2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,a 2in which you used to liveb when you followed the ways of this worldc and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,d the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.e 3All of us also lived among them at one time,f gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature*g and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us,h God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressionsi—it is by grace you have been saved.j 6And God raised us up with Christk and seated us with himl in the heavenly realmsm in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,n expressed in his kindnesso to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by gracep you have been saved,q through faithr—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works,s so that no one can boast.t 10For we are God’s handiwork,u createdv in Christ Jesus to do good works,w which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerlya you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)b— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreignersc to the covenants of the promise,d without hopee and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who oncef were far away have been brought nearg by the blood of Christ.h
14For he himself is our peace,i who has made the two onej and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by setting aside in his fleshk the law with its commands and regulations.l His purpose was to create in himself onem new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,n by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peaceo to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.p 18For through him we both have accessq to the Fatherr by one Spirit.s
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,t but fellow citizensu with God’s people and also members of his household,v 20builtw on the foundationx of the apostles and prophets,y with Christ Jesus himselfz as the chief cornerstone.a 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy templeb in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.c