Ephesians 2:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-7

The resurrection and ascension of the soul. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was, as we have seen, that they might appreciate the mighty power of God to us-ward who believe. This power was first manifested in the person and experience of Christ in raising him from the dead, in exalting him to the Father's right hand, in putting all things under his feet, and in constituting him Head of his Church. We are now to notice a parallel experience of power in the case of the believer. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-7

From death to life. 1. The process . This is a history of spiritual lift. It reverses the order of natural history. Instead of "funeral marches to the grave," we have a resurrection gladness, as the soul grows upward from death to life eternal. I. THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH DEATH . The death here referred to is not a future penalty, but the past condition of many men and the present state of all others. 1. There is a spiritual death in the midst of natural life. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-7

From death to life. 2. The secret . What is the secret of the wonderful reversal of the order of nature that is seen in the spiritual transformation from death to life? The power is put forth by the grace of God, and the method of its influence is through union with Christ. I. THE POWER THAT TRANSFORMS FROM DEATH TO LIFE IS THE GRACE OF GOD . 1. The power is Divine . 2. The power is put forth by the grace of God . He might leave the dead to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

SPIRITUAL HISTORY OF THE EPHESIANS . This passage corresponds to Genesis 1:1-31 . It is a history of creation, and we note the same great stages. 1. Chaos ( Genesis 1:1-3 ). 2. The dawn—the Spirit of God moving on the face of the waters ( Genesis 1:4 ). 3. The work of creation—in successive stages ( Genesis 1:4-10 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Spiritual history of Ephesians. I. THE CHAOS , or original state. 1. It is a state of death , implying previous life, but present insensibility and helplessness. The element of death is "trespasses and sins "—their killing power. 2. Yet a state of unholy activity , 3. A state of unholy indulgence ; seeking the fulfillment 4. A state of condemnation ; "by nature," by our very constitution, we are children of wrath. And this true of all. II. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Association with Christ. The concluding thought of the first chapter was the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. In order now to bring out how they were benefited thereby, he calls up to them their original condition . He shows them the pit out of which they have been dug, the rock out of which they have been hewn. In the first and second verses he has special reference to Gentile Christians, in the third verse he includes Jewish Christians in his description. I. GENTILE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:1-10

Gospel reformation great and gracious. "And you hath he quickened," etc. This passage, though its language is somewhat obscure, sets forth most manifestly the greatness and graciousness of gospel reformation . The gospel is a reformative system; it is revolutionary in its spirit and its aim. It uproots the noxious in life, and plants the wholesome. It pulls down the corrupt and builds up the holy. It burns up man's old moral heavens and creates new ones, "wherein dwelleth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:2

Wherein aforetime ye walked according to the course of this world. The idea of a dead creature walking is not altogether incongruous. It implies that a kind of life remained sufficient for walking; but not the true, full, normal life; rather the life of a galvanized corpse, or of one walking in sleep. The figurative use of walking for living, or carrying on our life, is frequent in this Epistle ( Ephesians 4:1 ; Ephesians 5:2 , etc.). "The course of this world," elsewhere" the world,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:2

The walk of the dead. The expression is very significant, "In which ye walked." Superstition tells us that the dead walk in the shades of night. This is mere folly. Yet, day by day, we are really surrounded by the dead—not by spirits of the (lead, walking their hour in the darkness of night, but by living men like ourselves, pursuing their courses of worldly activity with all their wonted energy and zeal, yet "dead while they live," and unconscious of their death. The term "walking"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 2:2

Three fatal guides in this walk. They are represented as the world, the flesh, and the devil. These are inextricably linked in the common death of men, for "the whole world lieth in the wicked one," and it includes, as its totality of possession, "the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life." There is no schism in this dread conspiracy against man's life. I. THE WORLD . Sinners walk "according to the course of this world." 1. The world is here to be... read more

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