You Formerly Walked

[Christsfreeservant]

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 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. 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. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” (Ephesians 2:1-5 NASB1995)​

It is always good, if you can, to read an entire book of the New Testament (especially beginning with Romans through Jude), one at a time, in its full context, before making any judgments regarding what is being taught in any particular book. For these were not originally books with chapters and verses, but most all of these were letters written by the apostles to the New Testament churches. So knowing the whole context of these letters helps you to better understand and interpret smaller sections of the Scriptures.

Also it is good to not read passages of Scripture too quickly, for words and their meanings are very important to correct biblical understanding. And verb tenses are important, too, which we don’t always get in our English translations. Like the Scriptures teach that whoever “believing” in Jesus has eternal life, which is an active ongoing faith in practice (John 3:16-21). And the Scriptures talk about “having been saved,” “being saved,” and “will be saved” as something ongoing which will not be complete until Christ returns.

[Matthew 10:22; John 8:31-32; John 15:1-12; Romans 8:24; Romans 11:17-24; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Colossians 1:21-23; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:10-13; Hebrews 3:6,14-15; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:5,9; 2 Peter 1:5-11; 1 John 2:24-25]

So, I said all of that to say this. Pay close attention to the verb tenses in Ephesians 2:1-3, where it says that you WERE (past) dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you FORMERLY (past) walked (lived in practice) according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan, the devil) that is now working in the sons of DISOBEDIENCE. Among them we too all FORMERLY (past) lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh.. and WERE children of wrath.

So, when this continues by talking about the grace of God and how God made us alive together with Christ, and how by grace we have been saved, this is not teaching a do-nothing gospel message whereby God just forgives us but nothing has to change in how we live, which is what many people are teaching these days. True biblical faith in Jesus Christ which saves delivers us out of our slavery (addiction) to sin so that we can now walk in obedience to his commands in holy living, in being the people of God that He desires.

So, what should describe our lives now is that we formerly (past tense) walked (lived in practice) in sinful lifestyles according to the working of Satan. We formerly (past tense) lived a life of disobedience to God and to his commands. We formerly (past tense) lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging in the desires of the flesh, and were thus children of wrath. These lives of living in sin, according to the lusts of the flesh, and not in walks of obedience to our Lord, are now to be in the past, and no longer present.

So, if you are being taught to reject the teaching that says that you must die with Christ to sin, and that you must follow the Lord in obedience to his commands (actively), to have salvation from sin and eternal life with God, and you are taught that all you have to do is make a confession of Christ as your Lord and Savior and now you are saved for eternity and heaven is now secured you for eternity, and if you should believe all that, you are being condemned to spend eternity in hell under the wrath of God, without hope.

For God’s grace to us is not carte blanche (complete freedom to act as one wishes) to keep on living in sin, living however we want to live, doing whatever is pleasing to our flesh in direct disobedience to the Lord and to his commands. God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return for his faithful bride, and he takes us to be with him for eternity (see Titus 2:11-14).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

As the Deer

By Martin J. Nystrom
Based off Psalm 42:1

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You

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You Formerly Walked
An Original Work / August 13, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love