Ephesians 2:1-10

Previewing in Outline Form (Ephesians 2:1-10)

C. Once dead, now alive with Christ. Ephesians 2:1-10.

1.

Before conversion, dead through trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1-3.

a.

Ye were sinful yourselves. Ephesians 2:2.

1)

Walked according to the course of this world.

2)

Walked according to the Devil.

a)

The prince of the power of the air.

b)

The prince of the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience.

b.

You associated with sinners. Ephesians 2:3 a.

1)

In the lusts of the flesh.

2)

Doing the desires of the flesh and mind.

c.

You were liable to suffer God's wrath because of sin. Ephesians 2:3 b.

2.

After conversion, made alive with Christ. Ephesians 2:4-10.

a.

Made alive because God was rich in mercy. Ephesians 2:4.

b.

Made alive though dead through trespasses. Ephesians 2:5.

c.

Two blessings following being made alive. Ephesians 2:6.

1)

Raised up with Jesus.

2)

Made to sit in heavenly places.

d.

Made alive that God might show the riches of His grace in the ages to come. Ephesians 2:7.

e.

Made alive (saved) by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:9-10.

1)

Not saved by ourselves.

2)

Saved by the gift of God.

3)

Not saved by our works. Ephesians 2:9-10.

a)

We are God's workmanship. Ephesians 2:10.

b)

However, we were created for good works. Ephesians 2:10.

In this section we find the answer to the question, How can living people be DEAD in sins?

Strictly speaking, Ephesians 2:1-10 is a continuation of Paul's description of God's great power toward us (Ephesians 1:19-23). Certainly God's power is demonstrated gloriously in the way He made us who were dead because of sins to be alive with Christ.

However, because the section is lengthy and is a well-defined paragraph in itself, it helps us to remember the contents of the chapter if we list this section as a separate topic in the outline. This we have done under the heading, Once dead, now alive with Christ.

Fact Questions

85.

What is the title of this section (Ephesians 2:1-10)?

86.

What are its two main subdivisions and their Scripture limitations?

Text (Ephesians 2:1-3)

And you did he make alive when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:

Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:1-3)

61.

What does quickened (King James Version, Ephesians 2:1) mean?

62.

Are we dead because of some original sin we inherited from Adam, or through some other means? (Read Ephesians 2:1 carefully for the answer.)

63.

Do those who are dead in sins have to be inactive, like those in the grave? Are the dead necessarily unconscious, asleep, or annihilated (Luke 9:60; Revelation 6:9-10)?

64.

At what occasion were we made alive after being dead in trespasses and sins (Colossians 2:12-13)?

65.

Can you make any distinction between trespasses and sins? Try.

66.

What is the character of the course of this world?

67.

Who is the prince of the power of the air? Why is he called that? (See Revelation 12:9; Revelation 12:12; Ephesians 6:12)

68.

The word prince has two prepositional phrases that follow it. What is the second one?

69.

What are sons of disobediene? What kind of a spirit works in them?

70.

What are children of wrath? Whose wrath is referred to? What relationship do the children have to wrath?

71.

What does it mean that we were by nature children of wrath? Is this some nature that we have inherited from Adam? Or is this some nature that we have cultivated ourselves?

Paraphrase

1.

Even as God's great power did raise up Christ (Ephesians 1:20), He did also make you Ephesians alive when you were dead (cut off from God) because of your trespasses and sins.

2.

Before your conversion you did walk in these trespasses and sins, according to the present sinful age of the world, according to the Devil, the ruler of the power of evil which has its residence in the air, and also the ruler (or author) of that rebellious spirit which now works in those who disobey God.

3.

Among these children of disobedience we all, Jews and Gentiles, at one time lived our lives, interested only in the desires of the flesh, following the inclinations of the flesh and of our corrupt minds, until evil had become part of our nature, and we had become, without ever realizing it, children doomed to suffer God's wrath, just like the rest of humankind.

Notes

1.

The words in Ephesians 2:1 that are in italics are, of course, not in the original Greek text. They are supplied from Ephesians 2:5 to make the sense more apparent, and are a helpful addition at this place. Quickened in the King James Version means made alive.

2.

The person who is a sinner is dead as far as God is concerned. In the Bible death does NOT imply unconsciousness, or annihilation, or going out of existence. Both the good and evil are still conscious after physical death (Revelation 6:9-10; Luke 16:22-24; Isaiah 14:9-10). Death is simply a complete change of relationships, or a separation from former relationships. When people are alive here on earth, we can talk to them and deal with them. When they die, the relationships are changed. We can no longer talk with them and deal with them. But they can then see and be with others who have died, and with the angels and the Lord Jesus (if they are saved).

