Dead in Disobedience
AND you were dead in transgressions and sins;
2 Wherein, in times past you walked according to the age of this world, in accordance to the prince, the authority of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom, we also all had our way of life in times past in the desires of our flesh, fulfilling the willings of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Alive Together in Christ
4 ¶ But God, being rich in mercy on account of his great love, with which he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace being saved);
6 And has raised us up together, and seated us together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 So that, in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Created in Christ for Good Works
8 ¶ For by grace you are saved through faith; and this not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the sake of good works, which God has prepared beforehand so that we walk in them.
Brought Near by the Blood of Christ
11 ¶ Therefore remember that you, in times past being Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by those which are called the circumcision in the flesh (that is made by human hands);
12 Since at that time you were without Christ, being foreigners from citizenship in Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who in times past were afar off, are brought near by the blood of Christ.
Israel and Gentiles made into one Body
14 ¶ For he is our peace, who has made the two, into one; and has torn down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 By abolishing the hostility in his flesh (the law of commandments in ordinances); in order that the two in himself are created into one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he, reconcile both to God in one body through the cross, in himself having put to death the hostility:
17 ¶ And came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you which were afar off, and to those that were nearby.
18 Because through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
God’s Dwelling Place
19 ¶ Therefore, now you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the holy people, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;
21 In whom the whole building fits together, growing into a holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom, you are also built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.