1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
“Stark” describes the contrast between our present life as believers and our past life as unbelievers. We “were dead in our trespasses and sins!” After Paul digresses to shape out what that death looked like, he completes the thought in verse five where he writes that God, “made us alive with Christ.” The difference is huge, not to be minimized as though believers have only turned over a new leaf, or have improved their lives with a religious overlay. We were dead, but now we are alive. This reminds us of the man healed by Jesus who said, “…one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). The difference is a quantum distinction of epoch proportions. Just imagine today if a long dead relative came walking into your room. The implications would be no less than that of which takes place at spiritual conversion, when a spiritually dead sinner places faith in the crucified, risen Savior!
The deadness needs to be stressed, though, because it provides the necessary contrast for appreciating the brilliance of the new life. Some teach that there is a spark of goodness in all and that therefore faith in Christ is a good option for improving one’s life. But that is not what the Bible teaches. Our deadness was exhibited in behavior which fit right into this world. Like a fish in the water may not feel wet, our behavior seemed normal to us—but we were dead spiritually. Our spiritual deadness, what we used to be as unbelievers, is described in verses 2-3, in rapid fire succession. It was in keeping with the influence of Satan, “the prince of the power of the air,” and we were his “sons of disobedience.” Paul further describes it as including the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the mind. We lived with no higher standard than ourselves, namely what’s good for me, what’s in it for me—a self-centered way of life. We need to remind ourselves of what we were, so that we are motivated to avoid falling back into living like that. Peter rejoins, “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (1 Peter 4:3).
Lord, when I think back of what I was, I am ashamed. But, I don’t want the shame of continuing in that way. I praise You for Your grace and forgiveness.
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