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In C. S. Lewis’s book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan’s resurrection transforms all things: Edmund is released from bondage to temptation and debt to the White Witch; Aslan revives all the Narnians petrified by the Witch; and the four Pevensie children are made kings and queens of Narnia. Perhaps Lewis was inspired by the realities described in Ephesians 2.
The structure of today’s passage draws attention to God’s love. Verses 1 through 3 develop our identity as dead in our transgressions, verses 5 through 10 elaborate on our status as alive in Christ. In the middle, verse 4 explodes with the powerful theme: God’s great love for us.
Notice the words that describe our condition apart from Christ (vv. 1-3). From birth we are alienated from God and bear responsibility for sinfulness that began with Adam and Eve. Radical change in our status is initiated by God and effected only by His grace through Christ’s resurrection (vv. 4-6).
Paul highlights three significant reversals as a result of our salvation, all indicated by the word “with” (vv. 5-6). First, we move from death to life, becoming “alive with Christ.” Second, God “raised us up with Christ,” so that we are no longer enslaved to the cravings of our sinful nature. Third, God “seated us with him in the heavenly realms” where Christ rules. We are no longer subject to the “ruler of the kingdom of the air” (v. 2). All of this demonstrates the richness of God’s love, grace, and mercy.
Verses 8 and 9 reemphasize verse 5: “it is by grace you have been saved.” We receive God’s gift of life not through obedience to the law or “works,” but only through faith, so that no one can take pride in their efforts, but rather recognize complete dependence on God’s grace. The power of God is necessary to destroy our deadly sin nature; God’s power is also imperative to sustain new life in Him. Verse 10 reminds us that God created us to glorify Him, not gratify the desires of our sinful nature.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Verse 2 mentions the influence of “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” The author of Ephesians is well aware of the spiritual battles waged for our devotion. Ephesians 6:10-18 reveals our adversaries: the authorities of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Let us not be naive: spiritual warfare is real. As we seek to live out our new life in Christ, we must put on the full armor of God daily to win these battles (6:13).
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