Ephesians 2:1-10

New International Version

Made Alive in Christ

2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,^(A) ²in 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) ³All 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. ⁴But because of his great love for us,^(H) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.^(J) ⁶And God raised us up with Christ^(K) and seated us with him^(L) in the heavenly realms^(M) in Christ Jesus, ⁷in 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. ⁸For 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— ⁹not by works,^(S) so that no one can boast.^(T) ¹⁰For 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.

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Footnotes

Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

Isaiah 44

New International Version

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,^(A)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.^(B)
²This is what the Lord says—
    he who made^(C) you, who formed you in the womb,^(D)
    and who will help^(E) you:
Do not be afraid,^(F) Jacob, my servant,^(G)
    Jeshurun,^[a]^(H) whom I have chosen.
³For I will pour water^(I) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;^(J)
I will pour out my Spirit^(K) on your offspring,
    and my blessing^(L) on your descendants.^(M)
⁴They will spring up like grass^(N) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees^(O) by flowing streams.^(P)
⁵Some will say, ‘I belong^(Q) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,^(R) ‘The Lord’s,’^(S)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

⁶“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King^(T) and Redeemer,^(U) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;^(V)
    apart from me there is no God.^(W)
⁷Who then is like me?^(X) Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell^(Y) what will come.
⁸Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim^(Z) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God^(AA) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;^(AB) I know not one.”

⁹All who make idols^(AC) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(AD)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(AE)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(AF)
¹⁰Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(AG)
    which can profit nothing?^(AH)
¹¹People who do that will be put to shame;^(AI)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(AJ)

¹²The blacksmith^(AK) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(AL)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(AM)
¹³The carpenter^(AN) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,^(AO)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(AP)
¹⁴He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,^(AQ) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵It is used as fuel^(AR) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships^(AS) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(AT) down to it.
¹⁶Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(AU)”
¹⁷From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(AV)
He prays^(AW) to it and says,
    “Save^(AX) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸They know nothing, they understand^(AY) nothing;
    their eyes^(AZ) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(BA) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(BB)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(BC) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(BD)
²⁰Such a person feeds on ashes;^(BE) a deluded^(BF) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(BG)”

²¹“Remember^(BH) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(BI)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(BJ)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(BK)
²²I have swept away^(BL) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(BM) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(BN) you.”

²³Sing for joy,^(BO) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth^(BP) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(BQ)
    you forests and all your trees,^(BR)
for the Lord has redeemed^(BS) Jacob,
    he displays his glory^(BT) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

²⁴“This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer,^(BU) who formed^(BV) you in the womb:^(BW)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,^(BX)
    who spreads out the earth^(BY) by myself,
²⁵who foils^(BZ) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,^(CA)
who overthrows the learning of the wise^(CB)
    and turns it into nonsense,^(CC)
²⁶who carries out the words^(CD) of his servants
    and fulfills^(CE) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,^(CF) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,^(CG) ‘I will restore them,’^(CH)
²⁷who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up^(CI) your streams,’
²⁸who says of Cyrus,^(CJ) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,^(CK) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,^(CL) “Let its foundations^(CM) be laid.”’