1You were once dead because of your trespasses and sins. 2You once walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power authority and jurisdiction of the air, the spirit that is now active in the sons of disobedience. 3We all once lived in the lust of our flesh, indulging the desires lusts of the flesh and of the mind. We were by nature children of anger and violent passion, like everyone else. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For by grace loving-kindness you have been saved. 6God raised us up with him and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, with Christ Jesus. 7So in the ages to come he, with Christ Jesus, might show the exceeding surpassingexceptional riches of his grace with kindness toward us. 8By grace Greek: charis, divine favor, loving-kindness you have been saved through faith. It is not from you. It is the gift from God! 9It is not the result of works. So no man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship created with Christ Jesus for good works. God prepared these works in advance that we should walk in them. 11Remember that you were once people of the nations in the flesh. You are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision, in the flesh, made by human hands. 12You were separate from Christ at that time, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. You were strangers from the covenants of the promise. You had no hope and were without God in the world. 13You were once far off but now with Christ Jesus, the blood of Christ has brought you near. 14For he is our peace, who made both Jews and Gentiles one, and broke down the middle barrier of partition. 15Christ abolished in his flesh the enmity ill will, which the law of commandments contained in ordinances. That way he might create one new man, out of the two, with himself establishing peace. 16So he reconciled them both in one body to God through the stake. He put to death the enmity antagonismhostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near. 18We both have access to the Father by one Spirit through him. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens. You are fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of God. 20You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus is the chief corner stone. 21In him each building fits together and grows into a »holy Temple for Jehovah.« (Zechariah 6:12) 22In Christ you are assembled together as a place for God’s Spirit to dwell.