The use of Nekros in Ephesians 2:1

[MennoSota]

Yet James says even demons believe (what facts to you believe they have wrong?). You put too much faith in the cognitive appreciation of the gospel and too little in true faith. Spiritual death is not for lack of knowledge. It is for an overabundance of self-righteousness and a lack of true faith in Christ.

Wow, You just butchered the entire concept of reconciliation and regeneration with the above comment.
Your comment argues that demons are reconciled to God just like humans. Do you really think James was saying that?

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[MennoSota]

The Gospel reveals God:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16‭-‬17

The good news. Who can believe? Can a spiritually dead person believe what is spiritually discerned? No
Everyone who believes is the elect of God whom God chose to reconcile. Only those who are made right in Christ can have faith...i.e. the elect of God.

Unreconciled people can see the invisible qualities of God:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

All people can know God exists via natural revelation. No one is saying they cannot know there is a Creator.

Unreconciled people know evil deserves judgment from God:

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32

Indeed. God has written it on their hearts that they are sinners. Spiritual discernment is not needed to know evil exists.

Spiritually dead who are not reconciled to God and not found in Christ can never know God as their Savior unless God does the work of bringing life to their dead spirit.




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[Reformed]

Willis,

I think you received a good treatment of nekros in the thread on the other board in which this word was discussed. Nekros can mean a corpse, or it mean as/like a corpse. In Ephesians 2:1 Paul is making the point that his audience was once dead [nekros] in their trespasses and sins. He was not saying that they were actually a corpse, but they were like a corpse, spiritually speaking. If they were an actual corpse, then they would be physically dead. Obviously, that was not the case. It is like referring to a condemned prisoner on death row as a "dead man walking". The prisoner is not physically dead, but he is under the sentence of death, and therefore considered as good as dead even though he is alive.

Now, a sinner is, indeed, dead spiritually, so nekros is an appropriate word. Being spiritually dead means that the sinner is unable to make any positive response to God while remaining spiritually dead. In that sense the sinner is very much like a corpse, although he is not physically a corpse.

 

[JonC]

Wow, You just butchered the entire concept of reconciliation and regeneration with the above comment.
Your comment argues that demons are reconciled to God just like humans. Do you really think James was saying that?

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You do realize that James was also talking human belief when he said "even demons believe"...right? I mean, he was not teaching about demons but about true faith as opposed to dead faith...never mind....that's another topic and unfortunately I think I know the answer.

And my comment was not about the concept of reconciliation and regeneration. My comment was about people who are so indebted to their own understanding that they form doctrines based on their own analogies. Please try at least to keep on subject, brother.

Insofar as regeneration and reconciliation, as I stated before, I believe that God draws men to Himself and re-creates them into new creatures in Christ. Those who have spiritual life have spiritual life in Christ.

I know this contradicts your idea that God only saves people after they are made spiritually alive outside of Christ. Is it safe to assume you at least think that all of these men who have spiritual life outside of Christ (these regenerated lost people) will at some time be saved? Or since these have spiritual life outside of Christ do they even need saving?

 

[MennoSota]

You do realize that James was also talking human belief when he said "even demons believe"...right? I mean, he was not teaching about demons but about true faith as opposed to dead faith...never mind....that's another topic and unfortunately I think I know the answer.

And my comment was not about the concept of reconciliation and regeneration. My comment was about people who are so indebted to their own understanding that they form doctrines based on their own analogies. Please try at least to keep on subject, brother.

Insofar as regeneration and reconciliation, as I stated before, I believe that God draws men to Himself and re-creates them into new creatures in Christ. Those who have spiritual life have spiritual life in Christ.

I know this contradicts your idea that God only saves people after they are made spiritually alive outside of Christ. Is it safe to assume you at least think that all of these men who have spiritual life outside of Christ (these regenerated lost people) will at some time be saved? Or since these have spiritual life outside of Christ do they even need saving?

