The Good News in Ephesians 2

¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together 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 coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not 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, that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:1-10)

What We Are Saved From

Here’s a helpful exercise: let’s take this passage in Ephesians 2 and consider the things that God has saved us from.

In Christ, we are saved from:

• our deadness in trespasses (παράπτωμα) [v1]
• our deadness in sins (ἁμαρτία) [v1]
• the course of this world [v2]
• Satan—the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience [v2]
• living in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the fallen flesh and the fallen mind [v3]
• being a child of wrath [v3]

The Mercy and Love of God

Our gracious God has saved us from much, hasn’t He? And what exactly compels a holy and sovereign God to save such ill-deserving sinners such as you and me? Verse 4 tells us plainly that it’s because of of His rich mercy and great love:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…”

It is God’s very nature and character! He does need anything or anyone. After all, He is God Almighty. Yet, He still desires us as a people for Himself, so out of the richness of His mercy and the great love with which He loved us, He chose to come down and save us. Amazing.

What We Are Saved To

Now, let’s consider what Jesus purchased for us on His cross and what He secured for us by His resurrection and ascension. If each of these points don’t get you more and more excited about this great salvation, I don’t know what will.

In Christ, we are saved to:

• a resurrection with Him from the dead [v5]
• life with Him [v5]
• salvation by grace [v5]
• a seat in the heavenly places [v6]
• immeasurable riches of His grace and kindness toward us [v7]
• the gracious gift of faith [v8]
• good works that were prepared beforehand [v10]
• walking as one in God’s workmanship [v10]

Amazing Grace

Christian, what amazing grace we have been saved to—this new life in Christ! And if it were not for that wonderful mercy and great love of God, our Father, we would still be living the life that we richly deserve as sinners. We would still be walking dead in our trespasses and sins. We would still be following down the course and path of this world—the path to destruction. And as children of wrath, we would still be living captive and in bondage to Satan, sin, and flesh.

But behold! We have a mighty Savior and Redeemer in our Lord Jesus Christ! We have been saved to a new life in Him.

Thank you, sweet Jesus.