Ephesians 2:1,2
“And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”
We were dead in sin before we came to Christ. This wasn't physical death, but spiritual death as was told to Adam and Eve. This was a horrible state in which we were enslaved to sin and separated from God. They were told, "The day you eat of it, you will surely die."
Colossians 3:5 gives this description of our minds and lives before Christ. "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry." I know that sounds graphic, but at a base level the things that went through our minds weren't good. We also had anger, revenge and jealousy in varying degrees.
Jesus said in John 8:34, "He who commits sin is a slave of sin". We've all heard of stories of addiction, but there are many levels as well as things we are addicted to. Gossip is a socially accepted one, but one that destroys reputations and lives. Anger is an emotion that easily gets out of control and acts like a bomb going off. Those who were raised in angry homes can be like those with ptsd.
Jesus' point is that we are all slaves of sin. The world treats this as lunacy and mocks those that believe and share it. However, we were dead in our sins and trespasses. Unless we know this, receiving God's help can be difficult. The help He can give is peripheral. Being a sinner in need of forgiveness is the root that needs to be dealt with. We need forgiveness for much. It's as if our lives need the title "salvaged", not just a dent removal.
Another phrase in today's passage is that our sinful state is supported and encouraged by the "course of this world". They clean it up and package it more neatly, but it's encouraged by this world. Some of it is difficult to share as we would be labeled as hateful and would get in trouble. Yet it leads those who follow into hopeless paths.
It also says our old manner of life was in accordance with the prince of the power of the air, which is the devil and his demons. Who wants that or to have any in agreement with him. His message is self, selfishness, vengeance, hate, hurt, depression and so on.
The devil fell because he sought a rebellion against God. Now he is still attempting that. His aim is to hurt God and people. The more victims the better. People will blame God for all sorts of things. They should be blaming the devil. He is actively attempting to "kill, steal and destroy", (John 10:10). The fact that we are born lost was partially the devil's fault. He tricked our first parents.
Lord, thank You for rescuing us when we were dead in our sin. We don't need small repair, but complete restoration.