The Epistle to the Ephesians

1. Eph 2:1 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” What do you make of this incredibly interesting and important transition from Ephesians Chapter 1? Who is you? Eph 1:19-23 – Christ and us (believers) He made alive is not in the original text and appears to be borrowed from verse 5. And this phrase takes away from the imperative truth of who we were! dead in trespasses and sins Dead – spiritually! destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God inactive as respects to doing right related to trespasses and sins Is there really a difference between trespasses and sins? The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-3, The Believer’s Past Position in Adam 1 March 25, 2018 Bob Eckel

2. Trespasses (fall beside)– a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness. Sins (miss the mark) – those things which are done wrong; an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act. Rom 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— Rom 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ‘The unbeliever is not sick, he is dead. He does not need resuscitation, he needs resurrection’ - Wiersbe. And no matter how you cut it, whether spiritual or physical, ‘death requires a solution that only God can give’ - McCalley. Rom 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. And this spiritual death has ultimate consequences Rev 21:8 - But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Eph 2:2 – “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-3, The Believer’s Past Position in Adam 2 March 25, 2018 Bob Eckel

3. power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” in which you once walked (aorist active indicative) according to the course of this world (kosmos) And how did we walk then, and don’t we still? Remember, why are we studying Ephesians? What is the course of this world? according to the prince of the power of the air Satan has granted power over the world system, but no longer us! 1 John 5:19 - We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And look at us now! 1 Cor 2:12 - Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-3, The Believer’s Past Position in Adam 3 March 25, 2018 Bob Eckel

4. Spirit here is genitive and relates to the spirit of the age – the world system. Is their any other choice for these sons? Can we equate disobedience to unbelief? Notice Satan’s influence, both in the air (atmospheric) and in the sons (people)! Job 1:7 - And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comes thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. A warfare to follow at the end of the chapter– Eph 6! Eph 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 3:2 – “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-3, The Believer’s Past Position in Adam 4 March 25, 2018 Bob Eckel

5. children of wrath, just as the others.” We all have the same roots. Jew and Gentile Rom 2:14 - For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Psalms 51:5 - Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Rom 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— Rom 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Lusts - a passionate longing, a craving, good or bad, depending upon the context. In context here, nothing good for sure. fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind The basis of this desire is our emotions. The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-3, The Believer’s Past Position in Adam 5 March 25, 2018 Bob Eckel

6. and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others Children (teknon) – small, just born children And this earthly position and unbelief begged God's disfavor and wrath to follow – Rom 1:18-2:29. Rom 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,….. So just look at the opposition! World (Kosmos) Satan (Devil) Flesh (Self) And all of these still exist. But we are a separated and positioned people with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ – Eph 1:3! 2 Cor 1:12 - For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves (once lived) in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. The Epistle to the Ephesians Ephesians 2:1-3, The Believer’s Past Position in Adam 6 March 25, 2018 Bob Eckel