A New Direction
Ephesians 2:2-3; 10
v2 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:
v3 Among whom also we all had our conversation (lifestyle) 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.
v3 Among whom also we all had our conversation (lifestyle) 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.
v10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
Verses 2-3 describe a person before they have converted to Christ. We all had a god and that god was fulfilling the personal lusts of our flesh and the desires of our mind (v 3). Prior to Christ, we were as such: If we can think it, why withhold it? If we crave it, why not make it happen as we wish? The only suitable thing to serve was the driving desires that swelled up within us at any given time. If they were found to be good or bad in the sight of morals, we could justify our decisions by rationalizing them. Who should check these cravings to keep them in place? Why would we ever submit to any source that restricts us? Those who serve themselves are natural. It is the norm, as Scripture has declared it the course of this world. There is a spirit in the air that proclaims men as gods who should serve themselves, and the prince of those desires is not the Lord but satan. Those who walk according to this prince do so because they are his children. Those who find this way of life refreshing are the children of disobedience. Our conversation (v 4) is to be understood as our lifestyle. It is in stark contrast to the workings that are in the believer.
The latter verse (v 10) describes the direction of all believers. They have a new Master in whom they follow, and it is none other than Christ Himself! We are made to serve good works and not be overtaken by the flow of disobedience which washes those in the world downstream. Those who are children of disobedience are creatures destined for wicked works, while those in Christ have been made new creatures to the purpose of fulfilling the Father's good pleasures. It has been before ordained that we should walk in them. How have we overcome and arrived at a new set of desires? It is because we are His workmanship. The hands of a carpenter are always building, so those hands of Jesus of Nazareth are also always conforming us into His image. From where do we derive our ability to serve a new Master? It is not from self effort or turning over a new leaf and committing to a new resolution. Rather, they are created in us (v 10), and created by Christ Jesus. The Scriptures declare "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..." (2 Corinthians 5:17), and again Christ has said, "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5a) Here are some contrasts that Paul lists for us to aid our understanding and give us direction as believers.
- The course of this world - Live like the masses not retaining God's will in their minds - (v2)
- Follow the prince (satan) of the air - by being dominated by sinful desires without any way of escape (v2)
- Have a spirit of disobedience - they are contrary to God's direction (v2)
- Enact on all their lusts - without the Spirit of God to govern them, the only governing instinct available is their own heart which is tainted by sin (v3)
- Fulfill all the desires of their mind - their own opinions are their authority and not the Word of God (v3)
- Christ's workmanship - We are crafted by Christ and made new to be like Him obtaining His desires which are opposite of those desires we had when we were ungodly
- Made unto good works (not disobedience) - A hammer is made to drive nails, a wrench is made to turn bolts. We are made new to live like Christ in obedience to God. This now becomes the purpose in which we are made
- Before ordained to walk in them - God's plan through eternity past and present is that all who are in Christ live as He lived with a desire to be in submission to God's Word
- Walk in them - obeying God and loving Christ are two hallmarks of the believer - contrast this with living out our wrong desires that spring up within us. Obedience is one way we demonstrate our love to Christ
We do not obtain Christ by committing good works. When our hearts are cleansed from sin by faith in His death and resurrection He moves into our hearts giving life and a new set of desires to go with that life. The natural inclination then for a believer is to have a new yearning to follow Jesus.
