New Testament · Ephesians

Ephesians 2

Alive with Messiah

(Colossians 2:6–23)

1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority^a of the air, of the spirit^b that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Among them we too all formerly lived in the desire of our flesh^d, indulging the desires of flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath^e, even as the rest.^c

4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love^f with which He loved^g us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah — by grace^h you have been saved — 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua, 7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua.

8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the giftⁱ of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

One in Messiah

(Philippians 2:1–4)

11Therefore remember that formerly you, the nations in flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision" which is performed in flesh by human hands — 12remember that you were at that appointed time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants^k of promise, having no hope^l and without God in the world.^j 13But now in Messiah Yeshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah.

14For He Himself is our peace^m, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the lawⁿ of commandments contained in decrees^o, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross^p, by it having put to death the enmity.

17And He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far away and to those who were near; 18for through Him we both have our access in one spirit to the Father.

Messiah Our Cornerstone

(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; 1 Peter 2:1–8)

19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones^q, and are of God's household, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua Himself being the corner stone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy^r temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the spirit.