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Ephesians 2
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: Dead in SinVerses 1 to 3
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins" (2:1).
Not sick. Not weak. Dead. Unable to help ourselves.
We followed the ways of this world, and the devil's influence. We did what we wanted.
1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
Section 2: But GodVerses 4 to 7
Then come two of the best words in the Bible.
"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!" (2:4-5).
God raised us up with Christ.
He did it to show "the surpassing riches of His grace" forever (2:7).
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 our trespasses. 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 display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Section 3: By Grace Through FaithVerses 8 to 10
"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" (2:8-9).
Grace means God's undeserved kindness. Faith is trusting him. Even faith is part of the gift.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life" (2:10).
Workmanship means something carefully made, like a work of art. Good works don't save us. God saves us so we can do good works.
8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Section 4: Far Away, Brought NearVerses 11 to 13
Most of Paul's readers were Gentiles, not Jewish.
Before, they were "without hope and without God in the world" (2:12). Outsiders to God's promises.
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ" (2:13).
11Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers 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 through the blood of Christ.
Section 5: The Wall Torn DownVerses 14 to 18
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility" (2:14).
Hostility means hatred between enemies.
Jesus made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and between both and God, through the cross.
"For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit" (2:18).
14For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace 16and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished 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.
Section 6: One HouseholdVerses 19 to 22
"Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household" (2:19).
God's people are like a building, with Jesus as the cornerstone, the stone that holds everything together.
"And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit" (2:22).
19Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
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