Ephesians chapter 2

vs 1

I'm not quite sure where the KJV gets 'quickened' from, or even what it means! Anyway, the rest of the verse is simple enough - although the Ephesians weren't all physically dead, they were spiritually dead, and were headed for both a physical death and a more serious permenant existential death. And that because of sin and transgression. Note the difference - transgression is like crossing a line, so doing something you shouldn't do. Breaking laws and such. Sin is not that. Both are involved in Ephesus.

vs 2

Ok, Paul is setting up not only the ways of the world as part of the problem, but also another ruler, a siritual ruler, who is working in those who are disobedient. Two enemies, the world and the evil spiritual ruler. Both used to be at work in the Ephesians lives.

vs 3

Paul now expands the idea to everyone, at all times. Including himself. Two things mainly - one that we allow the cravings of the sinful nature to be what guides us, and two that we are therefore objects of God's wrath.

vs 4

God loves us, and is great in mercy. This verse is only the opening of a sentence, but already tells us so much.

vs 5

Our life in Christ comes even while still dead in transgressions. Paul adds to this, for emphasis that this is grace - God giving us this favour for nothing we have done.

vs 6

We were dead, but we have been raised? Or is it that Christ ascended up, and we have been raised up with him, seated in the heavenly realms? The second one seems more in context. It's also a contrast between the evil ruler of the air, and Christ, enthroned over all the heavenly realms.

vs 7

God has raised us up so that his grace might be fully expressed in all its value. It's not just the lack of punishment for sins, but also the calling upward to heaven, that makes God's grace so complete.

vs 8

Even our faith is a gift! Salvation by grace and grace alone is what Paul teaches. Although we have value in God's sight and he loves us, we don't do or accomplish anything that causes our salvation. It's all God.

vs 9

As if the previous verse wasn't enough, this is just added on, so that in the negative you can see not only that it's not by work, but also the reason - to prevent boasting.

vs 10

He follows straight up, though, to point out where good works fit into the Christian life. They are a response to God's grace, they are an elected position through God's grace.

vs 11

Paul is starting on a new idea. He wants these Ephesians to remember something. First, though, he wants to clarify that this is in the context of them currently being called "uncircumcised" by people who call themselves "circumcision" - that is, by people who are into cutting off bits of penis.