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From Death to Life

¹ And you were dead^(C1) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world,^(C1) according to the ruler of the power of the air,^(C2) the spirit^(C3) now working in the disobedient.^{(F1) 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(C1) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(C2) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(C3) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(C1) because of his great love^(C2) that he had for us,^{(F1) 5} made us alive^(C1) with Christ even though we were dead^(C2) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,^{(C1) 7} so that in the coming ages^(C1) he might display the immeasurable riches^(C2) of his grace through his kindness^(C3) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(C1) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created^(C1) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(C2) for us to do.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(C1) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(C2) 12} At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise,^(C1) without hope^(C2) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(C1) of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both groups one^(C1) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, ¹⁵ he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create^(C1) in himself one^(C2) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body^(C1) through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.^{(F1) 17} He came and proclaimed the good news^(C1) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(C2) 18} For through him we both have access^(C1) in one spirit to the Father.^{(C2) 19} So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(C1) with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building, being put together,^(C1) grows into a holy temple in the Lord.^{(C2) 22} In him you are also being built together^(C1) for God’s dwelling^(C2) in the Spirit.