From Death to Life by Grace
Study note
Paul paints a stark picture of humanity's condition apart from Christ: dead in sin, following the world's pattern, and deserving of wrath. But the turning point comes with the words 'But God' (v. 4), introducing the rich mercy and great love that moved God to make believers alive with Christ. Verses 8-9 contain the clearest summary of salvation by grace through faith in all of Scripture. Verse 10 balances grace and works beautifully: we are saved not by works but for good works that God prepared in advance.
1 There was a time when you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the wrong things you did. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 You used to live the way everyone else in the world lives. You followed the dark ruler who controls the air around us. He is the evil spirit at work right now inside people who refuse to obey God. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 All of us used to live that way too. We followed whatever our sinful desires wanted and did whatever our bodies and minds craved. Because of that, we naturally deserved God's anger, just like everyone else. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God's mercy is so rich and his love for us is so great But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 that even when we were dead in our sins, he brought us to life together with Christ. Do not forget: it is grace that saved you! Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 God raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavenly places, because we belong to Jesus Christ. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 He did this so that in all the ages to come, he could show off the amazing riches of his grace. He showed this kindness to us through Jesus Christ. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest anyone should boast. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 We are God's handiwork. He created us through our connection to Jesus Christ so we could do the good things he planned for us long ago. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled in Christ
Study note
Paul reminds Gentile believers of their former exclusion from Israel's covenants and hope, then declares that Christ's death has demolished the barrier between Jew and Gentile. The 'wall that divided us' (v. 14) may allude to the literal dividing wall in the Jerusalem temple that separated Gentile and Jewish courts. Through the cross, Christ created one new humanity and gave both groups equal access to the Father by one Spirit. The chapter closes with the metaphor of a growing temple built on the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone.
11 So keep this in mind. At one time, you non-Jewish people were called 'the Uncircumcision' by Jewish people. They called themselves 'the Circumcision.' That was a label based on something done to their bodies. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 Back then, you had no connection to Christ. You were locked out from belonging to God's people Israel. You had no part in the agreements God made with his promises. You lived in this world without any hope and without God. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now, because you belong to Jesus Christ, you who used to be so far away have been brought close through the blood Christ shed. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 Christ himself is the reason we have peace. He took the two groups that were enemies and made them into one. He smashed the wall that kept them apart. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Through his own body, he put an end to the hatred between them by canceling the law with all its rules and regulations. His goal was to take these two groups and create one new people at peace with each other. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 Through the cross, he brought both groups back to God as one united body. The cross killed the hostility between them. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 He came and announced the good news of peace to those of you who were far away from God and also to those who were already near. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 Because of what Christ did, every one of us -- no matter our background -- can come to the Father through one Spirit. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 So you are no longer outsiders or strangers. You are full citizens with all of God's people and members of God's own family. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 You are like a building. The apostles and prophets laid the foundation. And Jesus Christ himself is the most important cornerstone. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 Christ holds the whole building together, and it keeps growing into a holy temple for the Lord. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 Because you belong to Christ, you are being built together into a place where God lives through his Spirit. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.