The verses of Ephesians 2:1-10 has 3 natural divisions that leads us to understand our salvation “by grace through faith.” Here in Ephesians 2:1-3, we see ourselves as sinners born as sons of fallen Adam.

¹ And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins; ² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the [Satanic] 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 [Old English for ‘manner of living’] 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. Ephesians 2:1-3 (KJV)

All of us came into this world the same way, by birth through our parents, who came from their parents, and so on all the way back to Adam, “by whom sin entered the world” (Rom. 5:12). Thereby we are all sinners by birth in the same condition, with the same two-fold problem. The Bible says we are “dead in trespasses and sins,” and “by nature, the children of wrath, even as others.”

We as sinners have had the two-fold problem of our sin-nature and the sin’s fruit in our lives. Dogs bark because that is in their nature. We sin because we are sinners because that is our sinful self-seeking nature. Because of our nature and the fruit it brings we are “at enmity with” or ‘hostile to’ the justice of God. History demonstrates that ‘death’ is our end and this is surer than taxes. There are many who don’t pay their taxes, but no one gets out of paying for their sin-debt. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The death rate is still one each! And finally, there is the ultimate wage for our sin, which as Paul writes is “everlasting destruction” (2 Thes. 1:9) in the all-consuming “lake of fire” - NOT the ‘eternal torment’ that traditional religion teaches.

Will the sinners go on living and suffering for eternity or will they perish forever?

“But the wicked shall PERISH, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall CONSUME; INTO SMOKE shall they CONSUME AWAY.” Psalms 37:20.

Some ask; “So, the wicked will be destroyed and not burn forever?” CORRECT! That is why it is called “the second death.” So, first comes the physical death that we all will likely endure, and then for many the ‘eternal death’ of those who deny “the love of God.”

“But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off [Heb. karat, by implication… be destroyed, consumed].” Psalms 37:38.

Here Jesus Himself said the only alternative to “everlasting life” is to “perish” (Greek apollymi, ‘be destroyed’].

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, [so] that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in him should NOT PERISH, but have EVERLASTING LIFE. John 3:16

Only Christ as ‘The Life’ is the opposite of “Death.”

Below in Ephesians 2:4-9 we see how the work and process of our salvation is what God Himself dis for us… based upon what He has done in giving the life of His Son, Jesus Christ, for us.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened [enlivened] us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And Hath Raised Us Up Together, and Made Us Sit Together In Heavenly Places IN Christ Jesus: ⁷ [so] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸ For BY GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD: ⁹ Not of [religious] works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:4-9 (KJV)

Now let’s further consider the words of Ephesians 2:4-9:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [MADE US ALIVE] US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, (by grace are ye saved).”

Salvation is not a path or stairway climb throughout our life to heaven as some say it is, but rather … like an elevator we step onto at a point or moment in time, by faith.

Being [now] justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Romans 3:24

Therefore being [now] justified by faith, we [now] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1 (KJV)

The one all-sufficient payment for our sin was made by Jesus on the cross. We receive His forgiveness of ALL sins and “eternal life” as a Free gift by FAITH in His Cross-work for us, not as a reward for a life well lived.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is the gospel, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the scriptures, I Corinthians 15:3-4. The work is done by the grace [gift] of God when we personally express our trust in what Jesus Christ accomplished for us at the cross.

Now “the love of Christ constraineth” our hearts… to walk worthy.

¹⁴ For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 2 Corinthians 5:14 (KJV)

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created [recreated] in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

In Ephesians 2:10, the finished product is a “new creature,” now fully forgiven and complete in Christ. “For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 2:10). God places the very life of his Son within when we believe the gospel of our salvation and makes us a new creature!

¹⁷ Therefore if any man [or woman] be in Christ, he is a New Creature: OLD things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

What about good works? Having been recreated in our spirit by Christ’s indwelling “Spirit of life,” (cf. 1Cor. 6:17), “God hath before ordained that we should walk in them [in good works].”

Good works are why we were created in Christ “that we should walk in them” to bring honor to him and blessing to others. But they are not the means whereby we obtain eternal life, or the assurance we have it!

Have you now seen and understood ‘God’s Work of Grace?

• We are all the raw materials by birth.
• God will save us and make a new creature when we make that personal choice to rely exclusively on and trust in the process his grace factory has provided!
• You then can live as a new creature in Christ!

- Portion adapted from Ted Fellows