Ephesians 2:2, commentary and pictures

In time past those who are now in Christ were dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, whose spirit works in the children of disobedience. The prince of the power of the air is Satan, once Lucifer, the fallen ruler of the powers of darkness who commands evil spirits and seeks to control human beings. His spirit works with power in the disobedient, molding minds and gaining possession of thoughts, words and actions, so that people are moved by rebellion against God's law without knowing it. But God, rich in mercy and great in love, quickens those dead in sins together with Christ and raises them to sit in heavenly places in Him, to show the exceeding riches of His grace. This salvation is by grace through faith as the gift of God, not of works and not from self, saving not in sins but from them.

Former Death in Sin

The verse describes the past condition of those now in Christ as having been dead in trespasses and sins, walking in time past according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, whose spirit works in the children of disobedience. That former life was shared by all and involved following the desires of the flesh and mind, with people in it dead in sin and children of wrath. Before being made alive with Christ, people lived in keeping with the world's ways and under the influence of the spirit that works in those who disobey God. This past state is contrasted with being made alive together with Christ by God's mercy and grace.

That dead walk included living in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and being by nature children of wrath. Their past conduct belonged to a life shaped by sinful desires and practices. In time past people were spiritually dead and lived following the course of the world under Satan as ruler of evil spiritual power working in the disobedient, living in fleshly lusts and carrying out desires of flesh and mind as children of wrath.

To walk according to the course of this world means to be directed by Satan, the enemy of God and ruler of the air, not by Jesus, working in the disobedient. It is living for self and serving sin by transgression of God's law, an influence for evil that passes from age to age with increasing depravity and degradation. Those who walk that way belong to worldly kingdoms that do not recognize Christ's kingdom, having wandered from allegiance to God and from obedience to the law of His kingdom and counted as dead in trespasses and sins. It means living with pleasure, happiness, pursuits, interests and prospects joined to this world and earthly things where Satan reigns, with affections set on earth rather than on things above. Drinking in the world's spirit, enjoying human flattery, and letting moral taste become perverted place a person at risk of repeating a former failure and separating from God.

That worldly walk leaves people blinded by the god of this world and led by the prince of darkness, so they cannot enjoy heavenly things. Such a walk leaves a person alienated from the life of Christ with darkened understanding, unable to discern, love and enjoy heavenly things, with the things of the Spirit as foolishness to them. Their attention is turned away from the Sun of Righteousness and centered on themselves and the treasures of earth, with no just perception of the glory and majesty of God, forgetting the claims of the Giver while enjoying His gifts. Having chosen darkness and alienated themselves from the light of God, they do not love and enjoy divine things because they do not discern their value and loveliness, and their understanding becomes confused in regard to what is right, true, and holy. When tested this course reveals the heart and truly estimates moral worth as a burden and curse to the church.

The past walk meant living open to satanic influences that infuse the mind with fascinations and ambitions for amusements and engagements that induce disobedience to God, with disobedience lying at the foundation of all sin. It means having the god of this world as the object and theme of thought, centering the affections on minor temporal objects, living in the lusts of the flesh and fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. It stands opposed to walking with God as Enoch did and to having Christ as companion, in which the Spirit of God works in all who love and fear Him to keep His requirements and live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The walk is decided step by step in little daily acts, with the character shown in practical life testifying whether God is supreme.

Those who follow this spirit and their undisciplined desires are unaware of their danger and unready for death; they need light and must be freed from sin's hold that separates them from Christ. A past walk according to the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air means being dead in trespasses and sins and utterly destitute of spiritual life, following the maxims of men and walking in the footsteps of the transgressors of God's laws. Men apart from Christ are in a state of hopelessness, dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world, but through the gospel of Jesus Christ there is deliverance from that state, with life and power to reach forth unto holiness. What is needed under the ministration of the Holy Spirit is revival as a resurrection from that spiritual death into renewed spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart. Men in the very depths of degradation who have given themselves up to intemperate, dissolute habits are spiritually dead and cannot restore themselves, with ears too dull to take in the meaning of Christ's call and eyes too blind to see any good in store for them.

