.
Therefore, they had to have some location in which to reside – if they are spirits with the actual individual ability to act and choose.
Therefore, they had to have some location when they would dwell. The air, since they are spirits, seems to be as reasonable a place at the water (which is what Joseph Smith taught).
Since men have control over the earth, it again seems reasonable that Satan and his minions would have embodied the airy atmosphere above it – plus there is a lot of room up there to house them, right? In the end, we really don’t know what Paul means exactly but we do know that at the victory over sin and death, with the Law nailed to his cross, Satan was defeated and had a very short time before his power and reign was all together eliminated.
That being said, Paul says, referring to that time and that reign he had, adds, referring to the high power:
“The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
I cannot help but believe that Paul still speaks and refers to the Jews here as the only way to be disobedient would be if you had been presented with a Law to disobey.
Paul says that that Spirit continues in that day to work in the children of disobedience.
And then he adds a comment shifting back to the we/us, which appears to mean all believers Jew or Gentile converts alike.
So what I am seeing is in verse 1-2 Paul appears to be speaking of the Jews, who in chapter 1 he identifies as the predestined of God though the terms we and us.
Then he speaks about Gentile converts at verse 13, who by mystery joined the Nation of Israel into one body.
And then here at verse 1 and 2 of chapter 2, he makes mention of the Nation of Israel, referring to them, saying this time:
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this age, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience
Now, at verse three he seems to go back to speaking of the united body of all believers – both Jew and Gentile – when he says
3 Among whom also we (the Jews – which He was part of) all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (meaning the gentiles who were now equally part of the body by faith).
In other words, it seems that in verse three Paul is addressing the course of all flesh in this world prior to coming to faith, that
3 Among whom also we (the Jews – which He was part of) all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (meaning the gentiles who were now equally part of the body by faith).
Having had our conversations in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind is a great way to universally describe the carnal man.
Our lives before Christ we all to gratify the flesh and to feed the propensities of all of our corrupt natures – whether under the law of that age and therefore in the power of the Prince of the air, or without the law and just led by our own fleshly desires, this description is appropriate to all people who as one now made up the Church.
Most commentators think that the you and ye of verses 1-2 speak of Gentiles and then at verse 3 Paul includes himself and therefore he changes to we.
But due his specific words used in verse 1-2 I reject this because the Gentiles were not under the elements of that former age and were therefore not in the power of the prince of the power of the air.
Therefore I see the world, in that former age, divided as such:
The Jews, under the Law, were in the Power of the Prince of the Power of the air, and
The Gentiles, due to their carnal flesh, not Satan (who was not their accuser but the Nation of Israel’s by virtue of the presence of the Law) joined with the Jews in having
“had their conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
In other words, due to the presence of the law, the Jews alone were tempted away by Satan, the Prince of the Power of the Air, and due to the flesh, the Jews AND the Gentiles both
“had their conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
Now that Satan and the Law have been put away, we all remain subject, until we come to faith by the Spirit and due to the power of our own flesh
“have had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
Get it?
The “will of the flesh” is that characteristic all people possess and overcome by faith in Christ.
And all of us – Jew and Gentile alike – whether a Satan is at work on us or not, have been engaged in fulfilling our fleshly propensities.
Because of this Paul says,
And we were by nature (by the natural tendencies of our nature or before we were converted) the children of wrath, even as others.
So, prior to conversion and adoption when they became the children of God they/we naturally become or are the children of wrath.
Paul does not answer the question when this nature took hold – if at birth, or prior, or due to experience or personal choice or inherited from Adam – he simply states the fact that we are by virtue of our nature children of wrath.
The most important point this text presents it that by no means possible are human beings the children of God prior to being regenerated by His Spirit through the work of His Son.
At this point in time, all unregenerated souls were in fact, children of wrath rather than children of God.
I say, at this point in time because I do not believe this is the case any longer and the whole former economy was abolished and completely fulfilled, reconciling all to the father, eliminating the wrath, hell, and Satan and opening the heavenly realm to all – but especially the New Jerusalem to His children.
Regarding being children of wrath prior to reconciliation by the blood in that age, Paul adds, “even as others.”
He seems to be saying, “do not suppose that you stand alone, or that you are the worst of the species. You are indeed, by nature, the children of wrath; but not you alone. All others were the same. You have a common inheritance with them.
