Paul wanted them to understand all that God had done for them. So, he reminded them what they were like before God changed them.
Read Ephesians 2:1-3
You were dead to God because of your sins. This is called being spiritually dead. Just as you cannot talk with someone who is dead, so a spiritually dead person cannot have a relationship with God. That is the way every person begins his life. Paul then describes the three ways we lived before God made us alive. You used to live according to the ways of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), and according to the spirit that works in those who are disobedient. Paul admitted that he too had lived according to the lusts of his flesh, giving in to the sinful desires his body and mind wanted to do. In other words, you lived according to the world, the flesh, and the devil and were spiritually disobedient to God. That’s not a very flattering description. And because of that he and the others were by nature children of wrath. This means that we each deserved God’s wrath for their sinfulness. The ultimate result of our sin is Hell and the lake of fire. Without God’s help we would continue to be spiritually dead with no hope of escaping God’s wrath. That is very serious problem that can only be solved by faith in Christ.
- What does it mean to be spiritually dead?
- Who does a spiritually dead person follow?
- How does a spiritually dead person live his life?
- What is the result of living this way?
- Are you spiritually dead or has God made you alive?
