Ephesians 2

Quickened

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:

We were like Adam, dead in trespasses and sins, breaking the laws of God.

Eph 2:2 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:
Eph 2:3 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.

You who were once dead in sins, has God made alive in Christ Jesus, giving you eternal life in the Holy Spirit. As sinners we were under the sentence of death and our spirit was dead to the things of God. We were not interested in spiritual things.

Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

In times past you obeyed the prince of darkness, the prince of the power of the air. In Daniel this was described as the prince of Persia, an angelic power of satan that restrained an angel from delivering a message to Daniel for two weeks. Michael the archangel came to his rescue. Michael is the head angel, but is not the Lord of hosts, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. So then, in the air are principalities and powers, which have certain domains. This evil spirit works in the children of disobedience.

Samuel told Saul in a prophecy about the evils of rebellion:

1 Sam 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Paul warns the church, that once they were disobedient, but now they are alive in Christ and must obey him in all things.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

How blessed are those who have received the mercy of God and his grace by receiving his son Jesus into new life. It was not our goodness that saved us, but the finished work of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, who shed his blood for our sins. We are quickened, made alive in body and spirit by our Lord's spirit that dwells within us.

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

By Grace

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

We are in Christ Jesus at the right hand of the Father, yet dwelling in the flesh here below. God is Spirit and we dwell in Jesus by our redeemed spirit. How much greater is our spirit being then our flesh. The spirit is eternal, so we should serve God in our spirits, with our flesh following in obedience.

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

This is not a temporary place, but an eternal dwelling place with Jesus and in his grace. Though we are not yet completely with him, when we are with him we will inherit all things of God. We are most wealthy.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

These are oft quoted verses in witnessing. Many believe earning favor with God comes by our works of righteousness. No, believing in Jesus saves us; by grace are we saved. We cannot save ourselves. Jesus only is the atonement for our sins.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

No, works for salvation does not mean we sit after being redeemed. With the power of the Holy Spirit we are now equipped to serve our Lord in good works. Each has a pre ordained walk that only they can achieve for God. He has a plan for your life, including all the commands of Jesus, Better find out what they are and joyfully serve him. It starts with good character, the spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22,23) and then the exercise of our spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit in obedience. We willingly serve not by bondage to law but by freedom of the spirit.

By the Blood

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

In times past, you who are now in Christ were Gentiles, non-Jews, outside of the covenant with God. The law and the promises of God came through Israel. They were the covenant people, set aside for God. You were outsiders, dogs, and outcasts.

Jesus was born a Jew, keeping all the laws including circumcision.

Lev 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Lev 12:4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

Did Mary keep these laws? Yes she did.

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
Luke 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Being poor, they offered birds; a bullock or ram was also accepted as a sacrifice. The wise men had not yet brought their gifts to the king, including the gold; they would come later into a house.

Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Paul reminds them, as we should be reminded, that at one time we were without Jesus, strangers from God's people and promises. The Gentiles did not have a history of a covenant relationship to God; we were sinners after the type of Adam, without hope, having no promises to hold onto and having no knowledge of a personal God. God, if he existed, was out there somewhere, separated from them.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

But now in Christ all has changed. We are no longer aliens, we are become one with Christ and he with God, our Father. We are brought near to God in a New Covenant relationship; children of God, all because of the precious blood of Jesus. His righteous blood shed as payment for our sins, in him is hope and eternal peace.

Jesus, keep me ever near. Without you we perish, in you is life, eternal life. Help us to share this message with family and friends, who are outside of the promises. May they too draw near to God, through the precious blood of Jesus. Amen

Reconciled

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

The temple in Jerusalem was holy and separated and for the Jewish covenant people. No Gentile could come into the Holy place; a wall separated the Jews from the outer court of the Gentiles.
Paul was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile beyond the dividing wall, and was arrested.

Acts 21:28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

Paul used this familiar example of the temple wall to give a picture in their minds of the separation that was removed in Christ Jesus. The separation of sin caused by Adam’s transgression, was also reconciled.

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Jesus is our peace; he gave the Holy Spirit of Peace to his church. He has broken down the separation of the Jews from the non-Jews (Gentiles). All are one in Christ Jesus. Whereas the law came to the Jews and the ordinances that separated Jew from Gentiles, these are abolished in the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus. We are become new creations; a spirit filled people of God, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Both Jew and Gentile are reconciled, restored in their relationship, unto God and each other. This was done by Jesus' shed blood and death on the cross and his resurrection, the blessed gospel. Those who receive him by hearing and believing the gospel message of peace with God through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice and resurrection, are made one body. The nearby Jew and the far away Gentile all become one, upon believing in the Christ and are joined to him by his Holy Spirit.

Household of God

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Because all those in Christ are one family, you in Ephesus and you the reader, are no more strangers and aliens "but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" We are brothers and sisters to Jesus our Lord, in our spirit and soon in our new resurrected bodies as we go to be with Jesus.

1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Our hope and our faith are built on the promises of God; in like manner Abraham by faith looked for a city ;

Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Jesus Christ the foundation and chief corner stone of the house of God;

Luke 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

He being the foundation upon which the Apostles and prophets were built upon. We are added to the building of the house of God, a Holy temple unto God. We are a Holy separated people, this world is not our home, but we are witnesses of the builder, our Lord Jesus Christ. He who said..."I will build my church" (Mat 16:18), used Peter and the Apostles and ourselves for this purpose,..."and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." He is our confidence, in him we trust and we are all connected through his Spirit, the household of God.