Bible Truth #96 - Ephesians 2:1-2

Ephesians 2:1-2

1  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.

Who are those who are disobedient? Obviously they are the lost, every one of them. Verse 2 is a verse that proves every unsaved person is demon-possessed. You may say, “Huh?"

Who is the ruler of the kingdom of the air? Satan is (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, Luke 4:5-6). He and the demons are now at work IN those who are disobedient. Christians, we who have the Holy Spirit IN us, may be tempted but the temptation always comes from outside of us. Verse two clearly says that Satan and demons are now at work IN those who are disobedient.

Is it any wonder why every imagination of the heart of man is ONLY evil continually? (Genesis 6:5) It’s because a lost man is demon-possessed (Ephesians 2:2). Is it now any wonder why a lost man loves the darkness and hates the Light and will NOT come to It? (John 3:20) It’s because a lost man is demon-possessed. Is it any wonder why a lost man is hostile to God? (Romans 8:7) Is it any wonder why a lost man can’t please God? (Romans 8:8). It’s because a lost man is demon-possessed.

You should now see why it is impossible for a lost man to choose to believe. He hates God. And verse 1 above even tells us that we were DEAD in our transgressions and sins. How can a spiritually dead man do ANYTHING spiritually good? HE CAN’T! It’s because a lost man is demon-possessed! We WERE spiritually dead when we followed the ways of this world. If we were following the ways of this world, how can we do anything pleasing to God - like choosing to follow Jesus? (John 15:16) While man is lost, we can’t.

God chooses (John 15:16) - He did it before the foundation of the world - and then God works in a man (John 6:29), makes him a believer and saves him. AS A RESULT of God working in a formerly lost man, that man is NOW saved and he now believes. Is it any wonder that Jesus said, “All that the Father gives to me WILL come to me.” (John 6:37)?? God has it rigged!

Those who believe in free will and decisional salvation will argue, “But the Bible says whosoever will believe will have eternal life!” To that I wholeheartedly agree but they mistakenly believe that everyone has the ability to believe, the ability to choose for Christ while dead in sins, and I just explained above why they don’t. Go back to Bible Truth #92 for an example of “whosoever,” my example of the Cardinals and the Eagles. Who will wear a red uniform? ONLY a Cardinal! Can a player for the Eagles choose to wear a red uniform? NO! He’s an Eagle! So the Arminian belief that “whosoever” means “anyone can” is ludicrous and unbiblical.

Bottom line - the lost man is demon-possessed and if left to his own volition he would NEVER believe. It is not the desire nor the will of the flesh to be saved, that is why it is God’s choice (John 1:13).