Now when a person is dead in sins, he can still walk around among us. But he is as cut off from God as a man in the grave is cut off from us. God cannot bless such a dead person, or answer his prayers, or take him to heaven. It was in this way that Adam and Eve died on the very day they ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). (Of course, they obviously received pardon afterwards through the offering of sacrifices in anticipation of the death of Christ.)

There is hope, however, even for those who are dead in sins. Jesus said, The hour is coming and NOW IS, when the dead (spiritually) shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live (John 5:25; cf. John 1:28-29). When we hear the gospel, believe in Christ, repent, and are baptized, our relationships change again. We are no longer dead IN sins, but we are dead TO sin and alive unto God (Romans 6:11).

3.

Trespass may refer to a willful sin. Sin means missing the true mark of life, and is a general term for sin.

4.

The Greek text does not say that we are dead in trespasses and sins, but because of or by or through trespasses and sins.

5.

Note that sinners walk according to two things:

1)

According to the course of this world.

2)

According to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), who is also the prince (or author) of the wicked disposition that now works in those who disobey God.

Most sinners would deny emphatically that they are directed by any outside influence. They pride themselves on being so emancipated that they can do what they please, not realizing that this is Satan's method of directing their lives, and that Satan is the prince of the spirit that directs their life.

6.

Prince of the power of the air, Satan apparently dwells in the air (and WHERE do we not contact the air?), He has his angels organized into an efficient power.

Paul plainly teaches the existence of a real devil in these verses, and we believe it. Some modern interpreters deny that there is a real Devil. For example, it is stated in the Interpreter's Bible that the idea of a personal Devil is all but unimaginable to the mind of our times, and is capable of interpretation only as a personification of the external forces of evil which play upon human life. Such adiabolism must amuse his majesty, Prince Satan. He is not the least offended when people deny his existence. In fact, it is most gratifying to him.

7.

We who are now Christians all once lived as disobedient children, just like the people who live around us. Conversation (King James Version, Ephesians 2:3) means manner of life. We did whatever the lusts (or desires) of our flesh craved and whatever our minds (often lazy, filthy, and scheming) thought of. We were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest of humankind. We were not relatives of wrath, but the very children against whom God's wrath was directed because of our sins.

8.

The fact that we were by nature children of wrath does not imply that we were born into the world with God's wrath upon us because of some guilt we inherited from Adam. Nature here refers to conduct practiced so long and habitually that it has become our natural way of living. The apostle speaks of men being by nature children of wrath as the effect (rather than the cause) of our trespasses and sins. The quibble advanced by some theologians that, We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners, lays all the blame for our sins upon Adam (or upon GOD) instead of upon ourselves where it belongs. Numerous passages teach that children are not born condemned and subject to God's wrath (Matthew 19:14; Romans 5:18; etc.).

Fact Questions

87.

From what verse are the words did He make alive supplied into Ephesians 2:1?

88.

What is the condition of the sinner as far as God is concerned (Ephesians 2:1)?

89.

How is death defined in the notes?

90.

Explain how living people can be dead in sins.

91.

According to what two things did we walk before our conversion (Ephesians 2:2)?

92.

What does the word conversation (used in the King James Version, Ephesians 2:3) mean?

93.

The desires of what two things are done by the children of disobedience?

94.

Now that you have studied the lesson, go back and review the thought questions.

Text (Ephesians 2:4-5)

4 but God, being rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),

Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:4-5)

72.

Is there reason for which we deserve to be treated with mercy by God?

73.

What was it that made God be merciful to us?

74.

With whom were we made alive? What kind of a resurrection was this? Does Ephesians 2:5 imply that Christ was spiritually dead?

Paraphrase

4.

But though we were children who deserved to suffer God's wrath, God was rich in mercy toward us on account of the surpassing love He had toward us.

5.

Therefore, even though we were dead (cut off from Him) through our trespasses, He did make us alive together with Christ, Thus it was by grace we were saved with a lasting salvation. It is a favor which we do not deserve.

Notes

1.

Oh the soul-thrilling meaning in that word, but. Because we have all at one time walked according to the Devil, it would be natural for the next verse to say, AND God smote you in His wrath. But such is not the case, praise God!

2.

God was merciful to us because of the love He had for us. The expression, love wherewith He loved us, is a Hebrew way of describing the greatness of His love. We marvel that it could be that God was not just merciful to us, but LOVING.

3.

Only through an out-and-out favor from God have we been saved. The word saved is in the perfect tense, which indicates a past action with continued efforts.

4.

The fact that we have been made alive with Christ (Colossians 2:13) does not indicate that Christ was spiritually dead. He was, and is, alive; we have been made alive with Him.

Fact Questions

95.

Why did God make us alive with Christ?

