Ephesians 2
2
1At one time you were dead in your sins and evil actions, 2living your lives according to the ways of the world, under the control of the devil,#2:2. Literally, “the ruler of the power of the air.” whose spirit is at work in those who disobey God. 3All of us were once like that, our behavior determined by the desires of our sinful human nature and our evil way of thinking. Like everyone else, in our nature we were children of anger.#2:3. The Greek literally says “Children in nature of anger.” Following the previous thought about human nature, this could mean we are “naturally angry” or rebellious towards God. Alternatively, this could be viewed that we are the object of divine anger, though God is not specifically mentioned here.
4But God in his generous mercy, because of the amazing love he had for us 5even while we were dead in our sins, has made us alive together with Christ. Trusting in him has saved you! 6He raised us up with Christ, and in Christ Jesus seated us with him in heaven, 7so that in all eternity to come he could demonstrate the amazing extent of his grace in showing us kindness through Christ Jesus. 8For you've been saved by grace through trusting in him—it's not through yourselves, it's the gift of God! 9This has nothing to do with human effort, so don't be proud of yourselves. 10We're the product of what God does, created in Christ Jesus to do good, which God already planned that we should do.
11So you who are “foreigners” humanly-speaking, called “uncircumcised” by those who are “circumcised”#2:11. That is, the Jews (circumcised) and the Gentiles (uncircumcised). (which is only a procedure carried out by human beings), you need to remember 12that once you had no relationship to Christ. You were barred as foreigners from being citizens of Israel, strangers to the agreement#2:12 Or “covenant.” God had promised. You had no hope and you lived in the world without God. 13But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were once a long way off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14Christ is our peace. Through his body#2:14. From the context it appears that Paul is referring here to Jesus' crucifixion. he made the two into one, and broke down the separating wall of hostility that divided us, 15freeing us from the law with its requirements and regulations. He did this so he could create in himself one new person out of the two and so make peace, 16and completely reconcile both of them to God through the cross as if they were just one body, having destroyed our hostility towards each other.
17He came and shared the good news of peace with those of you who were far away, and those who were nearby, 18because through him we both gain access to the Father through the same Spirit. 19That means you're no longer strangers and foreigners; you are fellow citizens of God's people and belong to God's family 20that's being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together, growing to form a holy temple for the Lord. 22You too are being built together in him as a place for God to live by the Spirit.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Ephesians 2
2
Saved by Grace
1 #
Col 2.13. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
One New Man in Christ
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15#Col 2.14. having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16#Col 1.20. and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17#Isa 57.19. and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: 22in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.