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Alive with Christ
Ephesians 2:1–10 explains a great change. It describes an old way of life in transgressions and sins, then shows what God has done in Christ Jesus by mercy, love and grace, and what that new life is for.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This teaching speaks in both “you” and “we also all”. It first describes how people once walked, then turns to God’s action in making people alive together with Christ. The passage goes on to explain grace, faith, God’s gift, and the good works prepared for those created in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1–10Main takeaway
This passage teaches that when people were dead in transgressions and sins, God made them alive together with Christ by grace, and created them in Christ Jesus for good works.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Dead in transgressions and sinsThe passage begins by saying, “You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins.”
Explanation
The passage begins by saying, “You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins.” It then describes that former life as something in which people once “walked”. They walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now at work in the children of disobedience.
02We also all once lived this wayThe teaching then widens from “you” to “we also all”. It says all once lived among them in the lusts of the flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind.
Explanation
The teaching then widens from “you” to “we also all”. It says all once lived among them in the lusts of the flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind. The phrase “children of wrath” shows the seriousness of this condition and includes “we also all” along with “the rest”.
03But God acted in mercy and loveThe great change begins with God. He is described as “rich in mercy” and acting because of “his great love”.
Explanation
The great change begins with God. He is described as “rich in mercy” and acting because of “his great love”. Even when people were dead through trespasses, God made them alive together with Christ. The passage adds, “by grace you have been saved”, and says God raised us up and made us sit with Christ in the heavenly places.
04Grace is God's gift, not our boastingVerse 7 says God’s purpose is to show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Explanation
Verse 7 says God’s purpose is to show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Verses 8 and 9 explain that salvation is by grace through faith, and “that not of yourselves”. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one would boast.
05Created in Christ Jesus for good worksThe passage does not end by dismissing good works. Instead, it says, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”.
Explanation
The passage does not end by dismissing good works. Instead, it says, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”. These works are not the source of salvation in verses 8–9. They are the path God prepared beforehand, so that his people would walk in them.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which words in verses 1–3 describe the old way of life, and how do those words build the picture?
List the passage’s own terms such as “dead”, “transgressions and sins”, “walked”, “lusts of our flesh”, and “children of wrath”, and notice how they describe both conduct and condition.
02What reasons does the passage give for God’s action in making people alive together with Christ?
Look for what is said about God himself: he is “rich in mercy”, he loved with “great love”, and the saving action is described as grace.
03How does verse 10 connect with verses 8–9 when all three verses mention salvation, works, and God’s action?
Verses 8–9 say salvation is God’s gift and not of works, while verse 10 says God’s people are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ephesians 2:1–10
1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience.
3We also all once lived among them 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, for his great love with which he loved us,
5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9not of works, that no one would boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.