The Wellspring. No.28
“Understanding
is a Wellspring of Life to him that has it.”
(Proverbs. 16:22)
Occasional
papers by Arthur & Rosalind Eedle
No.3 in the series
of expositions on Ephesians
Ephesians 2:1-10
As we enter the second chapter of Ephesians we become aware of the utter contrast between the sublimity of the believer’s stand, expressed in chapter one, and his prior condition in the world. This epistle is peculiarly full of the state of the heathen without God.
2:1 “And you, being dead [lit. corpses]
in trespasses and sins.”
“They were dead in relation to that to
which they afterwards became alive---i.e. to holiness. Of course, this does not
mean that they were in all respects dead. It does not mean that they had no
animal life, or that they did not breathe, and walk, and act. Nor can it mean
that they had no living intellect or mental powers, which would not have been
true. Nor does it settle any question as to their ability or power while in
that state. It simply affirms a fact--that in relation to real spiritual life
they were, in consequence of sin, like a dead man in regard to the objects
which are around him. A corpse is insensible. It sees not, and hears not, and
feels not. The sound of music, and the voice of friendship and of alarm, do not
arouse it. The rose and the lily breath forth their fragrance around it, but
the corpse perceives it not. The world is busy and active around it, but it is
unconscious of it all. It sees no beauty in the landscape; hears not the voice
of a friend; looks not upon the glorious sun and stars; and is unaffected by
the running stream and the rolling ocean. So with the sinner in regard to the
spiritual and eternal world, he sees no beauty in religion; he hears not the
call of God; he is unaffected by the dying love of the Saviour; and he has no
interest in eternal realities. In all these he feels no more concern, and sees
no more beauty, than a dead man does in the world around him. Such is, in fact,
the condition of a sinful world. There is, indeed, life and energy and motion.
There are vast plans and projects, and the world is intensely active. But, in
regard to religion, all is dead. The sinner sees no beauty there; and no human
power can arouse him to act for God, any more than human power can rouse the
sleeping dead, or open the sightless eye-balls on the light of day. The same
power is needed in the conversion of a sinner which is needed in raising the
dead; and one and the other alike demonstrate the omnipotence of him who can do
it.” (Barnes, “New Testament
Notes.”)
Yes, how true this is. We might translate as follows – “And
you [has He made alive] who were mere corpses by virtue of offences and
sins.” Paul had already made this quite clear in Romans. “The
commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death, for Sin,
taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”
(
“Sin” delights in the law, because it gives him a handle by
which to accuse mankind. He is forever pointing the finger to bring human
faults to the Lord’s notice, as if the Lord didn’t already know!
2:2 “In which you once walked according
to the age of this world.”
The age of this world. The word “age” [AION] is
frequently used to describe the prevailing fashion of a certain period of time.
It’s amazing how we, as human beings, tend to become ‘dedicated
followers of fashion,’ to use the words of an old pop song. We talk about
‘keeping up with the Joneses’, and so on. Whatever is the current
fashion in dress, sport, entertainment, house adornment, garden, food, etc., we
take note of the plethora of advertisements and wander aimlessly into captivity
to these things. That was while we were “corpses.” But if God has
made us alive in Christ, all such activity should cease. We become under
“new management,” and should walk in a different way, as Paul
indicates in a later part of this chapter.
2:2 “according to the prince of the power
of the air.”
Prince. Greek ARCHON, a word that is found extensively
in ancient Greek literature. There were nine Archons, or Chief Magistrates in
Power. Literally “authority”. In
Colossians, Paul tells us we have been “delivered out of the
authority of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of His
love.” (
Air. A strange expression unless properly
understood. The Greeks divided the heavens into two compartments, the Air [AER]
and the Ether [AITHER] above it. Paul used this distinction when referring to
the sphere of activity delegated to Satan. It was the lower region where
he ruled. If we prefer to think of heaven rather than the atmosphere,
then John, writing in Revelation, tells us about the “middle
heaven” [MESOURANEMA] in
2:2 “The Spirit that now works in the
sons of disobedience.”
The Spirit. Refers to Satan as a spirit being.
That now works. Perhaps better as “now operates”
In the sons of disobedience. A typical Hebraism, whereby the word
“sons” describes an origin, an association, or worthiness. Examples
are “sons of light”, “sons of darkness”, “sons of
belial”, “sons of the bridechamber”, etc. In the O.T. a very
interesting example is found in Job 5:7, “man is born to trouble as the
sparks fly upwards.” The word
“sparks” is in Hebrew, “sons of the living flame.”
Disobedience. [APEITHEIA]
As with Adam and Eve in the beginning, disobedience is always
man’s downfall, and wherever it is found, Satan is in the midst. For this
is the correct translation of this phrase, “the Spirit that now operates
among those who are disobedient.” “We
are not merely imperfect creatures who need to be improved; we are rebels who
must lay down our arms,” to quote Cardinal Newman.
2:3 “Among whom also we all conducted
ourselves in times past, performing the desires of our flesh and mind.”
