Ephesians 2:1-7 (4.9.23) 7:00 a.m.

I. “Know Thyself.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

The New Revised Standard Version (From Death to Life)

1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins

2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.

3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.

An inscription on the temple of Apollo, a Greek god, at Delphi, “know thyself.” It taught the Greeks that they could recognize God, only as they first recognized the self within.

Paul, too, wants us to know ourselves, not as we imagine in our biased minds where we tend to overlook our blemishes, but the unvarnished truth from God’s viewpoint. Paul holds the mirror up to us so that we can see ourselves as God sees us. He wants us to “know ourselves.”

Notice our spiritual condition in verse one. “You were dead through trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1

Ephesians 2:1 (NRSV)

You were dead through the trespasses and sins

300 Illustrations for Preachers (Alive, but Dead)

Alan Campbell called the United Kingdom’s National Health Service to set up an appointment with a specialist. The NHS told Campbell he was dead. Even though the person on the other end of the line could hear him talking, she insisted he would have to return to his general practitioner for proof he was alive.It is possible to be walking around, fully alive, yet to be completely dead in sin.

Though alive physically, people who are without Christ Jesus in their lives are dead spiritually.

Markus Barth, Ephesians 1–3: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary on Chapters 1–3 (Notes)

“Lapses and sins” are at the same time the cause, the instrument, the manifestation, the realm, and the consequence of death

The cause of spiritual death is our trespasses against God. Our disobedience is against God’s laws.

In verse 2, Paul gives us a bird’s eye view of what dead in trespasses and sins means to humans.

First, spiritual death means following the course of this world.

Jesus taught that there were two ways of living in this world in Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 NRSV

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Psalm 1 “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The Bible simplifies the ways of living: without God or with God.

Second, spiritual death means following the ruler of the power of the air.

(the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient [to God])

This is none other than the Devil.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 1.13: Saint Chrysostom: Homilies on Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (Homily IV)

As one of the church fathers (Chrysostom has said,

“why does he call the Devil “the prince” of the world? Because nearly the whole human race has surrendered itself to him, and all are willingly and of deliberate choice his slaves.”

The Devil inspires and directs the evil that goes on in our world. The murder of six 9-year old children and three adults could have only been inspired by the Devil and the person who surrendered herself to do the Devil’s bidding.

Third, spiritual death means living in the passions of our flesh. (vs. 3)

Grant R. Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse (Their Terrible Predicament: Bondage to Sin and the Flesh (2:2–3))

Externally they were tempted by the satanic powers, and internally by the human proclivity to sin. “The cravings of the flesh” are those self-centered impulses that define the pleasure principle—seeking out pleasure and avoiding pain at all costs.

Markus Barth, Ephesians 1–3: Introduction, Translation, and Commentary on Chapters 1–3 (Notes)

All rebellion against God and his commandments is bad enough, but rebellion against the revealed gospel is outright devilish.

A portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls reads,

The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation (7. Charter of a Jewish Sectarian Association: 1Qs, 4Q255–264a, 5Q11)

Through a gracious visitation all who walk in this spirit will know healing, 7bountiful peace, long life, and multiple progeny, followed by eternal blessings and perpetual joy through life everlasting. They will receive a crown of glory 8with a robe of honor, resplendent forever and ever.

9 The operations of the spirit of falsehood result in greed, neglect of righteous deeds, wickedness, lying, pride and haughtiness, cruel deceit and fraud,

10 massive hypocrisy, a want of self-control and abundant foolishness, a zeal for arrogance, abominable deeds fashioned by whorish desire, lechery in its filthy manifestation,

11a reviling tongue, blind eyes, deaf ears, stiff neck, and hard heart—to the end of walking in all the ways of darkness and evil cunning.

Fourth, spiritual death means following the desires of flesh and senses. (vs. 3)

Grant R. Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse (Their Terrible Predicament: Bondage to Sin and the Flesh (2:2–3)

The Jewish people spoke of battle between the two impulses: the yetzer hatob, the “impulse to good,” and the yetzer hara’, the “impulse to evil.” For the unbeliever the latter usually wins.

