Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us^(C) in him before the creation of the world^(D) to be holy and blameless^(E) in his sight. In love^{(F) 5} he^[a] predestined^(G) us for adoption to sonship^[b](H) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(I) and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace,^(J) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.^{(K) 7} In him we have redemption^(L) through his blood,^(M) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches^(N) of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he^[c] made known to us the mystery^(O) of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed^(P) in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment^(Q)—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.^(R)

¹¹ In him we were also chosen,^[d] having been predestined^(S) according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose^(T) of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.^{(U) 13} And you also were included in Christ^(V) when you heard the message of truth,^(W) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(X) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(Y) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(Z) until the redemption^(AA) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(AB)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

¹⁵ For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus^(AC) and your love for all God’s people,^{(AD) 16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you,^(AE) remembering you in my prayers.^{(AF) 17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,^(AG) may give you the Spirit^[e] of wisdom^(AH) and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened^(AI) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called^(AJ) you, the riches^(AK) of his glorious inheritance^(AL) in his holy people,^{(AM) 19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power^(AN) is the same as the mighty strength^{(AO) 20} he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead^(AP) and seated him at his right hand^(AQ) in the heavenly realms,^{(AR) 21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,^(AS) and every name^(AT) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.^{(AU) 22} And God placed all things under his feet^(AV) and appointed him to be head^(AW) over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body,^(AX) the fullness of him^(AY) who fills everything in every way.^(AZ)

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^{(BA) 2} in which you used to live^(BB) when you followed the ways of this world^(BC) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,^(BD) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.^{(BE) 3} All of us also lived among them at one time,^(BF) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[f](BG) 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,^(BH) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(BI)—it is by grace you have been saved.^{(BJ) 6} And God raised us up with Christ^(BK) and seated us with him^(BL) in the heavenly realms^(BM) in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,^(BN) expressed in his kindness^(BO) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace^(BP) you have been saved,^(BQ) through faith^(BR)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(BS) so that no one can boast.^{(BT) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(BU) created^(BV) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(BW) which God prepared in advance for us to do.