What does Ephesians 2:1 say about the human race and believers being dead in trespasses and sins?
Ephesians 2:1 states that the whole human race, so far as God is concerned, is dead in trespasses and sins, and believers too were dead in trespasses and sins. It also says they were made alive. Verse 2 adds they formerly walked according to this world’s course and the prince of the power of the air.
Les explains that Ephesians 2:1 is foundational: the whole human race, so far as God is concerned, is dead in trespasses and sins, and believers were no exception—they too were dead in trespasses and sins before being made alive. In verse 2, Paul says they formerly walked according to the course of this world, like everybody else; before believing, they were no different. Les gives the illustration of a man who once would have been with the crowd but now would rather be in Bible study. The passage then identifies the prince of the power of the air, the spirit working in the children of disobedience, and says we were part and parcel of that. Verse 5 repeats, “even when we were dead,” and Les notes how often Paul brings this up.
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
More Questions
According to Les, what does Ephesians 2:1 mean by saying believers were dead in trespasses and sins?
The whole human race, as far as God is concerned, is dead in trespasses and sins, and so were believers today before they were made alive.