Ruined Sinners – Ephesians 2:1–3

Introduction

One of the most common objections I hear when speaking about sin is this:“How can you say good people are bad? Are you saying that whole groups of good people will go to hell just because they are born sinners?”

The truth is, sin is not just about outward behaviour — it is like Delhi’s polluted air, seeping into every fibre of our being. No corner of our life is untouched.

The Condition: Spiritually Dead

Paul, in Ephesians 2:1, says we are “dead in our trespasses and sins.” This is not a statement about needing a little moral improvement; it is a radical declaration that apart from Christ, we are spiritually lifeless and incapable of responding to God.

In the Greek, Paul’s phrasing suggests a “sphere” — before being in Christ, we lived in the sphere of death. Our culture often claims that humans are basically good and just need education or refinement. But Scripture says our condition is far worse.

In many Eastern religions, sin is viewed impersonally — a violation of cosmic order — to be addressed through penance or personal effort. Paul, however, speaks of sin as a deeply personal offense against the holy Creator. Being “dead” means being cut off from the very source of life: God Himself (Ephesians 4:18).

This death is not simply spiritual inactivity; it is a relational rupture — “a black hole in the human heart,” leaving us utterly incapable of grasping the spiritual reality we were created for.

The Universality of Spiritual Death

This condition affects everyone. Paul’s “you” in Ephesians 2:1 includes all humanity. David confessed, “Against You… have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4) and acknowledged that he was sinful from birth (Psalm 51:5).

We are dead because of our trespasses and because we live within the sphere of sin. The fall’s most devastating result is not pain or even physical death — it is separation from the life of God. Every part of our being — thoughts, feelings, desires, and choices — has been touched by sin’s corruption.

This is why Paul says we are not “partially sick”; we are spiritually dead without Christ.

The Domination: World, Devil, Flesh

Spiritual death is active bondage, not passive existence. Paul identifies three dominating forces:

1. The World

To live “according to the course of this world” means conforming to its values — chasing what is fashionable and acceptable, while ignoring God’s eternal truth. Whether it’s self-glorification, greed, or the devaluing of life, the world’s standards pull us away from God.

2. The Devil

Paul calls him “the prince of the power of the air” — a personal being, not an impersonal force. His realm is filled with lies, false ideologies, and rebellion against God. Even believers, though rescued, still feel the pull of old sinful patterns because of his ongoing influence.

3. The Flesh

Paul says, “we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh” (Ephesians 2:3). Our desires naturally oppose God’s will. This is not just about bad actions; it is about a guilty identity. Outside of Christ, we are “children of wrath,” bound not to God, but to His judgment.

The Only Hope: The Cross

Here lies the wonder of the gospel: Jesus, the beloved Son of God, was treated as a “son of disobedience” and a “child of wrath” so that we could be adopted as God’s children.

The cross is the dividing line. Either we remain under God’s wrath, or we become His children through Christ.

Reflection Question

Who are you today — a child of wrath or a child of God in Christ Jesus?