Now alive in God 2:4-10The wrath of God on the unbeliever (Ephesians 2:3) contrasts with the grace of God on the believer (Ephesians 2:5; Ephesians 2:7-8). God’s special grace toward some unbelievers gives them life (Ephesians 2:4-5), raises them up (Ephesians 2:6), and seats them in heavenly realms with Christ (Ephesians 2:6-10). read more
Unbelievers are spiritually dead in their sins (cf. Ephesians 2:1). However, God has given new life to believers. The only way a dead person can have any fellowship with the living God is for God to give him or her new life (cf. Romans 4:17). Regeneration is an act of God in grace. Regeneration results in the commencement and continuation of new life. "Have been saved" is in the perfect tense in Greek indicating an ongoing permanent condition. read more
God has, second, raised up believers with Christ. This describes our spiritual, not physical experience. He will yet raise us physically, but spiritually He has already raised us to a new type of life (cf. Colossians 3:1-2). Like our Lord’s resurrection life, ours is also powerful and eternal.Third, God has seated us in the heavenly realms with Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:20). That is where our heavenly citizenship lies (Philippians 3:20) and where our final home is. What Christ did physically... read more
God’s ultimate purpose is to glorify Himself. The "ages" to come include all future ages. God will use the regeneration of believers to demonstrate the wealth and richness of His grace (cf. Ephesians 1:7). Specifically His kindness toward believers as displayed in all that we have in Christ is in view. We see God’s kindness in His giving life to those who were dead in sin.Note that Ephesians 2:1-3 describe what we were in the past, Ephesians 2:4-6 what we are in the present, and Ephesians 2:7... read more
Ephesians 2:8-9 explain the surpassing riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:7) and elaborate the parenthetical statement in Ephesians 2:5.The basis of our salvation is God’s grace (unmerited favor and divine enablement; cf. Romans 3:22; Romans 3:25; Galatians 2:16; 1 Peter 1:5). The instrument by which we receive salvation is faith (i.e., trust in Christ). Faith is not an act or work that earns merit with God, which He rewards with salvation. When a person puts out his hand to take a gift that... read more
Salvation is not by works since its basis is grace and its means of reception faith. No one will be able to boast that he or she has done something that earned him or her salvation. All the glory will go to God for accomplishing salvation."Since we have not been saved by our good works, we cannot be lost by our bad works." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:19.] read more
Here Paul gave the reason salvation is not from man or by works. Rather than salvation being a masterpiece that we have produced, regenerated believers are a masterpiece that God has produced. "Workmanship" (Gr. poieme, from which we get the word "poem"; cf. Romans 1:20) means a work of art, a masterpiece. The Jerusalem Bible translated it "work of art" here. As a master worker, God has created us in Christ Jesus. The word translated "created" here (Gr. ktizo) describes only God’s activity and... read more
2:5 saved (f-15) 'Saved.' The perfect tense, not the principle on which we are saved, but the actual fact, what has been done and so abides. so ver. 8. read more
2:7 us (g-18) That which is actually bestowed, not merely in the heart of God. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 2:3-10
A. Individual calling 1:3-2:10Paul began the body of his letter by revealing the spiritual blessings that God has planned for believers in His Son."The opening section of Ephesians (Ephesians 1:3 to Ephesians 2:10), which describes the new life God has given us in Christ, divides itself naturally into two halves, the first consisting of praise and the second of prayer. In the ’praise’ half Paul blesses God that he has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3-14), while... read more