Peripateo: Walking from Spiritual Death to Life

Before encountering God’s transformative power, individuals exist in a state described as "dead in trespasses and sins," signifying spiritual lifelessness and separation from God ([08:26]). This condition encompasses both unintentional wrongdoings, known as "trespasses," and deliberate acts of disobedience, referred to as "sins" ([09:07]). Regardless of awareness or intent, this state reflects a fundamental alienation from God.

The manner in which people live prior to God’s intervention is captured by the Greek word "peripateo," meaning to walk or live in a particular way ([12:51]). This term conveys not merely physical movement but the overall conduct and lifestyle of a person. Before knowing Christ, this walk is aligned with the world’s values and is influenced by the "ruler of the power of the air," identified as Satan ([12:51]). Such a life is characterized by pursuing the lusts of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of possessions ([16:00]), resulting in a disobedient path that places individuals under God’s judgment as "children under wrath" ([19:32]). This way of life is inherently separated from God and marked by spiritual death.

The phrase "but God" introduces a decisive and dramatic shift from this state of death to one of life and reconciliation ([04:29]). It reveals God’s merciful and loving intervention, which brings spiritual life to those who were once dead in sin ([09:57]). God’s love is immeasurable, and His grace is the foundation of salvation, raising believers up and seating them with Christ in heavenly realms ([25:13]). This transformation is entirely a gift from God, not the result of human effort, highlighting the stark contrast between the former disobedient walk and the new life of obedience.

Following this divine intervention, the purpose of the believer’s life is redefined. God prepares good works in advance for individuals to walk in, signifying a life created for His glory and characterized by obedience and service ([32:26]). This new walk is a response to God’s love and grace, transforming believers from spiritually dead sinners into active participants in His divine plan.

Thus, the passage from Ephesians 2:1-2 presents a vivid contrast between a life dominated by disobedience and Satan’s influence and a life renewed by God’s grace, marked by spiritual vitality, security, and purposeful good works. The distinctions between "trespasses" and "sins" clarify the nature of human disobedience, while "peripateo" powerfully illustrates the transformation in the way of life before and after God’s intervention.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from FBCFO, one of 60 churches in Boulder, CO