Chapter 2
Verse 1
I) And you hath he quickened, we shall discuss the words “hath he quickened” when we arrive at verse 5. Note that they are in italics, thus supplied by the translators to smooth the reading or for clarification, so they are not part of the main thought. Do not let them break the emphasis which Paul is stressing; that being that the Ephesian believers were a one point dead.
A) In what respect were they dead, they had to be very much alive to hear and believe the Gospel.
1) In trespasses- you know what that is, that’s the sign that says don’t come on this side of the fence.
a) I often give the story that my dad interpreted “no trespassing” as Best fishing on this side of fence”. How often do we treat God the same? He says don’t do this, and we assume it’s because he doesn’t want us to enjoy the best pleasures in life.
b) Isn’t that what Satan suggested to Eve, when he say “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5
2) Sins- the best explanation for sin is found in Romans 3:23, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The idea of sin is missing the mark by coming up short.
a) It’s not that our aim is off and with a little religious training we can hit the mark of g God- likeness.
b) We need a savior, not an example! If we could do it with education a teacher would be provided not a Lamb.
Verse 2
I) Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world…
A) Walked- the idea is of a well, worn path. This was their habit before salvation. Note it is past tense. The suggestion is that their course (manner of life) has changed. While many passages bear this out, allow me to give two for the time being, as this subject shall arise again.
1) 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us old things are passed away, we are new creatures. I often point out it does not say a new creation. You may say, what’s the difference? If you make a poodle a Saint Bernard he would be a new creation, but not a new creature, because he is still a dog. God is in the business of making sheep out of pigs. Pigs like to wallow in the filth of this world, sheep do not.
2) 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of
God.
Two great truths are presented in this passage, one is positional, the other practical. John says because of what God has done on the inside the outside experiences a change as well. Again when we come to verse 5 and 4:24 of our text we will go deeper into this change.
B) According- in keeping with the practices, customs or manners of.
The course:
1) This world- humanity without God. What is their course? Here is God’s record.
a) Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jeremiah 13: 23
Who are those “accustomed to do evil”?
As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3: 10-12
All men, excluding Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father are among those “accustomed to do evil”.
b) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7: 13-14
This course is well travelled and well liked. It is the easy road filled with worldly pleasures and the praise of men.
2) Prince of the power of the air.
a) Prince- one invested with power and dignity, a ruler, magistrate.
Interestingly the world is from a Greek word from which we get our word archaic. Thus this is not a newly come power, but one that is of long establishment.
b) Power, is the word authority. It is not referring to physical power, but the authority that controls that might.
c) Air= atmosphere. Adam was given dominion of God’s creation on earth. When he sinned, he surrendered that dominion unto the one by which he was overcome. Thus when he offered to the Lord Jesus the kingdoms of the world during the third temptation, he was not scorned as not having that power. Matthew 4: 8-10
3) The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
a) Spirit is the word from which we get pneumatics. It has the idea of moving air, as in a breath.
b) It is this spirit of the Serpent that tempted Adam and Eve to question God’s reason for giving the restriction of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Thus questioning the goodness and authority. This same spirit now is continually at work in the children of disobedience. The word worketh is a present tense participle that says that the working is a present, ongoing work.
c) Disobedience is the word from which we get atheist. It is one who will not be persuaded. Is this not what Satan persuaded Adam and Eve to do, not believe the word of God? Remember his insinuation, “ye shall not surely die”. Since that moment he has been persuading men not to believe the Word of God.
Verse 3
I) Among whom we all had our conversation in times past.
Two thoughts are seen in this phrase; first every man was once in this state of refusing to be obedient, thus believing and that some have now changed from that entrenched position.
Remember the words about the two ways, and the fact that there will be some that will find the strait gate.
II) In the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
A) Our conversation is said to be in the lust of our flesh.
Lusts are strong desires.
These strong desires were:
1) Of the flesh. Flesh is the human nature apart from God, incited by the arch enemy of God and man, that Prince of the power of the air.
2) Of the mind. 2 Corinthians 4: 3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The thoughts of man, unaided by the Holy Spirit of God is unable to come to right conclusions.
Jeremiah 17: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it.
The idea behind being desperately wicked is:
Man left to himself cannot help himself if he would.
Man left to himself would not help himself if he could.
III) And were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Again note the past and present of this phrase they were something, but are no longer in that case.
They were children of wrath. They were the objects of God’s wrath.
John 3: 36 He that believeth on the Son hath life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Note again the emphasis on believing the Word of God, the Son.