Assessment on "Biblical Analysis of Ephesians 2:1-10"

Assessment 10 pages (3287 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

English Standard Version 2001).

The above verses tell people where they originate. They define the state of mankind before receiving Jesus. People, then, were dead due to the sins and trespasses, wherein they walked once upon a time (verse 1). They walked in accordance with the "prince of the power of the air"; thus, they disobeyed God (v. 2). Mankind was bound by mental and fleshly desires, and, by nature, were children of God's rage (v. 3). The above sentences do not just define the reality of Ephesian Christians -- of the time, but of the whole of mankind (Donovan 2012).

Humans are unworthy sinners salvaged only by God's grace; our hearts possess nothing of inherent value, and nothing good comes forth from us toward our Lord. Selfishness drives man's sinful worship. All of this is pointedly stated as: Humanity was "dead in the trespasses and sins" wherein it once walked (2:1-2). Mankind is dead without Jesus. This is stated in many different ways in the Bible: man is in darkness (cf. 1 John 1:5-10), the hearts of people are frozen like stone (cf. Mark 6:51-53), people are sons of disobedience and children of wrath (cf. Eph 2:2, 3), and, man has ears and eyes, but can't hear, nor can he see (John 12:39-41; cf. Deut 29:3-5, Rom 11:7-9). Paul, interestingly, claims that humanity was dead in things it once walked in; in effect, we were once like walking dead. This doesn't imply that people were merely in risk of dying; rather, Paul elucidates clearly that mankind was actively working towards its spiritual death. The Old Testament depicts some instances that indicate that a person could be biologically alive as well as simultaneously, spiritually dead; detachment from God and a heart made of stone are both very much like being dead. That is, the term 'live/walk' refers to the manner of living before Christianity in (Eph 2:2)"; the term 'dead' in the 1st verse vividly insists that man's unresponsiveness to Godly things is due to our active disobedience and sinfulness. We sin actively, trespassing against our Lord, as we have directed away our love from Him, giving it to ourselves and to His other creations (Schaub 2007).

Ephesians 2:4-7. But god made us alive by grace

4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love (Greek: agape) with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (The Holy Bible. English Standard Version 2001).

The above verses underline God's resolution of the sins of humanity, a resolution that springs out of God's great love and abundant mercy (v. 4), and that leads to the infinite riches of God's grace (v. 7) (Donovan 2012).

Indeed, we must promptly admit that we're unworthy sinners, saved, through Jesus, by God's grace. If this is our reality, we have gone astray, against the common grace of our Lord, directly provoking his wrath. We deserve to be appropriately judged. Consequently, the gospel's mystery is this: despite our being immoral and sinful, against God in every sense, and without love for Him, He has accorded ears to us for hearing and loving the gospel. His Grace and Mercy have saved us for God's glory in spite of our deliberate corruption. He raised us and placed us with Jesus in heaven, so that He may show His grace's infinite riches, in future, through kindness toward mankind in Jesus (vv. 6-7). The obedient death of Jesus on a cross fulfilled justice, exhausting the wrath of God against humanity's sins (cf. 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 3:21-26). Through that, He raised us and placed us with Jesus in heaven, so that He may shower His grace's infinite riches upon us (vv. 6-7). Ephesians 2:1-3 depicts man lost in disobedience of God and sin, deliberately and utterly becoming children of wrath. However, Ephesians 2:4-7 states that this was changed by God. He made man alive along with Jesus. He raised Jesus, raising us, as well, and seating us with Jesus. Steve Lawson has added that this enthronement marks the existing reality in God's mind. His children will reflect His grace throughout the earth's existence (Schaub 2007).

Once, humanity was dead in its sins and trespasses; now, however, by Christ's gospel, it has been renewed and revived. Our station before the Lord is family and righteousness in Christ. That is, what was achieved in Christ, was also achieved for believers, changing their life from that of objects of the wrath of God to partaking in the His joy in Christ's doings (Schaub 2007).

Ephesians 2:8-10. For by grace you have been saved through faith

8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast, 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them (The Holy Bible. English Standard Version 2001).

This is, at the same time, the least and most obvious statement that can be made regarding God's Grace. It can be said to be MOST obvious, as grace is defined as undeserved favor or unearned approval. Grace that is earned isn't grace, but merit. Thus, as it can't be earned, grace has to be God's gift. As well, it can be said to be LEAST obvious, as it is so hard to believe or, possibly, to even long for. While exceptions like inherited wealth do exist, we live in a society wherein, typically, we have to earn everything for ourselves (Donovan 2012).

In Ephesians 2:8-9, it is clear that works do not result in salvation; thus, unpacking these verses to define faith's and grace's role in salvation is essential. Firstly, Calvin has claimed that Paul doesn't state that God's will has been prepared, and then allowed to go on its own (i.e., making choices by ourselves). He merely maintains that faith, not works, has helped in our redemption by grace. Here, 'faith' and 'grace' are feminine in nature, while 'gift' and 'this' are neuter; thus, the allusion to faith being another of God's gifts isn't essentially plain. Ephesians 2:8-9, however, does state that the works of sinners don't save them. Hence, "Faith refers to something different from work." (Schaub 2007).

Our experience's reality is that we all continue failing with regard to worship in truth and in Spirit (cf. John 4:23-24, Romv7:19). The gospel, however, is for the children of God, and via Jesus, God accepts, and is pleased by, our worship. Though we still sin, our place in Christ can't be altered, nor does God wish to alter it. There is, however, more to this fact. Mankind may yet be sinful; still, it has been saved by Christ. When we boast, it must be in Christ. This must be the response of our love towards our Lord - it represents proper worship. Our minds and hearts are being renewed by God in Christ so that we walk with them (v.10). A legalist-moral idea of work and worship cannot be assumed in view of Ephesians 2:8-10. If this were the case, humanity would be attempting to make its position of God's grace a consequence of its own works. Instead, we must respond with love towards Him, stating that we are very sinful, but by His grace, through Jesus, we have been forgiven and cleansed by God, and for this we are thankful. And now we wish to lead a life of pleasant worship, to our best ability, by the grace of God, as we love Him (Schaub 2007).

Interrogative

a. Who does Paul address in this epistle? (Verse 1a) Note: Frequently, Paul distinguishes Gentiles from himself and others following Judaism by using the terms "you" and "we," respectively.

b. What condition did the addressees of the letter once exist in and why? (Verse 1b) What is meant by the word "dead"? What sense is it used in: spiritually dead, i.e., annihilation of the free will of man, or in the sense that man's free will was corrupted, with a licit death sentence imposed on him owing to his sin? This must be explained, with reference to Colossians 2:13-14.

c. What was the Gentiles' past way of life? (Verse 2a) What ruler did they follow? 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 must be referred here.

d. Who does the "spirit" work among? (Verse 2b) Do you suppose that most followers of his follow him consciously? What are their thoughts?

e. What does the phrase "all of… READ MORE

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