96.

By what have we been saved?

Text (Ephesians 2:6-7)

6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:

Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:6-7)

75.

What similarities are there between what God did for Christ (Ephesians 1:20), and what God has done for us (Ephesians 2:5-6)?

76.

What are the heavenly places in which we sit? (See the notes on Ephesians 1:3.)

77.

How long will praise be offered to God for His grace toward us? (Compare Revelation 7:9-12; Revelation 15:3-4.)

78.

In (or by) what does God demonstrate the exceeding riches of His grace?

Paraphrase

6.

And God has raised us up from the state of death in which we existed before our conversion, and has made us alive together with Christ, and has made us to sit with Him in the heavenly places that are in Christ Jesus, that is, in the Christian church.

7.

God has done this so that He might show throughout the ages which are to come the exceeding riches of His favor toward us by the kindness which He has extended unto us in Christ Jesus in making us spiritually alive and giving us a glorious and heavenly standing in the church.

Notes (Ephesians 2:6-7)

1.

Not only did God make us alive together with Christ, but He has also (1) raised us up spiritually with Christ, and (2) made us to sit with Christ in the heavenly places, the church. The heavenly places mentioned here cannot refer to heaven for we do not sit bodily in heaven as Jesus does (Ephesians 1:20). But are members of the church of Christ, which is a heavenly institution.

2.

God desires the praise due unto His name. God has favored us very greatly because of His love. But He has also favored us because He desires the sincere praise of loving souls. In all the ages to come, even after Jesus returns, we shall be praising God's riches of grace which He has demonstrated by kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Fact Questions

97.

Besides making us alive, what two things has God done for us?

98.

What does God wish to show forth in ages to come?

Text (Ephesians 2:8-10)

8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them,

Thought Questions (Ephesians 2:8-10)

79.

If salvation by grace through faith is not of ourselves, from whom does it come?

80.

What is it that is the gift of god? Grace? Salvation? Faith? Is faith a gift of God (Romans 10:17)?

81.

Is the doctrine of salvation by works held by many people in these times? Why would being saved by works give a person an opportunity to glory (boast)?

82.

Whose workmanship has made the converted man what he is?

83.

For what purpose were we created in Christ Jesus?

84.

What is it that God afore prepared that we should walk in? What preparation did He make that we should do this? When did He make this preparation?

85.

If good works are so essential after conversion, why are they disconnected from conversion?

Paraphrase

8.

For (as I said in Ephesians 2:5) you have been saved purely by the favor (grace) of God through faith. This salvation is no work of yours; it is the free gift of God who might have suffered the human race to perish. Thus our salvation will always be something that will bring forth praise to God. (Ephesians 2:7)

9.

Salvation, being the gift of God, is not obtained by doing good works before our conversion, No man will have opportunity to boast that he has earned his salvation by works.

10.

For we are what we are as Christians as a result of God's workmanship. And yet, while our salvation is not earned by good deeds which we did, we were created by God (at our conversion) for this very purpose, to do good works. God made preparation when He sent Christ into the world that we should become a transformed people who would give constant attention to doing good.

Notes

1.

Paul here repeats and enlarges upon a thought already given by him in the letter, namely that we have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 1:6). In the New Testament faith implies not only belief, but obedience as well (Galatians 3:26-27). You are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

2.

The expression, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, refers neither to grace nor faith. That which is not of ourselves refers to the whole affair of being saved by grace through faith. This salvation by grace through faith is all the gift of God. Our works had nothing to do with it. We cannot boast about how good we are. We were not saved because of any goodness we have, even though God expects us to do good. Even a man as good as Cornelius was not saved by his goodness (Acts 10:1-3; Acts 11:13-14). Actually, all our goodness does not impress God as beautiful adornment for our souls; it is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

3.

We are God's workmanship, that which God has made. No Christian should feel that he is self-made. Without God's plan of salvation through Christ, even the best of us would be utterly lost.

Nonetheless, we were created by God through Christ Jesus for good works. This creation refers to our spiritual creation, which took place at conversion (2 Corinthians 5:17). If we do not do good works, we defeat God's purpose in giving us His favor. God made many preparations (such as sending Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc.) that all whom He would save should live doing good works.

4.

As we come to the close of this section, entitled Once dead, now alive with Christ, we think of the people who have told us (at great length sometimes) how they recovered from some deadly sickness in the hospital. The Christian can glory, not just that he has recovered from a great illness, but that HE VERILY HAS BEEN MADE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD !

Fact Questions

99.

By what and through what have we been saved?

100.

In the New Testament what does faith imply besides belief?

101.

What is it that is the gift of God?

102.

By what is our salvation NOT obtained?

103.

In what did God prepare that we should walk?