Jon, they have no spiritual life outside of Christ. They are dead. Those whom God has chosen will be made alive when God so chooses. They have been chosen before the foundation of the world, but there will be a time in history when God will give life to their dead spirit by placing them in Christ.
God calls us, who have been made alive to preach the message of reconciliation. This is our task. If we fail in our task, God will use someone else. (Recall when Mordechai tells Esther that if she failed to speak up for the Jews, God would save them by another means.)
We should never be so proudful as to imagine that God cannot save his elect if we fail to obey. God will never fail. We, however, miss out on blessing via obedience.

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[JonC]

Jon, they have no spiritual life outside of Christ. They are dead. Those whom God has chosen will be made alive when God so chooses. They have been chosen before the foundation of the world, but there will be a time in history when God will give life to their dead spirit by placing them in Christ.
God calls us, who have been made alive to preach the message of reconciliation. This is our task. If we fail in our task, God will use someone else. (Recall when Mordechai tells Esther that if she failed to speak up for the Jews, God would save them by another means.)
We should never be so proudful as to imagine that God cannot save his elect if we fail to obey. God will never fail. We, however, miss out on blessing via obedience.

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Yes, what I have been saying for 6 pages now is that those who are spiritually dead are so because they are not in Christ and that those who are spiritually alive are alive in Christ. Are you agreeing with me now or are you simply restating my position for clarification?

Yes, God is sovereign even over man. I never stated otherwise. And yes, God gives Life – as I stated it is God who draws men, God who gives them a new heart and a new spirit, and God who puts His Spirit in them. This is a restatement of what I have been saying, almost verbatim.

And yes, God calls all who have been saved to preach the message of reconciliation. I don’t know how you’ve wandered off in this direction, but I have not seen it presented otherwise on this thread.

I’ve never been so prideful as to imagine that God cannot save his elect if we fail to obey. I think the reason is that I read the Bible and it tells me that God will put His Spirit in us and cause us to obey his statutes. Were you having a problem understanding this, or are you just confirming what I’ve said all along?

My only observation was that some comments took the biblical term “spiritually dead” and turned it into an allegory about being a corpse…a dead corpse at that ….and made up all kinks of illustrations that continued far from the biblical concept. God does not make us alive so that we can understand and be saved. God saves us and we are alive and we are able to understand spiritual things.

 

[MennoSota]

My only observation was that some comments took the biblical term “spiritually dead” and turned it into an allegory about being a corpse…a dead corpse at that ….and made up all kinks of illustrations that continued far from the biblical concept. God does not make us alive so that we can understand and be saved. God saves us and we are alive and we are able to understand spiritual things.

You did not observe anyone creating an allegory in Ephesians 2. This is an assertion you have entirely made up out of your imagination.

God saves us when he makes us alive in Christ. It is one.
We will respond to that life giving act in many ways, not the least being a recognition of confessed sin.

 

[JonC]

You did not observe anyone creating an allegory in Ephesians 2. This is an assertion you have entirely made up out of your imagination.

God saves us when he makes us alive in Christ. It is one.
We will respond to that life giving act in many ways, not the least being a recognition of confessed sin.

You are wrong here. My objection was that people were dealing with concept of the spiritually dead as if they were physical corpses.

I am really getting tired of saying the same thing, brother. I am not sure why you keep on bring up things that I never opposed. I am not sure why you have yet to comprehend my objection. You objected to my comment that spiritual life means we are alive in Christ and pointed me to Ephesians. Now you have taken a knack for repeating what I have said.

My only point....again...is that the term "spiritual death" and "spiritual life" is in relation to Christ. If you object, then state your objection. If not, then stop replying to me to say you agree with me. It's unnecessary.

 

[MennoSota]

You are wrong here. My objection was that people were dealing with concept of the spiritually dead as if they were physical corpses.

I am really getting tired of saying the same thing, brother. I am not sure why you keep on bring up things that I never opposed. I am not sure why you have yet to comprehend my objection. You objected to my comment that spiritual life means we are alive in Christ and pointed me to Ephesians. Now you have taken a knack for repeating what I have said.

