Ephesians 2:1-3 – Dead in Trespasses and Sins (Part 3)

Ephesians, Ephesians 2, salvation, Theology 1 Minute

This is the third and final sermon on the topic of spiritual death. This sermon was preached on July 3, 2022 at Pioneer Bible Church. This is part of our verse-by-verse study of Ephesians.

So far we have seen that spiritual death is…

  1. The past reality of believers in Jesus Christ
  2. The present reality for all who are not trusting in Jesus Christ
  3. The absence of God’s life
  4. The reality of human nature apart from Christ
  5. The reality of human nature in union to Adam
  6. Bondage to Satan

This week will see…

1. Spiritual death is inability toward God

  • dead in trespasses and sins
  • “dead” – nekros – “dead”, “dead thing”, “corpse” (2x ESV – Mark 9:26; Revelation 16:3)
  • Ezekiel 37:1-14 – Valley of Dry Bones

2. Spiritual death is active rebellion against God

  • Trespasses – intentionally crossing forbidden boundary lines – intentional rebellion against God (Romans 1:32)
  • Sins – missing the mark – (Romans 3:23)
  • Following the age of this world – Following the world system that is in rebellion against God – in both blatant immorality and even morality and religion apart from Jesus Christ.
  • Following the prince of the power of the air – Satan – (2 Corinthians 4:4)
  • We all once lived…
    • in the passions of our flesh
    • carrying out the desires of the body
    • carrying out the desire of the mind

3. Spiritual death brings and deserves God’s wrath

  • God’s wrath is just, holy, good, and perfect VS. man’s wrath which is never just (James 1:20).
  • Revelation 19:13, 15b: “He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God… He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 – “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”
  • Romans 1:18-32

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved

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