Eph 2 - Dead in Transgressions and Sins

Total Depravity: Ephesians 2:1-3: Dead in Transgressions and Sins

Note: Much of the following is a response to Dr. Van Lees’ paper on:

Ephesians 2:1-3: "And you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formally walked according to the 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. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest."

The Calvinist understanding of this passage is illustrated by Dr. Van Lees when he says, “This passage states that fallen man is "dead in sin," that he has no spiritual life whatsoever. It is important to note that the Apostle Paul did not say that man is sick in sin or simply influenced by sin; he declared that fallen man has no spiritual life.”

I would like to point out that the term “no spiritual life” is nowhere to be found in this context. In fact, neither the term nor even the concept, “no spiritual life” or “spiritually dead” can be found anywhere in the Bible. “Spiritually dead” does not exist, there is no such thing. Neither is the term, “fallen man” found in the context of Ephesians 1 or anywhere else in the Bible. Furthermore, Dr. Van Lees is equating “dead in sin” with “no spiritual life whatsoever.” On what basis does he make that equation? Not on the basis of anything in this passage that I can see. I would suggest that the basis for his equation is an assumed overly literal understanding of the phrase, “dead in sin.” I will expound on this point in the section on Colossians 2:13 below.

But for now, one must realize that throughout Ephesians, when Paul uses the terms “we” and “us” he is usually referring to the NT apostles and prophets and when he uses the term “you” he is referring to the Gentile Christians at Ephesus, which can generally be applied to all Gentile Christians. To establish this with various arguments would take too much time. I have another paper, On Predestination - Ephesians 1 where this position is established if the reader cannot see that this is so by a fresh reading of this epistle with that thought in mind. However, allow me this short demonstration. Here is Ephesians 2.

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

Therefore remember that formerly you, THE GENTILES IN THE FLESH, who are called “Uncircumcision” [Gentiles] by the so-called “Circumcision” [Jews], which is performed in the flesh by human hands, - remember that you [Gentiles] were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you [Gentiles] who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity [between Jew and Gentile], which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both [Jews and Gentiles] in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity [between Jew and Gentile].” ‘And He came and preached peace to you who were far away [Gentiles], and peace to those who were near [Jews];’ for through Him we both [Jews and Gentiles] have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you [Gentiles] are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints [Jews], and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you [Gentiles] also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (End quote)

Get the idea? I would suggest that you read through the whole epistle from this perspective.

Now I would like to point out a few things.

1) “…He loved us [apostles], even when we [apostles] were dead in our transgressions, made us [apostles] alive together with Christ (by faith you [Gentiles] have been saved)…” The APOSTLES were loved when they were dead and were made alive with Christ BUT it’s by faith that you Gentiles have been saved. Do you see the distinction/contrast being made here?

2) “For by grace you [Gentiles] have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we [apostles] are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we [apostles] would walk in them.” Same point as #1. The Gentiles are saved through faith because of the GIFT of God. The “gift” is the apostles (see 4:11). The faith is the belief in the apostolic message that Jesus died, was raised, and was seen by many, believe it and repent from your sins. If you believe and repent, you will be saved.

3) In 2:9 we have “works” by which you [Gentiles] have NOT been saved and we have “good works” that God prepared beforehand so that we [apostles] could walk in them. The “works” by which you [Gentiles] are NOT saved are WORKS OF THE MOSAIC LAW, i.e. physical circumcision (see verse 11). What Paul addressed in using the word “works” was very narrow in scope, and specific to the external sign of circumcision. He does not use the phrase “justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Rom 3:28) or “but if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace” to mean that there is nothing a man can do to effect his own personal salvation. All he is saying is that righteousness is not obtained by works of the Mosaic Law, i.e. circumcision. Paul consistently uses the word “works” in his writings in this specialized, technical sense, and more often than not, the immediate context of Paul’s use of the word “works” has to do with physical circumcision. (See Eph 2:8-15, Ro 2: 24-29, 1Cor 7: 17-20, Gal 2: 1-4, Gal 5: 2-12, Gal 6: 11-13, Philippians 3:1-6, Col 3: 8-17.) It should be obvious from verse 15 that he is talking about “the Law of commandments contained in ordinances” by which he means the Mosaic Law. These “works” are to be distinguished from the “good works” that God has prepared beforehand for the apostles to walk in.

So, those whom God loved even when they were dead in their transgressions were the apostles, and he made them alive together with Christ, that is to say, when Christ rose from the dead. The apostles were the “first to hope in Christ” (see 1:12). THAT cannot be said of ALL believers. The apostles are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that they could walk in them. God gave the apostles as gifts to the Gentiles, so the hearing of the apostolic message by the Gentiles is by grace; it’s the free gift and call of God. IF the Gentiles believe that message, and repent from their sins, then they are saved. It’s an if/then proposition. (See Rom 10:9) Believing and repenting IS faith. So it is said that they are saved by grace through faith. Now, I am NOT saying that God DIDN’T love the Gentiles when they were dead in their transgressions, all I’m saying about that is that is NOT what this particular text is saying. I AM saying that IF you interpret the phrase, “made alive when they were dead” to mean that God monergistically regenerated the subjects of the phrase totally apart from any distinctive in the subjects of the phrase themselves, then I would argue that the subjects of the phrase, “made alive when they were dead” refers ONLY to the apostles. The Gentiles are made alive by grace THROUGH FAITH.

To the argument that Paul wasn’t made alive when Christ rose from the dead but actually persecuted the church until his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul himself says that he was “untimely born.”

This is beside the point but I would also argue that even the apostles were made alive when they were dead because and when they believed (see John 20:8, 20:24-29), which happened from within hours to 8 days (Thomas) of when Jesus rose from the dead, (i.e. “made alive together with Christ”) with the exception of Paul, who was untimely born, but it is not necessary to establish that to refute the Reformed interpretation of Ephesians 2. One only needs show that, from the text here in Ephesians, those who were made alive when they were dead in transgressions and sin were the apostles, but you (Gentiles) are saved by grace through faith.

NEXT: Colossians 2:13: Dead in Transgressions and Sins