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Ephesians 2

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Read Ephesians Chapter 2

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1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

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Explanation

Ephesians 2

In short

Paul tells his readers that God has given them new life in Christ, raising them from spiritual death to sit with Christ in heaven. He explains that this salvation comes by God's grace and faith, not by human effort, and that Christ has broken down the wall between Jews and non-Jews, making them one people and one family of God.

What the text says

Verses 1-3 describe the readers' past condition. They were dead spiritually through sin and wrongdoing. They followed the world's way of living and were influenced by a spiritual ruler opposed to God. All people, including Paul and his readers, once lived by fleshly desires and were by nature destined for God's anger.

Verses 4-7 turn to God's action. God, being rich in mercy and love, made the readers alive together with Christ, even while they were dead in sin. God raised them up and seated them in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Paul states this happened by grace, not earned. God did this to display the riches of his grace in the ages to come.

Verses 8-10 emphasize that salvation comes through grace and faith, not from human works or effort. The readers are God's creation, made in Christ Jesus for doing good works that God prepared beforehand.

Verses 11-13 address the readers as formerly non-Jewish people. They were once separated from Israel's promises and covenants, without hope and without God. But now, through Christ's blood, those who were far off have been brought near.

Verses 14-18 explain that Christ himself is peace. He broke down the dividing wall and abolished the law's ordinances that separated Jews and non-Jews. He created one new people and reconciled both to God in one body through the cross. He preached peace to those far away and those near. Both groups now have access to God through one Spirit.

Verses 19-22 describe the readers' new status. They are no longer outsiders but citizens with God's people and members of God's household. They are built together as God's holy temple, with Christ as the cornerstone.

Takeaways

  • Human beings begin spiritually dead and enslaved to sin, but God gives life through Christ by grace, not through human effort or achievement.
  • Christ removed the separation between Jews and non-Jews, creating one united people of God where both have equal access to the Father.
  • Believers are God's building and temple, fitted together as God's dwelling place through the Spirit.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.

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