This former condition was shared by all, and applies to those who return to God for pardon, once that return has taken place as a description of time past when they walked according to the course of this world and under the prince of the power of the air working in disobedience. The verse applies to young people who are easily led away from God; they need godly associates, the influence of truth, and protection from temptation. Those who have never been truly converted remain spiritually dead even after joining the church and being baptized, because they were not dead to self but were buried alive and brought old self-indulgent habits with them. To walk according to the course of this world is to walk contrary to the counsels of God, practicing self-indulgence in eating, drinking, and dressing, which is idolatry, living in murmuring, faultfinding, and hatred of reproof, and being at enmity with God. The phrase children of disobedience describes people characterized by disobedient and evil practices.

Prince of Air Identified

The prince of the power of the air is Satan, once Lucifer, the fallen angel who rules the powers of darkness, commands evil spirits, and seeks through them to control human beings. To walk according to the course of this world is to be directed by him as the enemy of God and ruler of the air, and not by Jesus, with his spirit working in the disobedient. Those who follow that spirit with their undisciplined desires are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, unaware of danger and unready for death, needing light and deliverance from sin's hold that separates them from Christ.

He is also called the prince of darkness, the god of this world, Beelzebub, that old serpent, the Devil, a deceiver and a liar, operating concealed under a variety of disguises. After falling from his high place as covering cherub by leaving truth and allegiance, he leads a rival empire of evil against God. In self-exaltation he envied Christ, claimed entitlement to a higher position than the Commander of heaven, despised the law of God, and was therefore expelled from heaven and became Christ's most deadly foe, whose constant effort is to counteract His work of saving souls. Moved by intense hatred for the God he dishonored, he leaves no means untried to draw disobedient people to himself and make them like himself, working to shut every ray of divine light from the world, to wipe the likeness of God from men, and to stamp his own apostate character and image on their souls through selfishness and covetousness, so that entrusted talents build up his kingdom and worship him instead of God. Yielding to him makes a person his servant, leaving little room for Christ and weakening prayer and self-examination.

After Adam and Eve fell, he claimed dominion over the world, its kingdoms, and everything in nature, and the title prince of the power of the air expresses that claimed rule. In the wilderness temptation on a high mountain he threw off disguise and openly avowed it, showing Jesus the kingdoms of the world in panoramic view and asserting that their power and glory were delivered to him to give to whomever he will. He offered to put Christ in possession of them all without suffering or peril on the single condition of acknowledging Satan as superior and paying him worship and homage. God has permitted him to spread evil principles, while protecting those who choose heaven's principles, and Christians therefore wage spiritual warfare in territory he claims, staying alert to snares and deceptive influences without needing to be overcome by them.

His claim did not make him the rightful ruler; Christ refused to gain the kingdoms by yielding integrity and would become their rightful ruler through the suffering and death appointed by His Father. Sin placed humanity under Satan as agent of destruction bringing suffering, misery and death, with great strength in evil, so that the Majesty of heaven had to come to bear the test in behalf of humanity, redeem Adam's disgraceful failure, and with divine arm grasp the throne of the Infinite. After man joined Satan in transgression, Christ took the field to fight in man's behalf, conquering him in the wilderness and at Capernaum and fighting successfully to lift fallen degraded beings to purity again. His sacrifice casts out this ruler, secures redemption, will end Satan's work and rebellion and bring peace to heaven and earth, and opens the way for people to overcome through His merits and regain what was lost through sin. Those who receive Christ and believe in Him can claim that victory, have power against Satan and the fallen angels, and live as Christ lived.

That power of evil is identified with the prince of the power of the air and the prince of the power of evil, and it can be held in check only by God's power through the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead.

