Ephesians 2
CHAPTER 2
The meaning of conversion
You once were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, according to the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by our natural condition destined to be children of God’s wrath, even as the others. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, for the sake of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have you been saved!), 6 and raised us up with him; and in Christ Jesus, has made us sit with him in the heavens. 7 His intention was that throughout the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace have you been saved through faith, and that faith is not of yourselves, it is a gift from God. 9 It is not of works, that no one should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God beforehand prepared that we should walk in them.
Unity created between Jew and Gentile
11 Wherefore remember, that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by those called Circumcision (which is in the flesh and made with hands), 12 you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and living without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you that once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility, 15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself of the two one new man, making peace; 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, thereby having slain the enmity.
17 And he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were near. 18 For through him we have our joint access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and pilgrims, but you are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, 20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone. 21 In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In whom you also are being built up together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Commentary
2:2 The spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience – Defined in v. 3 as “the lust of our flesh... the desires of the flesh and of the mind”. This spirit or principle within us is what causes disobedience and sin (James 1:13-15); and it is personified here as the prince of the world. For the mind of the flesh is indeed the effective master and ruler of most people in the world.
2:5 Alive together with Christ- A reference to baptism (Rom. 6:3-5). If we make the choice to be baptized, God and Jesus will work powerfully in us.
2:10 God long ago prepared good works for us to do. We need to understand what is His hope for us, His expectation- and seek to fulfil it.
2:12 This verse is proof enough there can be no salvation in any religious system that excludes Jesus. To be without Him is to be “without God”, because He is the only way to relationship with God (Jn. 14:6). We also learn here of the vital importance of the covenant or promise which God made with the Jewish fathers- for the Gospel was preached to Abraham in the form of the promises made to Him about Jesus and the future Kingdom of God on earth (Gal. 3:8).
2:15 If Jesus has removed the “law of commandments contained in ordinances”, then we really are free from keeping the Law of Moses. The reference to “commandments... ordinances” may refer to the ten commandments, which included the Sabbath. We are totally under the teaching of Christ.
