I. Human Sin and God’s Grace
Before delving into the central theme of Ephesians 2, Pastor David Jang emphasizes the reasons for praise and thanksgiving that the Apostle Paul recorded in Ephesians 1. In Ephesians 1, Paul says, “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Eph. 1:10). Pastor David Jang interprets this as a verse revealing the ‘grand direction of history,’ going far beyond mere individual salvation. The fact that history is divided into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini) itself indicates that the coming of Christ is the pivotal event in history. History is “moving toward unity in Christ,” and this signifies an ‘eschatological vision’ and a ‘new beginning.’
Within this grand flow of history, Pastor David Jang usually teaches newcomers to the church the so-called “Four Spiritual Laws,” often summarized as Creation–Sin–Christ–Salvation, but he expands it by adding “the Kingdom of God.” Thus he teaches Creation–Sin–Salvation through Christ–the Kingdom of God. The reason is that the entire Bible unfolds in a trajectory that ultimately seeks to restore and perfect God’s Kingdom. According to him, the Kingdom of God began with the first coming of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross, continues to expand even now, and will be completed in the end. Therefore, Christian faith is not confined merely to individual salvation but directs our gaze to the “salvation of history,” culminating in the coming of the Kingdom of God in a grander dimension.
Pastor David Jang explains that just as Paul in Ephesians 1 had “reason to praise,” those who have received the grace of salvation naturally overflow with praise and prayer. Ephesians 1 is filled with praise and prayer. He highlights that “Paul’s prayer is a model showing us what we should pray for,” particularly drawing attention to the content of Paul’s prayer in the latter part of Ephesians 1. That prayer does not merely present superficial wishes; it is a lofty petition for God’s plan of salvation, His sovereignty, and for the spirit of wisdom and revelation to enlighten believers. In other words, Paul seeks the believers’ “hearts to be enlightened,” pointing to a ‘spiritual awakening’ that goes beyond mere knowledge to grasp God’s will.
In this context, Pastor David Jang naturally shifts his focus to the fall and sin of humanity. God originally created a beautiful world and declared that His creation, especially humans made in His image, was “very good.” Yet humanity fell into sin, breaking its relationship with God and descending into disorder and confusion. He compares this to 1 Samuel 15:23, where Samuel tells Saul, “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you.” The fundamental cause is that humanity “has first abandoned God.” Pastor David Jang calls this “the deep truth the Bible teaches,” pointing out that people who have turned away from God and sinned often believe instead that God has forsaken them. Yet in reality, humans were the first to turn their backs on God, thereby becoming objects of wrath.
Despite this, God’s compassion and love toward sinners know no bounds. He sent His Son to save those mired in sin, inviting humanity through the good news that “He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16). Pastor David Jang especially emphasizes the cross of Jesus Christ as an event of “Redemption.” Drawing on the ancient backdrop of the term “redemption” (in which one could purchase a slave with money and grant them freedom), he explains that Jesus paid the most precious price—His own life—to liberate humankind from its slavery to sin. Thus, following the typical Four Spiritual Laws—Creation, Sin, Christ, Salvation—Pastor David Jang introduces the overarching premise that the entire Bible “ultimately converges on the Kingdom of God,” underscoring how majestic and clear the salvation history of God is, as presented in Ephesians, which speaks of “bringing all things together in Christ.”
Consequently, the conclusion of Ephesians 1 can be summarized as “praise” and “prayer.” As Paul’s confession shows, once sinners are saved by God’s grace, praise wells up from the depths of their hearts, and a “holy prayer” naturally follows, seeking to understand and experience God’s grace more fully. Pastor David Jang explains that as our “awareness of grace” deepens, our prayers gain a broader perspective, aimed at the Kingdom of God and the salvation of history. This is where Ephesians displays its unique scale, simultaneously encompassing “history and salvation” in one epistle.
II. Transgressions, Sin, and the Certainty of Salvation
Moving on to Ephesians 2, Pastor David Jang highlights the dramatic reversal found in the first verse: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins—He made you alive!” Paul, having declared at the end of Ephesians 1 that “history will ultimately be united in Christ,” now shows in chapter 2 just how stark the transformation from death to life is in that unifying process.
First, we note the distinction in Ephesians 2:1 between “transgressions (παράπτωμα, paraptōma)” and “sins (ἁμαρτία, hamartia).” Pastor David Jang explains that “transgression” means “falling away from the right path (fall away),” indicating that humanity strayed from the path (or orbit) it was originally meant to follow. All creation orbits around the sun according to its designated path; even nature and animals follow the laws given to them. Only humankind has deviated from its ordained orbit and design. “Sin (hamartia)” has the root meaning of “missing the mark,” failing to hit the center of the target and thus leading to a state where everything is tangled—disorder and confusion.
