Ephesians 2:1-10: Amazing Grace
This passage is among the most powerful and most quoted and preached among all Baptists. It allows a broad look at the very heart of the meaning of our study of the letter to Ephesus.
It first covers the state of those who live life untouched by the Gospel (1-3) and then in verse 4 it goes on to celebrate Christ's corning by stating the changes that have come to mankind because of the action of God. - ·
OUTSIDE CHRIST
As in most of the writings of Paul,· sin and death are closely linked to each other. His teaching in Romans 8 & 1st Cor 15 expand this area of understanding for us. But here we see also the mention of the .way demonic powers rule us while we are outside of Christ. Here the sorry condition of those outside is given in stark terms. We see how deeply Paul understood this matter by his use of such terms as "prince of the power of the air" (Satan) and "the spirit now at work". Here we are shown what we were as the sad fruit of disobedience is brought to our attention. Our nature itself is warped and bent to the will of spiritual darkness before we come to Christ.
IN CHRIST
That dark hopelessness and desperate need serve initially to make the love and grace of God shine brighter in these verses. Here is revealed the evidence of God's loving concern which does not leave mankind to perish as seen in action of two parts. God has BOTH made alive the spiritually dead and has raised up those who were held down by their slavery to spiritual death as a result of sin. God has done for believers what He has already done for Jesus. The church of all believers is now seen to be raised to sit with Christ in heavenly places. We cannot leave this moment without understanding that by His work, the church is hereby already saved.
The entire process is God's doing only and it comes to us as a freely offered gift and we cannot ignore the road which brings it to our hearts, the road of "grace alone" by "faith alone". No person is allowed to contribute to his own salvation, for if we were so allowed, that contribution would grant us the right to boast. Our Old Testament leads this teaching in both Isaiah 42: 17 & Psalm 97:7 which teach us that boasting of idols marks believing in them.
It cannot be overlooked that the words "hath he quickened" in verse 1 were not in the original writing of the verse in Greek, but were added by the translators to gain understanding, which seems accepted as the very same words do indeed exist originally in verse 5. This term means made alive. Those who were dead in their past are made alive by God when they come to be in Christ.
Such a miracle is given to us several times in our New Testament. The daughter of Jarius was dead only a few minutes when Jesus arrived but she was made alive again by his word. The young man in the village ofNain had been dead at least one and possibly two days and was being carried to his grave when Jesus arrived and brought him back to life, restoring him to his widowed mother. Lazarus had been dead four days and his own sister said he had come to stink in death in the tomb but was made alive by the call of Jesus. So it does not matter how long death has lasted, life is available through Jesus. Spiritual death is the same principle. Those long dead spiritually are quickened, made alive, by the Word of God. He made -this point clearly to the sister of Lazarus when He told her, " ... I am the resurrection ... ". His power quickens (bringing life from death).'
Also we should note that these mentioned are dead both in trespasses and sin. There is a difference in these two things. Sin is missing the mark, while trespass is a willful violation of the law of God. We are both sinners and trespassers for we knew better but still went our own way. Why were these violations in our lives? The answer is given us here," ... according to the prince of the power of the air ... ". He was our master and we served his will until grace arrived.
The entire human race was so afflicted until Jesus of Nazareth was given. The Jewish part of the human race had been given special revelation and position but clung to the improper notion of salvation 'by flesh (being children of Abraham) and of works which they could never satisfy (the law).
This new concept was almost completely rejected by the Jews. It removed any possible notion of merit and replaced it with humility and repentance. Earnest prayer, turning over a new leaf, giving greater animal sacrifice, revival of effort to obey the law, none brought salvation. There was little acceptance of a teaching that said that grace is given freely to those who deserve it least.
Verse 6 teaches us that not only is eternal life granted by grace but so also is our being presented before God in the perfection of His Son. We notice we are not taught we are so presented WITH Christ. When the rapture happens we will be caught up with Him above, while until that moment we remain IN Him here to serve.
Here also is a most interesting moment concerning good works (verse 10). These works are not works that bring salvation (for none can) but are the works that arrive as a consequence of salvation (a portion of sanctification after we are saved). We notice the call that we are "His creation" created IN Christ for good works. This was God's plan from the foundation as he arranged the delivery of the Holy Spirit to guide us in the sanctification process.
Three words were granted to Paul to deliver to each believer to underscore the power of grace over our deliverance from sin's grip: "not of yourselves".
We see that how we lived before ("you walked") is set in contrast to how we come to live after salvation (what we were vs. what we are) and grace is the hinge of that door, opened by the Lord, not by ourselves.
It should have been clear to us from our reading and study of verses 1-7 that the Lord owes us nothing but justice and wrath. This fact is taught consistently in the Bible (Gen 6:5-7 & Deut 7:6-11 & Ps 51:4 & Romans 1:18-3:20 & James 2:10-11).
But just in case we may have missed it along our study of scripture Paul in these few verses tells us one more time that we bring nothing with us to our redemption which results only from our being chosen ( drawn) and gifted with salvation.
Here is a view of our future ( what we will be) which is a future that does not depend upon our own faithfulness but on His who saved us by His grace in order that we might show His glories in us forevermore. Our best proof in scripture of this blessed work by God in us is given in Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 3, verse 22:
" ... the righteousness of God, which is by faith OF Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe ... "
