Ephesians 2
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
In chapter 1, Paul concluded the chapter by bringing up this central concept: Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate example of God’s power. Now, in chapter 2, Paul moves to another topic: If Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate display of power, then what does it mean for our personal life?
First, Paul reminds us of where we came from. He brings us to a time, before our conversion to Christ. It was a time when we followed our own rhythm, intertwined with the world’s system of values. He states that the world is actually controlled by the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”. This is another name for satan.
Why would God allow this? Why wouldn’t God create a world that was free from sin and temptation? This becomes a very intricate theological argument. If God loves us so, why would he allow any sin to even touch us?
We have to return to free will. Free will is the ability for us to make a choice for or against God. For or against his rules. The bible shows us the heart of God, what is important to Him, and gives us guidance to how to live within the auspices of his guidance. But he also allows the free will choice to abandon this. This is where sin comes in. This is where satan lays the trap. If we are allowed the choice to follow or not, why should we follow? What’s the benefit.
The benefit is an eternity in the light and love of Christ. But being earthbound, that prize may seem ambiguous and unattainable at best. Sin, for all its darkness, is much more in reach and the world often applauds it. It is easier to fall into, easier to maintain and often backed by the world. In more ways than one, sin and falling away seems like the great safety net each of us yearns for. Yet that net is filled with holes and often we don’t see that until we fall through, crash to the ground and must rise and hobble on.
We were all in this mode in our early life. A life lived for ourself. For our own desires, needs, wants. We were in charge, we did what satisfied us and thought of others second, or not at all. We forgot what we were taught and decided to live life on our terms. It is this behavior that Paul determines brought us to God’s wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
But God is a gracious God, and in His mercy, he showed us care and love, even when we disobeyed. Can you remember a time when you were lost in transgression (sin) and didn’t deserve to wriggle out of a situation, but somehow you did? God’s mercy was alive in your life even when you didn’t realize it or deserve it. His mercy is born out of His love for us. Through our sinful behavior God brought us back to Him, reconciled us to Him through Christ. He did not wait until we were lovable; He loved us despite our sin.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Our citizenship is in Heaven. Our identity is in Christ. God will continue to show His grace to us, to future generations, in order to show the love to those who don’t deserve love, based on our earthly behavior.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The gift of grace is a free gift; it isn’t something earned. It is the way we have been designed, and our design is to do good works. These works are items that God has pre-ordained for us.
To understand this concept, we first have to realize that most religions across the world get this backwards. Many relied practices believe in a “work-based” theology. A work-based theology is a religion that believes that the content of your work on earth grants you favor with God. Based on the amount of work you do, it will outweigh your sins and grant you access to eternity.
This is a false teaching that, unfortunately, exists all around the world. It exists in any religion that teaches that you mush climb a ladder of subsequent strata in order to fulfill churchly duties. These duties grant you access to information. The information is not readily available to the masses, only to those who work towards the higher knowledge. You can see this easily in Mormonism.
It also can be seen in ritualistic behavior. Any church that takes you through a traditional gauntlet of practices in order to gain spiritual depth usually can be added to this category. The works are the relentless pursuit of keeping the church bylaws and rituals. These rituals outweigh the relationship God wants, and at the end of the day they are just precepts of the church. Catholicism and Islam are works-based theologies.
But Christianity is different. Christianity is a faith-based theology. This means that Christianity believes that one has to come to trust first. Through this trust we gain relationship. Through relationship we understand the heart of God. From that comes works. When we understand who God is, the works that we perform in this life are organic to the relationship. It isn’t earning; it’s the natural outpouring of our relationship. It’s the way God intended it. If we are in relationship with Him, then we understand what is important to Him. And any work that we do, a natural outpouring of our faith intermingled with our gifts, becomes the exact reason why we are here, and what God intended for us to do before we were born.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Back in Paul’s day, the Gentiles (uncircumcised) did not have access to God. The Jews enjoyed a relationship with God. God’s plan was not to have these groups at odds, but for the groups to unite under Christ. So, as in the previous verses, we saw that God works with us individually, He is also what work globally.
