1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[1] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –9not by works, so that no-one can boast.10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile reconciled through Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly 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) –12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,15by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
11Therefore 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— (Ro 2:26; Ro 2:28; Col 2:11; Col 2:13)12remember 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. (Eze 14:5; Ro 9:4; 1Co 12:2; Ga 2:15; Ga 4:8; Eph 1:18; Eph 4:18; Eph 5:8; Col 1:21; Col 3:7; 1Th 4:13)13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ac 2:39; Ro 3:25; Eph 2:17; Col 1:20)14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ps 72:7; Mic 5:5; Zec 9:10; Lu 2:14; Ro 7:4; Ga 3:28; Col 1:21; Col 3:15)15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (Ro 6:4; Col 2:14; Col 2:20)16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (1Co 12:13; Col 1:20)17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (De 4:7; Ps 148:14; Isa 57:19; Eph 2:13)18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Joh 4:23; Joh 10:7; Joh 10:9; Joh 14:6; Ro 5:2; 1Co 12:13; Eph 3:12; Eph 4:4)19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[4] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Ga 6:10; Eph 2:12; Php 3:20; Heb 11:13; Heb 12:22; Heb 13:14)20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16; Jer 12:16; Mt 16:18; 1Co 3:9; 1Co 3:11; Re 21:14)21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (1Co 3:16; Eph 4:15)22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[5] the Spirit. (2Co 6:16; Eph 3:17; 1Ti 3:15; 1Pe 2:5)