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)

³⁷ He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.^{(A) 38} The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,^{(B) 39} and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest^(C) is the end of the age,^(D) and the harvesters are angels.^(E)

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience^(A) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?^{(B) 23} What if he did this to make the riches of his glory^(C) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory^(D)— ²⁴ even us, whom he also called,^(E) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^(F)

⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.^{(A) 8} But now you must also rid yourselves^(B) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,^(C) and filthy language from your lips.^{(D) 9} Do not lie to each other,^(E) since you have taken off your old self^(F) with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self,^(G) which is being renewed^(H) in knowledge in the image of its Creator.^{(I) 11} Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(J) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(K) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(L) but Christ is all,^(M) and is in all.

¹⁴ As obedient^(A) children, do not conform^(B) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.^(C)