Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(A) 2} in which you used to live^(B) when you followed the ways of this world^(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(E) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(H) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(J) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(K) and seated us with him^(L) in the heavenly realms^(M) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(N) expressed in his kindness^(O) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(P) you have been saved,^(Q) through faith^(R)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(S) so that no one can boast.^{(T) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(U) created^(V) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(W) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved,^(A) came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.^{(B) 39} “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”^(C)

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe,^(D) you will see the glory of God?”^(E)

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up^(F) and said, “Father,^(G) I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,^(H) that they may believe that you sent me.”^(I)

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”^{(J) 44} The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,^(K) and a cloth around his face.^(L)

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^{(A) 8} God, who knows the heart,^(B) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(C) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(D) for he purified their hearts by faith.^{(E) 10} Now then, why do you try to test God^(F) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(G) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace^(H) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹³ When you were dead in your sins^(A) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[a] alive^(B) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^(C)

¹⁹ and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.^(A)