The Gospel of Ephesians
And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins,
in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].
Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].
But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us,
even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).
And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus,
[and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption].
For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;
not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands
remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.
But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us],
by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.
And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.
And He came and preached the good news of peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away, and peace to those [Jews] who were near.
For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,
in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Content source: the Amplified Bible (AMP) by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.
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In chapter, Paul begins by outlining the depth of redemption that Christ availed us. It is clear that while in the world, we were spiritually dead and lost in our evil desires which qualified us to receive God's wrath, yet, God showed us so much mercy which is a display of His great love.
God didn't just show us mercy, He also restored the dignity and glory He gave us at creation.
In all of these, we must remain conscious that these blessing sand love lavished on us were unmeritted, but, we accessed it through CHRIST. This should give us a rejoicing heart always each we remember that we have been redeemed to sit with Christ in the heavenlies. Halleliua!
Thank you @reliquary for sharing!
Remember that when you were soft and weak, even spiritualy dead, God woke you and raise you!, what then do you have to do? You need to sacrifice your life for His service. Thanks@reliquary.
I upvoted your post.
Keep steeming for a better tomorrow.
@Acknowledgement - God Bless
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Here Paul emphasizes that man does not need merely a guide or a teacher, because he is dead and what he needs is someone capable of resurrecting his spirit, it is evident that the way and attitudes of society are formed by the prince of the power of the air, a title for satanas that has relation with the influence that exerts on each and every culture, then, the inevitable end of all the children of disobedience is to be under the condemnation of a God justly angry; is to face a justified trial for having violated known boundaries of spiritual and moral order.
I also want to emphasize about verse 13, where Paul emphasizes "the sacrifice of Christ embraces the Gentiles", Paul was saying that before the new covenant, the Gentiles were excluded from the nation of Israel, and were considered to be oblivious to the promises of the covenant of God. There was no hope for them in this life, nor could they recognize the presence of God in the world, the blood of the sacrifice of the covenant of Christ united the Gentile believers, who were estranged from God, together with the Jews, in the new covenant , the Gentiles were incorporated to enjoy the promise through the new covenant, and included as heirs, along with the patriarchs, of all the promises of God.