Spirit Working in Disobedience

The spirit now at work in the children of disobedience is Satan's own spirit working with power inside them, molding their minds and gaining possession of thought and word and action, so that they are moved to action by a spirit they do not know and may be controlled without understanding it. They may appear satisfied, yet sin brings unrest and conflict between sin and reason and between grace and human nature, and refusing to admit wrongdoing allows his deceptive hold to grow stronger while faith in Christ gives the struggling soul power to break it. Choosing to remain in sin leaves a person utterly destitute of spiritual life and unable by self to resist while following own way and will, and deliverance requires coming to Jesus in repentance, putting away sin, and surrendering the will to God for pardon and cleansing and peace. That spirit from beneath works with intensity of effort against God, leading to intrigue and selfishness and idolatry which Satan calls proper and commendable, dishonoring God's name, and unless there is repentance at the signs of His displeasure God will stretch forth His hand to punish again and again and will not let them go unpunished.

That spirit is rebellion and disobedience itself, working the will and pleasure of Satan with ingenious masterly deceiving power in mind and heart to misjudge and alienate those who should be one in mind and spirit and action, even to ruin parents until no restraining hand of father or mother has influence unless reformation becomes certain and that spirit is forsaken. It seeks to break down God's law by promising liberty through transgression, resists reproof of sin, and leads people to justify wrongdoing and blame those who reprove them instead of correcting their errors. It misrepresents God as severe and tyrannical, using that lie to lead into sin and to claim that God's restrictions caused the fall. When God sends warning or correction this same spirit stirs hatred and resistance, seeking others' sympathy rather than change, as displayed toward those who condemned sin from righteous Abel onward. Against it, divine power moves the loyal to exalt the law and lift up Jesus as a complete Savior, while the power from beneath stirs the disobedient to make void God's law and trample on faith in Christ as righteousness.

He works through deception, as the fallen angel behind spiritual delusions that take people captive, misrepresent God, and stir rebellion against Christ, working through people of great learning and refinement as well as through fallen angels, with his power becoming more manifest as God's Spirit is withdrawn from the earth. That delusive working through spiritualism has grown in strength and popularity while professing a certain kind of faith in Christ, and many Protestants are becoming infatuated with it. The way is prepared by holding the error that as soon as the breath leaves the body the spirit goes immediately to heaven or hell, which leaves those who retain it open to delusion. Through people who resist warnings he influences and molds minds to misrepresent God's people and message and to promote spiritualistic ideas that appear persuasive and soothing, presenting appealing ideas and smooth words that please the human mind and lead away from truth when warnings are ignored. Moving satanic agencies from beneath, working upon human imagination and corrupting minds and bodies and fascinating as does a serpent, he will appear as a human being and impersonate Jesus Christ, and the world that has rejected truth will receive him as Lord of lords and King of kings, crying as in the days of Christ for Barabbas and for crucifixion.

He works through disobedient people as his agents and channels, gaining access to their minds and acting through their influence conscious and unconscious to draw others into the same disobedience, using them powerfully to destroy souls. He uses even worldly friends and loved ones to draw away from God and His service. He uses those who profess godliness in disguise to tempt and mislead, for fallen people cannot successfully resist him by their own strength but Christ rescues them and gives power to resist. His working was seen in the bitter opposition and hatred and murderous rage of Stephen's accusers and murderers against Christ in the person of His saint, for he is the originator of sin and leader of the great apostasy and general of the army of false religious zealots set against the army of heaven, once united with Christ the General of heaven in the heavenly courts, and these two parties under two generals still exist until he and all united with him will be destroyed. He also works through professed Christians lacking mercy and humility, and through worldly unbelievers in positions of trust who sneer at truth and prolong work into the Sabbath.

He has a large confederacy, his church, whose members are children of sin and disobedience called the synagogue of Satan, and he works with great power in and through them to cast off the divine law, confuse the distinction between good and evil, and exalt treason and apostasy as truth and loyalty, moving living agencies to carry out the great rebellion against God that commenced in heaven. Those who live in disobedience choose sin and work to make God's law void, while he works to mix evil with good and erase the distinction between them, whereas Christ's church is to separate evil from good and refuse to tolerate wrongdoing in heart or life. The great master spirit leads people to believe lies rather than truth, so that those who follow impressions against the written word and reject God's law are not being led by the Spirit of Christ who leads into all truth. The power from beneath stirs the disobedient to make void God's law and trample on faith in Christ as righteousness, stirring opposition to Christ as righteousness.