Conducted ourselves. [ANASTREPHO] The A.V. translates
“had our conversation”, but the verb is passive, and neither
of these will do. Liddell & Scott says about the verb, “to turn
upside down, as with digging”, and then “to turn round and about,
to repeat.” Remembering the passive voice, we are left with only
one alternative, namely, “Among whom we were turned upside down,
swallowed up, head over heels.” In other words, the action is against
us, rather than of our own volition. Our lives were turned upside down from
what God originally intended for us.
2:3 “And were by nature children of
wrath, as also the rest.”
Children of wrath. Here again we find the Hebraism, like
“sons of disobedience.” It
means that by natural birth we were deserving of God’s wrath.
As also the rest. Exactly.
We are no better than anyone else in this world. Born in sin, raised by sinful
parents, and experiencing the workings of sin in our lives, we were living
corpses! And so ends Paul’s devastating description of natural
man’s “birthright”. Having fully delineated our position, he then
shows by vivid contrast the nature of God’s mercy.
2:4 “But God who is rich in mercy through
the great love wherewith He loved us, even though we were dead in
offences”
He loved us. There is something chronologically difficult to
comprehend in what follows, because the actions refer back to the time of
Christ’s resurrection, and yet they become reality in our lifetime. The
word “loved” is in the aorist tense, which, as the name suggests,
is a “timeless” tense, one that focuses on the subject matter of
the verb rather than when it operates. We can translate, “He loves
us”, without making it sound like a present tense. His love is
timeless and constant.
2:5 “He made us alive with Christ, (by
grace you are saved,) and raised us up together, and seated us together among
those senior heavenly ones in Christ.”
Together. There are three verbs in this sentence, all of
which begin with the prepositional prefix SUN-, meaning “together
with.” And so we are presented with this staggering concept of being
identified with Christ in His resurrection in three successive actions, (1)
made alive, (2) raised up, and (3) seated among the senior heavenly ones. How is it possible for the Lord to speak of
us in this fashion when we are living some 2,000 years after the historic
event? This is the anachronism of which we have just spoken.
Back in chapter one we saw that God loved us, chose us, predestined us,
and inherited us even before the fall of man in
Made us alive together. A corpse is useless. Even
Christ’s corpse was useless. It could have been embalmed and kept as a
relic, a religious icon, but it would have no further value than to gather dust
in a museum or cathedral. But He came to life again! Miracle of all miracles!
Christ is alive! And since then Easter Sunday has been the focal point of every
Christian’s life. Some have tried to maintain that He never actually
died, but all the evidence is against resuscitation. Paul said, “If
Christ be not raised, your faith is vain. You are still in your sins.”
(1 Cor:
On that Sunday morning, 2,000 or so years ago, Jesus’ corpse
suddenly came alive. And according to Paul, at that very moment we came alive
together with Him. Don’t ask me to explain it, because I cannot. I
won’t even try. There are some things about our faith that will forever
remain sacred secrets, divine mysteries. But I can believe it! And
believe it, I will!
Raised us up together. There are two words translated
“resurrection” in the Greek N.T.
ANASTASIS and EGERSIS. The former means “standing up again,”
and the latter “waking up.” It is the latter here, as it was in 1
Corinthians 15:17 quoted above. But once again SUN is added to the word,
showing that we were raised up together at Christ’s resurrection. Death
is very much like winter, as the Greeks imagined in the mythology of Demeter
and Hades. But as the sun rises progressively in the sky in spring, so the
earth becomes alive again. Spiritually, we are dead in the wintertime of our
sinful state, but as the “Sun of righteousness rises with healing
in His wings,” so we rise with Him. (Mal.4:2)
Our Lord said some very strange things about life and death. Before He
raised Lazarus, He said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the
life; he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and
whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25-26) To those who truly
believe, physical death may come, but the new spiritual life, that can
never die.
Seated us together. The only other place where this word is used
in the N.T. is Luke 22:55. In the courtyard outside the Judgment Hall a number
of people were “seated together around a fire, and Peter was
amongst them.” This is helpful in understanding this verse in
Ephesians. Jesus was raised and seated
at God’s right hand, as we learned earlier. Now we are told that we are
raised and seated together with Him among the senior heavenly ones. This
is a very privileged position, and it is quite unseemly for us to speak of it
other than in hushed tones, lest even the mention of it should imply some
worthiness on our part.
Now before we move on, we must compare this statement with that in
Revelation 3:21. “To him who overcomes [or, conquers] I will grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am seated with my
Father in His throne.” Lest anyone should think that to rule with
Christ in the Millennium might be granted to those who are untried, untested,
and unworthy, we have this counterbalance, this cautionary note. Paul also
expressed it to Timothy in these words, “If we died with Him, we
shall also live with Him; if we suffer we shall also reign with Him; if we deny
Him [the suffering], He will also deny us [the reigning].” (
(By grace you are saved.) This is popped in parenthetically here, and
enlarged upon later. The verb “you are saved” is in fact in the
perfect tense, and implies a continuity of action. We cannot therefore look
upon it in a typical evangelical sense. It does not relate to the moment of a
person’s conversion, being born again, or being saved, to use the usual
clichés. “By grace you have been and are continually being saved, [or
better, preserved.]” The idea of preservation, latent within the
Greek word SOZO, to save, is valuable. Maybe the Lord has preserved us for
these inestimable privileges, so that when faith comes, we may be able to
believe and enter in to the fullness of the revelation.
