Eph 2:1-10
In chapter one we looked at the work of the trinity
We have been adopted
We have ALL spiritual blessings
We are Christs inheritance
His is our inheritance
He is head of the Church
In chapter 2 we will see in detail how we sinners, were made holy.
2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
You-This is the gentiles, the current believers.
made alive- To be made alive you first need to be dead.
trespasses and sins- Trespasses refers to the Law, pointing to the jews, Sin refers to gentiles, rebellion against God. We are guilty through and through.
once walked- This is pointing to the past, we do not do this anymore.
according to the course of this world-the world that is infested with sin. Unlike the world to come.
according to the prince of the power of the air- He is not a king but a prince. Not heaven, not the world.
the spirit- This is the prince
works in the sons of disobedience- Our sin is not a accident but a choice, we are sons of disobedience, but those who are unsaved are actively willingly disobeying God.
we all once conducted ourselves- Before Christ. All is referring to both jew and gentile
lusts of our flesh- Sin
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind – the idea here is not accidental sin but purposeful sin.
were by nature- it is who we were, we were not “good”
children of wrath,– this shows that it is our very nature to sin
just as the others- All unbelievers
verses 2-3 show how we where dead in our sins no hope of getting right with God
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
4 But- all before can be cut
rich in mercy- not meagerly,
His great love his mercy is given because of his love (this made it possible to be rich in mercy) In His mercy, He does not give us what we do deserve; and in His grace He gives us what we do not deserve[1]
He loved us, that mercy is pointed to us
Even– He did not wait until we were alive, but when we were in rebellion to him
made us alive- to give live
together with Christ- the resurrection
and raised us up together-we are united with Christ, we no longer walk according to this world.
us sit together heavenly places- this earth is were we live but this is temporary we will be together with Christ in Heaven
ages to come- the end of the world
show- We will experience
exceeding riches of His grace -The hope of resurrection
in His kindness in Christ Jesus. – We do not deserve His grace and mercy
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
For grace you have been saved – reiterating vs 5
through faith- Faith come from the Bible, and faith in who Jesus is
not of yourselves-we have nothing to do with salvation,
the gift of God- Gods outpouring of grace and mercy
not of works- We cannot work our way to heaven
lest anyone should boast-IF we could we would be equal to God
His workmanship- God gave us new life through his work (salvation)
good works- This is the fruit of our salvation
God prepared beforehand- God has a job for all believers.
should walk in them- We are to do the job God has for us.
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 19). Victor Books.
First Baptist Church Delmar 