Ephesians 2

Made Alive in Christ

1 Back in the day, you all were spiritually dead because of your trespasses and sins.

2 You used to walk according to the ways of this world, following the ruler of the kingdom of the air, that spirit that is still working in people who refuse to obey God.

3 Truth is, all of us used to live like that too, chasing whatever our flesh wanted and following our sinful desires and thoughts. By nature, we were headed toward God’s judgment just like everybody else.

4 But God, being rich in mercy and overflowing with love for us,

5 stepped in while we were still dead in our sins and made us alive together with Christ. That is why it is by grace that you have been saved.

6 God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly places.

7 He did this so that in the ages to come He could show the immeasurable riches of His grace and kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this did not come from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

9 It was not earned through works, so nobody can stand around bragging like they saved themselves.

10 We are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He already prepared for us to walk in.

One New People in Christ

11 So remember this: you all Gentiles by birth, the ones called "uncircumcised" by those who took pride in their physical circumcision,

12 were once separated from Christ. You were outsiders to the nation of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, living without hope and without God in the world.

13 But now, because of Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14 Jesus Himself is our peace. He took two groups and made them one, tearing down the wall of hostility that separated them.

15 Through His flesh He abolished the law of commandments and regulations so He could create one new humanity out of the two groups, making peace.

16 Through the cross He reconciled both groups to God in one body, putting that hostility to death.

17 Then He came and preached peace to those who were far away and peace to those who were near.

18 Because through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 So now you are no longer strangers, outsiders, or foreigners. You are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household.

20 You have been built on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone.

21 In Him the whole building is joined together and keeps growing into a holy temple for the Lord.

22 And in Him you all are being built together into a dwelling place where God lives through His Spirit.