Ephesians 2: From Death to Life, Division to Unity in Christ
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
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:
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.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians is a powerful letter, with the first three chapters laying a foundation of doctrinal truth and the last three demonstrating how these truths should transform our daily lives. Ephesians 2, a pivotal chapter, beautifully unpacks two interconnected realities for believers: salvation is a gift of God's grace, not earned by human effort, and this grace unites all Christians, breaking down barriers and creating one family in Christ. This understanding bridges the glorious revelations of God's character in chapter 1 to the unfolding of His eternal plan in chapter 3. In essence, Ephesians 2:1-10 highlights the grace of salvation, while Ephesians 2:11-22 emphasizes unity in Christ.
From Spiritual Death to Resurrection Life (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Paul begins with a stark diagnosis: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Before Christ, every person exists in a state of spiritual death, separated from God, living in "trespasses and sins." He describes the influences that hold us captive: "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). We are held captive by the world's values, the devil's influence, and our own fleshly desires. Before encountering Christ, every believer walked this path (Ephesians 2:3). We were, in fact, "children of wrath," subject to God's judgment and under the dominion of Satan's kingdom.
This "spiritual death" means being unable to respond to spiritual realities. It's a condition where, despite outward appearances of success or morality, we are alienated from the very life of God. No amount of outward improvement can compensate for this inward emptiness.
But then comes the life-altering turning point: "But God..." (Ephesians 2:4). These two words are a beacon of hope, a testament to God's initiative in our salvation. Why did He act? "Because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). God's mercy, fueled by His immense love, intervened to make us alive in Christ. This is the essence of salvation: a resurrection from spiritual death.
Salvation is entirely an act of grace. Grace is God's unmerited favor, an inexhaustible wellspring of goodness based on the work of Christ. It's God doing for us what we could never earn, deserve, or repay. When we were dead, only a resurrection could save us, and God provided that through Christ.
The transformation doesn't stop there. "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6-7). We are not only raised with Christ but also seated with Him in the heavenly realms. This speaks to our union with Christ, our participation in His victory and dominion. We have access to "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3) because we are united with Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 are perhaps the most quoted verses in this section: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Salvation is a free gift, received through faith. If grace is what God provides, then faith is how we receive it, how we withdraw it and make it manifest in our lives. It is not earned by our efforts, ensuring that no one can boast of their own righteousness.
However, being saved by grace doesn't mean we are saved to do nothing. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). We are God's masterpiece, His "artwork," created anew in Christ for a purpose: to do good works. These aren't works that earn salvation, but works that flow from salvation. They are divinely ordained actions that benefit others and glorify God. Before we were even born, God planned these works for us.
From Division to Unity: One New Family in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22)
Having established the foundation of grace, Paul transitions to the theme of unity in the body of Christ. He addresses the Gentile believers, reminding them of their former separation: "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called 'the uncircumcision' by what is called 'the circumcision,' which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11-12). They were excluded from the privileges and promises given to Israel, living without hope and without God.
But now, "in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). The blood of Christ transcends all boundaries, bringing both Jews and Gentiles into a unified relationship with God and with one another. Christ's atoning death tore down the "dividing wall of hostility" (Ephesians 2:14). In the Jerusalem temple, a physical wall separated Gentiles from the inner courts. The cross removes all such barriers, granting equal access to God for all.
"He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man from the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16). Jesus abolished the law that separated Jew and Gentile, creating "one new man" from the two. This "new man" is the Church, a new community reconciled to God through the cross.
Racial, ethnic, gender, and class divisions within the church reveal a failure to fully grasp the implications of the cross. In Christ, such distinctions are absorbed into something far greater: a shared identity as members of one body. This doesn't erase our differences, but it places them within the context of a common commitment to Christ.
Jesus "came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:17-18). Through Christ, we have unity, not uniformity. Unity is about unique individuals working together towards a common goal. This is made possible because all Christians have access, in one Spirit, to the Father. Where the Spirit is at work, there is unity.
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). Believers are no longer outsiders but have been welcomed into God's family. The church is a family, a community of belonging.
Paul concludes with the image of a building: "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22). The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. As stones in this building, we must be aligned with Christ. Together, we are the temple of God, a dwelling place for His Spirit, meant to display His glory.
