Ephesians 2

This chapter describes humanity's former state as dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the world and the prince of the power of the air, and being children of wrath. God, in His rich mercy and great love, quickened believers with Christ, saving them by grace through faith, not by works. Christ's work united both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the dividing wall to create one new man, reconciling both to God. Believers are now fellow citizens with the saints and part of God's household, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone.

The chapter begins by detailing humanity's spiritual condition before salvation, describing individuals as dead in trespasses and sins, following the ways of the world and the influence of the 'prince of the power of the air.' All, including the believers, were by nature 'children of wrath,' fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind. However, God, being rich in mercy and motivated by His great love, intervened to quicken those dead in sins together with Christ, emphasizing that salvation is by grace through faith, and not by human works. This divine act also raised believers to sit in heavenly places with Christ, demonstrating God's exceeding grace. The apostle then reminds Gentile believers of their former alienation: without Christ, separated from Israel, strangers to God's covenants, and without hope. But now, in Christ Jesus, those who were far off are brought near by His blood. Christ Himself is declared 'our peace,' having broken down the 'middle wall of partition' between Jew and Gentile, abolishing the law to create 'one new man.' Through the cross, He reconciled both groups to God, preaching peace to all. Consequently, both Jews and Gentiles now have access to the Father by one Spirit, becoming fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone, growing into a holy temple for God's habitation through the Spirit.

The chapter opens by addressing the spiritual condition of humanity, stating that individuals were formerly 'dead in trespasses and sins.' This state involved walking according to the 'course of this world' and being influenced by 'the prince of the power of the air,' a spirit actively working in 'children of disobedience.' The apostle includes himself and all believers in this former condition, acknowledging that they once lived in the 'lusts of our flesh,' fulfilling its desires and those of the mind, and were inherently 'children of wrath.' A profound shift is then introduced: 'But God, who is rich in mercy,' motivated by His 'great love,' intervened. Even while humanity was spiritually dead, God 'quickened us together with Christ,' a salvation explicitly declared to be 'by grace.' This divine act not only gave spiritual life but also 'raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,' demonstrating God's intent to display the 'exceeding riches of his grace' through kindness in future ages. The mechanism of salvation is further clarified: 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,' emphatically stating that it is 'Not of works, lest any man should boast.' Believers are described as God's 'workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,' which God had 'before ordained that we should walk in them,' indicating that good works are a result, not a cause, of salvation. The focus then shifts to the former state of Gentile believers, reminding them that they were 'Gentiles in the flesh,' distinct from those called 'Circumcision.' At that time, they were 'without Christ,' 'aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,' 'strangers from the covenants of promise,' and consequently, 'having no hope, and without God in the world.' However, a transformative change occurred: 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' Christ Himself is declared 'our peace,' having 'made both one' by 'broken down the middle wall of partition.' He achieved this by 'abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances,' with the purpose 'to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.' His ultimate goal was 'to reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.' This reconciliation was proclaimed as He 'preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.' Through Christ, both groups now 'have access by one Spirit unto the Father.' The consequence of this reconciliation is that believers are 'no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.' They are depicted as a spiritual edifice, 'built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.' In this structure, 'all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord,' signifying organic growth. Finally, Gentile believers are specifically included, being 'builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit,' emphasizing their integral role in God's spiritual dwelling.