My only point....again...is that the term "spiritual death" and "spiritual life" is in relation to Christ. If you object, then state your objection. If not, then stop replying to me to say you agree with me. It's unnecessary.

Jon, you have done a nice job of finally whittling down your point to a spot where we can agree. Previous to this you kept adding material that is not present in the text.
It seems we have found a place of agreement.

 

[JonC]

Jon, you have done a nice job of finally whittling down your point to a spot where we can agree. Previous to this you kept adding material that is not present in the text.
It seems we have found a place of agreement.

I'm a good whittler.

 

[JonShaff]

Right.

So is Ephesians 2:1 referring to a physical corpse?

No, it is talking about one's spirit being dead--separated from God--Unreconciled--in darkness.

 

[JonShaff]

No, it is talking about one's spirit being dead--separated from God--Unreconciled--in darkness.

Condemned.

 

[SovereignGrace]

He can cognitively believe the gospel, perhaps even accept the gospel on his own terms only to hear one day those fearful words "I never knew you." Or he could understand the gospel cognitively and dismiss it as foolishness.

Right-o!! The reason why he can do these things are because he is physically alive. However, his spirit is dead and can not hear. That is why the bible is replete with 'let him who hath ear hear', 'let him who has ears to hear, hear', &c.

In fact, apart from God, there is plenty he can do with the gospel. The only thing he will not do apart from God is truly believe.

The natural man(man w/o the Spirit as the NIV puts it) can hear the gospel, go and say the sinner's prayer, pay tithes, go on mission trips, &c. However, the spirit man, unless brought to spiritual life, can not hear the gospel, can not see, smell, taste, feel, &c. Why? He is dead.

 

[JonShaff]

Right-o!! The reason why he can do these things are because he is physically alive. However, his spirit is dead and can not hear. That is why the bible is replete with 'let him who hath ear hear', 'let him who has ears to hear, hear', &c.



The natural man(man w/o the Spirit as the NIV puts it) can hear the gospel, go and say the sinner's prayer, pay tithes, go on mission trips, &c. However, the spirit man, unless brought to spiritual life, can not hear the gospel, can not see, smell, taste, feel, &c. Why? He is dead.

Who, pray tell, is Jesus Talking about who may not have an ear to hear? Is it a particular group of people or are YOU ascribing what He says to everyone? Scriptural Proof of what the GOSPELS speak of will be needed. (Here's a hint, Isaiah speaks of those who "do not have an ear to hear.")

Oh I just couldn't wait...

This is Isaiah's commission by Yahweh to *Israel* (Both a near and far fulfillment)

Isaiah 6
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9He said,"Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening,but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' 10"Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed."

Well, how was this fulfilled in the NT, and what is Willis talking about?

Matthew 13 speaks on this...
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

well creiky! Who is He talking about??

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Who is this "Them"????

We will have to back up and get the context

Oh snap, Matthew Chapter 12 tells us!

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Jesus is addressing the religious leaders and says that because of their hardness of heart, He has blinded their eyes.

Wait, is there somewhere else in the NT that speaks on this reality?

Hmmmm...I think Paul did speak on this....

Romans 10 begins to speak on this....

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Romans 11 adds more insight...

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.

Whoa!!! Wait a minute...the ones who have "blind eyes" and "Dull hearing" are the ones who are seeking to obtain the righteousness of God by their own works?????

Willis, this sounds different from what you are peddling here.

Surely there is more?

Yes keep reading!

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Say what!

Because of their unbelief and self righteousness, God has opened up salvation to the Gentiles?

HALELUJAH! Praise God!

So you're saying that through their willful disobedience, God has used it for good? Incredible!

Do you have anything else that backs it up?

Keep reading my friend!

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Wow that is awesome!

Wait, what about that passage about that we are all in unbelief...

Oh you mean the one that is taken out of context all the time...

