According to Ephesians 2:1, who is dead in trespasses and sins?
Ephesians 2:1 declares that the whole human race, including believers before salvation, were dead in trespasses and sins. This describes everyone apart from being made alive by God; even those now saved were once dead in trespasses and sins.
Les teaches that Ephesians 2:1 is a basic doctrine: "you hath he made alive, who were dead." He says this is where the whole human race stands before God—dead in trespasses and sins. He includes himself and all believers: "so were we if we were a believer today. We too were dead in trespasses and sins." He then connects this to verse 2, where in times past we walked according to the course of this world, like everybody else. Before believing, we were no different; after believing, we should be different. He illustrates with a gentleman who once would not have dreamed of going to a Bible study but now would rather be studying the Word than out with the crowd. Les also points to verse 5, "even when we were dead," noting 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.
Who is Paul addressing when he says 'you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins' in Ephesians 2:1?
Paul always writes to the believer, so when he says in Ephesians 2, 'you hath he quickened... who were dead in trespasses and sins,' he is addressing believers and describing them as having been made alive from death in sins.