Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:1

In the second chapter of Ephesians, the theme is God’s workGod’s work for us in verses Eph_2:4-7, God’s work in us in verses Eph_2:8-9, God’s work through us in verse Eph_2:10, and God’s work among us in verses Eph_2:11-22. God’s work in us is crucial because of the sin that worked against us. The words “hath he quickened” are in italics because they aren’t in the original text. Therefore, Eph_2:1 originally read, “And you were dead in trespasses and sins.” Death is separation in three waysthe first is physical death, when the spirit is separated from the body. Although the medical community debates endlessly about what actually constitutes death, the Bible makes it very clear that death occurs the moment the spirit departs. Second, there is spiritual deaththat which is spoken of here in Eph_2:1. Maybe you’ve seen National Geographic specials on zombies in Haiti and other islands of the Caribbean. Zombies are people who walk around in an almost corpselike stupor due to voodoo, demons, and drug-induced states. Spiritually, we were like zombiesalive physically, but because we had no sensitivity toward the Lord, we were dead spiritually. Third, there is eternal death, spoken of in 2Th_1:9, referring to those who refuse the life-giving gift of salvation and are cast into outer darkness.

Ephesians 2:2

The word translated “walked” speaks of meandering, or walking without direction or goal. The Greek phrase translated “course of this world” refers to wind. Therefore, the implication is that whichever way the wind was blowing was the way we were going. Who was doing the blowing? Satan. He was the one dictating the styles, trends, and interests that so captivated you and me before we were saved, when we were still dead in our sin.

Ephesians 2:3

Completely caught up in our own fleshly inclinations, we were enslaved in a futile attempt to satisfy our flesh. Finally, not only were we dead because of sin, drugged by our sin, and depraved in our sinas children of wrath, we were doomed by our sin. Why were we children of wrath? Because the wrath of God abides on those who do not receive the gift of salvation (Eph_5:6).

