Ephesians 2
"By grace you have been saved"
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Read
What does it say?
This is a plain-language guide, not a translation. Check it against the Bible text any time.
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole chapter, in shortThe main points of the whole chapter, in a few sentences.
Paul says we were dead in our trespasses and sins. But because of his great love, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ: "It is by grace you have been saved through faith... it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Christ is our peace, who tore down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, so that all believers are no longer strangers but members of God's household.
Where it is in the Bible: Ephesians 2
All the sections at a glanceA map of the chapter, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Letter
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dead in Sin | 2:1-3 | Without God, we were spiritually dead |
| 2. But God | 2:4-7 | God made us alive with Christ |
| 3. By Grace Through Faith | 2:8-10 | Salvation is a gift, not earned |
| 4. Far Away, Brought Near | 2:11-13 | Outsiders brought into God's people |
| 5. The Wall Torn Down | 2:14-18 | Christ makes peace between enemies |
| 6. One Household | 2:19-22 | We are God's family and his dwelling place |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. Paul, writing from prison to Christians in Ephesus and the area around it.
What came before. In chapter 1, Paul praised God for every spiritual blessing in Christ, and prayed that they would know God's power, the power that raised Jesus from the dead (1:19-20).
What this chapter is. Two pictures. First: we were dead, and God made us alive by grace. Second: people who were far apart, Jews and non-Jews, are brought together into one family.
Why it matters for Lutherans. Verses 8 and 9 are some of the clearest words in the Bible about salvation as a gift.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 6Dead in Sin
"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.
Section 2 of 6But God
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).
Section 3 of 6By Grace Through Faith
"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.
Section 4 of 6Far Away, Brought Near
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).
Section 5 of 6The Wall Torn Down
"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).
Section 6 of 6One Household
"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).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Dead in your trespasses" (2:1) | Without God, we can't save ourselves. |
| "But because of His great love for us" (2:4) | God acted out of love. |
| "By grace you have been saved through faith" (2:8) | Salvation is God's gift, received by trust. |
| "Not by works, so that no one can boast" (2:9) | We can't earn it, so no one can brag. |
| "God's workmanship" (2:10) | God made us, and he makes us new for good works. |
| "The dividing wall of hostility" (2:14) | Christ ends the hatred between groups of people. |
| "Members of God's household" (2:19) | We are God's family. |
Back Then
The temple in Jerusalem had a wall that non-Jews couldn't pass. Signs warned that Gentiles who went further would be put to death.
Paul himself was arrested after people falsely said he brought a Gentile past that wall (Acts 21:28-29).
A cornerstone was the first stone laid in a building. Everything else lined up with it.
Literal Reader Alert
If works don't save us, do they matter? Yes! Verse 10 says God created us for good works. They're the result of salvation, not the cause.
Were we really "dead"? Spiritually. We couldn't make ourselves alive to God, just like a dead person can't wake themselves up.
Is the wall still up? In Christ, the wall between peoples is torn down. Christians from every background are one family.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The Gentiles | Hopeless | They were without God in the world (2:12) |
| The Gentiles | Welcomed | They were brought near (2:13) |
| God's family | United | The wall is torn down (2:14) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you need to hear today? Tap one.
I can't fix myself
You don't have to. God made you alive by grace.
I'm trying to earn it
"Not by works." It's a gift.
I feel like an outsider
You are no longer a stranger. You're in God's household.
I'm divided from someone
Jesus is our peace. He tears down walls.
You Might Have Heard
"If your good deeds outweigh your bad ones, you'll get into heaven."
What's true: God cares about how we live.
What the passage is mainly about: "It is by grace you have been saved through faith... it is the gift of God, not by works" (2:8-9). No one can earn it, and no one can brag. Good works follow as our new way of life.
Where Jesus is: He is our peace, the cornerstone of God's household, who brought us near by his blood.
Good News
We were dead. "But God."
"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God" (2:8).
God made us alive, tore down the walls, and made us his family.
We were dead in sin, but God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. By grace you have been saved through faith. It is the gift of God.
Big Idea
We were dead in sin, but God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. By grace you have been saved through faith, and Christ tears down the walls between us.
If this chapter brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Ephesians 2:8-9 stands at the heart of the Lutheran confessions. Luther taught that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and that good works flow from this gift.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads Ephesians 2:1-10 on the Fourth Sunday in Lent and Ephesians 2:11-22 in July (Lectionary 16). Lutheran churches often read Ephesians 2:8-9 on Reformation Sunday.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Fourth Sunday in Lent Year BSecond reading, Ephesians 2:1-10
- Lectionary 16 Year BSecond reading, Ephesians 2:11-22
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Ephesians 2, explained in plain words. We were dead in sin. But God made us alive, and tore down the walls between us. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/ephesians-2/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church