“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” Ephesians 2:1‭-‬3

So, Paul continues writing the Ephesian church. At the end of his prayer in chapter 1 we find Jesus, Who having operated in God’s incredible power while here on earth, rose from the dead and sat down on His throne in Heaven, High above every other kingdom and every other power, in both heaven and earth, having ALL things under his feet, and as the Head of His Body, the Church!
(Remember that originally, there was no break-no chapter number dividing chapters 1 & 2)

It is in stark contrast to the position of being a Conquer that we humans enter the scene: dead in sin as opposed to being alive in power! Disobediant as opposed to Christ’s obedience! Living “in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil” who is “the commander of the powers in the unseen world.” WOW, THAT’S HEAVY! Paul identifies the devil as that leader in disobedience who is “the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God!” AGAIN, THAT’S HEAVY! (You mean the devil’s been at work if I’m refusing to obey God?) (Remember this for later in the book-this theme will reappear!)

Paul continues by writing that it wasn’t so long ago that ALL of us, INCLUDING the writer of this letter, “used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.” Remember that “we ALL have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard”. Because of this WE ALL, “by our very nature . . . were (key word: WERE, not NOW) subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”

Again remember that “the wages (paycheck) of sin is DEATH (eternal death in/and the very sentance of hell), BUT the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

This passage clears up for me the question poised by Nicodemus in John chapter 3 about “what do you mean by, ‘you must be born again?”‘ “can a grown person reenter his mother’s womb and be reborn”? Well, physically “no”! BUT, in light of the fact that our physical birth, brought us into a world where EVERYONE, INCLUDING ME, was DEAD in sin, I find it vitally necessary to be BORN
AGAIN, spiritually! That’s what Jesus was telling Nicodemus in the very chapter from which we quote the life- changing verse that reads, “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will be saved”! (John 3:16)

In the light of our position of being found absolutely opposite of Jesus, in Ephesians 2:1-3, I challange you to reread John chapter 3. The experiance will be life- altering and mind-blowing!

Think about it!