Ephesians 2:1-7

Man by nature - But God

Introduction

Clear from Ephesians ch. 1 that Paul’s readers are already Christians and believed the Gospel. He thanked God for their faith in the Lord Jesus, and their love for all the saints. They were sealed with the Holy Spirit. He prayed that they might have fuller grasp of all blessings of the Gospel, to help them be strong in a world which was pagan and opposed to them. They needed to become mature and strong, and grow out of Christian babyhood.

Now he is reminding them of the very nature of the Gospel. What is the condition of mankind, why is a Saviour needed, and what has God done for men? Need to think clearly about these matters as we look at mankind, ask questions about it, witness to the Gospel, and as we consider what has happened in our own life, and how much we owe to the Lord.

He digs the very foundation on which to display structure of Gospel in all its glory and majesty. So he describes human condition apart from God. He does not pull his punches. Simply describes men as they are without God’s grace. Not a flattering picture but truthful and honest. No point in pretending, must face facts.

Note that Paul is describing everybody, not just outcasts and dregs of society or an uncivilized tribe in interior Africa. Here is the Bible’s diagnosis of fallen man in fallen society everywhere. Here is everyone without God. Here is the universal human condition. This is where we must begin, if we are to understand Gospel and begin to grasp what we owe to God’s grace. Salvation cannot be understood unless it is seen against the background of sin.

Bible view of man is more pessimistic, and yet more optimistic than any other. Therefore Paul begins with three appalling truths about mankind. That includes us before God had mercy on us. Here is stark truth about us. (1) Men are dead. (2) Men are enslaved. (3) Men are condemned.

Men are dead

Dead in trespasses and sins. This is everybody’s spiritual condition outside of Christ – spiritually dead because of their trespasses and sins. Trespass paraptwmata means a false step, a deviation from the right path. Sin amartia means missing the mark, falling short of standards. This gives a comprehensive picture of sin in its positive and negative aspects, our sins of commission and omission. Before God we are rebels and failures. As a result, we are alienated from life of God (Ephesians 4:18, Isaiah 59:2). True life is only found in Him. When separated from Him, there is separation from that life. May have the vigorous body of an athlete, the lively mind of a scholar, the vivacious personality of a film star, but in the sphere which really matters – the soul and the spirit – may have no life at all.

And you can tell it. Blind to the glory of Jesus Christ. Deaf to the voice of the Holy Spirit. No love for God. Never do anything for His glory. Not interested in His will. Not real to them. Might believe in God but He is merely an idea or philosophic concept. Not say “my God” with warmth. No interest in His word. No fellowship with His people. The whole thing is boring to them. Unresponsive to Him, as a corpse. No interest in spiritual things. It’s an embarrassment to them. Sing hymns but not worship from heart. Talk about God, but do not know Him. Only interest is in this world, other men, what they do and say, affairs of this life, things they can see, hear and touch.

This is true of all men outside of Christ. Those who are lost, destitute, sleeping on the streets, may be in more decayed condition than the society leader – but both are equally spiritually dead. The non-Christian is in a state of living death. Here is the tragedy of men – created by God and for God, but now living without God. May love their family and be good citizen. But as far as God is concerned they are dead. Not just degraded or diseased, but dead. Not in the hospital, but in the mortuary. Not needing resuscitation, but resurrection.

Men are enslaved

Men imagine they are free and can do what they want, masters of their own lives, in control of their own situation, free as the wind. Actually, they imagine because they are blind, and really are slaves and in bondage. Totally helpless and in pitiful state.

(a) Enslaved by the world. They walk and live their lives according to the course of this world. By “world” we mean society organized without reference to God, to which vast majority belong. C.f. secularism and materialistic outlook. Social value system, which permeates and dominates non-Christian society and holds men and women captive. People do not have a mind of their own, are surrendered to popular culture of media. They are slaves to the values, fashions and opinions of the day, have to do the same as everyone else, dare not be different, worried about what others might think, must conform. J.B.Philips translates: “We drifted along the stream of this world’s ideas of living.”

(b) Enslaved by the devil. Under the authority of the prince of power of air – the devil who commands evil powers who operate in unseen world – the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient (Ephesians 1:2). Not fashionable today to talk of the devil, but his existence is clear from the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Described as a liar, murderer, roaring lion. All evil and violence are traceable to him. His dupes and slaves and agents are everywhere for those with eyes to see. The devil’s great aim is to mar God’s creation, ruin His world, and enslave men. And in enslaving men one of his great triumphs is to persuade them he does not exist, and they are totally free.

(c) Enslaved by the flesh (our sinful self-centred nature) with its cravings, and following its desires and thoughts. The real problem with man is not his environment or various influences on his life. The problem is that his nature is evil. His environment only helps to bring to the surface what is already there. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:21-22). We not only commit sinful acts, but our very nature is sinful. Our love for self makes us rebellious against God. We must assert self, must be supreme, refuse to submit to God and be dependent on Him. We must manage our own affairs, we must be on the throne. Perverting natural instincts of body, which are good in themselves, so that they dominate and control us. Perverting our emotions and mind, dominated by desire for power and position, pride, hatred, bitterness, parading self, “cleverness”, misusing the tongue, self-confidence, pride in own achievements, righteousness and importance. All points to ingrained self-centredness.

