Ephesians 2:1-2

"And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins" Ephesians 2:1.

Why has Paul... after all the wonderful things he had to say about God's love for us in chapter 1... and revealing the blessings we have in Christ... why does he have to remind us of our sorted pasts? Well... although our past is referred to here, it's not so much about us as it is about God!

The focus is STILL on God's love... what God did with our past! Remember, we are going through this study with God's love as the foundation... or, context, like we did in the Colossians study, as all scripture, I believe, should be... from Genesis to Revelation.

God, through Paul is reminding us that, whatever we thought we were before coming to Christ, the TRUTH is that we were no more than dead! I think of the clips I've seen a couple times about that movie with all the zombies running around in it... dead people walking around and don't even know they're dead... but let's continue with Paul's point...

2. "In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]."

Here, the Amplified adds the word, habitually, and I think for good reason! I shared with you, some time back, the reality of sin as being manifested in habits, in a study entitled Two Tents. A look into even the simplest of our habits will reveal the sin nature.

Paul says we were, "under the sway of the prince of the power of the air"... this is satan. Jesus shows us something about satan in the way He refers to him in John 12:31... "Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled)".

Satan has been "allowed" much rule over this world, right now"... Even though he is still under God's watchful eye. Remember, we just read a few verses back, that Christ is "Far Above" all other rulers, but satan has been given temporary rule over those "not" covered by and through The Blood of The Lamb, Jesus. Again, He says...

"I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me]" John 14:30.

"About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him" John 16:11.

The Bible clearly shows that an intelligent, unseen being has been controlling both men and nations. It says: "The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one" John 5:19. And the Bible identifies him, saying: "The one called devil and satan [I never capitalize those two names] is misleading the entire inhabited earth" Revelation 12:9.

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 2:3-4 next time.

I love you.