This was the case without Christ, and the apostles were sharing this message with the people then to repent before the wrath of God fell on them.
This narrative of the Apostolic Record cannot be discounted or explained away for it was the case, and these letter are explaining the facts to all people living then.
But by virtue of other clarifying passages I cannot accept the idea that this age continues today.
So having laid out for them/then the fact that they were all once reprobates and the subject of God’s wrath unless converted and adopted as children of God, Paul now returns to the focus he brought in chapter 1 on what God has done in those who believe, saying:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
But God, who is overflowing and abundant in mercy.
Imagine a person who is not only uber wealthy, hundreds of billions of dollars but is also the biggest philanthropist on earth, giving his money away freely to those in need.
We’ll so is God “rich in Mercy”
Which means not giving people what they deserve – he is super abundantly wealthy in mercy.
Why is he so merciful? Paul says it is because of “his great love,” wherewith he loved us.
Not that we earned His love or mercy. He loves us and that is why He is merciful and compassionate toward us. Paul makes this point plain in the very next verse, saying:
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
In other words, God through Christ, while his children were dead in sins – lying in the grave like Jesus because of our sin – God “quickened us together with Christ (with Paul adding, “by grace you are saved”).
Perhaps the better way to read this is:
“God, who is rich in mercy, on account of the great love which he bare unto us, even being dead in sin, hath quickened us.”
It does not mean that he quickened us when we were dead in sin, but that he loved us then, and made provision for our salvation by calling and sending out His message of Grace and love by the Spirit even though we were dead (spiritually) in sin.
This was love to the children of wrath; love to those who had no love to return to him; love to the alienated and the lost. That is true love–the sincerest and the purest benevolence–love, not like that of men, but such only as God bestows.
Human beings love a friend, our benefactors, our kin –God loves his foes, and seeks to do them good.
Therefore, Paul says:
“Hath quickened us. Hath made us alive.”
And adds, “Together with Christ.”
Meaning, God has made us all who have come to Him in faith alive “in connection with Christ, perhaps by virtue of his being raised up from the grave – the point he made clear in chapter 1.
All over the Apostolic Record there is a close connection of the believer and Christ.
We are crucified with him.
We die with him.
We rise with him.
We live with him.
He lives in us.
We follow Him.
He leads us.
We reign with him.
We are joint heirs with him.
We share his sufferings on earth
and we share his glory with him on his throne, (Revelation 3:21)
God has accomplished this in and through Him – by His power in and through Him, and on behalf of the world, and then, to Paul’s point, especially those who believe. That is us.
I mean, we are talking about one magnificent approach that defies imagination.
But Paul is certain to set the stage here properly. God has done all of this, bringing us to life, being dead in sin – not on any account of ourselves of merits.
He did it without us – and in light of this Paul adds in a parenthetical reference
(for by grace you are saved)
Note: By His Grace we – all, according to a multiplicity of verses – have been saved by God through Christ our savior.
We do not read anywhere in scripture that by grace we become sons and daughters.
And in this we once again discover the exchange, the two way street between God and human beings.
He gracefully, mercifully reached out and reconciled the world to himself through His Son who overcame sin and death on our behalf.
He lovingly calls all to receive Him by faith and to choose to walk in His Spirit and love and allow Him to reign over our flesh.
This is where he loving gives all those who receive His Son the POWER to become Son’s and Daughters of God. And it is to this group – those who are His children by faith that we conclude with Paul’s description found in verse 6:
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Here we have Paul return to the concept of God by His power raising up Jesus from the grave and God raising “us” (all believers, Jew and Gentile alike) “and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Again meaning that believers have been raised from the death of sin to the life by the Spirit which is in direct connection with the resurrection of Jesus – even in virtue of that.
So close is the connection between him and his people, that his resurrection made theirs certain is the thought.
And then he brings the purpose of God with us through the man of flesh Jesus of Nazareth, saying that God
Made us sit together in heavenly places in Jesus Christ.
That sounds like a collection of human beings in heaven with Jesus, saved by God’s grace and who chose to walk by the Spirit while mortal, exhibiting love.
So much so that we too share in His honors and the archay that first loved, and because of that, we are able to also love as He did.
I want to leave off by just reading the next verse which we will open with next week.
Listen to it VERY carefully. Ready? Paul writes:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
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