The Apostle Paul opens chapter two with a continuation of what he just said in chapter one. Paul spent the past few verses exalting Christ. In that exultation he says Christ is head of all things. Jesus is given as head of the church over all things, so Paul exalted Christ to the highest place. In the next sentence he reminds the Ephesians who they were before Christ, "you were dead in your trespasses and sins." He also says in Colossians chapter two "you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh." In Romans he talks about bearing the fruit of death in our bodies. Paul is making a very clear, that we were dead. Before we knew Christ, we were dead to God.