Its fruit is discord and strife, tempting to accuse and talk of a brother to others rather than going to him alone, instead of working in harmony with God as laborers together with Christ as peacemakers called the children of God. It makes those walking that past walk like the children of the wicked one — pettish, envious, jealous, and full of evil surmisings, acting like children toward one another with pride and dignity easily bruised and wounded, and with strife and malice and hatred instead of love. It moves people to oppress others, restricting religious liberty, repressing individual action, and denying rights and privileges, though their power is limited, with a speculative spirit gaining supremacy and oppression practiced in a marked degree where men act in opposition to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is seen when students speak idle, foolish, and profane words and live heedless and careless, blocking advancement and bringing perplexity and heartache to teachers who must watch for souls as those who must give account. It shows in calling intrigue, selfishness, and idolatry proper and commendable, in a cold selfish harsh unsympathetic spirit, in easily excited temper and jealousy that unbalances reason, and in accusing others while neglecting one's own confession.

Claiming to be sanctified while turning away the ear from hearing the law proves the carnal heart is not subject to the law of God and indeed cannot be. Such sanctification is spurious like Satan's claim to be sanctified when he exalted himself in heaven and corrupted many angels by deception, and like his claim when tempting Christ in the wilderness as a pure angel from heaven, whom Jesus was not deceived by. God will not accept willfully imperfect service or obedience, and those who live by every word proceeding from the mouth of God will not be deceived either.

The same spirit worked in the priests and rulers and crowds who resisted the Holy Spirit, mistreated the apostles through whom God gave them a message, and abused the people through whom God spoke. They resisted God's message, rejected the Holy Spirit's convictions, and stifled conviction that Jesus was the Son of God, though they could have yielded but chose to persist. Each act of resistance strengthened opposition and led to resist again, deepening rebellion and hardening them against God until they knew only resistance and the Holy Spirit could no longer influence them. They were cut off from salvation not merely for past sins but because they chose to keep resisting light and would not repent, renewing rebellion each day and persisting in repeating sins instead of repenting. The hostile crowd's behavior at the baptism showed this same spirit in opposition to those keeping God's commandments.

That hatred that opposed Jesus still instigates persecution of His followers, for Satan exerted all power and cunning to destroy Jesus because the Saviour's mercy and love and compassion and pitying tenderness were representing God's character, contesting every claim of the Son of God and employing men as agents to fill His life with suffering and sorrow. The hatred manifested through the children of disobedience, the sophistry and falsehood hindering His work and the cruel accusations against One whose life was unexampled goodness, sprang from deep-seated revenge, with pent-up envy and malice and hatred and revenge bursting forth on Calvary, unmasking the deceiver before angels and the loyal universe. The same hostility has continued through later persecutions including the Inquisition and the massacre of St. Bartholomew and the fires of Smithfield, with the gospel proclaimed amid opposition and danger and loss and suffering in an ongoing conflict between right and wrong. That rebellion continues through envy and hatred especially toward those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath and keep God's commandments and have the faith of Jesus, instigated and controlled by Satan, the same spirit that crucified Christ. In the final days of probation he works especially against God's commandment-keeping people bringing trial and sorrow, but God's power keeps them and counteracts this work.

When God's standard of righteousness is set aside the way is opened for the prince of evil to rule on earth, and the rise of atheism in France illustrates the cruel tyranny that follows rejection of God's restraints. The spirit working in the children of disobedience also works in people who have received spiritual light but refuse to follow it, and among nations and minds of the enlightened. Under its influence they act blindly and without regard for consequences, deceived by unholy ambition. It produces confusion and dissension and disorder and strife, and its work is seen again in history.

Rescue by Grace Alone

But God, rich in mercy and great in love, quickens those dead in trespasses and sins together with Christ, raises them up and makes them sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, to show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness through Christ. That past condition was walking according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, whose spirit works in the children of disobedience, living in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and being by nature children of wrath. Sitting together in heavenly places means showing the world that kindness and bringing it into dealings with one another as His workmanship created unto good works. His love reaches to the very lowest depths of human woe and misery, calling all who have tasted His love and the power of the world to come to praise Him. Satan leads men into that sin and then leaves them naked and trembling, daring not to come boldly to God to ask pardon, yet God promises to quicken them together with Christ and give through Christ access by one Spirit unto the Father, with hope, faith and peace within reach through His merits.