2:7 “In order that in the ages to come He
might show forth the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness to us in Christ
Jesus.”
The coming ages. One is reminded of our Lord’s words to
His disciples in Mark 10:30. He said that whoever had given up people or things
for His sake, would gain a hundredfold, and in the age to come life
eternal. Paul here extends the concept by speaking of multiple ages to come,
rather than just one, (presumed to be the Millennial Age.)
He might show forth. Paul must have been thinking of what
he wrote to Timothy. “I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus
Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to those who should
hereafter believe on Him to eternal life.” (1 Tim.1:16) Just as
the pattern has been recognised by us, so in the coming ages God’s great
grace will be demonstrated to a much wider audience. For what purpose? Not as
window dressing, not as a showpiece, but to encourage others to believe on the
Living Christ.
Kindness. Paul
spoke about God’s kindness in Romans 2:4. “Do you despise the
riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the
kindness of God leads you to repentance?” The Psalmist declared, “How
excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God.” (Psalm 36:7) David cried to the Lord, after the incident
with Bathsheba, saying, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to
Your lovingkindness.” (Psalm 51:1) So also in many other places
in the Psalms and Prophets do we read of God’s lovingkindness. It is not,
as some have suggested, the “new” understanding of God in the N.T.
2:8 “For by grace you are saved by faith,
and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man
should boast.”
By faith. We are told that it is “not of
yourselves.” Therefore whose faith is it? Jesus said to the saints in
Pergamos, “You have not denied my faith.”
(Rev.2:13) Later we read, “Here
is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev.14:12) And then we read in Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no
flesh be justified.” And again, in Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”
Yes, we are constantly taught about the necessity for us to act
in faith, but seldom asked to reflect on that faith which is resident within
the Son of God. If our faith, the size of a grain of mustard seed, could remove
mountains, how much more does our Lord’s own faith accomplish to
God’s glory? Paul adds an additional gem of understanding in Romans 1:17 “I
am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ . . . for therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith.” In other words, from
Christ’s faith to our own faith, both working together and intertwined.
The gift of God. God’s grace, His lovingkindness, and
Christ’s faith, these are all a pure gift, quite apart from any
involvement in us, and certainly not based upon any action we might have made.
Not by works lest anyone should boast. The importance of this must be seen against that
of Satan’s defection in the beginning. It was because of his own beauty
that his heart was lifted up prior to his fall. (Ezekiel 28) He did not dwell
upon the fact that he was created, but vainly imagined that he had
something intrinsically his own, that need not be subject to God at all. This
was the beginning of individualism, self-elevation, and the rejection of
God-reliance. It was as though he were saying to God, “I have a right to
myself and my own opinions, quite apart from you.”
The contrast as seen in the life of Christ could not be greater.
Throughout His ministry He maintained, He relied entirely on His Father, and
took no glory to Himself. John
This is why, when we read of the glories bestowed on us in Christ, we
are told in emphatic terms that none of it derives from us. The Lord doesn’t want His church spoiled
by listening to serpentine whispers, to
the effect that we can “go it alone” in any sphere of our service.
His workmanship. This is by no means a new concept. Of
Now the Lord declares the same wonderful truth concerning the Gentiles
whom He has chosen, whereby we may enter into these priceless treasures, and
share all the riches of His grace, where there is no longer Jew and Gentile.
Upon a basis of good works. Once we are “made alive in Christ”
we have duties to perform. Our lives should be governed by a daily contact with
the Lord, to know of His will at every step. Furthermore, we need not quake at
this responsibility because God has laid out a pathway for us to walk on. It is
no longer the pathway the world takes, but one of His own making.
Prepared beforehand. Previously prepared by the Lord. It
is “the King’s Highway”, and we are invited to walk on it. It
is the only road that God will accept. If we refuse His path for any reason,
then we do despite to His grace and lovingkindness. But how can anyone think of
walking another road, after reading about the exceeding riches of His grace in
kindness towards us? If the love that grows within our own hearts reaches out
to touch the love that comes from God Himself, where they meet holy fire will
be liberated.
For us to walk in. Our
“works” as believers will therefore be according to His
enlightenment, whereby we take no glory to ourselves, but testify to all that
the fruit of our lives will have come from the Master Gardener’s hand.
These will be “good works.”
See Hebrews
Note also the following. Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” And John
These and several other references in the N.T. speak about “good
works”, and in all cases they are “faith works”, performed in
obedience to the voice of the Son of God, that He and He alone may take the
glory for what is accomplished, and we are saved from the snare of pride. This
is what it means to “overcome.” And Paul said to the Romans, “We
are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (