Grace (Part 2)

Backdrop Of Ephesians:

Gives a good picture of things going on in Ephesus.

If we are going to properly understand the Book of Ephesians, we need to understand its immediate context. We will not be extensive here, but reading and meditation on and (the Church in Ephesus) is essential.

Ephesus was a big, prosperous harbor city in Asia Minor. The harbor has long been filled up and unusable. The famous Silk Road from Asia ended at this point. The church in Ephesus also lived in a community thronging about its most prized mother idol of Diana.

One of the seven wonders of the world was right there in Ephesus. It was the huge temple dedicated to this goddess named Diana (Artemis). People from all around flocked to that great temple.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

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.

Ephesians 2:1

The temple and streets were filled with immoral goddess prostitutes. People could experience more of the goddess’ power by sexually intimacies with her priests and priestesses. It was a wicked city. Immorality flourished and flooded over into the society and families. The disciples of Jesus, however, were not set apart to this temple or Diana, but instead set apart for God. They would belong to God and serve Him.

The temple and streets were strewn with immoral goddess prostitutes. People could experience more of the goddess’ power by sexually intimacies with her priests and priestesses. It was a wicked city. Immorality flourished and flooded over into the society and families. The disciples of Jesus, however, were not set apart to this temple or Diana, but instead set apart for God. They would belong to God and serve Him. I know we often use the word ‘serve’ for just full-time ministers of God’s Word, but we must even by this usage of saint realize that every disciple must dedicate him or herself to Christ’s service (more in chapter 4).

Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon, as he sent all three letters by the hand (; ; ). It was during this time that Paul sat in Rome undergoing his first Roman imprisonment (; ), making Ephesians one of the four epistles commonly known as the Prison Epistles. The others are Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

Paul divided his letter to the Ephesians into two clear segments; applying the truths of the first makes possible the actions and lifestyle of the second. Paul spent the first three chapters of the letter discussing God’s creation of a holy community by His gift of grace in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The members of this community have been chosen by God through the work of Christ, adopted as sons and daughters of God, and brought near to the Father through faith in His Son. All people with this faith—Jews and Gentiles alike—were dead in their transgressions and sins but have been made alive because of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.”

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

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.

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked.”

The Grace New Testament Commentary D. God’s Salvation Plan: Past, Present, and Future (2:1–7)

Before a person puts his trust in Christ as Savior he is spiritually dead.

“You” Gentile readers

Before a person puts his trust in Christ as Savior he is spiritually dead.

Even though they were physically alive, the blackness of their sin which separated them from God meant that in reality they were dead.

Paul wants them to see the hopelessness of their position outside of Christ so they can begin to understand God’s grace.

We were dead as we were walking in trespasses and sins

Sin means “to miss the mark.” It can refer to doing something against God or against a person (), doing the opposite of what is right (), doing something that will have negative results (), and failing to do something you know is right ().

Our sin nature causes us to gravitate naturally toward selfishness, envy, and pride, even when we are trying to do good.

The sin nature leads to trespassing. A trespasser is someone who crosses a line or climbs a fence that he should not cross or climb.

“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.”

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—

Not knowing God, we then followed the course of this world. We followed the price of the power of the air.

The prince is 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.”

Among whom “We” - He’s talking to Jews and Gentiles

Passions of our flesh

Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind.

“By Nature children of wrath”

Wrath: anger, wrath, state of fury

The natural condition of fallen people is that they are subjects of God’s wrath

The Grace New Testament Commentary D. God’s Salvation Plan: Past, Present, and Future (2:1–7)

The natural condition of fallen people is that they are subjects of God’s wrath

John 3:36 ESV

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.

anger, wrath, state of fury

Wrath is defined as “the emotional response to perceived wrong and injustice,” often translated as “anger,” “indignation,” “vexation,” or “irritation.”

Ephesians 2:4–8 ESV

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,

“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.”

But God!!!

Being rich in Mercy -

Rich: in abundance, pertaining to that which is in a large amount.

in abundance, pertaining to that which is in a large amount

Mercy: leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency of authority; often penal-related.

To summarize the difference: mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.

To summarize the difference:

mercy n. — leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency of authority; often penal-related.

mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it.

Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.

“Because of the great love with which he loved us”

He showed us mercy because 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.”

Wait!!! He made me alive when he made Christ alive. - That means he saved me on Credit!!!

By Grace you have been saved!!!

“And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus!!!

You’re Above IT!!! - Drama, negativity, fear, doubt....

“So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

The Church will forever be a trophy of God’s marvelous grace.

The Grace New Testament Commentary D. God’s Salvation Plan: Past, Present, and Future (2:1–7)

The Church will forever be a trophy of God’s marvelous grace.