LIFE BEFORE SALVATION
Read Ephesians 2:1-3
Today’s verses speak about the believer's life prior to his coming to faith in Christ. This is a description of life without Christ. "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein 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: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times 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."
What was our life like before we came to know Christ, before conversion? When God looks down upon a man who is unconverted, how does God see him? What is the picture in God's mind of a man who is unsaved? William Barclay descriptively titles this passage, "Life without Christ." Well, what is it like—this life without Christ? What kind of life did we live before conversion?
1. Before conversion we lived a life of spiritual death. "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." The Apostle begins the chapter with an indictment of his readers as well as us. They, and we like, “were dead in trespasses and sins.” The verb "were" is actually present tense with the sense of “being.’ The literal thought is, ‘And you, being dead in trespasses and sins.’ The word translated as trespasses means to ‘lapse’ or ‘deviate’ from truth or righteousness.’ It is a general synonym for unrighteousness. The word translated as ‘sins’ is translated from the common word ‘hamartia’. One definition is to ‘miss the mark.’ The thought is that prior to being saved, we were spiritually dead through unrighteousness and sins.
2. Before conversion we lived a life influenced by the world and Satan. "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." When this condition existed, is noted as “in time past.” That refers to before our salvation. At that time, we and they alike walked, that is lived, according to three basic influences:
(1) “...according to the course of this world.” The phrase is instructive. The word translated as ‘course’ is ‘aion’, which, among other things, has the sense of an ‘unbroken age’ or an ‘era.’ The idea is that before we were saved, we lived according to the eras and fads of this world. As Paul admonished against in Romans 12:2, we at that time were conformed to this world. The word translated as ‘world’ is ‘kosmos’ which has the sense of the ‘society and culture of the unsaved.’
(2) Then, the Apostle noted that we lived “...according to the prince of the power of the air.” As will be made clear momentarily, that this prince is none other than Satan. The reference to the “power of the air” does not refer to the physical force of the wind. (The word translated as ‘power’ is ‘exousia’ which has more of the sense of ‘authority.’) Rather, it was understood both by Jewish as well as pagan minds to refer to the collective demonic empire which resides in the atmospheric air. Both Jews and gentiles entertained notions that the domain of demons was the atmosphere. The greater thought is that before we were saved, our lives were greatly influenced by the devil. Though his work is mysterious in its operation, it nevertheless is very real in its influence.
The Apostle continues by making clear who this prince is. He is none other than “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Insight into the work of the devil is given. (a) He is a spirit. (b) The word translated ‘worketh’ can literally have the sense of ‘energizing.’ Thus we are instructed that the devil spiritually energizes the people of the world. Moreover, (c) the world is further noted as the “children of disobedience.” The word translated as disobedience literally means ‘unbelieving.’ Its secondary sense is disobedience. Indeed, the world is the society and culture of unbelievers.
3. Before conversion we lived a life in the lusts of the flesh, under God's wrath. "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times 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."
Referring back to the “children of disobedience” (i.e., the world), he recalls, “…among whom also we all had our conversation in times past.” The word "conversation" came to refer to one’s lifestyle or conduct. The time reference, “times past,” refers to before we were saved. Thus, our lifestyle then was among and in step with the world around us.
In that vein, the Apostle touches upon how at that time our way of living was (3) “in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.” He refers to our old sinful nature, commonly called the flesh. Before conversion, the way of unregenerate people is to live according to the lusts, that is, the desires of the flesh, fulfilling the desires (i.e., the will, of the old sinful nature and carnal mind). Insight into how the flesh operates is thus revealed. Its method of operation is of self-directed desires both on a spiritual as well as mental level. Hence, we were “by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” The latter likely refers to the ultimate end of sin which is the wrath of God in hell as described in John 3:36. Thus the Apostle in these three verses sets forth the threefold influences by which unsaved people operate: (1) the world, (2) the devil, and (3) the flesh. Those perverse influences remain to this day.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. What was your life like before Christ saved you? What has been the biggest change in your life since conversion?
2. What things are noticeable about someone who walks after the course of this world?
3. According to Scripture, what kind of relationship did we have with the world before Christ saved us?
4. What things fill the lives of the lost?
5. Do you really believe that you were, by nature, a child of wrath?
6. Why do some people tend to think that they were never sinners? How would you explain the truth to them?