Useful Bible Studies > Ephesians Commentary > chapter 2
Formerly, the people who now are Christians were dead in their spirits. That was the result of their wrong and evil behaviour and attitudes (Romans 6:23). However, God made it possible for them to turn from their evil deeds and to receive Christ into their lives. At that moment, God’s Holy Spirit entered their lives and their spirits became alive (Romans 8:9-10). So now they live with a new kind of life (John 10:10) that comes from heaven (1:3).
In the Book of Ephesians, Paul uses 5 times the word EPOURANIOS. We translate that word ‘heavenly’, which means something in, or of, heaven. In 1:20, it refers to the place where Christ is now: he is actually in heaven.
In 3:10 however, that same word refers to powerful spirit rulers (for example, the devil) and in 6:12 to wicked forces (for example, the evil spirits that support the devil). Clearly, they have no place in heaven (see Hebrews 12:22-24; Revelation 12:9). However, they do have places of high (important) authority. That is why they seem so powerful.
However, God has given his people the power to oppose the devil and his wicked forces (6:10-11). Christians are too weak to oppose the devil in their own strength - they must depend on the strength that God gives them (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 6:10). God has also given to Christians a place of high authority, with Christ. Christ’s place of high authority gives him power over every ruler and every spirit in the spirit world (1:20-21). A Christian’s place of authority permits him to stand against the devil, by such means as prayer, truth, the Bible, and faith (trust in God) - (6:10-18). In his or her struggle against the devil, a Christian is never alone. Christ is always with each Christian, to support and to help that person.
Next part: God's plan for his people in the future age (Ephesians 2:7)
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© 2019, Keith Simons.