From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(A) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(B) according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens,^[a](C) the spirit^(D) now working in the disobedient.^{[b] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(E) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(F) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(G) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(H) because of His great love^(I) that He had for us,^{[c] 5} made us alive^(J) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(K) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^{(L) 7} so that in the coming ages^(M) He might display the immeasurable riches^(N) of His grace through His kindness^(O) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(P) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are His creation, created^(Q) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(R) so that we should walk in them.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(S) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(T) 12} At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,^(U) without hope^(V) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(W) of the Messiah. ¹⁴ For He is our peace, who made both groups one^(X) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, ¹⁵ He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create^(Y) in Himself one^(Z) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body^(AA) through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.^{[d] 17} When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news^(AB) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(AC) 18} For through Him we both have access^(AD) by one Spirit to the Father.^{(AE) 19} So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(AF) with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ The whole building, being put together^(AG) by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.^{(AH) 22} You also are being built together^(AI) for God’s dwelling^(AJ) in the Spirit.