Sin, Satan and mankind explains the nature of human beings and how Satan exploits mankind’s sinful ways to achieve his agenda. We will be studying Ephesians chapter 2 verses one through 10, and in these critical verses, Paul the Apostles endows us with a wealth of information to equip the believer to better understand the truth about salvation, which is based on Grace, not works.
In verse one, Paul outlines the main thesis, “And you He made Alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”. The significance of this verse is based on the primary pillar of Christianity which is death is the result of sin, and life is the outcome of Christ’s glorious resurrection. Christ has redeemed us and through His blood, we will not see spiritual death. We are rejuvenated, renewed, and made into a new man, and when our life ends on earth, we will join our Lord in heaven. The life and death comparison is also evident in the symbolism of baptism. The act of submerging the believer in water is the act of putting to death the old man, and when we rise out of the water, it’s as if we are resurrected – coming out as the new man. Furthermore, this is not Paul’s first instance of delineating sin and connecting it with death. In Romans chapter 6 verse 23, Paul states that “For the wages of sin is death”. For those who are new to the faith or don’t know Christ, you may be thinking, when did death impact creation? We know that in the beginning God created a perfect world. However, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (tempted by Satan who was disguised as the serpent) in the Garden of Eden, they were cursed by God to death (hence sin, Satan and mankind). Essentially, sin entered the world and through Adam we inherited the generational curse of sin, where each offspring from Adam was born sinful. Christ reversed this damnation through His sacrifice on the cross. Christ assumed the sins of the world and through Him (“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” – Romans 10:9) you will be saved. In Isaiah chapter one verse 18, it says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. All who reject Jesus as Lord and Savior will go to hell and will suffer in the lake of fire for eternity. The words chosen by Paul to describe sin as death is literal for the unsaved because our corrupt nature is wicked, and it is on the path to hell. 
Even though the gift of eternal life is given freely for those who ask, nonetheless, man chooses the life of sin over Christ (sin, Satan mankind). Man’s sinful nature has enslaved him to wickedness and just like a pig mankind prefers to wallow in filth. For those who have Christ, they have the hope that through Christ they are redeemed to the Father and are forgiven of their sin as the east is from the west (Psalms 103:12). Paul’s statement clearly teaches us that Jesus has saved us from the lusts of our flesh and the wickedness that once consumed us (prior to our salvation). In verse three, Paul states “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”. We can fill in the definition of the lusts of our flesh (sin, Satan mankind) with the definition that Paul offers regarding the works of the flesh in Galatians chapter 5 verses 19 through 21. Paul states: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul is reminding us to remain humble in Ephesians 2:3 because we must not boost about our new nature and think of ourselves as holier than others. If we see ourselves in this manner, we become the Pharisees that Christ criticized. The fact that we are righteous is only through Christ and is not based on our merits. If left to us, our actions would only yield trouble and disappointment. As such, this reminder helps us to remain humble and to have compassion for the unsaved.
Now, walking in sin not only results in spiritual death, it also allows for Satan to control the unsaved – who don’t have the Holy Spirit (sin Satan mankind). In Ephesians chapter two verse two, Paul states “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience”. The warning is clear; those who walk in the ways of the wicked, living a sinful life (unsaved), are susceptible to Satan’s control. The sinful are utilized by Satan, exploited, and manipulated to do his will. It’s clear that Satan can not work through the righteous (those who are saved through the blood of Jesus), instead he uses those that don’t have the Holy Spirit to do his will. Though we may be tempted by Satan, Christ has given us the power to rebuke Satan in His name. He has given us the power to have authority over Satan. In James chapter four verse seven, we are told the following, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”. There are several examples of world leaders being manipulated by Satan, including the Pharoah in Egypt and the king of Babylon. In the case of the king of Babylon, Isaiah chapter 14 verse four to 11, prophetic message is given to the king and immediately following the message to the king, verses 12 to 15, speak about Satan. Satan is referenced because it’s the entity that is controlling the king. In another example, we are taught in Daniel chapter 10 verse 13, that there are spiritual entities ruling over kingdoms. The verses states “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia”. This is not a reference to a physical entity; therefore, Michael the Archangel was summoned to help Daniel. The prince of the kingdom of Persia implies the evil entity that was lord over the kingdom, who was ruling its leaders. Therefore, we know that evil forces are controlling people and governments around the world as is validated by Paul the Apostle.
Furthermore, in Ephesians chapter two, verses four and five, there is an affirmation of salvation by our Heavenly Father. Paul states 4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, 5) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”. This reminds us of John chapter three verse 16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The key here is the abundant and overwhelming love that God has for us, and the compassion for the sinner, which is evident in verse six which Paul states, 6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Essentially, we are what Paul states in Roman 8:17, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Thus, we have been elevated to a princely level, and as the prodigals, we have returned home to our Heavenly Father (those saved). We are reunited through Christ to the Father. As our Father, God will provide for us and protect us. Jesus explains this important promise in Matthew chapter six verses 25 through 28, 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [a]cubit to his [b]stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [c]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Finally, we have been transformed from our former selves and have been renewed and reborn as the new man in Christ. We have left the life of sin and wickedness (sin Satan mankind) for the new life that is guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul states in verses eight through 10, 8)For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10)For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Grace, not works is the critical point here which must help us to remain humble. We are not saved through our own righteousness, rather, we are the workmanship of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
If you haven’t received the Lord, take this opportunity to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Pray this prayer and sincerely repent of your sins, and you will be saved. Lord Jesus I know that I am sinner and I ask you forgive me of my sins. I believe that you were crucified for my sins and through your blood I have redemption and salvation. Please come into my heart and I receive you as my God. I pray in Jesus name. AMEN
