Ephesians 2:3 - among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
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What does "Ephesians 2:3" mean?
Ephesians 2:3 is a powerful verse that describes the universal human condition before being transformed by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Let's break down its meaning phrase by phrase:
"Among whom we also all once lived...": "Among whom" refers back to the previous verse, which describes people who are following the ways of the world, the prince of the power of the air (Satan), and the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. This part establishes that the author (Paul, along with the Ephesians community) used to be part of this group. "We also all" emphasizes that everyone, including the believers in Ephesus and Paul himself, shared this past. It's a universal statement about the human condition before conversion. "Once lived" highlights that this is a past reality, a state they have been delivered from.
"...in the lusts of our flesh...": This refers to living a life dominated by selfish desires and impulses. The "flesh" here isn't just the physical body, but the sinful human nature – the part of us that is prone to selfishness, greed, pride, and other vices. "Lusts" are strong desires, often implying those that are uncontrolled and lead to sin. This encompasses a wide range of sinful behaviors driven by our natural inclination towards self-gratification.
"...doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind...": This expands on the previous point. It's not just feeling lusts, but acting on them. It emphasizes that our sinful desires translate into tangible actions and behaviors. "Flesh" here refers to the basic, carnal desires for pleasure, comfort, and self-preservation. "Mind" (or "thoughts") indicates that sin isn't just about physical urges; it also involves intellectual and emotional desires, such as pride, ambition, envy, and the pursuit of worldly wisdom over God's truth. We are not only lead astray by our bodies, but also our minds, our rationalizations and justifications for actions, and our thoughts are also tainted by sin.
"...and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.": This is the crucial consequence of the preceding description. "By nature" means that our fallen human nature inherited from Adam makes us predisposed to sin. "Children of wrath" is a Hebrew idiom meaning "deserving of wrath" or "objects of God's wrath." It doesn't mean God arbitrarily hates us, but rather that our sinful actions are inherently opposed to God's holy nature and therefore draw his judgment. The phrase "even as the rest" reinforces the idea that this is a universal condition. Everyone outside of Christ is in this state, not just a few particularly bad people.
In essence, the verse says:
"Before we came to Christ, all of us lived according to our sinful desires, driven by both our physical and mental cravings. Because of this sinful nature, we were inherently deserving of God's judgment, just like everyone else who hasn't found redemption."
Key Implications:
Universality of Sin: The verse emphasizes that sin is not just a matter of isolated actions but a pervasive condition that affects all people.
The Seriousness of Sin: It highlights the grave consequences of sin – being under God's wrath.
The Need for Grace: By painting such a bleak picture of our natural state, the verse sets the stage for the glorious revelation of God's grace and mercy in the following verses. We are saved not by our own merits, but by God's undeserved favor.
Humility: It encourages believers to remember their past and to approach others with compassion and understanding, recognizing that everyone has been in the same position of needing salvation.
This verse serves as a reminder of where we came from and underscores the immense gratitude we should have for God's grace that has rescued us from this state. It provides context for understanding why salvation is so crucial and why it is such a precious gift.
Ephesians 2:3 - among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
What does "Ephesians 2:3" mean?
Ephesians 2:3 is a powerful verse that describes the universal human condition before being transformed by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Let's break down its meaning phrase by phrase:
"Among whom we also all once lived...": "Among whom" refers back to the previous verse, which describes people who are following the ways of the world, the prince of the power of the air (Satan), and the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. This part establishes that the author (Paul, along with the Ephesians community) used to be part of this group. "We also all" emphasizes that everyone, including the believers in Ephesus and Paul himself, shared this past. It's a universal statement about the human condition before conversion. "Once lived" highlights that this is a past reality, a state they have been delivered from.
"...in the lusts of our flesh...": This refers to living a life dominated by selfish desires and impulses. The "flesh" here isn't just the physical body, but the sinful human nature – the part of us that is prone to selfishness, greed, pride, and other vices. "Lusts" are strong desires, often implying those that are uncontrolled and lead to sin. This encompasses a wide range of sinful behaviors driven by our natural inclination towards self-gratification.
"...doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind...": This expands on the previous point. It's not just feeling lusts, but acting on them. It emphasizes that our sinful desires translate into tangible actions and behaviors. "Flesh" here refers to the basic, carnal desires for pleasure, comfort, and self-preservation. "Mind" (or "thoughts") indicates that sin isn't just about physical urges; it also involves intellectual and emotional desires, such as pride, ambition, envy, and the pursuit of worldly wisdom over God's truth. We are not only lead astray by our bodies, but also our minds, our rationalizations and justifications for actions, and our thoughts are also tainted by sin.
"...and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.": This is the crucial consequence of the preceding description. "By nature" means that our fallen human nature inherited from Adam makes us predisposed to sin. "Children of wrath" is a Hebrew idiom meaning "deserving of wrath" or "objects of God's wrath." It doesn't mean God arbitrarily hates us, but rather that our sinful actions are inherently opposed to God's holy nature and therefore draw his judgment. The phrase "even as the rest" reinforces the idea that this is a universal condition. Everyone outside of Christ is in this state, not just a few particularly bad people.
In essence, the verse says:
"Before we came to Christ, all of us lived according to our sinful desires, driven by both our physical and mental cravings. Because of this sinful nature, we were inherently deserving of God's judgment, just like everyone else who hasn't found redemption."
Key Implications:
Universality of Sin: The verse emphasizes that sin is not just a matter of isolated actions but a pervasive condition that affects all people.
The Seriousness of Sin: It highlights the grave consequences of sin – being under God's wrath.
The Need for Grace: By painting such a bleak picture of our natural state, the verse sets the stage for the glorious revelation of God's grace and mercy in the following verses. We are saved not by our own merits, but by God's undeserved favor.
Humility: It encourages believers to remember their past and to approach others with compassion and understanding, recognizing that everyone has been in the same position of needing salvation.
This verse serves as a reminder of where we came from and underscores the immense gratitude we should have for God's grace that has rescued us from this state. It provides context for understanding why salvation is so crucial and why it is such a precious gift.