Ephesians 2:4

I find these two words to be perhaps the most important in all of Scripture, for although we were doomed by sin, God broke through anyway. When God broke through, what did He do? First of all, He loved us. God doesn’t only love you when you go to church, read your Bible, or try to be spiritual. He loved you at your stinkiest. He loved you when you were dead. But God… A Topical Study of Eph_2:4 Asked what I enjoy most about the ministry, I was surprised by my own answer. “What I enjoy most about the ministry are the messes,” I said"just seeing the wonderful things the Lord creates from the muddle and mayhem in which we continually find ourselves." It’s been this way from the very beginning. You see, Gen_1:1 says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In Hebrew, verse Gen_1:2 goes on to say the earth was “tohuw va bohuw,” or, “without form and void.” We see this phrase again in Isa_45:18, where we read that God created the heaven and earth not in vainnot “tohuw va bohuw.” Now, if Isaiah says God did not create the earth “tohuw va bohuw,” but Genesis 1 says the earth was “tohuw va bohuw,” what’s going on? Along with many Bible scholars, I believe an event took place between Gen_1:1 and Gen_1:2, described in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, wherein an archangel named Lucifer launched a rebellion against God and was kicked out of heaven. Along with one-third of the angels who followed him in his rebellion, he came to earth, where he would become “the god of this world” (2Co_4:4). So great was the impact when, in a sense, hell hit earth, that Bible scholars believe it caused the earth to tilt on its axis and ushered in the Ice Age. So it is, that even from the very beginning of time, we see a dismal, dark mess. But Scripture goes on to say that when God said, “Let there be light,” what was once without form and void began to become something incredibly wonderful: the amazing earth upon which we live. Not only does God re-create the world around us but also the world within us. You see, according to Eph_2:1, we were all “without form and void,” dead. But according to verse Eph_2:4, just as He did at creation, God moved in and revived us. Perhaps you feel that the axis of your world has tilted, that you’re living in the cold blast of a perpetual Ice Age, or that darkness surrounds and abounds. “Yes, you’re a mess,” Paul would say to you. Then he would add the two words that made all the difference at the creation of the physical world, and which will make all the difference in your world as well: But God. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were traveling, and Abraham was fearful. Why? Sarah was so beautiful, Abraham knew that Abimelech, the king of the region through which they passed, would want to kill him in order to add Sarah to his harem. “Tell him you’re my sister,” Abraham said. “He’ll take you awaybut at least I won’t die.” Sure enough, Abimelech, sent for Sarah (Gen_20:2). “But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, Behold thou art a dead man, for the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife” (Gen_20:3). Abraham messed up royally. His marriage to Sarah teetered on disaster. But God moved in unexpectedly, unpredictably, miraculously, and rescued them both. People say to me, “My wife just doesn’t understand.” “My husband is an idiot.” “My marriage is a mess.” “What do I do?” I listen to their stories, shrug my shoulders, and say, “I don’t have a clue. But Godsomehow God is going to come through for you. I don’t know how. I don’t know when. But I know Him. God will break through somehow.” “Your dad ripped me off,” Jacob said to his wives, Leah and Rachel, after being shortchanged by Laban one too many times. “But God suffered him not to hurt me” (Gen_31:7). “No wonder in-law problems rank third in the struggles of married couples,” says the weary couple. “We can’t seem to please either of ours. What should we do?” “I have no idea,” I say. “But God used Jacob’s ordeal with Laban to eventually change Jacob from “Heel Snatcher” to Israel, the one “governed by God.” On his deathbed, Jacob was no doubt reminded of his own deceit repeated in the lives of his sons gathered around him. Perhaps realizing that his time to impact them positively was growing short, it was with an air of resignation that he said, “Behold I die.” Yet as he uttered the last word of that sentiment, hope reclaimed his heart, for he added, “but God shall be with you and bring you again to the land of your fathers” (Gen_48:21). “What can I do about my son?” cries the broken-hearted father. “It’s as if I don’t even exist in his life. Yes, I made mistakes raising him, but what can I do now?” “I don’t know,” I say. “But God will be with him just as He was with Jacob’s sons, to bring him to the land of his fathersto somehow, some way, bring him back home.” After being thrown in a pit by his own brothers, he was sold into slavery. Joseph was forsaken by his family and without hope completely. But God moved in miraculously and elevated him to the position of prime minister in one of the greatest empires in human history (Gen_50:20). “Everyone is against meeven my own family,” cries the heartbroken young man. “What do I do?” I listen to his story and say, “I don’t know. But God was with Joseph, and God will be with you.” After killing one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, Samson was so thirsty he thought he would die. “But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water out of it; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived” (see Jdg_15:19). “I’m so dry spiritually,” she says. “I come to church and I’m dry. I pray and I’m dry. I study the Word and I’m dry. What am I doing wrong?” “I don’t know,” I say. “But God hears your prayer and will revive you, perhaps, as He did with Samson, in a way you least expect it.” Although Saul was king of Israel, he knew it was actually David who had the anointing of God. Consequently, Saul sought to take David’s life. “But God delivered him not into his hand” (1Sa_23:14). What temptation, what sin, what Saul is trying to track you down and do you in? You’ll never be able to elude it on your own, but God can establish and strengthen you. He can give you victory (1Pe_5:10). “Oh, but you don’t know the Saul that’s chasing me,” you say. “It’s a very real temptation, an incredibly powerful problem.” Perhaps. “But God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you’re able and will provide a way of escape every single time you’re tempted” (see 1Co_10:13). Precious brother, dear sister, God, who is rich in mercy and full of love, will break through your situation if you’ll allow Him. The mess you’re in may be real. The struggle ahead may be exhausting, the trial you face may be overwhelmingbut the message is yet more powerful: But God, but God, but God.…

Ephesians 2:6

Not only were we loved by the Lord, but we were lifted by Him when He raised us up together and made us sit with Him in heavenly places. In John 11, we see Lazarus raised from the dead. In John 12, we see him seated with Christ around the table. The same is true of you and me. We are not only made alive in Christ, but now we can come to His table. We can fellowship with Him, talk to Him, and learn from Him. Soon, we’ll be in heaven, sitting at the ultimate banqueting table at the marriage feast of the Lamb. What a day that will be!

