Ephesians 2
2
Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh#2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit. and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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Ephesians 2
2
From Death to Life
1And you were dead # Jn 5:25 in your trespasses and sins 2in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, # 2Pt 2:20 according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, # Lit ruler of the domain of the air # 2Pt 2:10; Jd 8 the spirit # 1Co 2:12; 1Tm 4:1 now working in the disobedient. # Lit sons of disobedience 3We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly # Php 3:3 desires, carrying out the inclinations # Mt 21:31; Lk 12:47; 23:25; Jn 1:13; 1Co 7:37; 2Pt 1:21 of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath # Rm 2:5; Rv 6:16 as the others were also. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, # Lk 1:50 because of His great love # 1Co 13:1; 1Jn 4:16 that He had for us, # Lit love with which He loved us 5made us alive # Col 2:13; 1Tm 5:6 with the Messiah even though we were dead # Jn 5:25 in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, # Eph 1:3,20; 3:10; 6:12; Php 2:10; 1Pt 3:22 7so that in the coming ages # Mk 10:30 He might display the immeasurable riches # Lk 8:14; 2Co 8:9 of His grace through His kindness # Ps 25:6 to us in Christ Jesus. 8For you are saved by grace # Rm 3:24; 6:14; 11:6; Gl 2:21; 2Tm 1:9 through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — 9not from works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are His creation, created # Jn 1:3; Rv 3:14 in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time # Rm 9:23 so that we should walk in them.
Unity in Christ
11So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh — called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” # Gl 6:15 which is done in the flesh by human hands. # Php 3:3 12At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, # Gn 12:7 without hope # 1Th 1:3; 4:13 and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood # Heb 9:12 of the Messiah. 14For He is our peace, who made both groups one # Rm 10:12; Gl 3:28 and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create # Rv 3:14 in Himself one # Jn 11:52 new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body # Eph 4:4 through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. # Or death in Himself 17When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news # Lk 4:18; 1Pt 1:12 of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. # Is 57:19 18For through Him we both have access # Jn 10:7-9; Rm 5:2; Eph 3:12 by one Spirit to the Father. # Jn 4:23; 1Co 12:13; Eph 4:4; Col 1:12 19So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, # 1Co 12:28; Eph 3:5 with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21The whole building, being put together # Eph 4:16 by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. # 1Pt 2:5 22You also are being built together # Rm 11:18 for God’s dwelling # 1Pt 2:5 in the Spirit.
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