How does Ephesians 2:3 describe our nature before accepting Christ's salvation? Living in the Flesh—The Portrait Painted by Ephesians 2:3 “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.” • “All of us” – no exceptions; every person shares this condition. • “Gratifying the cravings of our flesh” – willingly indulging sinful impulses (Romans 8:7–8). • “Following its desires and thoughts” – the mind itself is corrupted (Jeremiah 17:9). • “By nature children of wrath” – not merely by behavior, but by inborn disposition (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). What “Children of Wrath” Means • Objects of God’s righteous anger (John 3:36; Romans 1:18). • Destined for judgment unless rescued (Hebrews 9:27). • Wrath is not capricious rage but God’s holy response to sin (Nahum 1:2–3). Totality of the Problem • Heart: deceitful and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9). • Mind: darkened in understanding (Ephesians 4:18). • Will: enslaved to sin (John 8:34). • Outcome: spiritual death (Romans 6:23a). Echoes in the Rest of Scripture • Genesis 6:5 – every intent of the thoughts of the heart only evil continually. • Romans 3:10–12 – none righteous, none who seek God. • Titus 3:3 – foolish, disobedient, enslaved to passions. Why This Matters • Highlights the depth of our need; moral reform is insufficient. • Underscores the necessity of grace (Ephesians 2:4–5). • Sets the stage for the miracle of regeneration (2 Corinthians 5:17). Contrast: God’s Merciful Intervention • “But God…” (Ephesians 2:4–5) shows divine love interrupting deserved wrath. • Christ bears wrath in our place (Romans 5:8–9; Isaiah 53:5). • Salvation moves us from children of wrath to children of God (John 1:12). Takeaway Snapshot Before Christ, our very nature is: 1. Universally guilty. 2. Internally corrupted. 3. Externally rebellious. 4. Legally condemned. Only God’s grace in Christ transforms this hopeless state into new life. |
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