Ephesians 2:4 - Forerunner Commentary

Ephesians 2:4

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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Ephesians 2:4:

Ephesians 2:4-7
Excerpted from: Government (Part Three)

Paul is making an illustration here that is very similar to others that he made—in which he takes an experience of Jesus Christ and shows how we go through much the same thing. Another example of this is Romans 6, in regards to baptism—how we are baptized into Christ's death and how we are raised up to a new way of life. Christ also died. Christ also was buried. Christ also was raised up. Somewhat different, but still it is a similar pattern that we are going through.

That is exactly what Paul is doing here in Ephesians 2. He is making a comparison with something that Christ has already done in reality. We are going through the same kind of thing in a tiny spiritual way. First of all, there is the communication of a new way of life. That is, we hear the gospel. Then, because of that, there is a change from a state of death caused by sin. We were dead in trespasses. Then, there is "a making alive," and then, exaltation into heavenly places.

It is obvious that this has not yet completely, literally, occurred to us, but Christians are sharing Christ's experience in their experience. I want you to notice that those words are written in the past tense. Verse 6 is very clear—"raised us up" and "made us sit together." It has already occurred. It is a spiritual transformation, already effective. Now, it is very important that you get this! It is already made effective.

Its purpose is also stated here, and that is "that in ages to come [that is yet future] He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." So, a spiritual transformation, already made effective. We are in process of being prepared to glorify God in ages to come.

Let me give you an amplified, but a more literal, translation of that phrase "that in ages to come." That is: "in ages that will pile up (or, pile themselves one upon another) in continuous succession." It is another way of saying "from age to age." It is another way of saying, "forever and ever." It is another way of saying, "from everlasting to everlasting."

Ephesians 2:4-10
Excerpted from: The Eternal Privileges of the Bride

Please turn with me Ephesians 2, verse 4. So what is true of us now in light of the dignity of Christ? God has allowed His people even now to share in a measure of the dignity and authority that Christ has seated at the right hand of God. We are going to read verses 4 through 10.

We will be doing good works for eternity as the bride of Christ. Verse 7 explains why God so generously demonstrates His love, so that we will be in awe for all eternity over His incredible kindness and love that will never end. It will take eternity to fully understand and appreciate God's law, if that would be even possible. But thanks to having God's Holy Spirit running through us, we will be enabled to understand. It will take eternity to completely fathom God's abundant and unending love.

So if we are faithful Christians, we are in Christ, and that means that we are considered seated with Him in the heavenly places. Wherever the Bridegroom is, the bride is also, and the standing, the dignity, and the position that belonged to Him belong to us, to her.

Speaking of the virtuous woman but also in a spiritual sense, to the bride of Christ. The moment she becomes His bride, she shares in everything with Him. Therefore, she must uphold her position, responsibilities, and dignity.

Do we uphold God's dignity in our everyday life? We certainly try but we certainly also need the Holy Spirit to help us and to empower us to be able to do that.

There is no greater insult against the Bridegroom than someone's refusal to honor His bride. But she must be worthy. Dignity is the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed. This is something we are told repeatedly.

Ephesians 2:4-5
Excerpted from: Truth (Part 4)

The "you" is Christians and specifically in this context Gentile Christians. So let us follow the apostle's line of thought through this. Verse 1 is telling us that there was a time when all of us were separated from God and that we were spiritually as good as dead, “who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

God in His mercy fulfilled what Jesus said in John 6:44 and He began to draw us. He began to move to bridge the gap and to give us life. See, we were dead, but He made us alive and He began to give us light.

I want us to be aware here at this point that life means more than endless life, eternal life. It means "quality" as well because endless life is a blessing only if the quality is good. So the definition of eternal life has to include quality of life.

And God revived us, as it were. He resurrected us from a state of spiritual death and He gave us life. He gave us life not for the purpose only of giving us eternal life, but for changing the quality of life. That almost has to be a given because why resurrect us, as it were, if we are going to go right back into the same kind of life that brought about the spiritual death in the first place?

No, He resurrected us from a spiritual death in order that we might have a different quality of life, that is, a quality that includes the capability of having fellowship with Him as we will see in just a minute.