This salvation is by grace through faith as the gift of God, not of works and not from self, not of man but of God. It saves not in sins but from sins. Through belief in Christ those He has ransomed partake of the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world through lust, because Christ bears and removes the sin of the world. This transformation is wrought through the Scriptures as the great agency, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and sanctification comes through the truth, with works testifying that the believer is born of God.

The meaning of the word grace would never have been learned had man not fallen by disobeying the commands of God and coming under the condemnation of the law, for this fall called for the grace of God to appear in behalf of sinners. Grace is an attribute of God shown to undeserving human beings. Sinners did not seek after it, but it was sent in search of them. God loves the sinless angels who do His service and are obedient to all His commands, but He does not give them grace, for they have never sinned and have never needed it. God rejoices to bestow this grace on everyone who hungers for it, not because they are worthy but because they are so utterly unworthy, and their need is the qualification which gives assurance that they will receive the gift.

God loves people even when dead in sin and in that condition Christ becomes the propitiation for their sins, through the Holy Spirit leading them to forgiveness, for they serve sinful desires and are enslaved to sin and Satan. He loved us when we were dead in trespasses and sins and loves us when we let Him take away our sins and give us Christ's righteousness. He accepts us just as we are to cleanse, purify, and sanctify us to Himself, a great work that must be done or we cannot see His face. His heart is set to do this great work if we let Him, and we glorify Jesus by accepting His great love. His working in us glorifies His name and gladdens His heart as He makes the subjects of His kingdom channels of light through whom He gives His blessings of love and mercy and glory, lifting believers into enjoyment of His love and grace to be His lightbearers to the world, satisfying His heart of love as they cooperate with Christ in restoring the moral image of God in fallen man.

The inward change that must take place in the heart is like leaven hidden in meal working invisibly until the whole is converted. The heart is cleansed from impurity and fitted for service for God. No new faculties are supplied, but a thorough change is made in the employment of the faculties; natural inclinations are softened and subdued, new thoughts, new feelings, and new motives are implanted, every faculty is regenerated, yet man does not lose his identity. Through belief in Christ and learning what He is to those He has ransomed, it is their privilege to be made partakers of the divine nature and so escape that corruption through lust, being cleansed from all sin and all defects of character so that not one sinful propensity need be retained, and every sin and defect of character may be left behind. This salvation from hopeless death in sin is for Jew and Gentile alike, with deliverance, life and power to reach forth unto holiness laid open as part of the plan of salvation wrought out by Christ, and the change is seen in disposition, in words, and in actions, with the fruits of the Spirit made manifest in the life.

That change is wrought by God as the Source of all divine agencies giving energy to souls by His Holy Spirit, working in those children of disobedience dead in trespasses and sins to transform them, causing them to put away their sins and live to Christ. His power is soul-energizing light and life, making His people willing in the day of His power, taking the things of Christ and showing them with transforming effect until the surrendered soul becomes a new man in Christ and henceforth lives in harmony with God. The Spirit's power quickens the dead to hear the words of life. The cross of Calvary makes this sacrifice effectual to bring everlasting deliverance to all who walk after Christ with positive evidence of separation from the world, endure to the end, and hold the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end unto eternal righteousness.

Christ came and took human nature so fallen people could receive the privileges of God's children, for Satan's power over humanity was so great that Christ had to come. The Majesty of heaven came to bear the test in behalf of humanity, redeemed Adam's disgraceful failure, and with His divine arm grasped the throne of the Infinite One, conquering Satan and opening the way for people to overcome through His merits. He passed through the scenes of temptation point by point in behalf of man, was tempted in all points yet without sin and came out of the wilderness of temptation a conqueror. He knows the strength of Satan's temptations and how to lift up a standard against the enemy in behalf of the tempted, and He will do this and receive with mercy and mold and fashion the character to God's glory if man seeks God with all his heart, calls upon Him sincerely, comes humble and repentant, and recognizes his disobedience as sin, which is dishonor to God seeking own honor. God makes them alive with Christ by grace and calls them to walk in the good works He has prepared.

