In Christ, we have obtained an inheritance predestined according to the purpose of effecting (energeō) all things according to the counsel of his will. (Ephesians 1:11)
The word energizing ἐνεργέω (energeō) means energy; "power in action" or divine energy. It means to effect, to be active, act.* Effect means power to bring about a result; as a verb to cause to come into being.* Energy in the scriptures is often translated as work but the Greek word for work is ἔργον (ergon) from ergō, "to work, accomplish." We can think of it as to accomplish, meaning "in working" or to be at work in; to produce. But there is a difference, work is the specific deed or action done, energy describes the ability to do work. God in Christ blessed us with adoption, through a Spirit of adoption, thus we have an inheritance, and accordingly, he is energizing (working in us, giving us ability to do good works) all things according to his will.
He is energizing us to work according to his will. Goodwill is often translated as purpose, favor, good pleasure, desire.* It is according to God's purpose he is working in us bringing about a cause and effect to do his will. "Now, we know because all things work together (synergeō) for good of the ones loved of God, the ones existing called according to his purpose because those he foreknew also predestined to be conformed to his Son." (Romans 28-29) God is energizing, effecting, actively working in all things according to the counsel of His will which amazingly is directed toward us, working together in us. The word "work together" συνεργέω (synergeō or sunergeó from "with" and "energy") together working or cooperating.* We see the purpose that God purposed in Christ and what he is at work doing, conforming us to the image of Christ. He predestined us for adoption, and if predestined then called, and justified and if so then glorifying. (Romans 8:30) Glorification is the conforming to Christ.
in which you once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the air, the spirit that at present energizes (energeō) the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1-2)
There is something there, a force that energizes the world. Once we were dead in our trespasses and sins, walking according to the world and its fallen nature, ἀναστρέφω (anastrephō) that is "of sin," according to the desires of our flesh, doing the will and intentions of the flesh and were by nature children of wrath... (Ephesians 1-4) I searched the Greek for the words "sinful nature" but could not find them together, though the concept exists. It is implied if there is a divine nature then there is a sinful nature, "through whom has given us precious and splendid promises so that through them we come into existence escaping the corruption in the world in desire, becoming partakers of God's divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4) The words "slaves of sin" is not there either, though implied, Jesus referred to them being "of sin." (John 8:32-36) Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so mankind knows what is good and evil. Being "of sin" speaks to a nature that does, practices, produces, yields fruit of sin, which we can say is a sinful nature.
now, set free from sin, servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:18)
What does being free "from sin" mean? We call it the sinful nature and it is referred to as "the flesh." As a result of Adam's disobedience, and giving dominion to the devil, all men were subject to and are born into sin, thus they are "of sin" which Jesus came to save us from. The sinful nature, the flesh, is corrupt, and as Paul points out there is a principle, even as believers that sin dwells in the flesh. (Romans 7:17, Romans 7:23) The one existing of flesh is dead, and the flesh is corrupt in its desires, thus the world walks in the flesh, according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the air, the spirit that at present energizes them. But Jesus came to set us free, saying "the true disciple abides in his words and knows the truth and truth sets him free." Free from the old nature, "of sin," given a new nature, becoming partakers of God's nature, set free from sin now servants of righteousness.
“Blessed whose lawlessness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered." (Romans 4:7)
Those who walk according to the world, the fleshly desires, and energy of evil are sons of disobedience, of lawlessness, children of wrath. I think this is what Christ did for us in the new covenant in his blood, he redeemed us, forgave our trespasses, and that we were dead existing "of sin," making us alive in Christ, blessing us with adoption, a new creation in Christ. Because of what Christ did on the cross, am I forgiven all the things I did in the past and future that would be considered trespasses or sin or did he forgive, redeem me from the state of my being "of sin" in the sinful nature, of lawlessness, a son of disobedience? Certainly, he freed me from that state. If he continues as my advocate when I do sin and is a great High Priest interceding for me on my behalf, and there is confession of sin as a believer, and there will be judgment, not condemnation as the lost, but concerning sin done in the body then the latter seems more correct? It is correct Jesus frees us from the power of sin in the flesh, through abiding in truth.
now, the one powerful to do abundantly on our behalf all which we ask either imagine according to the power the one energizing (energeō) within us. (Ephesians 3:20)
The devil is effective in the children of disobedience to do according to the desires of our flesh, doing the will and intentions of the flesh. God is effective in us on our behalf according to His power working in us to do his will. "now, may the God of peace the one in the blood of the eternal covenant bringing us from the dead, the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, prepare you in all good to do his will, making in us that pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for all time amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21) It is God working in us to do his will. The word of God is effective and active in us who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) This working in us is called His workmanship, "for we are his making, created in Christ Jesus to the extent of good works, whom God prepared in advance so that we walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) He chose us to be like him, predestined us from adoption before he created the world, and is conforming us to His image so that we walk accordingly, conduct our lives, walk as Jesus did because it is our new nature to good works, not bad works "of sin" but to be like him in divine nature. The world walks according to sin and evil, we are a new creation to walk according to good.
to this end also spent with labor, contending according to the effect (energeia) of energy (energeō) in me. (Colossians 1:29)
The sons of disobedience are energized to do according to their nature and the sons of God are energized to do according to our new nature that does the will of God. We can call it slavery to sin but sin is not an external force, it dwells within the body, the flesh. The external force of evil gives energy so they walk according to the flesh, as the children of the devil are "of sin" the sinful nature. We can put up signs saying the bridge is out, but they will tear down the signs, sear the conscious because they are driven by the desires of the flesh and a spirit that gives them energy. They will turn the downed bridge into a swimming hole with girls in bikinis and drugs and alcohol, because it is fun, energetic. They are conducting their lives according to the age of this world, and the ruler of the realm of the air that gives them energy. The devil blinds their minds and only the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ will open their eyes.
walk becomingly like as in the day, not partying and in drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy, rather put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision of the flesh to the intent of its desires. (Romans 13:13-14)
do you not remember that I told you this existing still with you? and at the present knowing the one retained until he is revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already energizing, only the first restraining as long as it not taken away. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-7)
Lawlessness is already at work, and it is a mystery, the world walking according to the flesh, "of sin" doing according to its desires and being energized by the devil. But as the force of evil exists God's force restrains it until the end of this age. We as children of God though in the flesh, do not walk according to the flesh as the world but of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 10:3, Romans 8:9) But we are in a body in which sin dwells and evil is near, and it is dying. Though the Spirit is life and frees us from the principle of sin and death, the body is not redeemed and saved. So does it not come under the judgment of sin, not speaking of condemnation and wrath, but of death in the body? nevertheless, until the son of lawlessness is revealed and what is holding him back is removed he is restrained though he is the ruler of the air energizing the sons of lawlessness. If God was not opposing this energy and force what would happen to the world? And how is God holding back this energy?
I pray that the eyes of your heart be enlightened... what is the surpassing greatness of his power to the extent of us, the ones believing, according to the exercising of the energy of the might of his strength which he energized in Christ raising him from the dead... (Ephesians 1:16-21)
As believers, we are to be aware of the power available to us, that which God is exercising energy in us to do according to his will. It is spiritual warfare, as Paul writes, we are to be empowered in the might of the strength of the Lord, "putting on the armor of God for our benefit that you have the power to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-12) Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, its desires. (Romans 13:14) As the devil energizes the world, God wants us to be energized in His power to stand against the devil and sin in the flesh. So we pray that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened to the surpassing greatness of his power available to us.