An evangelist announced as his topic: “Why your dog does what it does”. Many dog-lovers came to hear. Just said the obvious – that a dog behaves like a dog because he has a dog’s nature. So, why do men behave as they do – because that is the state of human nature and its sinfulness.

So men are not only dead, but enslaved. Externally, by the world, internally, by the flesh, and beyond both, by the devil. Held in captivity by all three. We have yielded to all three knowingly and deliberately. How desperately men need help, and that help comes only from God.

Men are condemned

Men are by nature the children of wrath, by nature objects of wrath (Ephesians 2:4). One more unpleasant truth about us. Provokes strong reaction. Untenable today, because it contradicts truth that God is love. Remember God’s wrath is not like ours, not bad temper, or spite, or malice. But His wrath is His total reaction against evil and sin. Personal hostility to evil. Refusal to compromise with it.

People want to assert that God is only love – but this fact of God’s wrath is deeply ingrained in the Bible. And not least in the teaching of the Lord Himself. Some like to see the Old Testament God as the God of wrath, and the New Testament God as the God of Love – a neat distinction – with no substance! The severest words about condemnation, wrath, judgement and hell were spoken by the Lord Himself. A fact so conveniently ignored today.

Summary of man’s condition

This is lost human condition. There may be different degrees of depravity, but this is essential picture of us all – dead, enslaved, condemned. Everyone is involved. Paul writes to these Christians that all of us also lived among them at one time.. we were objects of wrath, as much as anyone else. These things are important if we are going to realize men’s need and prescribe remedy.

Modern world does not realize depth of men’s need because it is blinded. Human sin is at the root of everything wrong in society, nationally and internationally. Politicians can only offer superficial remedies – universal education, decent living conditions, more just laws – but not provide answer at deepest level. Radical disease requires radical remedy. Ineffective to give advice to government or urge people to observe the Sermon on the Mount, or to live according to Christian teaching. Men need a more profound remedy than that – because they are spiritually dead, captives and condemned.

These great truths to be borne in mind in our evangelism. True evangelism will begin with men’s total helpless and hopeless plight in sin. Men do not just need a friend or helper, but a Saviour and deliverer. A right view of sin determines everything – our understanding of God, Christ, and salvation. It is nonsense that men can save themselves by good works. In the light of Biblical teaching about sin, men need spiritual life for the dead, release for the captives, pardon for the condemned. The Bible is the most realistic and practical of books – and tells us this is found in one place, and one place alone – in God. However much it may hurt men’s pride, their own efforts, theories and advice leave them totally helpless. How relevant is the Christian doctrine of sin – essential to any clear understanding of Christian Gospel and men’s urgent need of Christ.

So that leads to last point. Not going to go into God’s remedy for our plight in detail, that will come in successive weeks, but just touch on beginning now. Emphasis in Bible is not primarily what we have done or have to do, but on what God has done for us, to us and in us, through His Son.

The Provision of Divine remedy

Against all this terrible and awful background Paul says: “But God”. Two monosyllables – but what a difference they make. If any two words deserve to be underlined and highlighted in our Bibles, here they are. These two words contain the whole of the Gospel – the Gospel is what God has done. God’s intervention. God’s initiative. Hope and help are entirely from outside.

Having stated what we are by nature, now Paul states what we can be by grace. But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy.. (Ephesians 2:4). The incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7). Mercy, love, grace and kindness – we owe everything to those things. Not our works and achievements. What can we do, we who are spiritually dead, enslaved and condemned? Trust in self will get us nowhere. Fix eyes on the Lord. Either saved through Him and His grace, or not at all. I will not give my glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). His love, mercy and grace in providing a Saviour and in giving us the Holy Spirit, have got rid of spiritual deadness, enslavement and condemnation.

Then positive side – just as Christ was raised, ascended into heaven and seated there, so united to Him believers are spiritually raised up and made alive, ascended and seated in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). Once we lived as if there was no God, lived for self. Now God is reality to us. We do not run from Him. We know, love and desire Him. Have appetite for spiritual things. The Bible is a new book. It is no longer boring, but rather we revel in it. New disposition placed within. To be like Him now in holiness. Sin is no longer a joke, but a grief. We have a new attitude towards home, work, church and the future. We are now part of new humanity. Christ’s life is now in us. Newness of life, new outlook, mind, values.

David Livingstone, not primarily explorer of unknown Africa, said “I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the Kingdom of Christ.”

And now we are citizens of heaven – it is our real home. Near and dear to God. Only pilgrims and strangers here. In Christ’s kingdom, knowing His presence with us. Raised from graveyard of sin to throne room of glory.

Conclusion

Are you alive? Have to be in one of two conditions – either dead, enslaved and condemned, or else pardoned and raised to new life in which God and spiritual realities are the very essence of life.

If in the first category, cry to God for mercy, ask for new life, ask that He will make Himself known to you.

If in second category, be forever grateful. Remember what you once were, and that left to yourself you would still be like that. But God! What mercy! He provided a Saviour, raised you up, all became new.