2:1
So in the first part of chapter one we had this great paean of praise to God and then the equally great prayer of Paul, asking God to open our eyes to just how much He is for us. How can this have anything to do with me? And what has it got to do with me? These ten verses reveal the answer to these sorts of questions. Paul’s answer does not start from a pretty place! As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. There is no great difference between transgressions or trespasses, and sins. The former means violations of divine commands, while the latter means offences against God in thought, word or action. Either way, it’s not good!
2:2
This was not just the odd one off failure, but sin was a way of life! We were following the ways of the world and the prince of the air. The latter term is used of the devil. This is the way we used to live, and is the way that the world is continuing to live! The way of the world, and of the devil are very similar. We often want to draw sharp distinctions, but sometimes there isn’t one. If we talk of something being demonic or satanic we immediately think of dramatic satanism, but most of the time satanic activity is very mundane, it is just the world going about its normal business in rebellion against God.
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