EPHESIANS: Disobedience and Wrath
EPHESIANS Number 20:
Disobedience and Wrath
Ephesians 2:2–3 (KJV 1900)
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (KJV 1900)
Those who remain in bondage to the evil one and his gang are called first, the children of disobedience and then the children of wrath. Disobedience is mentioned first because it is opposition to God that results in wrath.
Scripture paints a picture of humanity as deriving from one of two sources. One source is characterized by independence, opposition, disobedience, rejection of the Love of God. The other Source is characterized by dependence, fellowship, obedience, and acceptance. All people are children of one or the other. Independence results in evil and spiritual death. Dependence results in righteousness and spiritual Life.
In Greek, the word translated “disobedience” is ἀπείθεια (apeitheia). In scripture this is always referring to disobedience toward God, to those who oppose God. It often carries the connotation of disbelief, refusal to believe God. The word (apeitheia) uses the prefix ‘a’ to negate the root word that follows, πείθω (peitho). This root means to be persuaded or to believe. Consequently, when scripture speaks of disobedience using this word, it is speaking of those who refuse to be persuaded and continue in stubborn or obstinate rejection of God.
Those who reject or refuse God remain disconnected from Him. They cannot be in relationship to God because they continue in their refusal to be reconciled. John 3:36 makes this clear saying, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (KJV 1900) The wrath of God remains on, or lives or dwells on, those who stubbornly refuse to be persuaded of their need for Him.
But what is wrath? Wrath is the word we use for the Greek word ὀργή (orge’). Wrath is the divine reaction toward evil. We commonly think f this as an emotion. Usually very strong anger, even hatred. But scripture presents it not so much as an emotion as the outcome of an indignant frame of mind. It is more a legitimate feeling on the part of a judge before whom is presented great evil. Wrath sometimes refers to the final judgement where God’s indignation, or wrath, is expressed against the evil at work in the world and those who carry it out.
Make no mistake, God loves every human being. His indignation is against evil. He will not allow evil ultimately to prevail. He cannot, because evil harms and kills that which He has created to be Living and Loved. Those who would refuse to be set free from their slavery to sin, consequently remain shackled and separated from Life Himself. The only possible result of this is being swept up in judgement because wrath abides, or remains, on them.
Lest we begin to think more highly of ourselves that we ought to think (see Romans 12:3) our passage reminds us that “in time past [we] walked according to the course of this world” and “we all had our conversation (our way of life) in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
It is from this awful state that the Lord Jesus has rescued us. We were adrift, treading water in a sea of sin. The only reason we are now safe, warm, and dry, is that we trusted God when He stretched out His hand to pull us aboard the Lifeboat ‘SS Jesus Christ’.
