Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
Text: Ephesians 2:1
THE DEADLINESS OF SIN
A small group of words is used in the New Testament to describe “sin”. Paul used two words from this semantic to highlight and illustrate how sin is deadly.
1. “Trespasses” (“paraptoma”)
To transgress or to trespass is to overstep boundaries. Signs “No Trespassing” are used to warn people not to overstep limits that are set.
a) Trespasses against man
One could be said to trespass or transgress against another human being.
b) Trespass against God
One could also say that when sin is committed it is trespassing against God and His laws.
2. “Sins” (“hamartia”)
This word is used to describe:-
a) Departure from righteousness.
b) When one departs from the path of righteousness one sins against both man and God.
THE USE OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE IN THE GREEK TEXT
Paul used the Greek definite article in this text. (Literally translating the text would yield the following construction- “dead in the trespasses and the sins”. The translators omitted the presence of the article in favour of making the text more readable in the English language).
However, the use of the definite article here must not be dismissed lightly. Whenever the article is used we must pay attention to it. The following may be suggested:-
1. If the article is omitted then Paul was discussing sins and trespasses in a very general way.
2. But if the article is employed then it calls our attention to definite or specific sins (certainly not in abstraction).
3. The article is also used as a pointing device to accentuate meaning.
ONLY GOD CAN MAKE THE SINNER COME ALIVE
What is the solution to the problem of spiritual death? Paul offers only one thought. God has to make the sinner come alive, which He obviously did with the Ephesian brethren- “You He made alive”. We are surely reminded of what the Lord Jesus once said.
“I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly.”
JOHN 10:10B