The quickened life brings new duties, for believers are created in Christ Jesus unto good works before ordained for them to walk in. The converted soul quickened in this way has the same work to do for other souls still dead in trespasses and sins, bearing the burden with Christ and making personal effort in the name of Jesus to bring them to a knowledge of the truth. Believers are to live as God's workmanship and property, caring for the body in obedience to God's laws and building characters marked by good works in obedience to His word.

Call to Separate Living

Those who once walked in that way are now to come out from the control of the powers of darkness and no longer live under their dominion. In time past they walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, subject to the spirit working in the children of disobedience, but as children of God they are to submit to the revealed Word and be guided by the divine Spirit to work the works of God. They are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might rather than trusting in facilities, strength, organizations, and institutions. The children of the world are children of darkness, blinded by the god of this world and led by the prince of darkness so they cannot enjoy heavenly things, while the children of light set their affections on things above and leave the things of the world behind. They come out from among the world and are separate, having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, for there is no concord between Christ and Belial, and those chosen out of the world receive the promise that He will receive them if they love God and keep His commandments, far from the friendship of the world and love of its pleasures.

Genuine conversion brings that change from the former life of spiritual death in sin under the world’s course and the prince of the power of the air. Faith working by love purifies the soul, and the mind brought under Christ’s control turns away from former wrong habits and practices and is refined, purified, and elevated. The change is seen in disposition, in words, and in actions, with the fruits of the Spirit made manifest showing partakers of the divine nature, and this salvation by transforming grace delivering from hopelessness is for Jew and Gentile alike. The sinner passes from death to life by God’s mercy, grace, and pardon, not by human goodness or worthiness, taking up new duties in Christ’s service with a life marked by good works.

Being thus quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit does not make salvation secure while continuing as before. The past walk meant bondage to self in the lusts of the flesh, following maxims of men in the footsteps of transgressors of God’s laws, not loving God supremely or neighbor as self, living in the desires of flesh and mind as children of wrath utterly destitute of spiritual life. Deliverance brings widened and altogether different thoughts, ennobling and saving from bondage to self in the formation of character that is the new birth, yet only by enshrining truth in the heart, doing the will of Christ, and persevering unto the end is the crown of life secured. The cross makes everlasting deliverance effectual for all who walk after Christ with positive evidence of separation from the world, endure to the end, and hold confidence firm unto eternal righteousness, while those departing from truth’s principles need conversion as verily as the hardened sinner.

If that grace abides there is the mind of Christ with appreciation for His great mercy and love and practice of His lessons. Nourishment is drawn from Him the living Vine, the branch bearing the same kind of fruit as the parent stock, working in harmony with God as laborers together with Christ as peacemakers called the children of God. This is the opposite course to following the enemy of all righteousness into discord and strife and tempting to accuse and talk of a brother to others rather than going to him alone. The past walk to be left behind made men like children of the wicked one — pettish, envious, jealous, full of evil surmisings, with pride and dignity easily bruised, and with strife, malice, and hatred instead of love — so pride must be laid at Christ’s feet, minds sharpened by the Holy Spirit, reproach borne as Christ’s brave soldiers, and unity and love cherished so all know they are Christians. No place is to be given to Satan stealing a march upon unsuspecting souls to weaken the church by distraction and dissension, and the door is closed to him by cherishing tenderness, kindness, esteem, and the love Jesus manifested toward erring men despite great light and privileges.

Conformity to the world and yielding to the prince of darkness leave little room for Christ in the heart and weaken desire for prayer and self-examination. The one obeyed becomes the ruler, for yielding to him makes that person his servant. Personal manners and practices reveal true character by revealing whether a person is under the rule of Christ or under the rule of the prince of the power of the air. That spirit at work in the disobedient determines future eternal destiny.

