Our Former Slavery to Sin, the World and the Devil As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in 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
Then and Now All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive
Raised to be the Visible Display of God’s Grace And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus
God’s Gift of Salvation Makes Us His Workmanship For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
Remember Back Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) — 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of
Brought into God’s Presence by Christ’s Death But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NIV) In 2:11 and 12 Paul has called on his readers to ‘remember’ the state they were in before Christ saved them. They were cut off
Christ has Broken Down the Wall Between Jew and Non-Jew For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:14 (NIV) ‘For he himself is our peace’ (2:14) in two ways. Not only has He reconciled His people to God through
How Christ Has Made One Humanity … by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he
Peace With God and Each other Through the Son and By the Spirit He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:17,18 (NIV) Paul has just touched on three achievements
Members of God’s Kingdom and God’s Family Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household Ephesians 2:19 (NIV) ‘Consequently …’ Paul is beginning his conclusion of all he has just written. He has explained step by step what Christ has done to ‘bring near,’
