By Grace Through Faith

1And you [†]were dead [†]in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the [†]course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom we all also formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the [†]mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead [†]in our transgressions, made us alive together [†]with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [†]this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

11Therefore, remember that formerly you—the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off [†]have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition 15[†]by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace, 16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity. 17AND HE CAME AND PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the [†]saints, and are of God’s household, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy [†]sanctuary in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.