Ephesians 2:4-5
Excerpted from: Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment!

The apostle Paul makes an interesting comparison here between the coarse rebellion of human beings and the rejection of God and God's gracious acceptance of the members of His church made possible by our being in Christ. We know God cannot approve of sin if He is to remain righteous. Nevertheless, He is not unsympathetic toward those He created. He loves us and has made our reconciliation with Himself possible. Had He decided to destroy His disobedient children, He would have been entirely justified, and nothing could have prevented this tragedy. Instead, love leads to mercy, and because of God's compassion for the helpless, He offers them relief.

Ephesians 2:4-6
Excerpted from: Government (Part 2)

Though we are not literally there, we are represented there in Jesus Christ. So, our Representative is there at the throne of God in our place because we cannot yet be there. But God considers us a part of that spiritual Kingdom. Are you beginning to see it very, very clearly? We are living parts of a spiritual organism to such an extent that it is as though we are in heaven, because we are in Christ. We are part of His Body.

Ephesians 2:4-6
Excerpted from: The Jerusalem Council's Conclusion

This is all talking about Christ having struck down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile and brought them into the same body, and now he is saying that His means of justification for both Jew and Gentile is the same. By grace you have been saved, whether you are a Jew or whether you are a Gentile, and you have been raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Articles
A Basket of Summer Fruit
Born Again or Begotten? (Part One)
Character and Reputation
Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom
Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Three)
Living By Faith and God's Grace  (2)
Parables and a Pearl
Taking It Through the Grave

Bible Studies
Parables of Luke 15 (Part Three)
The Model Prayer (Part Two): Our Father in Heaven
The Parables of Matthew 13 (Part Six): The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
What Is Propitiation? (Part Two)  (2)

Essays
Christian Heroes
God's Enduring Mercy
The Peculiarities of Atonement
Welfare and Christianity

Sermons
Biblical Principles of Justice (Part One)
The Greatness of God's Power
Genesis 3:20-24: Consequences for God and Man
The Hallel: Psalms of Praise
Living by Faith: God's Grace (Part 4)
Living by Faith: God's Grace (Part 3)
Living by Faith: God's Grace (Part 3)
Privileges of the Family of God
Wilderness Wandering (Part 2)
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part 10)
Imagining the Garden of Eden (Part 7)
Are You Alive to God?
Are You Alive to God?
Are You Alive to God?
Conduct of the New Life
All in All (Part 1)
Trumpets: Glorious Appearings
A Trustworthy Relationship
Sincerity and Truth (Part One)
Assurance (Part Three): Glory and Hope
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Twelve)
Reconciliation (Part Two): Christ's Work
Esther (Part Four)
Is America a Christian Nation? (Part One)
Is America a Christian Nation? Summary (Part One)
Using Power Righteously (Part One)
The Sabbath: Creation
Back to Life (Part Three)
Back to Life (Part Five)
Boundaries, Incursions, Migrations, and God (Part Two)
Boundaries, Incursions, Migrations, and God (Part Two)
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Six): Sardis
Antidote For Disunity!
Stewards of the Mysteries of God
James and Unleavened Bread (Part 1)
Deuteronomy (Part 2) (1994)
The Laborers: Matthew 20:1-16
The Christian Paradox (Part One)
Life in the Church
Made Alive by Exceeding Greatness!
Made Alive by Exceeding Greatness!
God Meant it for Good!
James and Unleavened Bread (Part 2)
The Mystery of the Church
Chosen Instruments of God
Judgment is a Merciful Blessing
Essential Characteristics of Our Calling
Go and Do Likewise
The Magnificent Work of God
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-One)
God's Pearls
God the Father (Part 2)
We are Called to Liberty
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Two)
Purpose-Driven Churches (Part 5)
Be You Thankful
If You Do These Things, You Shall Never Fall
A Day Without Work
Mercy and Justice
Manifesting Kindness
The Greatness of God's Power
New Covenant Priesthood (Part 7)
Potential for Good
Spirituality and True Conversion
Unity (Part 6): Ephesians 4 (C)
Prepare for Your Future Now
Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 3): Hidden Treasure
Warfare!
Pentecost and the Book of Ruth

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