Ephesians 2:1-22.
Ephesians 2:1-22
From Death to Life
In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.
You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the
world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God.
Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and
minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like
everyone else. But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins,
but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's
wonderful kindness is what saves you. God raised us from death to
life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in
heaven. God did this so that in the future world he could show how
truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we
deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on
your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you
can brag about. God planned for us to do good things and to live as
he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us
what we are.
United by Christ
Don't forget that you are Gentiles. In fact, you used to be called
"uncircumcised" by those who take pride in being circumcised. At that
time you did not know about Christ. You were foreigners to the people
of Israel, and you had no part in the promises that God had made to
them. You were living in this world without hope and without God, and
you were far from God. But Christ offered his life's blood as a
sacrifice and brought you near God. Christ has made peace between Jews
and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred
that separated us. Christ gave his own body to destroy the Law of
Moses with all its rules and commands. He even brought Jews and
Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us
in peace. On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each
other. He also made peace between us and God by uniting Jews and
Gentiles in one body. Christ came and preached peace to you Gentiles,
who were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God. And
because of Christ, all of us can come to the Father by the same
Spirit. You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are
citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. You are
like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and
with Christ as the most important stone. Christ is the one who holds
the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the
Lord. And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place
for God's own Spirit to live."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you sending Jesus Christ down to
die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days later
you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into my
heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
From Death to Life
In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.
You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the
world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God.
Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and
minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like
everyone else. But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins,
but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's
wonderful kindness is what saves you. God raised us from death to
life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in
heaven. God did this so that in the future world he could show how
truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we
deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on
your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you
can brag about. God planned for us to do good things and to live as
he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us
what we are.
United by Christ
Don't forget that you are Gentiles. In fact, you used to be called
"uncircumcised" by those who take pride in being circumcised. At that
time you did not know about Christ. You were foreigners to the people
of Israel, and you had no part in the promises that God had made to
them. You were living in this world without hope and without God, and
you were far from God. But Christ offered his life's blood as a
sacrifice and brought you near God. Christ has made peace between Jews
and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred
that separated us. Christ gave his own body to destroy the Law of
Moses with all its rules and commands. He even brought Jews and
Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us
in peace. On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each
other. He also made peace between us and God by uniting Jews and
Gentiles in one body. Christ came and preached peace to you Gentiles,
who were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God. And
because of Christ, all of us can come to the Father by the same
Spirit. You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are
citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. You are
like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and
with Christ as the most important stone. Christ is the one who holds
the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the
Lord. And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place
for God's own Spirit to live."
Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you sending Jesus Christ down to
die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days later
you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into my
heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God bless you.
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