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 of the power of the air,#2Pt 2:10; Jd 8 the spirit#1Co 2:12; 1Tm 4:1 now working in the disobedient.#2:2 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,#2:4 Lit love with which he loved us 5made us alive#Col 2:13; 1Tm 5:6 with Christ even though we were dead#Jn 5:25 in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,#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 workmanship, created#Jn 1:3; Rv 3:14 in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time#Rm 9:23 for us to do.
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 Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of 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 Christ. 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 by which he put the hostility to death.#2:16 Or death in himself 17He came and 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 in 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. 21In him the whole building, being put together,#Eph 4:16 grows into a holy temple in the Lord.#1Pt 2:5 22In him you are also being built together#Rm 11:18 for God’s dwelling#1Pt 2:5 in the Spirit.
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers