Ephesians 2:3

The third distinct component of Paul’s description of fallen humanity apart from Christ, contained in these first few verses of Ephesians 2, is found at the end of v3 in the terrible words, ‘we were born children of wrath by nature.’ Paul’s words which describe the spiritual condition of every person born into this world cannot be taken reasonably or fairly to mean anything other than that all men are born as objects of divine wrath. Minds unwilling to submit to Scripture seek to twist and contort Paul’s plain statement about the human condition primarily because they think such an idea makes the God of Scripture an unjust monster; however, the proper response to the truth is not denial or protest, but acceptance. As each person understands the misery and consequences of sin they are able to appreciate the wonder of the gospel which proclaims a God who redeems sinners from divine wrath through faith in the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ.

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Walking in Deadness of Sins

Verse 2 begins with two words, ‘in which,’ marking the connection between verse one and verse two. In verses two through three Paul, looking back at dead in sins, moves the thought forward by expounding on what it means to be dead in sin by showing its corrupt works. Three distinct legs form the stool of deadness in sin: walking according to the course of this world, walking according to the prince of the power of the air, and making decisions directed by the flesh and the sinful mind. In order to appreciate the grace of being made alive we need to first come to grips with the dreadful condition of being dead in sins; by expounding the threefold dimension of spiritual death Paul helps us come to know the joy, liberation, and power of the gospel.

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