Those professing faith in Christ but joining closely to the world share its spirit, aims, and principles, depend on its praise and favor, and lose ability to distinguish God’s children from the disobedient who are children of the wicked one and enemies of God. Drinking in the world’s spirit, enjoying human flattery, and letting moral taste become perverted place a person at risk of repeating former failure and separating from God.

The warning reaches reading that turns the mind from God and separates the soul from the true Shepherd, for Satan’s suggestions and falsehoods through the disobedient can make people his agents in self-deception and deception of others, beyond sorcery itself. Joining life to an unbeliever draws away from Jesus, places the soul on Satan’s ground, gives him advantage and easy access to aim temptation, grieves the Spirit of God, and forfeits His protection in the battle for everlasting life, since unbelievers are on Satan’s side and there is no concord between Christ and Belial. Refusal to join Christ’s cause leaves a person ruled by the prince of the powers of darkness on the broad road to death, unlike the believer seeking everlasting life. The prince of the powers of darkness presides in the gaming-room and wherever there is card-playing, with evil angels as familiar guests, making its associations and tendencies dangerous, and the same dominion is seen in following worldly customs and in institutions directing labor on the Sabbath.

Adam believed Satan’s lie about God and thereby placed himself under Satan’s banner, and Satan still deceives and accuses to draw into disobedience, so a church conformed to the world and transgressing God’s law shows this influence at work. The world opposing God is under the enemy’s influence as children of disobedience whose influence discredits and weakens God’s people, so believers must not give opposers precedence or join with those opposing faith.

Even men in deepest degradation given to intemperate, dissolute habits, spiritually dead unable to restore themselves, with ears too dull to take in Christ’s call and eyes too blind to see good in store, are not excluded from the gospel feast. They can still respond to the right kind of labor and must be recognized and encouraged, invited though feeling unworthy, compelled to come in with no excuse accepted, and lifted by firm, patient, earnest effort through love and kindness.

Young people easily led away need godly associates, the influence of truth, and protection from temptation rather than following the world and the prince of the power of the air. Those never truly converted remain spiritually dead after joining the church and baptism, buried alive without death to self and bringing old self-indulgent habits, walking contrary to God’s counsels in self-indulgence in eating, drinking, and dressing which is idolatry, in murmuring, faultfinding, hatred of reproof, and enmity with God. Parents in that condition fill the home with selfishness children breathe, opening hearts to evil and teaching by example disregard for God’s Word and the reckless disobedience that says I do not care, I will have my own way. A child left to please itself becomes proficient in evil as Satan makes children wise in disobedience, selfishness, and waywardness, with marked depravity and strong inclination to evil manifest in early childhood, and unless controlled by a firm, wise hand will grow up in sin as a disagreeable, evil element of society.

Disobedience is a course governed by forces opposed to God, and the will is the deciding power bringing other faculties under its sway toward obedience or disobedience. Choosing the right side with Christ’s strength enables resistance to temptation and a changed course, for the will is the power of choice. Satan works powerfully through the disobedient as agents to destroy souls, including secret working within the faith against fellow believers to weaken and harm, so believers must resist the devil who will then flee, and help rather than tear one another down.

Becoming spiritually alert and taking part in God’s work is the remedy for backsliding for those who had worked on the enemy’s side under the world and Satan as ruler of the power of the air. The chapter belongs to those with whom spiritual life is not a living, active principle for lack of communion with the living God, calling workers together to read and study it until hearts are made right with God. An impressive place of worship is worthless if the heart is not right, for people must be spiritually right with God.

Those moved to action by a spirit they do not know need the new birth Christ taught Nicodemus. God weighs characters, actions, motives, purposes, and every thought of the heart, seeing every deed and its outcome and weighing in the balances those hedging up salvation by unfair dealing and blocking His work on the track of every soul by the great worker of evil. What is needed is not more light but surrender of the soul to God so grace makes light a living principle of action.

