As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What you WERE and why (1-3)
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Note:
We were dead in our transgressions and sins (1, 5)
We were by nature deserving of wrath (3)
Why?
We followed the ways of the world (2) We lived in sin (2) because we lived among sinners (the disobedient)(3) 1 Cor.15:33 Bad friends will destroy you.
We followed the ways of the Devil (2)
We followed the desires and thoughts of the flesh (3)
We were by nature (phusis) deserving of wrath
Why were we ‘deserving of wrath’? (Greek: children of wrath)
By nature, but because we followed our nature
However, 2 Peter 1:3-4
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
What you ARE and why (4-10)
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –
9 not by works, so that no-one can boast.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
What we are:
alive with Christ (5)
saved (5, 8) (— χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι, lit. You are having been saved)
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (6)
God’s handiwork (10)
Why?
Cause and purpose
Cause
God’s love, mercy, grace and kindness
Our response of faith (not works)
Purpose
Now
v 10 ...created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
And in the future
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
... no eye has seen, ... no ear has heard, and ... no human mind has conceived ...the things God has prepared for those who love him
1 Corinthians 2:9