Pastor David Jang then points to Ephesians 2:2: “in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air…” He explains that humanity’s sin is not merely individual but structurally embedded in the “world governed by the ruler of the air (Satan).” People often consider sin as something unrelated to God or solely a human matter, but Scripture reveals an evil spiritual power behind it—“the ruler of the air”—which manipulates worldly trends (ideologies, cultures, values) to maximize “the flow of sin.” The city of Ephesus, where the Ephesian church was located, was dominated by the enormous Temple of Artemis, rife with sexual immorality and idolatry. Pastor David Jang notes that understanding this cultural context—“the idolatry, immorality, and corrupt culture they followed”—is crucial. Hence the description in Ephesians of “following the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air” is not abstract theory but was a very real issue for the people of that time.
Additionally, Pastor David Jang observes that the phrase in Ephesians 2:3 calling us “by nature deserving of wrath” corresponds with Romans 1, where Paul states that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Modern readers often misunderstand God’s wrath as conflicting with His love. But according to Pastor David Jang, God’s wrath is provoked because “humankind abandoned God, engaged in unrighteousness and idolatry, and fell into sins that harm one another.” Thus, God’s wrath is not the opposite of love; rather, it is the intrinsic attitude of the holy God who hates sin and executes a “righteous judgment” for the sake of restoration. Humanity, having willfully abandoned its orbit, became deserving of wrath by nature, yet Ephesians 2 proclaims the reversal that God, full of mercy, has provided a way of salvation for humankind.
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions…” (Eph. 2:4–5). Here Pastor David Jang repeatedly underscores that salvation is God’s grace. Humanity may have turned away from God, yet God never abandoned humankind; ultimately, He granted eternal life to sinners at the extreme cost of sacrificing His own Son. Hence Ephesians 2:8–9 declares, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Pastor David Jang emphasizes that we must never forget that “our salvation is entirely God’s gift, not based on our works, merits, or righteousness.”
To further highlight that salvation is “grace before works,” Pastor David Jang references the Reformation principle Sola Gratia (“by grace alone”), recalling the historic emphasis on the relationship between “grace” and “faith.” Grace comes first, and faith is the channel by which we receive that grace; no matter how upright our actions might be, they can never come before grace. Thus Paul categorically states, “so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:9). Pastor David Jang uses the metaphor “You do not dilute wine with water” to illustrate that we must never mix works-based merit into grace. The absolute nature of grace is the foundation of Christian faith.
Moving on, he explains the phrase “we are God’s handiwork” (Eph. 2:10) from the Greek word poiēma (ποίημα), interpreting it as “those newly created in Christ.” Revisiting the concept of “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17), Pastor David Jang contends that salvation is not merely about forgiveness of sins or escaping punishment but constitutes a fundamental re-creation of our very being. He then connects this to God’s purpose for salvation: “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Eph. 2:10). Those who have been saved by grace are called to a life that carries out “the good works God has prepared in advance.” Pastor David Jang finds in this verse clear guidance for how Christians should live in the world. Having been saved by grace through faith, believers “ought to do good works, shine as light and salt in the world, and walk joyfully in the path God has prepared.”
Thus, Ephesians 2:1–10 speaks of a transition “from death to life,” summarizing how those who had transgressed and missed the mark were “raised again in Christ.” Pastor David Jang stresses that this is “the very essence of the gospel for which we must be grateful and praise God throughout our lives.” For sinners whose lives seemed hopeless and meaningless, God’s vast mercy and love have come upon them, enabling them to “be made alive with Christ, raised with Christ, and seated with Him in the heavenly realms,” sharing in His glory. Consequently, our entire life can become a song of thanksgiving.
III. The Assurance of “the Kingdom of God”
Pastor David Jang summarizes the overarching theme of Ephesians 1–2 as “the coming of Jesus Christ, which marks both the end and the new beginning of history.” When Ephesians 1:10 says, “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ,” it declares where history is headed and what its endpoint is. Jesus Christ stands as the conclusion of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament, being “the Alpha and the Omega,” as stated in Revelation. Pastor David Jang compares this to Teilhard de Chardin’s idea of the “Omega Point,” saying, “Just as the Omega Point of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ, the Omega Point of the New Testament is the Kingdom of God.” Thus, the end times signify “the end of the old history and the beginning of a new one,” and he believes this new history already started with the first coming of Jesus Christ.
