EPHESIANS: The Quick and the Dead

Ephesians 2:1

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

Before we unpack this, I want us to notice that in the KJV the words “hath He quickened” are in italics. As you may know, in the KJV, words in italics are not found in the Greek text.

The Greek here reads, “And you-all were dead in trespasses and sins.” The translators of the NET * include this note:

“Chapter 2 starts off with a participle, “although you were dead,” that is left dangling. The syntax in Greek for verses 1–3 constitutes one incomplete sentence, though it seems to have been done intentionally. The dangling participle leaves the readers in suspense while they wait for the solution (in verses. 4 and 5) to their spiritual dilemma.”

Those verses read, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” Ephesians 2:4–5 (KJV 1900).

The other major translations do not include these words in verse one, preferring to let the hanging participle and incomplete sentence hold us in suspense awaiting the “but God” that follows in verse four.

Now to our study. You were dead. More specifically, you were dead in trespasses and sins. We will encounter this declaration again just four verses from here. In verse 5, we will find “Even when we were dead in sins…” And Ephesians is not the only place where we are told of this terrible condition. Colossians 2:13 speaks of us “being dead in [our] sins and the uncircumcision of [our] flesh.”

With our earthly minds we find this concept difficult to grasp. We were born, we grew, and we have clearly been alive the entire time. How is it then that scripture continually insists that we were dead? What sort of death is this?

Ephesians 4:17–19 gives us some insight. There, Paul writes, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (KJV 1900)

Do you see it? You were “alienated from the Life of God.” Physical life is not in view here. Plainly we were all alive physically. Instead, it is spiritual Life that is being acknowledged when the text says that God has “quickened” us or “made us Alive.”

Saints, you are not what you were. You were dead, but God has made you Alive with a capital “A.”

Spiritual Life and death is a matter of being in a Loving relationship with God or being alienated from God. 2 Corinthians 5:18–21 says, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (KJV 1900)

God has reconciled us to Himself. He did it by, or through, the Lord Jesus Christ. He calls everyone to be reconciled to Him. Why? Because the Lord Jesus was made to be sin in order that we could be made the very righteousness of God in Him. There is now a pathway to God. Because of the Lord Jesus, those who once were far off have been brought near.

Ephesians 2:13 is crystal clear about this, saying, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (KJV 1900) Those outside the gate have been given a way to be cleansed from all unrighteousness and brought inside the gate. Hebrews 13:12 tells us this was the reason Jesus was crucified outside the city gate. It reads, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” (KJV 1900)

In this we see the reason for the Old Testament directives found in Numbers 5:2–3 “Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.” (KJV 1900)

God dwells inside the camp. God dwells among His people. Nothing unclean can exist where God dwells. Saints, we have been made righteous. Since this is true, God dwells in us, with us, among us.

The unrighteous are alienated from God. They have no relationship with Him. They are at odds with God. They are outside the camp, outside the gate. For His part, God has reconciled people, but reconciliation is a two-way street. If people will not agree to be reconciled, they will remain alienated and separated from the Source of Life.

Consequently, that is our mission as ambassadors of The Kingdom. We plead with people to change their minds about God and about sin. We urge them to agree with God and take Him at His word. We beg them to be reconciled to God, not primarily as a way to avoid hell (though that is certainly good) but so that they can partake of and enjoy abundant Life, having a relationship with God.

* Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes, (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Eph 2:1.