Life Without Jesus, Life Before Jesus
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Introduction
Introduction
We are all familiar with the way the history timeline is divided. Though some have tried to change it, there is one main reference point, Jesus’ birth. If something occurred before the birth of Jesus, you give the amount of years it took place before. For example, Julius Caesar was born on July 12 or 13, 100 BC. This means he was born 100 years BEFORE CHRIST. If something occurs after the birth of Christ, we use the letters AD, which comes from Latin meaning “In the year of our Lord”. Therefore, we are in 2025 AD. Years ago, I added something like this to my language. I talk about my life BC, which means before I became a Christian. At the heart of both the timeline and my conversion is that when Jesus comes there will be change and that change will be so drastic it becomes the most important event of a person’s life. In the passage we will be experiencing over the next several weeks, Paul is describing the reality of a person’s conversion to Christ. I pray a few things related to this: one, someone will be converted, two, that we who have been will be filled with gratitude, strengthened by confidence and given determination to continue.
PRAY
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, 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, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Living Life While Dead
Living Life While Dead
And you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked - The saints used to be lifeless, but the walked. This language means to communicate the realities of lostness and rebellion against God. What does it mean for someone to be dead in trespasses and sins? Paul is referring to spiritual death. They are spiritually lifeless in the realm of wrongdoing and error.
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
As Paul writes to the saints, he tells them they once walked in these things. The idea is that they used to live in this manner. John Eadie, “Men apart from God are spiritual zombies, the walking dead who do not know they are dead. They go through the motions of life, but they do not possess it.”
It is important to understand that man’s existence apart from grace is that of unbroken, consistent, never-changing life of sin because we are in sin. John MacArthur articulates this well. “We were not dead because we had committed sin but because we were in sin. In this context trespasses and sins do not refer simply to acts but first of all to the sphere of existence of the person apart from God.”
Free to Choose While Bound
Free to Choose While Bound
Following the course of this world - Some translations read according to the course of this world. You might say according to the ways of the world. Another more interpretive translations reads obeying the ways of the world. What does Paul desire to communicate with his use of “world”? Does he mean the created world? Does he mean the world of people? Does he mean the godless disposition of the world system because of fallenness and rebellion? Paul is referring the godless influence and power that works against the ways of God on the earth.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Following the prince of the power of the air - Paul uses the same language to further describe the influence. The primary influence behind the world’s system is the prince of the power of the air or as the CSB reads the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens. It is clear from other places in Scripture that the ruler of this world is Satan. Here’s one example.
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
The spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - The spirit of the Satan is working or laboring presently in those that are disobedient. These are they who do not follow the ways of God. How does Satan work in their lives?
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Paul indicates that if a person is not obedient to the gospel, they are actively under the evil influence and power of Satan. This does not mean all unbelievers are demon possessed. However, it does mean they are under the sway and influence of the devil. There is a real cosmic enemy who opposes God and his people.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Receiving Mercy While Under Judgment
Receiving Mercy While Under Judgment
Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh - The root word from where we get the word for church means to be called out. Paul shows the church of Ephesus that they are called our from among the world. What is the believer called out of? The world acts exclusively from the desires of the fallen man. Passions are the cravings and lusts that come from carnal, fallen nature. Paul expands this idea. Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind - Without Christ, mankind follows and fulfills the longings of the spiritually dead body and mind. By body and mind, Paul refers to man’s fallen flesh and fallen reasonings. We must understand the whole man is infected by sin. There is no part of lost man spared from sin’s deadly touch. This touch produces continuous sinful acts.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
And were by nature children of wrath - In this phrase Paul reveals the ultimate root of such behavior as well as its consequences. How does one explain the actions of mankind against God? It is ultimately rooted in nature. It is what natural after the Fall.
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Not only does Paul give the root of the problem of rebellion against God, he gives the consequence. This natural disposition of opposing God attracts and deserves God’s wrath.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Jonathan Edwards writes, “The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow.” — “There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God.”
Like the rest of mankind - Finally, Paul asserts the scope of the fallen condition and judgement. It is everyone.
Practical Application
Practical Application
Is what Paul describes in verses 1-3 your former life or your present life?
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Can you describe your life BC? If not, come to Christ. Do not delay. He is ready and willing to save you.
Our deliverance demands AD living.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