Last-Day Opposition Intensifies

The prince of the power of the air does strange things in the air and in nature to hinder God's people, as seen when the large tent at the Battle Creek camp-meeting was wrecked. Little of his wrath has yet been seen, but as the cities are worked to give the last message his wrath is aroused and he employs every device in his power to hinder the work. Far more hindrance and disruption will come in the future than in the past, with such disruptions taking place again, yet God's people are to go straight forward heeding them not. As God's Spirit is withdrawn from the earth, Satan's power becomes more manifest, and at the time of the end the world's inhabitants increasingly gather under his leadership through deception in the religious world. He is the fallen angel behind spiritual delusions that take people captive, misrepresent God and stir rebellion against Christ, working through fallen angels and through people of great learning and refinement, not as a monstrous creature.

He is the source of worldly plans, schemes and principles opposing God's law, which bring confusion, bewitch minds and draw people into worldly disputes and controversies rather than keeping minds on truth. The intense desire taking possession of minds to bear rule over fellow men, and the so-called reforms proclaimed in every city and in all parts of the world, are instigated and directed by that power from beneath controlling earthly rulers. Leaders who fail to depend on God and do not show Christlike love cooperate with this power by obstructing the work Christ directed, putting souls at risk of being lost. Every minister and physician, especially every medical missionary, must separate from him by learning of Jesus as chief authority, taking God's way in humility and contrite spirit, holding the simplicity of truth and receiving training from the Son of God revealed in Old and New Testaments as Saviour of the world. Unless separated, such a worker will mislead souls who trust him, and uplifted educated men whose plans common people cannot understand are to be avoided.

His spirit was at work in Battle Creek even among God's own people, dishonoring God and lowering His work in the dust, taking men captive at his will and working through some inside the ranks to deceive, with God permitting deeper leading of those not following divine counsel in order to humble His people. Getting possession of men's minds, he will soon single out those who honor God as not law-abiding citizens, forcing a choice between obeying human powers and dishonoring God or disobeying them and honoring God. Those who obey God have His Holy Spirit resting upon them and meet opposition not with their own assertions but with It is written, going back to the fourth commandment written by God's finger on stone and confirmed by Christ that not even a little dot would be altered. It makes every difference to be on God's side, standing not on sliding sand but on Christ Jesus with the Saviour's promise of His presence when summoned to courts, even though the whole world be arrayed against them. Careless or impulsive speech creating racial prejudice between Black and white gives the enemy's spirit opportunity to work, arousing hostility that hinders the message and endangers workers and believers.

Before the Flood, indulgence of appetite inflamed passions until people became violent, corrupt and hardened in evil thoughts and actions, which God judged by the Flood while in mercy saving righteous Noah and his family from perishing with the wicked. Luther applied the power of the air to the sickness delaying him on the way to Worms, believing Satan sought to stop him, yet trusting Christ lived and resolving to continue despite evil powers. The phrase identifies the power whose work left traces of sin marring nature's form and beauty, yet nature still testifies to God's creative power, goodness, mercy and continuing love. Its briars, thistles, thorns and tares speak condemnation, while its beauty and provision for human needs show God still loves the world for which Christ gave His life, even as Satan with deceit seeks to take the unprepared and calamities do not mean Christ does not love.

Children of disobedience treat God with contempt through insolence and disobedience, working evil toward others while denying God notices, advancing from wickedness to wickedness until the cup of iniquity is full and the boundary of mercy nearly passed. God keeps a reckoning with them, and when their day of grace ends He removes protecting care and no longer restrains the destroyer, commanding angels no longer to combat Satan but to let him work malignity upon them in long-deferred vengeance. God renews disobedient natures through an organized heavenly plan using created agencies to work obedience within them, granting guardianship of the heavenly host to those working in His ways. The humble, meek and lowly who call for help in earnest contrite prayer have invisible armies of light and power working with them, more than those against them, giving courage and hope and proving good angels have still greater power than the evil drawing others into disobedience. Sin placed humanity under Satan as agent of destruction constantly at work for evil, purposing wholly disastrous results and bringing death and suffering that only God's interposition holds back, with souls held in wickedness facing destruction. After man joined Satan in transgression Christ took the field to fight successfully in man's behalf against the prince of evil to lift fallen degraded beings to purity again, and the work of salvation seeks to turn souls toward life.