Ephesians 2:1-11

Eph 2:1 (KJV)
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
 
Dead - “nekrous” - lifeless, useless, dead
 
trespasses - offenses - same word used in Eph 1:7 (sins)
 
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.
 
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 “ded”icated people in His work.
 
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
 
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.
 
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 Christ’s righteousness - Isaiah 61:10
 
 
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.
 
Time past - This is biblical language which means sin was your past life but not your present or future.
 
Walked - lived or conducted oneself
 
According - in concert with the evil of the world - we agreed with the world and Satan
 
Course - age, era or period of time
 
Conversation - conduct or lifestyle
 
Wrath - Revelation 6:16-17
 
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 world’s 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.
 
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.
 
 
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)
 
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.
 
(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 God’s grace.
Kindness - Generosity or goodness
 
Here is the culmination of verses 4-6. The believer’s 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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