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

*Them here is self righteous Israel*

So we see here, Willis, that the passages you quote about not having ears to hear and the such from the Gospels are clearly talking about those OUTSIDE of the remnant of Israel (that will be the first fruits of those who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ)--The Ones who are hardened are The ones that sought favor with God through their WORKS.

((Do not mistake this breakdown for a breakdown of 1 Corinthians 1-2...start another thread and we can address that ))

 

[MennoSota]

Who, pray tell, is Jesus Talking about who may not have an ear to hear? Is it a particular group of people or are YOU ascribing what He says to everyone? Scriptural Proof of what the GOSPELS speak of will be needed. (Here's a hint, Isaiah speaks of those who "do not have an ear to hear.")

Oh I just couldn't wait...

This is Isaiah's commission by Yahweh to *Israel* (Both a near and far fulfillment)

Isaiah 6
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9He said,"Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening,but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' 10"Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed."

Well, how was this fulfilled in the NT, and what is Willis talking about?

Matthew 13 speaks on this...
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

well creiky! Who is He talking about??

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Who is this "Them"????

We will have to back up and get the context

Oh snap, Matthew Chapter 12 tells us!

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Jesus is addressing the religious leaders and says that because of their hardness of heart, He has blinded their eyes.

Wait, is there somewhere else in the NT that speaks on this reality?

Hmmmm...I think Paul did speak on this....

Romans 10 begins to speak on this....

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Romans 11 adds more insight...

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.

Whoa!!! Wait a minute...the ones who have "blind eyes" and "Dull hearing" are the ones who are seeking to obtain the righteousness of God by their own works?????

Willis, this sounds different from what you are peddling here.

Surely there is more?

Yes keep reading!

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Say what!

Because of their unbelief and self righteousness, God has opened up salvation to the Gentiles?

HALELUJAH! Praise God!

So you're saying that through their willful disobedience, God has used it for good? Incredible!

Do you have anything else that backs it up?

Keep reading my friend!

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Wow that is awesome!

Wait, what about that passage about that we are all in unbelief...

Oh you mean the one that is taken out of context all the time...

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

*Them here is Israel*

So we see here, Willis, that the passages you quote about not having ears to hear and the such from the Gospels are clearly talking about those OUTSIDE of the remnant of Israel (that will be the first fruits of those who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ)--The Ones who are hardened are The ones that sought favor with God through their WORKS.

((Do not mistake this breakdown for a breakdown of 1 Corinthians 1-2...start another thread and we can address that ))

That's a Seinfeld episode, Jon. A show about nothing.
Nothing you said goes against what SG said. Start whittling.

 

[JonShaff]

That's a Seinfeld episode, Jon. A show about nothing.
Nothing you said goes against what SG said. Start whittling.

I addressed his "out of context" quotes of not hearing/perceiving

don't be a distraction.

I'll step out on a limb here...

Find a verse where hearing/perceiving is NOT unbelieving/Self righteous Israel

 

[JonShaff]

I addressed his "out of context" quotes of not hearing/perceiving

don't be a distraction.

I'll step out on a limb here...

Find a verse where hearing/perceiving is NOT unbelieving/Self righteous Israel

Willis, give me a verse about not being able to hear/perceive in the Gospels that's not about unbelieving self righteous Israel.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Who, pray tell, is Jesus Talking about who may not have an ear to hear? Is it a particular group of people or are YOU ascribing what He says to everyone? Scriptural Proof of what the GOSPELS speak of will be needed. (Here's a hint, Isaiah speaks of those who "do not have an ear to hear.")

Oh I just couldn't wait...

This is Isaiah's commission by Yahweh to *Israel* (Both a near and far fulfillment)

Isaiah 6
8Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9He said,"Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening,but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.' 10"Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed."

Well, how was this fulfilled in the NT, and what is Willis talking about?

Again, you are missing what I am saying. Who was the ppl of Israel listening to, God or Isaiah? Isaiah of course. When they heard Isaiah's words, they could not hear with their spiritual ears. Now, if God would have spoken audibly to them, they could have heard Him. His voice is so powerful that even the physically dead could hear and respond to His voice.

