We Were Sinful, but God Showed His Mercy

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:

Q1--What does it mean that we "were dead in transgressions and sins"?

We were spiritually dead because sin controlled our life. We were the slave of sin because we had not allowed God to take control of our lives.

2 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.

Q2--How did we walk (live) in times past?

Comment on verses 2-3

This is the first of the 8 "Walks" of Ephesians. These verses tell us how we used to walk before we started serving God. It lists 8 things we used to do, and it would be well to remember these things so we can avoid them as we try to walk the Christian walk:

1. We walked according to the course of this world — our values were from our society instead of from God,

2. We walked according to the prince of the power of the air — this is Satan. We listened to the evil one instead of to the voice of God,

3. We walked as children of disobedience — we wanted to do things our own way, not God’s way,

4. We lived and talked as the world does — we did not want to appear odd, so we conformed our actions and our speech to be like those around us,

5. We walked in the lusts of the flesh — we sought after whatever we wanted without regard to God’s laws of morality,

6. We fulfilled the desires of our flesh — we indulged our physical desires,

7. We fulfilled the desires of the mind — we indulged our mental desires,

8. We were by nature the children of wrath — we were angry and mean.

As we read this list, we realize that even though we are now serving God, we have to struggle with many of the desires of our old nature. We are in a constant spiritual battle. But thanks be to God that he gives us the strength to overcome.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Q3--Why did God quicken us (make us alive)?

Because of God’s mercy and his great love toward us, he has made us alive in the spirit. We have a new life, not a new physical life, but a new spiritual life.

John 3:5-6 (NCV), 5 But Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God's kingdom. 6 Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit.

Remarks from Believer’s Bible Commentary on verse 4,

"The words, but God, form one of the most significant, eloquent, and inspiring transitions in all literature. They indicate that a stupendous change has taken place. It is a change from the doom and despair of the valley of death to the unspeakable delights of the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. The Author of the change is God Himself. No one else could have done it, and no one else would have done it."

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Q4--Where are we sitting?

We are sitting together in heavenly places. Our body may still be in this world, but our spirit is linked with the ruler of heaven. Our flesh may fail us at times, but in the spirit we are more than conquerors.

7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Q5--Why did he raise us up to sit in heavenly places?

Comment on verse 7,

There are four parts to this question. He did it for many reasons:

1. God is looking to the ages to come. He is concerned about our eternity.

2. The exceeding riches of his grace. Mercy is not getting punishment we do deserve, grace is getting heavenly gifts we don’t deserve.

3. His kindness toward us. This is his mercy.

4. Through Christ Jesus. All of this is given to us because of the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross.

8 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.

Q6--What good works must we do to be saved?

Comment on verses 8-9

These two verses tell us a lot about our salvation. It is by grace, it is not of ourselves, it is a gift from God, and it is not by any works on our part. To become part of God’s family, you do not have to be good enough, you do not have to do anything to earn it, you don’t have to clean up your life first, you don’t have to give up anything. All you have to do is receive God’s free gift by faith. When you do, then you will discover that those things you used to do will slowly not become so appealing. You will have a new desire to stop doing bad things, and you will gain a sudden desire to obey God’s law. But none of this happens before you are saved. You cannot do anything to earn your salvation. Verse 9 tells us, "not of works, lest any man should boast."

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Q7--In what are we supposed to walk (what are we supposed to do)?

This is the second "Walk" of Ephesians.
We are to walk in good works.

MacDonald comments on verse 10,

"While it is true that we are not saved by good words, it is equally true that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the root but the fruit. We do not work in order to be saved, but because we are saved."

Footnotes:

All scriptures from the King James Version. Questions based on both the King James Version and the New International Version



	A Study of Ephesians 2:1-10