In verse one the Apostle Paul makes a statement whose Truth is often overlooked by readers though it has great importance in the lives of those within the church realm. Paul tells us that we were DEAD before we turned our lives over to the Lord. The application of this rule has deep roots. In Genesis 2:17 God told Adam that there was one tree he could not partake of, and that IN THE DAY THAT HE ATE OF ITS FORBIDDEN FRUIT, HE WOULD DIE. God was referring to SPIRITUAL DEATH. Notice that upon committing mankind’s first sin, Adam and Eve knew something had changed, and that it was not a positive change. They immediately sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness, then hid themselves from the Lord Who had entered the Garden of Eden to converse with them. Most church people do not realize that sin produces spiritual death. Every time we sin, we spiritually die because sin separates us from God. SEPARATION FROM GOD IS SPIRITUTL DEATH. Sinners are in a continuous state of spiritual death.

Spiritual death is like a bad smell–if you have always smelled it, you will not notice it. In the social realm this is called becoming “acclimated” to an odor. Sinning church people have lived in sin all of their lives, therefore they are “acclimated” to being separated from God and do not realize what sin is doing to them. This condition is constant because they are told by their leaders that sin is inevitable, thanks to Adam’s fall. When I show them what God said about sin among church people are at first, shocked, then angered. Not angered at their church leaders for keeping God’s Truth from them, but angered at me for revealing His Truth to them. When given the choice of whom they will believe and obey–God or man–they choose man 99.999% of the time.

In Isaiah 59:2 the prophet voiced the sin-separation Truth to the sinning people of Israel, saying: “Your sins have separated you from your God.” Amos 3:3 relays the same message by asking: “Can two walk together unless they are in agreement?” Israel was definitely not walking with God. Today’s spiritual Israelites are following in their spiritual footsteps. Take it from one who knows first-hand, sin does spiritually separate us from God by removing the Holy Spirit from our presence, making us low-hanging fruit for Satan. Having been separated from God all of their lives, so-called “sinners saved by grace” do not realize the danger in which they are living.

As we study the first thirteen verses of Ephesians chapter two, we must not forget the fact that if a church member continues to sin, he/she is no different in God’s eyes from the atheist or the heathen who worships a false god. Sin is sin, regardless of the religious status of the sinner. The Law of sowing and reaping works the same way for all people. The so-called sinner saved by grace is as lost as the one who believes in neither sin nor grace. He/she is in reality no different from what he/she was prior to being supposedly “saved by God’s grace.” In the following verses Paul reminds us of what we were before being “saved” and the Apostle John reminds us that if we continue to sin we are the same as we were at that time in the eyes of God. Read First John 3:1-10 and 2:3-5 where the apostle is writing to those who have come to the Lord through his ministry. Also, read Hope and Salvation, key word–Hope.

Now we will return to verses two and three where Paul tells us that we once walked according to Satan’s commands, making us his spiritual offspring whom John describes as “children of disobedience” and “children of (God’s) wrath.” In verse five he says that we were at that time “(spiritually) dead in trespasses and sins.” Keep in mind that those who sin after coming to the knowledge of the Truth are in the same spiritual condition they were in before embracing Bible Truth. This Truth is brought out forcefully in Hebrews 10:26 where it is written: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins, only the certainty of judgement and God’s fiery indignation which will devour His enemies” (church sinners). Recall the parable of the ten virgins (Mat. 25). Recall that the five who “ran out of oil” (stopped obeying God), when they faced Jesus, were treated as if they had never obeyed God and were never His children. Jesus speaks to this Truth in Matthew 7:21-23 where we find Him speaking to and about false believers who, on judgment day, would claim to be His spiritual brethren, who would call Him their Lord and would reminded Him of all of the wonderful works they had done in His name, including preaching and the working of miracles. Listen to what He will say to them; “I NEVER KNEW YOU, DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO WORK INIQUITY (LAWLESSNESS).” Would Jesus actually say that to people who had preached and performed miracles in His name, who called Him their Lord, had never missed a Sunday church meeting, wore a cross, etc? Read Psalm 5:5 and know that the statement made by King David applies to both the churched and the nonchurched. Church people do not understand that God’s love and grace have their limits. Remember that the five false virgins had once been true virgins. This is why Jesus said to them: “I do not know you (now).” He had known them spiritually before they turned from Him (ran out of oil). Read Who Are God’s People? and “My People Called by My Name,” key words–People and Called respectively.

In verses eleven through thirteen Paul reminds the Ephesian converts of their spiritual conditions prior to their conversions. Remember that, if they return to sinning, they would RETURN TO THAT SAME SPIRITUAL STATE FROM WHICH GOD HAD RESCUED THEM. In verse twelve Paul reminds them of their spiritual condition at hat time: “at that time you were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the (Old and New) Covenants of promise, HAVING NO HOPE AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD,” which is the spiritual condition they would find themselves in (again) if they returned to sin following justification (the removal of all past sins). The foolish virgins are a prime exampe of this Truth.

In verses four through ten Paul reminds them that the merciful God, due to His great love for mankind, gave them life through His grace. IF they kept sin out of their lives they would enjoy that wonderful oneness with Him throughout the endless ages to come. In verse eight Paul tells the Ephesians that God’s grace must be combined with their faith. FAITH IS SIMPLY TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD, NOT CHURCH DOCTRINE WHICH IS MAN’S EDITED VERSION OF GOD’S WORD.

In verse nine we find a statement that, after having read it, readers usually stop reading. I call such a statement a Biblical “headline.” The verse involves one of the two most hated Words in the Bible: “WORKS.” The other Word is IF. Here Paul tells us that justification is not earned by our previous religious works. He went to great lengths explaining this Truth in his letter to the church at Rome where He stressed the fact that we are justified (have all past sins forgiven) not because we had obeyed the Law, but because of His grace and our faith. Concerning Works (and anything else), when you read what you like (a “headline”), DO NOT STOP–KEEP READING, for more Truths about the subject (which I call God’s “fine print”) are usually following. For example, in verse nine we are told that we are not justified by our works (God’s headline). But then in verse ten we are told that WE ARE CREATED FOR GOOD WORKS (God’s fine print). This is the part of the Lord’s WORKS command that church sinners do not believe. As Jesus and the apostles stressed over and over, the believer’s GOOD WORKS consist of OBEYING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS. Read about this Truth in the series about works, key word–Works. Notice in John 14:15 and 23 that Jesus equates God’s COMMANDMENTS with God’s Words.

Paul explains in Romans and in other epistles that JUSTIFICATION (forgiveness of all PAST sins which is necessary in order to be saved) cannot be earned by our works. It is awarded only through God’s grace. However, having been justified (declared righteous and given the Holy Spirit) WE MUST THEN OBEY GOD’S WORD/LAW/GOSPEL/LIGHT in order to maintain our justification until death or the return of Jesus Christ, whichever comes first. That is the WORKS He requires for salvation after receiving justification.. Those who obey Him will be blessed with eternal life. Read The Message of the Cross, key word–Message. Read the Justification series, key word–Justification. Relative to the WORKS QUESTION, read James 2:10,14,17,18,20,24,24. Notice in verse 14 that faith alone saves no one. L.J.