(Eph 2:4) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”  Did you notice we are given the reason why God is “rich in mercy”: “…Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,…..”  And friends, He doesn’t love us because we are “worthy” of love. No, He loved us while we were dead in sins, the children of wrath (v3d). He loves us because He is love (1 Jn 4:8,16).  

(Eph 2:4) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”  “But God”: though we were and deserved to be the “children of wrath”, God intervened on our behalf, (v5) “Even when we were dead in sins….” You see, “mercy” is only needed by the guilty! Friend, we are not simply sinners by nature, we are also sinners by choice! At times each of us choose to do what we know to be wrong in the sight of God! We are guilty! Thank God that He is rich in mercy! 

DAILY DROP OF WATER  (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: (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.”   Did you notice the term “children of wrath”? Concern for the souls of others should compel us to warn them “of the wrath to come”. Why is there wrath to come? Because God is Holy and ALL SIN (even that man considers the tiniest) offends the Lord God to the point of wrath!

(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: (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.”  “Religiousness” is not salvation. “Church speak” is not salvation. Salvation is having our nature changed at the point of God’s bestowing spiritual life in us – everlasting life! At that moment we are changed. I have seen people who prayed the prayer not “get it”. Why not? Obviously, the Lord knew their heart was not truly repentant of the sinful life that cost His Son’s suffering. Remember: salvation is not an automatic thing caused by a prayer; it is a bestowal of life by God Himself: (Rom_9:16) “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” Be careful. Was there a time and place you received a new nature, a spirit nature, or……have you developed “religiousness or church speak”?

(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: (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.”   Because, though saved, we still inhabit this sinful body; because our minds now need to be reprogrammed to be aligned with the Word of God: we have a tendency to think ourselves better than the lost. Here the Holy Spirit is reminding us of where we came from. Whenever we are tempted to criticize the life of an unsaved person, we should stop and remember, and then thank God, for “there go I but by the grace of God”!

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (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:  I once had a man say to me, “I’m not against Christianity; I’m just don’t want it for me.” Friend, there’s no middle ground. To refuse to acknowledge God His way, through His Son Jesus, is to live one’s life in disobedience. Further, it is to side with God’s enemy, choosing to live in enmity against God  (Jas_4:4) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?”  

(Eph 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,….”  A saved person believes the Bible. Sure, ultimately God reigns. Yet, He has allowed the devil to rule in the hearts of unsaved men. Satan will do so until the 1,000 reign of Christ to be loosed for a short time afterwards, bringing about his end. Beware, child of God; this world follows the devil, not God. You, beloved, follow the Lord by following His Word. 

(Eph 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,…”  By implication the saved do not walk according to the course of this world. The saved walk a heavenly course, set down by the Word of God. It revolves around the Church He gave His life for. Which way are you walking? 

(Eph 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”  Many times man today only shares part of the gospel: Jesus loves you, died for you, and now will give you everlasting life if you believe.  The true gospel is that Jesus bore the cross, dying in our place because we were dead in trespasses and sin. Salvation comes through the acknowledgment and repentance (the desire to turn from them) of that sin. We ask the Lord for forgiveness and the gift of everlasting life. That….is when He saves.

 (Eph 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”  The truly saved have had a time and place where God “quickened” them – made them alive spiritually! Jesus said it – not me! (Joh 3:3) “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”