Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And you He made alive… in which you once walked according to the course of this world… Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
Text: Ephesians 2:1-3
WHY THE DISTINCTIONS?
As we study the text carefully, we cannot help but notice the way Paul made a careful distinction between the readers (the Ephesians) and himself. There is no mistaking his use of the second personal plural pronoun “you” and the employment of the first personal plural pronoun “we”.
What are the reasons for this distinction? The answer would be answered more completely in the chapter, but for the moment, it may be pointed out that Paul was making a distinction between the Gentiles (non-Jews – “you”) and the Jews (“we”).
IN ALL FAIRNESS
Yes, Paul distinguished between the two distinct ethnic groups. But in all fairness, he did not make out as if the Jews were “better than” the Gentiles. In all honesty, Paul admitted freely that the Jews were also enmeshed in sin as their Gentile counterparts.
“AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL ONCE CONDUCTED OURSELVES IN THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH”
1. Full admission of guilt
Paul made no defence of Jewish sinful misconduct. Whether a person is a Gentile or a Jew, if he has sinned, then is guilty.
2. The sin of the flesh
This phrase must be read in conjunction with the phrase, “according to the course of this world”. The course of the world is to highlight “the flesh” in every possible form. One way or another, the individual would be found guilty of “the sin of the flesh”.
Paul minced no words when he used the word “lust” in association with the word “flesh”. He was not speaking with reference to sexual connotation. The lust of the flesh involves many other things (cf. 1 John 2:15).
3. “Among whom also we”
Inasmuch as Paul had been forthright in his life and ministry, he too admits liability and guilt where sin is concerned.
4. “We all once conducted ourselves”
The word “conducted” (“anastrepho”) may also be simply translated as “lived”. This word may be read side by side with the word “walked” (“peripateo”- Ephesians 2:2). Gentiles and Jews were under the influence by the world and by the prince of the power of the air. Both Jew and Gentile succumbed to the subtle but deadly influences of trespasses and sins.
5. In the battle against sin, the world and Satan
In this great battle, any pride in ethnic origin is both foolish and futile. Ethnicity does not help anyone win the battle against sin, the world or Satan.