In our world we see this great division. There are many different counties, nations, political parties, who do not get along. There are differences that seem immovable. But God’s plan is still in focus. He wants to unite all under Christ. In the end times (see Revelation), we see this great division between those under the Beasts control and those sealed by God. But in the end, there is great unity under Christ.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
We were once the Gentile on the outside looking in, working in the structure of the world without ever really touching God. But, even through our sin, God has brought us close. He’s shown us the truth of Christ and shown us a new way.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
God’s plan is laid clear here: His intention is to brings together as one, to create a new paradigm of love and trust, under peace. Through Christ hostility will be gone. Why? Because everyone will have a new understanding of where to build their foundation. If it is built on Christ and not money, sex, attention, entertainment or ambition, then people can truly begin to work together.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Jesus came for all people. Not just those who already understood, but for those who were lost in sin. As the one source of light, he guided those back from the bondages of sin and gave an ideal to live up to. And our access to God is through Him as well.
How could this be? Can’t we access God though many ways? What about the Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs? Don’t they all have access to God? Don’t they just call Him something different and worship the same God a different way?
This becomes a big issue in our world. Can’t we all have it right? Maybe it just looks a little different culturally. In John 14:6 Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Either Jesus is a liar or He’s telling the truth. Let’s exam it more deeply.
First, Jesus says that no one comes to the father except through me. He is not a way, or one of many ways, but the way. Jesus was chosen by God to save us (1 Peter 2:4), he’s the only one to come down from Heaven and return to it (John 3:13), and lived a perfect human life (Hebrews 4:15). Along with that, he is the only sacrifice for sin (1 John 2:2), fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), conquered death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5) and is exalted to the highest place (Philippians 2:9).
When we compare this to other religious leaders, we see a stark difference. Joseph Smith was a con man and was eventually murdered. Muhammed was a religious zealot who conquered through blood and died like any other man. Buddha was a prince who created a way to cope with the horrors of life. The Catholic faith has a line of Popes who routinely were corrupt. The list continues.
The point is this: it’s important to understand where we place our foundation. Do we place it on the one who is of God or any one of those who are of man? Jesus is the only way, and to be deluded into following someone else is a deadly mistake.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
When we follow Christ in faith, we belong to a new family. This foundation is not a shaky one; it is built on the teachings of the apostles, of all the prophets that came before them. But all of these me are blocks in the great construction; Christ is the cornerstone. Is construction, the cornerstone is the most important part of the building. It is the point of which the building begins, sets the place where the walls will extend from and eventually from which the building will emerge from. Christ is the main, most essential part of the structure of his body, the church. We are built individually in Christ and become part of the body of his work.
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
In chapter 1, Paul concluded the chapter by bringing up this central concept: Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate example of God’s power. Now, in chapter 2, Paul moves to another topic: If Jesus’ resurrection was the ultimate display of power, then what does it mean for our personal life?
First, Paul reminds us of where we came from. He brings us to a time, before our conversion to Christ. It was a time when we followed our own rhythm, intertwined with the world’s system of values. He states that the world is actually controlled by the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”. This is another name for satan.
Why would God allow this? Why wouldn’t God create a world that was free from sin and temptation? This becomes a very intricate theological argument. If God loves us so, why would he allow any sin to even touch us?
We have to return to free will. Free will is the ability for us to make a choice for or against God. For or against his rules. The bible shows us the heart of God, what is important to Him, and gives us guidance to how to live within the auspices of his guidance. But he also allows the free will choice to abandon this. This is where sin comes in. This is where satan lays the trap. If we are allowed the choice to follow or not, why should we follow? What’s the benefit.
The benefit is an eternity in the light and love of Christ. But being earthbound, that prize may seem ambiguous and unattainable at best. Sin, for all its darkness, is much more in reach and the world often applauds it. It is easier to fall into, easier to maintain and often backed by the world. In more ways than one, sin and falling away seems like the great safety net each of us yearns for. Yet that net is filled with holes and often we don’t see that until we fall through, crash to the ground and must rise and hobble on.
We were all in this mode in our early life. A life lived for ourself. For our own desires, needs, wants. We were in charge, we did what satisfied us and thought of others second, or not at all. We forgot what we were taught and decided to live life on our terms. It is this behavior that Paul determines brought us to God’s wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
But God is a gracious God, and in His mercy, he showed us care and love, even when we disobeyed. Can you remember a time when you were lost in transgression (sin) and didn’t deserve to wriggle out of a situation, but somehow you did? God’s mercy was alive in your life even when you didn’t realize it or deserve it. His mercy is born out of His love for us. Through our sinful behavior God brought us back to Him, reconciled us to Him through Christ. He did not wait until we were lovable; He loved us despite our sin.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Our citizenship is in Heaven. Our identity is in Christ. God will continue to show His grace to us, to future generations, in order to show the love to those who don’t deserve love, based on our earthly behavior.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The gift of grace is a free gift; it isn’t something earned. It is the way we have been designed, and our design is to do good works. These works are items that God has pre-ordained for us.
