“1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ` among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others” (Eph. 2:1-3).
Paul wants every saint that reads this to know who “you are” and to know your current state in contrast to your past condition, which is brought out in verses 2 and 3. Something we must never forget—brothers and sisters—we once walked according to the course of this world, and we were dead in our sins. Do we appreciate this? Do we remember that we once walked in worldliness? As we look back to the first chapter, I pray that we grasp the compelling significance of this truth. Do you understand that you are redeemed—then you had a sin debt. Do you realize you are redeemed by the blood—then you must have been previously walking in sin with no hope of freedom. Do you comprehend that you are adopted—then brothers and sisters—by necessity that means you were formerly separated from God with no rights—no relationship—no spiritual family.