Blinded by Satan: How Walking Dead Men Are Saved

Ephesians 2:1 “And you were dead in your transgressions and sins...”

Christ and the Samaritan Women - V Catena 1525

Ephesians 2:1-2 describes some extraordinary thoughts that can easily be overlooked; “And you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”

Another way of stating Ephesians 2:1-2 might be as follows, “Before your redemption, you were walking dead men, along with all the other sons of disobedience, who aspired to the lies of Satan himself, the spiritual god who ruled you and this earthly kingdom.”

We need to wrap our heads around an unusual concept to comprehend this fully.

“Dead man walking” is a familiar component of Hollywood films, from the dramatization of convicts on death row to Zombie flicks depicting corpses that can only be killed by a bullet to the head. But, a more vivid and contemporary illustration might be a Hamas terrorist facing the vengeance of the IDF.

The only difference is that the terrorist is aware of their impending doom – we weren’t.

In fact, the Bible teaches in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that we were hindered, “In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Did we not know right from wrong? Even that is shaken as Romans 2:14-15 explains, “…the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.” 1 Timothy 4:2 explains this excuse: “Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” Of course, the searing is also a work of Satan.

There is good news. Ephesians 2:4-5 promises, “But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace, you have been saved.”

Those who reject Christ will spend eternity apart from God. But there is an all-powerful, all-forgiving sovereign who alone can restore and give eternal life, even to walking dead men. I pray for the blind to see.