From Death to Life

First thing to notice in this verse is the reason why you were in that condition. It is through sin, or in other words because of sin that you are dead. This death is the consequence of the sin that the Ephesians used to live in.

Paul is not talking to a resurrected people. He is talking about their past condition as non-Christians. He wants to clarify where they stood before Christ. He is talking, not of a physical death, but a spiritual one.

Following this World

Ephesians 2:2 NIV

in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Then Paul goes on to explain how this is characterized in our following this world, following the prince of this world, and ultimately because of our disobedience.

The Thoughts and Ideals: Happiness, Pleasure, Love.

Following this world ultimately means following its ruler

Following this world means Disobedience

Following our Flesh

Eph 2:

Ephesians 2:3 NIV

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

We had a whatever we wanted.

We were deserving of wrath.

Christ is the ultimate

God Loved Us

Ephesians 2:4 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Ephesians 2:4 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Ephesians 2:4–5 NRSV

But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

How did he love us?

How did he express that Love with which he loved us?

Through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus Christ. He saved us through Jesus Christ.

Despite Our Condition

Ephesians 2:5 NIV

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians

Despite our

Through Jesus Christ

Out of the Great Love

We are Made Alive

Ephesians 2:5 NRSV

even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

We are awakened from our slumber. Our senses our awakened.

Sleep. Hearing and Seeing.

Our Spirits are made alive and it is now possible for you to be one with God.

God Love

We are Raised Up

Ephesians 2:6 NIV

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians

He Did not just awaken our senses, but he raised us up. It has a connotation that we were down, we were defeated.

But he raises up for Victory

We are Seated with Him

Ephesians 2:6 NIV

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

The Promise of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:7 NIV

in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Ephesians 2:8–10 NRSV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Conclusion

There is one part that Paul didn’t touch upon in this particular verse. It is the decision of faith that changed everything.

God came in the picture and changed everything, but if we do not do our part we are unable to receive his gift.

His gift is free. But you have to do your part, which is to receive it and embrace it.