Have you ever noticed that when you check out at a store, the checkout line forces you to go through a section known as the “impulse shelves.” That is, these are shelves, full of candy, gum, bags of chips, and the tabloid magazines, entice the shopper to buy unneeded junk on impulse. The easiest targets are small children who see candy and chips, and they beg mommy to buy it for them, which she usually does. The “impulse shelves” are there by design. Merchants position the items at eye level for the most impact.

Online, the equivalent impulse is called “click bait.”

Satan entices us to do evil on impulse. Was the first sin an impulse to do evil?

Was David’s sin with Bathsheba an impulse to evil?

Fifth, what is the result of a life of sin?

“we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else” (vs. 3)

Grant R. Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse (Their Terrible Predicament: Bondage to Sin and the Flesh (2:2–3)

“Our sin separates us from God and makes us his enemies. Therefore, all sinful human beings will of necessity face the wrath of God.”

II. Know God!

The New Revised Standard Version Ephesians 2:4

“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us.”

A. Know God’s Mercy.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (2:4–5)

In the New Testament [eleos](mercy) means “undeserved kindness” toward sinners.

But God is “rich” in mercy. The idea is that God’s mercy is unlimited.

The New Revised Standard Version 1 Timothy 6:17

“As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

God’s mercy is inexhaustible.

B. Know God’s Love

Paul revisits the theme of God’s love many times in his letters. God’s love for sinners is the cornerstone of the message he preaches.

Romans 5:8 “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”

Because God loves us so much, God offered a way out of the prison of sin, which separates us from God.

300 Illustrations for Preachers “The Man with the Golden Arm”

James Harrison, an Australian man born in 1936, has blood that has saved the lives of over 2 million newborn babies. His blood contains a rare antibody capable of curing Rhesus disease, a severe form of anemia affecting babies whose blood type is incompatible with that of their mother. He has donated blood over 1,000 times and has no thoughts of ever stopping.

While Harrison’s blood is capable of saving life, the blood of Jesus Christ is the only blood that can give forgiveness of sin, thus providing eternal life. He only donated one time, but that was sufficient for all time.

C. Know God’s Power

The New Revised Standard Version

Ephesians 2:5a “even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ..

The New Bible Commentary (1:15–2:10 Paul’s Report of His Thanksgiving and Prayer for His Readers Begins)

we have been made alive (the word commonly denotes resurrection) with Christ.

The New Bible Commentary (1:15–2:10 Paul’s Report of His Thanksgiving and Prayer for His Readers Begins)

we already begin to participate in aspects of that new-creation life in our present union with him’.

Galatians 2:19-20

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

D. Know God’s Grace

The New Revised Standard Version

vs. 5c

“by grace you have been saved—”

“God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”

E. Know God’s Plan.

vs. 7, The New Revised Standard Version

so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God’s plan for you to

Grant R. Osborne, Ephesians: Verse by Verse (God’s Love Leads Him to Seat Us with Christ in the Heavenlies (2:6–7))

This outpouring of grace is not a temporary phenomenon but will take place “in the coming ages,” referring not just to the near future but to the eternal future. Jewish thought divided time into “this age” and “the age to come,” but Paul here goes beyond that to describe all the ages, both in this world and the next, piling up one upon another. God’s grace is unceasing. It will last not just through this age but through all the ages of time and eternity.

300 Illustrations for Preachers Running the Wrong Course in the Bangalore Marathon

Three top contenders in the Bangalore Half Marathon were following their pace car when the car missed a turn and led the runners 2.5 miles in the wrong direction. The mistake occurred about nine miles into the 13.1-mile course, and the runners didn’t realize right away that the crowd had disappeared. They had to borrow money from morning joggers in a Bangalore neighborhood so they could buy train tickets to the finish line.

Even though they were running with complete sincerity, they were running the wrong way. There is only one route in a race and they missed it. And even though people may believe something else with all sincerity, the Bible is clear that there is only one route to salvation: Jesus Christ.