Get up and walk
Knowing what unthinkably wonderful blessings God has given to His Church, His adopted children, purchased from slavery and promised in marriage to His Son, has been the constant theme of the first chapter of Ephesians. Paul prays that the Church would understand, with their whole being, who they are, by God’s grace and through faith in Jesus Christ. Now the Holy Spirit, writing through Paul, reminds the Church who we were, and where we were, before He rescued us. The message is sobering, even shocking, but we must understand where we came from to appreciate where we’re going.
Scripture
Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Bible Study
We were dead
Ephesians 2:1 ESV And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Think about all the implications of hearing the words “you were dead” spoken to us. What does it mean to be dead, why were we dead, what caused our death?
Romans 6:21-23 ESV But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The walking dead
Ephesians 2:2 ESV in which you once walked,
Verse two says that we who have been saved by Jesus Christ, once walked in sin and trespasses. What is the difference between sinning and walking in sin, what does it mean to walk in sin?
Colossians 3:5-7 ESV Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
Who are we following?
Ephesians 2:2 ESV following the course of this world,
The Holy Spirit shows us the three deadly influences that lead us to our own deaths. What is the first of these influences?
James 4:4 ESV You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Who was leading us?
Ephesians 2:2 ESV following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of
The second deadly influence is the prince of the power of the air, also called the ruler of this world. Who is this and when did this leader first lead us stray?
Genesis 3:4-5 ESV But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
John 12:31 ESV Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Living for the passions of the flesh
Ephesians 2:2-3 ESV disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,
The first two enemies that lead us astray are external, the final one is terrifying in that it’s internal. It’s something that enslaves us from the inside. What is the third deadly influence?
Romans 8:6-8 ESV For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Children of God or children of wrath?
Ephesians 2:3 ESV and were by nature children of wrath,
What is it to be, by nature, children of wrath?
John 1:12-13 ESV But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:36 ESV Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Romans 5:9-10 ESV Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
What about everyone else?
Ephesians 2:3 ESV like the rest of mankind.
Has anyone been able to escape the power of these deadly influences in their own strength, has anyone solved the problem of death by their own ability, wisdom or power? Who has been lead astray and to their own deaths?
Romans 5:12 ESV Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
What has God done to rescue us and lead us back to Him?
Who is the only One who has the strength, wisdom, love, grace and mercy to take us by the hand, raise us to life and empower us to follow Him to eternal life?
John 3:16-18 ESV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.