EPHESIANS

W. J. Franklin

Chapter 2:1-10

THE NEED OF SALVATION

“And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins”—V. 1. All who have descended from Adam, began their existence dead in their guilt. They are completely without spiritual life. The word “Trespasses” means, to fall by the side of, to fall away from, make defection from, and it certainly indicates evil actions in life. “Sins” means, error, offence, a principle or cause of sin, proneness to sin, sinful propensity, and it points to a sinful nature, rather than sinful practice.

We were nothing more than a walking, talking corpse until we came in contact with the grace of God. We were totally unable to do one good thing or even plan a holy action. This is the first time we are told that man is dead in sins. In Romans, we learned of man’s guilt, and also of the fact that he is under the guilt and power of sin; but here he is dead guilty in sins, carrying the responsibility of his condition with him.

Men can be, and are fully active in sin, but have absolutely no positive power to do good in any sense of the word. Also, the character of their actions is stamped in the next verse as being energized by the power of Satan.

“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”—V. 2. To walk in sin is more than just sinning now and then. Sin was a continuous thing with the Ephesians, as with all men out of Christ. Paul said, “To me to live is Christ,” but for those out of Christ, to live is sin.

The course of the world has to do with the whole course of life, that is, its duration. Every day was the same, as sin dominated the life always. But there is more here than just corrupt human nature. They also walked according to the ruler of the authority of the air. He kept all the evil in the nature stirred into flames of desire, hatred, covetousness, etc. Also, he works in the children, or properly, sons of disobedience. “Worketh” means, to put into operation, to be active. It is a present participle in Greek, and I would translate it, “Who is energizing the son of disobedience.” “Disobedience” means, an uncompliant disposition.

“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”—V. 3. We all conducted ourselves in sin. We walked in it, lived in it, thought it, and indeed, it pervaded every part of our being, blackened our thoughts and corrupted our deeds. It turned our emotions and affections into vile affections and perverted our minds and characters. We could not act in the will of God, but in the desires of the flesh and mind, and we were by nature the children of wrath, and not only so, but we earned the wrath by our actions.

The Jews are included in this condemnation, and in the awful description, even as the Gentiles. The need for salvation by grace is universal.

THE SOURCE OF SALVATION

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us”—V. 4. God’s love is back of His merciful dealings with men in bringing them salvation. He is rich in that attribute which we so deeply need, “Mercy.” Some of the meanings of the word are as follows, pity, compassion, benefits which result from compassion, kindness and blessing. The people described in the preceding verses need just such an attribute as is mercy. Note the description of God’s mercy in Psa. 103:11,17.

This mercy flows from His great love. The Greek word translated “For” means, because of, on account of, for the sake of. For the sake of His great love, God is rich in mercy toward us.

The word “Love” is not usually modified, but here it is “Great” love. “Great” means, great in magnitude, or quantity, much, etc. This love is everlasting in its duration, and infinite in measure. It encompasses the whole world in its reach, and has and will find a way of expression toward us.

It is said that mercy has to do with man in his misery and grace with man in his sin. Mercy takes away misery, grace provides a remedy for sin, and love bestows salvation.

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)”—V. 5. Again, we have a reminder of our true state before the Lord intervened. We were just plain dead, entirely dead to God. Now we have been made alive in Christ, and that to be alive forever. The body of Jesus was first made alive in the grave, then raised up from the grave. We received a spiritual quickening, and if we die, we will be raised bodily when He comes again. The life of Christ is our life. Therefore, when He was quickened, we were also quickened. Then Paul seems so desirous to rush into the great subject before him, he seems to shout as an interjection, “By grace ye are saved.”

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”—V. 6. We are now raised from the terrible place of death in sin. We are quickened, raised and seated with Him in the heavenlies. This is the way God speaks of us and thinks of us. We believe Him and rejoice. Jesus is our representative and He is at the right hand of God, seated. We are seated with Him.

THE REASON FOR SALVATION

“That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”—V. 7. This verse is superb and unique. It tells why God saved us. The word translated “That” denotes purpose, aim or goal. It may properly be translated, in order that, for the purpose of, for this reason. And so, for this reason, God saved us that in the ages to come we might enjoy His bountiful goodness in all things.

The reason expressed is that in the long ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us. The word “Exceeding” came before us in chapter 1:19 which see for the meanings. The word is translated “Passeth” in 3:19; another form of the word is used in 3:20. Grace will be manifested, but how? In kindness. Our English word “Kindness” carries the thought of making others happy by granting their requests. The Greek word means, goodness, kindness, gentleness. This is grace in action.

THE MEANS OF SALVATION

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”—V. 8. This great and grand verse can stand to be repeated over and over. It states simply God’s way of salvation. All is based in grace. The channel through which it comes to us, or the hand that reaches out and takes the salvation is faith. We were not dying men but dead men. We could have nothing of ourselves. The “That” seems to refer to the whole verse, as in the Greek, it is a neuter demonstrative pronoun, and all the nouns of the sentence are feminine. God never either repents or believes for us, but both the privilege of repenting and believing are gifts of God. See Acts 11:18; Phil. 1:29. Unless God had provided a “By faith” salvation, it would not do anyone any good to believe in God or about Him. Demons believe, but derive no benefits.

“Not of works, lest any man should boast”—V. 9. No human merits or works of the law or of charity can enter into God’s salvation. God does not desire any sinner ever to boast in His presence, and none ever will. The word “Boast” means, among other things, to exult, to undertake a laudatory testimony to. In our future abode with Jesus, no one will ever be lauding his own works, deeds or character, but all will be saying, Glory to God. See Paul’s words regarding boasting in Rom. 3:27.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”—V. 10. Just as truly as Adam was God’s creation and His workmanship, so we also are. We are just as positively a new creation as he was the first created man. “Workmanship” means, that which is made or done, a work or creation. It is almost exactly our word “Poem,” and it is the Greek word from whence we derive our word Poem.

God created us anew and in His providence, ordained certain works for us to walk in.