Words for The Wise, Called to Serve, Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Made Alive in Christ

2 And you ^[a]were dead ^[b]in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you formerly walked according to the ^[c]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, ^[d]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[e]mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead ^[f]in our transgressions, made us alive together ^[g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and ^[h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship ,created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision, ”which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[i]excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off ^[j]have been brought near ^[k]by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[l]barrier of the dividing wall,^15 [m]by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[n]make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,¹⁶ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, ^[o]by it having put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;¹⁸ for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the ^[p]saints, and are of God’s household,²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets ,Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy ^[q]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The Bible Panorama

Ephesians 2

V 1–3: SIN Now alive in Christ, the Ephesian Christians were formerly spiritually dead, led by Satan, and following their sinful lusts. Like others, their sins would have resulted in God’s wrath, but for His salvation.

 V 4–10: SAVED God, rich in mercy and great in love, has saved them by His grace through Christ. They have been raised spiritually and have heavenly standing in Christ. They have not worked to earn their salvation, but they are saved to work for Him.

 V 11–13: STANDING Before this, they had no standing before God. They were not God’s Old Testament people, Israel, who had special covenants with God. However, now in Christ they, as uncircumcised Gentiles, are brought near to God through Christ’s blood, which was shed for sinners.

 V 14–18: SAME As both Jews and Gentiles are only made right with God through the reconciling death of Christ upon the cross, those who trust Christ are now one through Him. They have the same access through the Spirit to the Father. Jews and Gentiles come the same way to God. They are now reconciled to each other as well as to God because the wall between them has been broken down.

 V 19–22: SPIRIT As fellow citizens with saved Jews, based on Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone, the Ephesians know the dwelling of God the Holy Spirit in their lives, just as converted Jews do. Together, founded on the apostles and the prophets, they are built up by God into a spiritual temple, and indwelt by Him.

NIV Application Commentary

Further Explanation of Salvation by Grace (2:8–10)

Good works prepared beforehand. The purpose of God’s creative activity is not merely to have a people, as if he were constructing a work of art. Rather, this new creation is to be active and productive like the Creator. Christians are “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (contrast to 2:2). Salvation is not from works, but it surely is for works, that is, living obediently and productively. In keeping with 1:3–14 on God’s planning, choosing, and acting, this verse shows God planned and acted not only to save, but also to mark out the way we should live. John Stott’s words are not too strong: “Good works are indispensable to salvation—not as its ground or means … but as its consequence and evidence.”

Paul does not normally speak of “good works.” “Works” has such a negative connotation for him from his debates about works of the law that he rarely uses the plural of this word in a positive sense (elsewhere only in Rom. 2:6, an Old Testament quotation, and in the Pastorals). When he does use “works” positively, he adds the adjective “good” to prevent misunderstanding. No focus on self for reasons of pride is permitted; attention to self to ensure ethical responsibility is required.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

8442 good works

Acts designed specifically to benefit others, which are characteristic of God. He requires and enables his people to do good, although such is contrary to their sinful human nature. Salvation does not depend on good works, but leads to them.

Good works are characteristic of God

Jer 32:36-40 See also Ps 119:17,65; Ps 125:1-4; Jer 32:41; Mic 2:7; Zec 8:14-15; Ac 10:37-38

Good works are unnatural for sinful human beings

Jer 13:23 See also Ps 5:9; Ps 10:7; Ps 14:1-3 pp Ps 53:1-3; Ps 36:1-4; Ps 140:3; Ecc 7:20; Isa 59:7-8; Jer 4:22; Ro 3:9-18; Ro 7:13-23

God’s people are encouraged to do good works

Gal 6:9-10 See also Ps 37:3; Ecc 3:12; Mt 5:38-48 pp Lk 6:27-36; 1Pe 3:8-13; Ps 34:12-16; 1Pe 4:19

God is pleased with the good works of his people

Heb 13:16 See also 1Pe 2:20,15; 1Pe 3:17

Good works will be rewarded

Jn 5:28-29 See also Lk 6:35; Ro 2:5-11; Gal 6:9-10; 1Ti 6:17-19

Good works as evidence of repentance

Ps 34:14 See also Ps 37:27; 2Ti 2:20-21; Jas 2:14-21,26; Jas 3:13; 1Pe 3:10-12

Good works as evidence of God’s grace in the lives of believers

2Co 9:8 See also Ac 9:36; Php 2:12-13; Col 1:10-12

Good works are the purpose of the new creation

Eph 2:10 See also 2Ti 2:21; 2Ti 3:16-17; 1Pe 2:13-15

Jesus Christ criticised for doing good works on the Sabbath

Mt 12:9-14 pp Mk 3:1-6 pp Lk 6:6-11 See also Lk 13:10-17; Jn 9:1-41

Galatians 6:9-10New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, [a]while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Colossians 1:10-12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [a]to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and [b]increasing in the [c]knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to [d]His glorious might, [e]for the attaining of all steadfastness and [f]patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us [g]to share in the inheritance of the [h]saints in Light.

1 Peter 3:8-13New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 [a]To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind hearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but [b]giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“The one who desires life, to love and see good days,

Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11 “He must turn away from evil and do good;

He must seek peace and pursue it.

12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Who is [c]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

Will You Go Out Without Knowing? Oswald Chambers Daily Devotionals

He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8

Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don’t know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to “go out,” building your confidence in God. “…do not worry about your life…nor about the body…” (Luke 12:22). In other words, don’t worry about the things that concerned you before you did “go out.”

Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Let the attitude of your life be a continual willingness to “go out” in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.

Hebrews 11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the [a]assurance of things [b]hoped for, the [c]conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old [d]gained approval.

3 By faith we understand that the [e]worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying [f]about his gifts, and through [g]faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, [h]in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [i]by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Personal Life: The Set of Our Sails A W Tozer.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank....—Daniel 1:8Though we do not hear much of it in this age of spineless religion, there is nevertheless much in the Bible about the place of moral determination in the service of the Lord. "Jacob vowed a vow," and it was the beginning of a very wonderful life with God....Daniel "purposed in his heart," and God honoured his purpose. Jesus set his face like a flint and walked straight toward the cross. Paul "determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified,"...These are only a few of the many men and women of the Bible who have left us a record of spiritual greatness born out of a will firmly set to do the will of God....Let us, then, set our sails in the will of God. If we do this we will certainly find ourselves moving in the right direction, no matter which way the wind blows. The Set of the Sail, pp. 11-13

"Lord, today I renew the vow I made many years ago to serve You unreservedly. I'm often pulled in other directions, but keep me focused and faithful, undeterred and undefiled. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Further Reading

Part 1 Words for the Wise, The Predestination and Purpose, Ephesians 1 NIV

Part 3 Words for The Wise, The Gospel Centred Life , Ephesians 3 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)