Matthew 13 speaks on this...
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

well creiky! Who is He talking about??

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Who is this "Them"????

We will have to back up and get the context

Oh snap, Matthew Chapter 12 tells us!

38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Jesus is addressing the religious leaders and says that because of their hardness of heart, He has blinded their eyes.

None of this refutes my position.

Wait, is there somewhere else in the NT that speaks on this reality?

Hmmmm...I think Paul did speak on this....

Romans 10 begins to speak on this....

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Nothing here refutes my position here, either.

Romans 11 adds more insight...

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.

Whoa!!! Wait a minute...the ones who have "blind eyes" and "Dull hearing" are the ones who are seeking to obtain the righteousness of God by their own works?????

Willis, this sounds different from what you are peddling here.

Nothing here refutes my stance.

Surely there is more?

Yes keep reading!

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Say what!

Because of their unbelief and self righteousness, God has opened up salvation to the Gentiles?

It was an open rebellion towards God that lead to this point in time where there was a judicial hardening because they had made the sacrificial system a joke. They brought the blind, lame, that which they did not want instead of their best. The High Priests were basically in a political office, seeing they were a yearly election, or that's how it comes across to me.

HALELUJAH! Praise God!

So you're saying that through their willful disobedience, God has used it for good? Incredible!

Do you have anything else that backs it up?

Keep reading my friend!

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Wow that is awesome!

Wait, what about that passage about that we are all in unbelief...

Oh you mean the one that is taken out of context all the time...

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

*Them here is self righteous Israel*

So we see here, Willis, that the passages you quote about not having ears to hear and the such from the Gospels are clearly talking about those OUTSIDE of the remnant of Israel (that will be the first fruits of those who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ)--The Ones who are hardened are The ones that sought favor with God through their WORKS.

((Do not mistake this breakdown for a breakdown of 1 Corinthians 1-2...start another thread and we can address that ))

Those outside the remnant of Israel are the non-elect of God. Thank you for proving my point. You worked harder to bolster my position than I did. Great job Brother.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Willis, give me a verse about not being able to hear/perceive in the Gospels that's not about unbelieving self righteous Israel.

Everyone outside of Christ, including the non-remnant Jews are all on the same level playing field, dead in their sins.

But remember, the true Israel are those who are in Christ, which is the body of Christ, He being the church's head.

Not all of Israel is Israel, and that is what Paul addressed in Romans. In Romans 2 he tells us that the true Jews are those who have had the circumcision of the heart, and not the foreskin.

The true Jews are both Jew and Gentile in one body, the body of believers. These both have had the circumcision of the heart. These are the ones who heard God through the proclamation of the gospel.

 

[SovereignGrace]

@JonShaff

Let's take a walk through Romans 11....

ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.[Romans 11:1-2]

Now, the Greek word used for 'foreknew' has a few different meanings, but one of them is 'to predestinate', and I think that is the applicable choice. Because if we used 'foreknew' to mean 'to know in advance' that opens up the possibility of open theism. These are the ppl Paul is focusing on in Romans 11. Not just foreknowing the Jews, but all believers of all time. Because God's ppl are not only the Jews, but adopted Jews, us, the Gentiles.

So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.[vs 5]

These are the remnant of Israel, for not all of Israel is Israel. I am sure we are in agreement here.

What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened.[vs 7]

Again, the elect amongst the Jews. I am sure we are in agreement here, too.

as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”[vs 8]

These were the ones who were blinded, hardened by God. Remember, these ppl were born in this state due to the rebellion of their forefathers. They were born blinded and hardened by God. Read in Malachi how they polluted His altar with corrupted bread. There was no Prophet sent to them for 400 or 450 years until the coming of John the Baptist.

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.[vs 11]

He did this so that we could be grafted in. It was through their rebellion we gained access.

For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?[vs 15]

So here we see again that through their rebellion, reconciliation is all over the world.

More later.