December 7, 2021 — Ephesians 2  

“And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this worldʼs present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest — But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved!” Ephesians 2:1–5 

Notice the details — the situation Paul observed of the Ephesians: 

1. They were dead in sin — the Greek word for “dead” is “nekros”, which literally means a corpse or dead body. Since we know Paul is talking about a spiritual state (not a physical state), we must understand this deadness here refers to the spiritual life. The Ephesians were alive physically but dead spiritually. Paul chose this comparison because it accurately describes not only the nature of an unbeliever but, like any dead person, they cannot recognize how dead they are. Just as a corpse cannot revive itself to life, neither can an unbeliever revive his own spirit. 

• This state of spiritual deadness is part of their age — their known place in the universe. The word “course” in Greek is “aion”, which literally means age or a space of time. So, Paul explains that the natural state of every man and woman during “this age or time” is to be spiritually dead — at least preceding their introduction to Christ. Every person begins their life on earth in a state of spiritual deadness, and apart from G-d’s working in their lives,  this state will continue uninterrupted until our physical death. 

• This state of deadness is according to the prince of the power of the air — namely Satan. He was the first to fall, and his deceptive influence contributed to the fall of Man in the Garden. Today, he rules the hearts of those bound in spiritual deadness, and he exerts his controlling influence through the fear of death. 

• We were all, everyone of us, living according to this dead nature.  No one is “born” a Christian. Every human being is a sinner, dead in their trespasses from birth. All humanity shares the same starting point as children of (G-d’s) wrath. 

Thus it is all dependent upon Grace. By grace we are saved. We are not saved by any works – it is dependent upon faith.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, we hear every Sunday that it is Christ who forgives our sins. It is Christ who redeems us. I need to hear these words not only each and every Sunday, but each and every day — by Grace we are saved. Amen.

Pastor Dave