Eph 2:1-6 | PNT | STEP | The Church Redeemed in Christ SUMMARY OF EPHESIANS 2: Our Spiritual Condition in a State of Nature. God's Saving Mercy. Salvation by Grace Through Faith. No Longer Aliens and Strangers. Peace Between Jew and Gentile Through Christ. All Built into the Lord's Holy Temple. And you [hath he quickened] . In , Paul has described the mighty working of the Divine power in raising Christ from the dead, and his exaltation to the right hand of God. He now turns from this mighty exhibition of power to another not less striking--the resurrection of those who were spiritually dead to a new and holy life. Who were dead in trespasses and sins . Spiritual death is meant. By their trespasses and sins they were separated from God. To be without God is to be in death. Trespasses are thought to refer to breaking known laws; sins, to the corrupt state which leads to a constantly sinful life.

Ephesians 2:1-6

The Church Redeemed in Christ SUMMARY OF EPHESIANS 2: Our Spiritual Condition in a State of Nature. God's Saving Mercy. Salvation by Grace Through Faith. No Longer Aliens and Strangers. Peace Between Jew and Gentile Through Christ. All Built into the Lord's Holy Temple.

And you [hath he quickened]. In Eph 1:19-23, Paul has described the mighty working of the Divine power in raising Christ from the dead, and his exaltation to the right hand of God. He now turns from this mighty exhibition of power to another not less striking--the resurrection of those who were spiritually dead to a new and holy life.

Who were dead in trespasses and sins. Spiritual death is meant. By their trespasses and sins they were separated from God. To be without God is to be in death. Trespasses are thought to refer to breaking known laws; sins, to the corrupt state which leads to a constantly sinful life. In time past ye walked according to the course of this world. You lived in trespasses and sins, in accordance with the spirit of the world.

The prince of the power of the air. Called elsewhere "the prince of this world" (Joh 12:31 14:30 16:11), Satan. Why he is called "prince of the power of the air" is not certain; various explanations are given. Probably his subtle influences and whisperings pervade the air, and come upon us as unconsciously as the vital fluid we breathe. The Jews held that the atmosphere was the abode of evil angels.

The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. This spirit, that of the world, of the power of the air, is the one which inspires those who live in disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation. In Eph 2:1,2, the second person is used, meaning the Ephesians; here the person is changed to the first. Meyer thinks that "ye" refers to Gentile Christians; "we" to Paul and his Jewish brethren. The Gentile Christians had been dead in trespasses and sins; nor had the Jewish Christians differed in this respect.

Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Not only fleshly desires, but the impulses of a sinful mind, such as malice, envy, pride, etc.

And were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. This declares that "we", now Jewish Christians, were once, when in a state of nature, under condemnation, just as the "others", the rest of the world, or the Gentiles. Some have held that this passage teaches innate, hereditary depravity. I am sure that this was not in the apostle's mind. (1) Two classes are spoken of, "you" and "we", Gentiles and Jews. (2) Both were equally sinful, the first "dead in trespasses and in sins" (Eph 2:1), and the second "by nature the children of wrath, even as the others". (3) The passage then simply affirms that Jews and Gentiles alike, before conversion, were dead in trespasses and sins, and under the divine condemnation. However, "by nature" is supposed to teach that the depravity is innate, and that all "are born" under the wrath of God. Such an interpretation would put the passage in conflict with Paul's teaching elsewhere, and with that of Christ. For instance, Mt 18:3 19:14 are inconsistent with the view that little children are born "under the wrath of God". Indeed, it is taught in this passage that both classes have been brought into this state of condemnation by walking in sin, not by their birth. But does not "by nature" imply that they are born "children of wrath"? The word "phusis", rendered "by nature", is found in Ro 2:14 1Co 11:14 Ga 2:15 4:8. In only one of these passages can it refer to natural birth at all, and there it refers to race (Ga 2:15). In not one passage does it describe what is innate. It does describe custom, practice, and unconverted state. No one would say that the Gentiles, who "do by nature the things of the law" (Ro 2:14), do so because it is innate. It means that they do so without the revelation. In a similar sense it is used here, and means that "we", as well as others, before we were converted by the gospel, were dwelling in sin like others, and were like them, "the children of wrath". The state of nature is the unconverted state. God, who is rich in mercy. Having shown that both Jews and Gentiles were spiritually dead, Paul now declares the spiritual resurrection of the saints. This lifting up from death to a new life is due to God, "rich in mercy", and on account of the "great love wherewith he loved us". Eph 2:5 affirms the fact. Hath quickened us together with Christ. As he quickened Christ and raised him, so when we were dead in sins he gave us spiritual life by the gospel and lifted us to a new life. "We were planted in the likeness of his death and resurrection" (Ro 6:5).

By grace ye are saved. Not by works of the law, as he has shown so fully in the Galatian letter. And hath raised [us] up together. Buried into the death of Christ, we are risen with Christ (Col 2:12). We are risen as new creatures to walk with the Risen Christ, with our minds on heavenly things (Col 3:1).

And made [us] to sit in heavenly [places]. In our present state, to have our minds above (Col 3:2).