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Question To Ponder

Posted Nov 24 2010 by Jonathan Brink in  with 8 Comments

What do you think Paul mean when he says, we are by nature children of wrath?

Ephesians 2:3 (King James Version) – Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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About the Author

Jonathan BrinkI am an business development and communications consultant. I am also the senior editor and publisher for Civitas Press. I recently published, Discovering The God Imagination: Reconstructing A Whole, New Christianity. (Civitas, 2011)View all posts by Jonathan Brink →

  • David

    Interesting question Jonathan. I think the first part of Eph Chapter two, verses 1-3 are discriptive of those who were seperated from God by their own thoughts and actions. However, the key thought starts in verse 4 and I think goes on thru verse 9. rnrnIn my reading of these verses the phrase ” we are by nature the children of wrath” is discriptive of our position in ourselves seperated from God. It’s because of God’s Mercy and Grace talked about in verses 4 and 5 thru Jesus that is key here. Not so much that our thinking and spiritual position, but that God’s Grace and Mercy is so Good. verse 5 is very similar in context to Rom 5:8.

    • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

      I’m glad you see it in context David. It’s so easy to just assume that we begin as children of wrath and never capture what the whole is saying.

    • Greg

      Explain “separated” please.n

      • David

        Hello Greg, Hope you have a good thanksgiving. Sure I’ll try to explain “separated” for you. Those that thru their own thoughts actions and seperated themselves from God. A little like Adam hidding from God. He seperated himself. It wasn’t God who hid. People have been hidding ever since. Not really understand how very much God loves them. rnrnI often wonder what would have happened if Adam instead of hidding would have sought God’s face, and cried out to him instead of allowing shame and distrust to rule his heart. rnrnHope this helps. At least you have my thoughts anyway. Thanks for asking Greg.

        • Greg

          In what way does hiding from God, separate us from God? nnBeing separate from God seems to imply that we have the ability to be in a different location than that of God….?

  • http://paradigmshift-jmac.blogspot.com/ Joe Machuta

    I think that it means that all humans were children affected by the downward spiral of humanity. Since humanity had lost the God imagination (in the fall and development of the ego) It needed another sure promise. It received the redemptive decrees and the covenants of promise. The covenants of promise are the New Covenant and the Davidic Covenant. The Mosaic Covenant was a pedagogical, parenthetical covenant meant to drive all of humanity to the gospel of Christ.nnThe problem for us today is that the gospel is not properly understood for its simplicity. The gospel is that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them.

    • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

      I guess we just like complex Joe.

  • http://openmindedconversations.blogspot.com/ jshmueller

    I believe he’s saying that by default we are caught up in a mindset and lifestyle that is utterly condemned by God because of its destructive effects. The parallels in Romans 5:9 and Colossians 3:5-6 all emphasize God’s active wrath towards idolatrous patterns of disobedience and evil. While God is uncompromising towards evil, He is also thoroughly committed to saving us from this bondage because of the great love He has for us (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12).rnrnSo rather than “balancing” God’s wrath with love, Paul is pointing out that God, BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE, is always for us and utterly against the things that are bound to destroy us.

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