To understand this concept, we first have to realize that most religions across the world get this backwards. Many relied practices believe in a “work-based” theology. A work-based theology is a religion that believes that the content of your work on earth grants you favor with God. Based on the amount of work you do, it will outweigh your sins and grant you access to eternity.
This is a false teaching that, unfortunately, exists all around the world. It exists in any religion that teaches that you mush climb a ladder of subsequent strata in order to fulfill churchly duties. These duties grant you access to information. The information is not readily available to the masses, only to those who work towards the higher knowledge. You can see this easily in Mormonism.
It also can be seen in ritualistic behavior. Any church that takes you through a traditional gauntlet of practices in order to gain spiritual depth usually can be added to this category. The works are the relentless pursuit of keeping the church bylaws and rituals. These rituals outweigh the relationship God wants, and at the end of the day they are just precepts of the church. Catholicism and Islam are works-based theologies.
But Christianity is different. Christianity is a faith-based theology. This means that Christianity believes that one has to come to trust first. Through this trust we gain relationship. Through relationship we understand the heart of God. From that comes works. When we understand who God is, the works that we perform in this life are organic to the relationship. It isn’t earning; it’s the natural outpouring of our relationship. It’s the way God intended it. If we are in relationship with Him, then we understand what is important to Him. And any work that we do, a natural outpouring of our faith intermingled with our gifts, becomes the exact reason why we are here, and what God intended for us to do before we were born.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Back in Paul’s day, the Gentiles (uncircumcised) did not have access to God. The Jews enjoyed a relationship with God. God’s plan was not to have these groups at odds, but for the groups to unite under Christ. So, as in the previous verses, we saw that God works with us individually, He is also what work globally.
In our world we see this great division. There are many different counties, nations, political parties, who do not get along. There are differences that seem immovable. But God’s plan is still in focus. He wants to unite all under Christ. In the end times (see Revelation), we see this great division between those under the Beasts control and those sealed by God. But in the end, there is great unity under Christ.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
We were once the Gentile on the outside looking in, working in the structure of the world without ever really touching God. But, even through our sin, God has brought us close. He’s shown us the truth of Christ and shown us a new way.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
God’s plan is laid clear here: His intention is to brings together as one, to create a new paradigm of love and trust, under peace. Through Christ hostility will be gone. Why? Because everyone will have a new understanding of where to build their foundation. If it is built on Christ and not money, sex, attention, entertainment or ambition, then people can truly begin to work together.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Jesus came for all people. Not just those who already understood, but for those who were lost in sin. As the one source of light, he guided those back from the bondages of sin and gave an ideal to live up to. And our access to God is through Him as well.
How could this be? Can’t we access God though many ways? What about the Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs? Don’t they all have access to God? Don’t they just call Him something different and worship the same God a different way?
This becomes a big issue in our world. Can’t we all have it right? Maybe it just looks a little different culturally. In John 14:6 Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Either Jesus is a liar or He’s telling the truth. Let’s exam it more deeply.
First, Jesus says that no one comes to the father except through me. He is not a way, or one of many ways, but the way. Jesus was chosen by God to save us (1 Peter 2:4), he’s the only one to come down from Heaven and return to it (John 3:13), and lived a perfect human life (Hebrews 4:15). Along with that, he is the only sacrifice for sin (1 John 2:2), fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), conquered death (Hebrews 2:14-15). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5) and is exalted to the highest place (Philippians 2:9).
When we compare this to other religious leaders, we see a stark difference. Joseph Smith was a con man and was eventually murdered. Muhammed was a religious zealot who conquered through blood and died like any other man. Buddha was a prince who created a way to cope with the horrors of life. The Catholic faith has a line of Popes who routinely were corrupt. The list continues.
The point is this: it’s important to understand where we place our foundation. Do we place it on the one who is of God or any one of those who are of man? Jesus is the only way, and to be deluded into following someone else is a deadly mistake.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
When we follow Christ in faith, we belong to a new family. This foundation is not a shaky one; it is built on the teachings of the apostles, of all the prophets that came before them. But all of these me are blocks in the great construction; Christ is the cornerstone. Is construction, the cornerstone is the most important part of the building. It is the point of which the building begins, sets the place where the walls will extend from and eventually from which the building will emerge from. Christ is the main, most essential part of the structure of his body, the church. We are built individually in Christ and become part of the body of his work.