[1] And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and
sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at
work in the sons of disobedience. [3] Among these we all once lived in the
passions of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we
were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God,
who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, [5]
even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up with him, and
made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in
the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved
through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- [9]
not because of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them. [11] Therefore remember that at
one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is
called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- [12]
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus
you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ.
[14] For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the
dividing wall of hostility, [15] by abolishing in his flesh the law of
commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in
place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God
in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.
[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to
those who were near; [18] for through him we both have access in one Spirit
to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of
God, [20] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ
Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure is
joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; [22] in whom you
also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
