By Joan Miller
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." (Eph. 2:1-3)
Who were the "you" Paul was addressing? They were faithful members of the church at Ephesus. ("...Paul...to the saints who are at Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus...Eph. 1:1") They were rich beyond measure; however, based on what is said in the first chapter of Ephesians, the brethren didn't yet know the extent of that wealth. To help them learn beyond doubt what immense spiritual abundance they now had readily available, through Christ, Paul painted a verbal before-and-after picture for them.When Christians feel pressured by and a bit resentful toward daily demands, in order to block a temptation to compromise Christian values, we would be wise to recall our personal "before/after" states.
"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (Jas. 4:7b)
Paul's letter refers to trespasses and sins. What's the difference? Very briefly, a trespass is an inadvertent act contrary to God's will. An example might involve driving a brand new car on the freeway. We're commanded to obey civil law. Civil law says the speed limit is 65mph. You look down at the speedometer and realize that you're traveling 80mph. You've broken the civil law and in doing so, you've sinned unintentionally. An example of a sin would be allowing ourselves to get so angry that we knowingly use vulgar language, silent or not, as a release. The act is outright willful and rebellious because we fully realize that God commands that we not use His name in other than a worshipful manner yet we purposely follow through on the temptation to sin. Neither trespass nor sin is acceptable to God. Sin has no degree attached to it.
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I told you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:19-21)
Paul's message is vital today to help each of us remain focused on what spiritual rewards are ahead of us and to resist subtle temptations from the devil to return to our old, dead, lawless and hopeless ways. Like the Ephesians, we have a strong motivation to focus on a heavenly reward.
Paul, to the Corinthian brethren:
"Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:23-27)
I pray we all have been looking ahead, not back!
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:10).
May God bless everything you and yours do in His service.
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.