Bible Study Ephesians 2: 1-22

 

 A Commentary of the Book of Ephesians

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Ephesians 2: 1-22

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you [a]were dead [b]in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the [c]course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom we all also formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the [d]mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead [e]in our transgressions, made us alive together [f]with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [g]this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you—the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off [h]have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition 15 [i]by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached the good news of peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the [j]saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy [k]sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 1: “And you were dead in your transgressions and sins,”

A reminder of the total depravity and lostness from which believers have been redeemed. “In” indicates the realm or sphere in which unregenerate sinners exist. They are not dead because of sinful acts that have been committed, but because of their sinful nature. By total depravity, we do not mean that they have no redeeming qualities, but rather there is a complete inability to come to Christ without the Holy Spirit touching the heart of the lost sinner. What do dead people do? They don’t do anything, unless they are shocked back by an intervening power. And, that power to the lost sinner is Holy Spirit power.

Verse 2: “in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience,”

The unregenerate state of all human beings is spiritual death. This spiritual condition is universal and applies to all who are not born again. Second, the unsaved are in active rebellion against God. Third, they are subject to the evil rule of Satan. Satan is their father. Fourth, they are totally unable to change themselves from rebellion against God. They are dead in tresspasses and sins. Fifth, they are exposed to the wrath of God.

Verse 3: “among whom we all also formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

The key to this and the preceding verse is the word “formally.” When a person comes to Jesus Christ and makes Him Lord of his or her life, there is a radical transformation and it is instantaneous. It happens fast because the born again soul has a new heart. That heart is not partially committed to the Lord, but is totally surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. Never let anyone convince you that you can practice sin and be saved. The saved sinner now wars against his or her flesh to defeat sin.

Verse 4: “But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us,”

I love the expression, “But God….” When things look bleak, look up and say, “But God.” In this verse, Paul paints this bleak portrait of the human situation to throw into relief God’s gracious and merciful response to it. God loves His chosen people of His own will and is not dependent on our will or works. Paul excludes any consideration of merit, effort, or ability on the part of those who come to life. If you are saved today, it is because of God;s Grace and Mercy.

Verse 5: “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

Far more than anything else, a spiritually dead person needs to be made alive by God. Dead people won’t choose God. It is not until the Holy Spirit through His Sovereign act makes the sinner spiritually alive. Therefore, salvation brings spiritual life to the dead. The power that raises believers out of death and makes them alive is the same power that energizes every aspect of Christian living. You are saved to serve Him as your Lord.

Verse 6: “and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

What happened at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ will one day happen to believers as well. They will be resurrected to glory at His return. For the present, there is a new mind, a new identity as God’s children, and a new ability to live free from the control of Satan and defeat sin in their lives.

Verse 7: “so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Your salvation is a blessing to you, but at the same time it is bringing Glory to the Lord.The whole of heaven glorifies Him for what He has done in saving sinners. If you believe that you initiate your salvation, that is strong evidence that you have never been saved. The one who is dead in his sins and tresspasses knows that God is the author of his salvation, not himself.

Verse 8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”

“This” refers to the entire previous statement of salvation, not only the grace but the faith. Although men are required to believe for salvation, even that faith is part of the gift of God which saves and cannot be exercised by one’s own power or will. Man is dead in sin and needs God’s help to desire salvation. God’s grace is preeminent in every aspect of salvation. To be clear, both grace and faith are gifts. 

Verse 9: “not of works, so that no one may boast.”

Only faith, not our works or our freewill, can bring us acceptance with God. But good works are the consequence and evidence of life with God. At conversion, you are a new creation.

Verse 10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Good works cannot produce salvation but are the result of salvation and resultant God-empowered fruits and evidence of it. Like salvation, a believer’s sanctification and good works were ordained before time began. Before Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, God ordained that His elect would be both saved and sanctified. 

Verse 11: “Therefore, remember that formerly you—the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—”

The opposite of physical circumcision is the spiritual circumcision of the heart, applied to Gentiles as well as Jews. Gentiles were at one time estranged from God, but no longer because of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ; His death, burial, resurrection and ascension were for both Jew and Gentile.

Verse 12: “remember that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Paul lists five disadvantages of Gentiles: (1) they were without Christ; (2) they were not citizens with the only country God was in covenant relation; (3) they were strangers to the covenant of blessings through Abraham; (4) they had no hope; and (5) they worshiped idols instead of the true God.

Verse 13: “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

The expression “far off” was a common term in rabbinical writings used to describe Gentiles, those who were separated from the true God. To be “brought near” means that  every person who trusts in Christ alone for salvation, Jew or Gentile, is brought into spiritual union and intimacy with God. Notice that the ones that believe were brought to Christ. How often do we pray, “Holy Spirit, awaken that one who is lost and bring them to the blood stained cross.”

Verse 14: “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition”

The reference is to the courts of the temple in Jerusalem. A wall separated Gentiles and Jews, and signs were posted excluding Gentiles from the inner courts where sacrifices for sin were performed. There are not two ways of salvation as some heretics advance, but only one.There is no salvation except through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 15: “by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace,”

Through His death, Christ abolished the Old Testament ceremonial laws, feasts, and sacrifices which uniquely separated Jews from Gentiles. God’s moral law (as summarized in the Ten Commandments and written on the hearts of all men when they are born again was not abolished but is included in the New Testament, however, because it reflects His own holy nature. The “one new man,” is not a “completed Jew, Messianic Jew, God fearing Gentile,” but rather the new man is a Christian.

Verse 16: “and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity.”

Jews and Gentiles are brought together to God through the Lord Jesus Christ, they are brought together with one another. This was accomplished by the cross where Jesus became a curse, taking God’s wrath upon Himself so that divine justice was satisfied and reconciliation with God became a reality.

Verse 17: “And He came and preached the good news of peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;”

Isaiah had prophesied a day when God’s peace would be proclaimed to those “far” and “near” (Is. 57:19). Through the gospel of Christ the Spirit brings Gentiles (“you who were far away”) and Jews (“those who were near”) together before the Father, in fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise. The Gospel brings people of all types together in Christ. The “new man” is a Christian man or woman.

Verse 18: “for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”

No sinner has any right or worthiness in himself for access to God, but believers have been granted that right through faith in Christ’s sacrificial death. The only thing the sinner brings to his salvation is the sin and sinful nature that needs forgiveness and cleansing. In Christ, we have access to the Father, both now and throughout eternity.

Verse 19: “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,”

The kingdom of God is now international. God’s kingdom is made up of the people from all time who have trusted in Him, both Old Testament saints as well as the New Testament saints. There are no strangers, foreigners, or second-class citizens there.

Verse 20: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,”

The foundation of God’s house was laid once for all by the New Testament apostles and prophets. The cornerstone is Christ. We have moved past the foundations today and we are  building on those men’s work. There are no “Apostles” today. If a little “a” is used, then in a general way, people are sent out. However, apostles today (being sent such as a missionary), do not have the Apostolic gifts and authority the originals had. The same is true with the office of the Prophet. We have the complete Word of God today and that is sufficient for us. The Scriptures are the rule for our faith and practice.

Verse 21: “in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord,”

God’s house grows through the continued addition and integration of people as “living stones”. While it is not wise to evaluate a work of God by the number of people church services, a true work of God will be growing. Look for growth in holiness and a dying to self as good indicators of ministry growth. 

Verse 22: “in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

The term for “dwelling” indicates a permanent home. God the Holy Spirit takes up a permanent residence in His earthly sanctuary, the church, the vast spiritual body of all the saved. While we should warn against apostasy, we should also rejoice in the fact that He has taken up a permanent residence with us. What He has started, He will finish.