Ephesians 2:1-10
This passage began with Apostle Paul telling the Ephesians that Christ “made you alive who were dead in trespasses and sins” (v.1). When we walk according to the ways of this world, we are spiritually dead. The spiritually dead follows the ways of the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (v.2). Just as the others outside of Christ were once in the same dead condition so were we. By nature we were children of wrath; we conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind (v.3).
He went on to tell the Ephesians that God, who is rich in mercy, had a great love with which He loved us (v.4). Even when we were dead in trespasses, He made us alive together in Christ; by grace we have been saved (v.5). He raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (v.6). God did this so that in the ages to come, He might prove the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (v.7).
Paul told the Ephesians that they have been saved by grace. Their salvation was through faith and not of themselves; it is the gift of God (v.8) – not of works, lest anyone should boast (v.9). For we are His workmanship; we have been created in Christ Jesus with a new nature to do the good works He prepared beforehand for us (v.10). Praise God and give Him a handclap for giving us faith and salvation. Without faith we cannot be saved. Will you commit to a new life in Christ Jesus through faith today and avoid God’s wrath?