Ephesians 2 offers a complete vision of the cross. It's the cross that not only secures our place in heaven but also births a new reality on earth: the church, a community of grace, a new humanity united in Christ. It is a call to embrace the "one anothers" of Scripture, to cultivate spiritual relationships, and to grow together as the temple of the Lord. The church is more than a Sunday gathering; it's a living, breathing community that marches on, embodying the transformative power of the gospel in every aspect of life.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
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:
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.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians is a powerful letter, with the first three chapters laying a foundation of doctrinal truth and the last three demonstrating how these truths should transform our daily lives. Ephesians 2, a pivotal chapter, beautifully unpacks two interconnected realities for believers: salvation is a gift of God's grace, not earned by human effort, and this grace unites all Christians, breaking down barriers and creating one family in Christ. This understanding bridges the glorious revelations of God's character in chapter 1 to the unfolding of His eternal plan in chapter 3. In essence, Ephesians 2:1-10 highlights the grace of salvation, while Ephesians 2:11-22 emphasizes unity in Christ.
From Spiritual Death to Resurrection Life (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Paul begins with a stark diagnosis: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Before Christ, every person exists in a state of spiritual death, separated from God, living in "trespasses and sins." He describes the influences that hold us captive: "following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). We are held captive by the world's values, the devil's influence, and our own fleshly desires. Before encountering Christ, every believer walked this path (Ephesians 2:3). We were, in fact, "children of wrath," subject to God's judgment and under the dominion of Satan's kingdom.
This "spiritual death" means being unable to respond to spiritual realities. It's a condition where, despite outward appearances of success or morality, we are alienated from the very life of God. No amount of outward improvement can compensate for this inward emptiness.
But then comes the life-altering turning point: "But God..." (Ephesians 2:4). These two words are a beacon of hope, a testament to God's initiative in our salvation. Why did He act? "Because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5). God's mercy, fueled by His immense love, intervened to make us alive in Christ. This is the essence of salvation: a resurrection from spiritual death.
Salvation is entirely an act of grace. Grace is God's unmerited favor, an inexhaustible wellspring of goodness based on the work of Christ. It's God doing for us what we could never earn, deserve, or repay. When we were dead, only a resurrection could save us, and God provided that through Christ.
The transformation doesn't stop there. "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6-7). We are not only raised with Christ but also seated with Him in the heavenly realms. This speaks to our union with Christ, our participation in His victory and dominion. We have access to "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3) because we are united with Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 are perhaps the most quoted verses in this section: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Salvation is a free gift, received through faith. If grace is what God provides, then faith is how we receive it, how we withdraw it and make it manifest in our lives. It is not earned by our efforts, ensuring that no one can boast of their own righteousness.
However, being saved by grace doesn't mean we are saved to do nothing. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). We are God's masterpiece, His "artwork," created anew in Christ for a purpose: to do good works. These aren't works that earn salvation, but works that flow from salvation. They are divinely ordained actions that benefit others and glorify God. Before we were even born, God planned these works for us.
From Division to Unity: One New Family in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22)
Having established the foundation of grace, Paul transitions to the theme of unity in the body of Christ. He addresses the Gentile believers, reminding them of their former separation: "Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called 'the uncircumcision' by what is called 'the circumcision,' which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11-12). They were excluded from the privileges and promises given to Israel, living without hope and without God.
But now, "in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). The blood of Christ transcends all boundaries, bringing both Jews and Gentiles into a unified relationship with God and with one another. Christ's atoning death tore down the "dividing wall of hostility" (Ephesians 2:14). In the Jerusalem temple, a physical wall separated Gentiles from the inner courts. The cross removes all such barriers, granting equal access to God for all.
"He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man from the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16). Jesus abolished the law that separated Jew and Gentile, creating "one new man" from the two. This "new man" is the Church, a new community reconciled to God through the cross.
Racial, ethnic, gender, and class divisions within the church reveal a failure to fully grasp the implications of the cross. In Christ, such distinctions are absorbed into something far greater: a shared identity as members of one body. This doesn't erase our differences, but it places them within the context of a common commitment to Christ.
Jesus "came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:17-18). Through Christ, we have unity, not uniformity. Unity is about unique individuals working together towards a common goal. This is made possible because all Christians have access, in one Spirit, to the Father. Where the Spirit is at work, there is unity.
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). Believers are no longer outsiders but have been welcomed into God's family. The church is a family, a community of belonging.
Paul concludes with the image of a building: "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22). The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. As stones in this building, we must be aligned with Christ. Together, we are the temple of God, a dwelling place for His Spirit, meant to display His glory.
Ephesians 2 offers a complete vision of the cross. It's the cross that not only secures our place in heaven but also births a new reality on earth: the church, a community of grace, a new humanity united in Christ. It is a call to embrace the "one anothers" of Scripture, to cultivate spiritual relationships, and to grow together as the temple of the Lord. The church is more than a Sunday gathering; it's a living, breathing community that marches on, embodying the transformative power of the gospel in every aspect of life.