Pastor Welton Watson, Central Baptist Church
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2. Wherein in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
In verse 1, the Apostle speaks of the born again believer when he says: “you hath he quickened.” The word quickened means, “Revived, or made alive.” He is speaking of the believer in his past life, “who were dead in trespasses and sins.” That’s how we all were before Christ made us alive through his Spirit. If you have never given your heart to Jesus, you are still dead in trespasses and sins; you are still lost because you have never been revived or made alive by the Spirit of God.
Now, in verse 2, Paul looks back at the past life of those who have now been saved (quickened): “Wherein in time past, ye walked according to the course of this world,” then in 1 John 2:15, 16, John defines the course of this world, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” So we see that the course of this world is wrapped up in lust and pride, and it is never good.
Now, continuing in verse 2 he says, “according to the prince of the power of the air, and then goes on to identify that prince; “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” The devil is a liar and the father of it, he’s a murderer, and also is adamantly and totally disobedient to the authority of God’s will and word. All who refuse to line up under the will and word of God are living according to the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
The devil is also called “the prince and power of the air,” meaning that he patrols and controls the air waves. Case in point; thumb through the TV channels for something that families can watch together. There may be a few, but the majority promote and support lifestyles and activities that God calls abomination.
Then in verse 3, Paul brings us into the picture: “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past,” We are all in the same boat. There is nobody better than anybody else. Some lost, some quickened! Continued next week.