Ephesians 2:1-11
- Eph 2:1 (KJV)
- And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
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- Dead - nekrous - lifeless, useless, dead
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- trespasses - offenses - same word used in Eph 1:7 (sins)
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- Before a person is saved they are dead. This means they are dead to the things of God
and dead people are totally incapable of resurrecting themselves to any type of spiritual
life. Let us look at 4 resurrections in Scripture and see who was the author and who was
the receiver. These 4 resurrections carry individual spiritual lessons but the overall
meaning of these resurrections is the spiritual resurrection of the believer, which is the
first resurrection and the second resurrection of the believer which is the final one into
the eternal home.
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- 2 Kings 13:20-21 - The bones of Elisha touched him and he lived. (spiritual lesson) When
we are dead to the things of the world and totally alive unto God we can bring forth fruit
because God uses dedicated people in His work.
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- Luke 7:11-15 - The widow of Nain (spiritual lesson) - When we are made alive we become
verbal witnesses for the Lord Jesus - Psalm 96:1-3 - beginning of each verse - Sing Sing
Declare
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- Luke 8:41-42, 49-56 - The daughter of Jairus - They laughed at Jesus and He had to put
them out. (spiritual lesson) When we are made alive we are witnesses which confront the
disbelief of others.
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- John 11:43-44 - Lazarus - This is the most famous picture of the spiritual resurrection
of the believer. (spiritual lesson) When we are made alive we become visible witnesses for
the glory of God. Whatever bound us in our old life is loosed in our new life so we may be
free to serve God. That could be attitudes, physical addictions, religion, etc. The Old
life was death and therefore we need to shed our grave clothes. as we now have the robe of
Christs righteousness - Isaiah 61:10
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- Eph 2:2-3 (KJV)
- Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience: {3} Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of
the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
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- Time past - This is biblical language which means sin was your past life but not
your present or future.
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- Walked - lived or conducted oneself
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- According - in concert with the evil of the world - we agreed with the world and
Satan
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- Course - age, era or period of time
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- Conversation - conduct or lifestyle
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- Wrath - Revelation 6:16-17
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- The spirit of evil now works in the children of disobedience which are sinners. Notice
the difference in language. For the Christian we walked in sin in time past or before we
were saved but the unbeliever continues to walk in sin. Can the Christian walk and the
worlds walk be the same? There are many preachers who claim that Christians are
still sinners but the above verse divides the two walks as being totally opposite each
other. Sin leads to death and is the believer heading for the second death? No! Then why
do we believe that we are? There are no Scriptures in the Bible which continue to call
Christians sinners. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the camp of Satan and the
Camp of the Lord. At this point it behooves us to look at some Scriptures which will clear
up the distinction.
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- You will find a commentary on this subject in my study entitled The Fullness of
the Atonement. This study details the fact that God no longer views His children as
sinners but Saints.
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- Eph 2:4 (KJV)
- But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he
loved us,
- Rich - Wealthy
- Mercy - Compassion or Pity
- Wherewith - when (at a time or during some time)
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- In the previous 3 verses we saw the condition of unsaved people in that we are dead in
sins. This verse gives great comfort to all the true believers that God is rich in mercy
toward his children. Notice the phrase he loved us. This is a phrase of
qualification in that God loves only His elect.
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(Psa 5:5 KJV) The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou
hatest all workers of iniquity.
(Psa 101:3 KJV) I will set no wicked thing before
mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to
me.
Wicked Thing actually means work or thing of Belial
Ephesians 2:4 shows a contrast of hope the believer possesses Vs. no hope of the
unbeliever. Prov 11:7
Eph 2:5 (KJV)
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace
ye are saved;)
Dead - nekrous - This word carries with it the meaning of dead, lifeless, and
useless. If a person is in this spiritual state, how would they possibly be able to
accept the Lord when they are dead. Whenever you go to a funeral, does the
guest of honor ever move or do they direct the funeral service? The answer is a resounding
no, why? Because they are dead, lifeless!
Quickened us together with = made us alive - Here we see that for those who
are the Elect of God are made alive. It is not possible for any human being to
make themselves alive, it must be done from an outside source. God loved us when we were dead in sins because we were predestined to be saved from
eternity past. The difference between the life of the unbeliever and believer is literally
life and death. Romans 6:13
Always keep in mind the pronouns we and us.
Eph 2:6 (KJV)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus:
Raised us up - When Christ was raised from the dead, we became partakers of that
resurrection. Rev. 20:6
Made us sit - When Christ ascended to heaven we partook of that ascension in that even
though we are still on earth for while, God sees us as seated and reigning with Christ
already.
2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; Rev. 22:5
Eph 2:7 (KJV)
That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Exceeding riches - The surpassing wealth of Gods grace.
Kindness - Generosity or goodness
Here is the culmination of verses 4-6. The believers are the object of the mercy
and goodness of God.
Ages - plural word - It could mean the end of this age and the next age to come which is
eternity. The word ages is the word aion which can be translated
both eternity and a period or era of time. Let me offer one other possible explanation
that this verse being offered in the future maybe looking from a pre-foundation view
because beside from this present world, there will be no more multiple ages in heaven.
Eph 2:8-9 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Works - (ergon) deeds or actions
Boast - glory
Beside John 3:16, these are probably the two most quoted and misinterpreted verses in
the Bible. Grace is the bestowing of salvation on people who have done nothing to earn it.
To accept Christ would be a work because that would be an action. The salvation plan of
God is void of any action on the part of the one who is receiving the gift of salvation.
Every work of man is sin tainted - (Prov 21:27 KJV) The
sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it
with a wicked mind?
Prov 15:8 KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is an
abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Matt. 7:21-23
Romans 3:20
Romans 4:1-10
Romans 9:31-32
Romans 11:6
Romans 11:29
Gal. 2:16
2 Timothy 1:9
Titus 3:4-5
Eph 2:10 (KJV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Workmanship - Something made or created
Good - Perfect, complete, upright, useful
Works - Deeds, actions, occupation
Before ordained - prepared before
Walk - Live or conduct oneself
God has already planned certain works for us to do. Those works are designed to be done
in the parameters of the abilities and spiritual gifts which God has placed in us. If you
have never done a search for your spiritual gifts, then please go to my study keys
to finding your spiritual Gift(s).
Eph 2:11 (KJV)
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh
made by hands;
Remember - literally means keep on remembering
Time Past - Before salvation
Gentiles - Pagans
In the early church there was also a clash between the Gentile Christians and the Jewish
Christians concerning the rite of circumcision. Peter was even siding with the Jews - Gal.
2:11-12 There was a time when the Gentiles were considered heathens and the term
uncircumcision was used to denote distinction between the two groups. Today we
would use the term saved and unsaved. Notice how God is pointing out the term circumcision
in the flesh? Here we also see God pointing out that the circumcision was made with hands
in contrast to the circumcision which God himself was going to perform on His elect.
Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:25-29
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