From Death to Life:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. |
In the sacred text, Ephesians
2:1-10 from the New Testament God is represented through his spirit, sins and
faith. God is represented through spirit as his spirit is everywhere and
anywhere from death to life. His spirit is a constant prompt that he is with us
through sin and glory, it’s also a reminder that “God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” Sins are another
representation of God as it states that “1As for you, you were dead in
your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the
ways of this world”. God is represented in sins
also because, he is enriched with mercy and out of the great love he has when we
are to make a sin (or be dead through our trespasses) God makes us alive
together with Christ. Finally, God is represented in faith as faith is the complete
trust in someone or something and anyone who has a relationship with God feels
his faith and has faith for God too. Not only is he saved through faith but he
saves us in faith as well.
The inspired author was a follower of Paul and was written after Paul’s death, from CE (Common Era) 90 to 100. This audience of The Letter to the Ephesians were the Gentile church possibly in Asia Minor. The reason we are here according to the writer of the Ephesians is because we have been chosen by God. Which is why we prayer in praise of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Many scholars believe that the letter was envisioned to be circulated among many churches and that author was addressing the universal church with Christ as its head, as in some earliest copies of the letter’s there is no reference to Ephesus in the first verse. Ephesian’s emphasize unity among Christians, they also epically emphasize that Gentile (non-Jewish) Christian’s are one with Jewish Christian’s. This is since it’s expressed that Christ broke down the “diving wall” between them both for a reason. It clarifies the early Christians job (as it is our job now too) that everyone is treated with love to maintain the unity. Ephesians also talks about the place of good works in the life of a Christian. The author made it clear that we aren’t saved by the law which means we aren’t saved by doing good work but in order to do good works. The letter ends with advice that is practical for living out faith. From Death to Life specifically deals with the question of faith versus good works. This issue divided Christians since the beginning of the early Church and at the time of the Protestant Reformation it was a huge issue. There are many responses to the issue as some think we are saved by our good works when others believe that we are saved only through our faith in Christ. The writer makes is clear that each statement is incomplete. Which makes it evident that the core Christian belief is that: we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore we aren’t saved by doing good works but in order to do good works. Overall, just like we are asked what’s the purpose in life? God has an answer for everyone and it’s tucked away in the Letter to the Ephesians as it talks about God’s plan to save us for a life in Union with God and each other for eternity. Our salvation is God’s gift to us, how we live is out gift to God. In this image it different illustrations of Christ Jesus in throughout out the stages of his life – From Death to Life. This image represents the sacred text, Ephesians 2:1-10 as it’s a representation of the death and life of Christ Jesus. |