Eph 2:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eph 2:1-10: 2:1-10 Paul reflects on the terrible situation of the believers before they believed in Christ and the grace of God that has spared them. Summary for Eph 2:1-3: 2:1-3 Paul’s readers were once like dead people before God (see 2:5 ; Col 2:13 ). Because of their disobedience and sins , driven by the power of the devil , they were condemned along with the rest of the world to suffer God’s judgment.

Summary for Eph 2:1-10: 2:1-10 ^a Paul reflects on the terrible situation of the believers before they believed in Christ and the grace of God that has spared them.
Summary for Eph 2:1-3: 2:1-3 ^b Paul’s readers were once like dead people before God (see 2:5 ^c; Col 2:13 ^d). Because of their disobedience and sins, driven by the power of the devil, they were condemned along with the rest of the world to suffer God’s judgment.
2:2 ^e Human sin results from our being governed by the devil, the spirit who rules both the powers of evil in the spiritual realm (see 1:21 ^f; 6:11-12 ^g; cp. Col 1:13 ^h) and human beings who refuse to obey God (2 Cor 4:4 ⁱ; contrast Rom 8:2-14 ^j; Gal 5:22-23 ^k).
2:3 ^l Unconverted people are naturally under the control of the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature (see Rom 3:9-20 ^m, 23 ⁿ). Because of their sin, they are subject to God’s anger, because God hates sin (see Eph 5:6 ^o; Rom 1:18 ^p; 2:5 ^q, 8 ^r; 3:5 ^s, 19 ^t; 4:15 ^u; 5:9 ^v; 9:22 ^w; 12:19 ^x; 13:4-5 ^y; Col 3:6 ^z; 1 Thes 1:10 ^aa; 2:16 ^ab; 5:9 ^ac).
Summary for Eph 2:4-10: 2:4-10 ^ad By God’s mercy, kindness, and love, those who are joined to Jesus Christ are saved from the terrible consequences of their sin and enjoy the benefits of Christ’s resurrection.
2:5 ^ae gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6 ^af; Rom 6:4-14 ^ag; Col 3:1-4 ^ah).

• It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2 ^ai; 2:8-9 ^aj.
2:6 ^ak united with Christ Jesus: Because of this union, believers share God’s glory and blessings, and experience resurrection both now and in the future (see Rom 6:4-14 ^al; Col 2:12-13 ^am; 3:1-4 ^an).
2:7 ^ao grace: See study note on 1:2.