Ephesians 2:7

God raised us to sit with Him in heavenly places in order that we might be trophies of His grace, in order that people will look at you and me in the ages to come and say, “The grace of God is unbelievable! Look at how God loves them! Look at what He’s done with them! Amazing!”

Ephesians 2:8

In verses Eph_2:4-7, we saw God’s work for us as He brought us back from the dead and raised us to sit with Him in heavenly places. Here in verses Eph_2:8-9, we see His work in us. “It might be God’s work,” you say, “but it’s my faith.” No. Here, Paul says specifically that even the faith it took to be saved is not of ourselves. Why? Because dead men don’t have faith. That is why Paul declares that there is none that seeks after God, no not one (Rom_3:11). “Then what part did I have in salvation?” you ask. None. You were elected before the foundation of the world, and the faith you finally exercised to receive Jesus Christ was faith that God Himself put in your heart. That is why Jesus declared, “No man can come unto Me except the Father draws Him” (Joh_6:44). The entire orb of salvation is totally due to God’s grace. We become worshipers now and eternally because His work in us and for us is truly amazing.

Ephesians 2:10

In verse Eph_2:10, we see God’s work through us… The Greek word translated “workmanship” is poiemafrom which we get our word “poem.” Thus, we are God’s poetry. On my way out to Chiloquin, Oregon, a number of years ago, I stopped by the side of the road at a little craft area where woodcarvings of bears, eagles, and Indians were for sale. I thought they were pretty gooduntil I learned they were carved without hand tools of any sort, but only with chainsaws. Then I thought they were incredible! The same is true of you and me. You might think you’re not very impressivebut look in the mirror and consider what God had to work with! There is no shortage of those who say, “You Christians aren’t all that great. I see all kinds of inconsistency, hypocrisy, and problems.” Whenever I hear that, I don’t defend myself, nor do I defend you. I simply say, “You’re right! But you wouldn’t believe how bad we used to be! If you knew how we used to be, you would realize that compared to our former state, we’re poetry!”

Ephesians 2:11

Here we see God’s work among us. “Remember what you used to be,” Paul says to the Gentile Christians. “You were at one time without Christ, without hope, without God. You were in trouble. You had no hope for a Messiah. You had no knowledge of God. You had no future.”

Ephesians 2:13

“Although at one time, you Gentiles had no God, no Christ, no hope,” Paul continues, “He’s made you one with the Jews who believe in Him.”

Ephesians 2:15

What is God doing among us? Two things: He has created a new man (verse Eph_2:15), and a new body (verse Eph_2:16). Jews and Gentiles used to feel such animosity toward one another that if a Jew even accidentally brushed against a Gentile in the crowded marketplace, he would have to immediately ceremonially cleanse himself. The Gentile community responded by saying the Jews were the devil incarnate. But what did the Lord do? He took those two groups, Jew and Gentile, and brought them together into a new man, a new bodythe church.

Ephesians 2:19

Not only did God create a new bodyHe is creating a new building, built upon the foundation of the message of the apostles and prophets. That message is Jesus Christ. He is the Chief Cornerstone. But the building is not done. He has created a new man. But He is creating a new building. Why? Because it’s growing. Peter tells us we are living stones being fit together to build a holy priesthood (1Pe_2:5). And as living stones, we are growing ourselves as we expand in our own understanding of God’s ways. Inevitably, then, there will be friction between us. Sometimes I can resent that. But I am learning that the Lord puts me with people He specifically has ordained to knock the rough edges off of me. In 1 Kings 6, we read that as the temple was being constructed, all of the cutting took place away from the temple mount. Consequently, when the rocks arrived on site, there was not the sound of a hammer or a chisel heard. So, too, there is coming a time when there will not be the sound of a hammer or chisel in our lives. We’re going to heaven, where all of the stonesJew, Gentile, male, female, brother, sisterwill fit together perfectly, the chiseling and shaping having been done here in this quarry called earth. So let the hammering take place, dear brother. Don’t try to short-circuit the process, precious sister. You’re being fit together as living stones for a holy habitation in which God can dwell forever.