7. READ: EPHESIANS 2:1-22
[Ephesians 2:1] "As for you, you were dead in your
transgressions and sins, [2] in 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. [3] All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature [or, "our
flesh"] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the
rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. [4] But because of His
great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive
with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by
grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and
seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, [7] in
order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches
of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. [8]
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--[9] not by
works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
[11] "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are
Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those
who call themselves 'the circumcision' (that done in
the body by the hands of men)--[12] remember 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. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far away have been brought near through the blood of
Christ.
[14] "For He Himself is our peace, Who has made the two
one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
[15] by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and
regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out
of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in this one body to
reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to
death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who
were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through
Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
[19] "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and
aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of
God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.
[21] In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to
become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in Him you too are being
built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His
Spirit."
a. What does God create us in Christ to do?
b. Who is our peace?
c. What was Christ's purpose?
d. In Christ's body, what are we members of?
e. What are God's people being built together to become?