Hence history is not a meaningless stream that eventually vanishes but a planned journey “that converges on the Kingdom of God in Christ.” Relying on this certainty, Pastor David Jang recalls how Paul in Acts 28 “proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31). He also refers to the question from the disciples just before Jesus’ ascension—“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)—noting that their inquiry indicates a “hope for the restoration of the kingdom,” or the completion of God’s Kingdom. Likewise, for Christians living in the New Testament era, that Kingdom has already begun but is not yet complete; it continues to expand in the present. In our prayers, when we say “Your kingdom come,” we are participating in and expressing faith in both the eschatological reality and its present unfolding.
Thus Paul’s declaration in Ephesians that “the old history of sin has met its end through the cross, and a new era of life has opened” instructs the church today on “what historical perspective we should hold.” Pastor David Jang uses a metaphor: “If you do not know where history is going, you will drift aimlessly, not knowing where your ship is headed.” He urges Christians to live with a “clear destination,” namely, the “completion of God’s Kingdom.” In Christ, our lives and ministries participate in “the grand flow of history,” so even amid our present world, that Kingdom grows like a mustard seed, or like yeast that works its way through the whole batch of dough, gradually expanding its influence (Matt. 13:31–33).
Pastor David Jang teaches that an attitude of “praise and thanksgiving” naturally arises in those who are certain of the salvation of history and the arrival of God’s Kingdom. Just as Paul confessed in Ephesians 1, he “could not help but praise” because he clearly understood his reasons for praising. That reason for praise is not mere psychological comfort but rather the overwhelming gratitude for the event of salvation, in which those who were spiritually dead in sin “were saved by grace.” Everyone was once “by nature children of wrath,” following the ways of the world and the ruler of the air, hopelessly unable to save themselves. Yet through Jesus Christ, who was “delivered up” on the cross, we have been “freely” saved, defeating the power of sin and death by His mighty life and raising us up again. This gratitude overflows into praise.
Those who experience this grace also serve the world with a thankful heart. Referencing Ephesians 2:10—“created in Christ Jesus to do good works”—Pastor David Jang notes that gratitude and praise should never remain on our lips alone but manifest as “fruit borne in action.” Just as Paul, once a “chief of sinners,” dedicated his entire life to preaching the gospel after discovering this grace, so believers today, having been saved from past sin, ought to “respond with thankfulness, perform good works, and contribute to the expansion of God’s Kingdom.” This becomes possible only when we realize that our capability is not our own but stems from being “seated with Christ in the heavenly realms” and sharing His authority. Hence Pastor David Jang concludes, “The purpose of our salvation is for us to do the good works God has prepared, and through them, God’s glory is revealed.”
Therefore, Ephesians 2 is a “chapter of grace” that evokes endless gratitude and praise. Although we might think we are alive, from God’s perspective we were once dead in sin—but now, in Christ, we have obtained true life and are taught that “it is only right to live anew.” Pastor David Jang summarizes this as “the proclamation of the gospel in Ephesians,” as well as “the key to practically understanding God’s grand and profound plan of salvation.” We were once dead, off the path due to sin; now, in Christ, we have been newly created to do good works. This reveals the reason for every Christian’s existence and calling. Clinging to this truth allows us to remain confident that no matter how dark our reality may seem or how dominant Satan’s power appears, history is already moving toward the “future determined in Christ.”
Accordingly, Pastor David Jang teaches through Ephesians 2 that this gospel—“those who were dead in transgressions and sins have been made alive together with Christ and seated with Him in heaven”—must be our “eternal song and prayer.” Such praise and thanksgiving make the church community more spiritually vibrant and enable it to exert a positive influence on the world, ultimately progressing toward the goal of “the restoration of God’s Kingdom.” He consistently shares this message: “We know for certain where our ship is heading—it is the Kingdom of God. In Jesus Christ, all things will be united, the old history has ended through Christ’s cross and resurrection, and the new history has already begun. Therefore, do not waver. You who have been saved by grace, live as those who do good works, praising and giving thanks.”
The message of Ephesians 2 that Pastor David Jang presents essentially reawakens the identity of both the church and individual Christians. “You were dead, but now you are alive. You have been made alive with Christ and ultimately look to the Kingdom of God as you do good works on this earth.” He underscores that holding to these truths is central to our faith. Gratitude, praise, and conviction that flow from this central truth transform every aspect of our lives and ultimately testify to the gospel in the world along the path God has prepared. In this light, Ephesians 2 becomes the confession and testimony of all those who have passed “from death to life, from wrath to grace” in Jesus Christ. And its ultimate destination is the “Kingdom of God.” Having been saved through Christ, we are all granted the privilege of joining this grand historical procession, and that is why praise and thanksgiving are only fitting. This, Pastor David Jang affirms, is the core message of Ephesians 2.