Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,(A) in which you used to live(B) when you followed the ways of this world(C) and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,(D) the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.(E) All of us also lived among them at one time,(F) gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a](G) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us,(H) God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions(I)—it is by grace you have been saved.(J) And God raised us up with Christ(K) and seated us with him(L) in the heavenly realms(M) in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,(N) expressed in his kindness(O) to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace(P) you have been saved,(Q) through faith(R)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works,(S) so that no one can boast.(T) 10 For we are God’s handiwork,(U) created(V) in Christ Jesus to do good works,(W) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(A) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[a](B) 15 that everyone who believes(C) may have eternal life in him.”[b](D)

16 For God so loved(E) the world that he gave(F) his one and only Son,(G) that whoever believes(H) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(I) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(J) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(K) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(L) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(M) 19 This is the verdict: Light(N) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(O) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(P) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:14 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  2. John 3:15 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.

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