Study of Ephesians

Week 5 

Ephesians 2:1-10

Paul continued pouring into believers in Ephesus rich doctrinal truths related to their  position in Christ.   Today, we’ll dive into Ephesians 2:1-10 which can be divided into three sections: dead in Christ, alive in Christ, and by grace alone.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lust of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Ephesians 2:1-3

Paul doesn’t tip toe around sin, does he?  

“Dead” is about as bad as it gets. Paul doesn’t use the term sick, fatal, or lifeless. No, he uses “dead.” Of course, once again, Paul is using a physical state to identify a spiritual condition. This word, dead, in the Greek means “spiritually dead, destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God because of sin.”

Paul then spells out what kind of sins: walking according to the course of this world,

the prince of the air, living out the lust of the flesh and of the mind, and living as children of wrath.  

While reading that list, it’s hard to believe that we have all been there, in sin, in spiritual death.(Romans 3:23)  Paul tells us in verse 3 that “we too all formerly lived” there. As Christians, even if we came to know the Lord at a young age, I believe it is vital for us to remember the depths of darkness we all could have walked in if it weren’t for Jesus. This is our old condition: dead to God.

 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7

But God… those words cause every Christian to pause.

Accurately we can say, “Now God….” 

Either way, this phrase initiates a change, a completely different direction, alive in Him, because of God.

Paul is sharing with the young Christians in Ephesus an extraordinary truth.

He is memorializing their saving experience in Christ by giving them the “why” and the “how” of their spiritual life.

“Even when we were dead in our sin… He made us alive together with Christ.”

Why? Paul tells us in verse 4, because He loved us with such a great love.

Because of love, God raised us up with Him, in heavenly places.

God seated us with Him in Christ Jesus in the heavenly places.

There are days that I do not feel as if I am seated with God. Honestly.

But spiritually, I am, and verse 7 tells us why.

“In order that in the ages to come, (that’s today)  He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

How is the “surpassing riches of His grace in kindness” currently manifested in your life? Is it through answered prayer? Provision? Direction? Salvation? Protection? Healing?

We know this list could go on and on, couldn’t it?  But before we look at the final section of our study today, could you pause and identify at least one way God’s kindness is evidenced in your life right now? 

Why? It’s important for us to acknowledge that we were all spiritually dead at one time, immersed in the things of this world, but in Christ, we are alive in Him because of Him, not anything we have ever done.

 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 

First, we can see that God saved us by grace through faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8

Secondly, we did nothing, nor could we have done anything, to secure this gift. Ephesians 2:9

Last, the lives that we now live, alive in Him, is a product of His workmanship, for His purposes and ultimately, for His glory. Ephesians 2:10 

Alive in Christ, by grace alone.

 

Question for discussion (your email is never posted or shared)

How has the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness manifested in your life?  Feel free to just drop a “heart”, or share more.