1 You who were dead in your trespasses and sins [Sin, trespass and transgression (1st John 3:4) are all synonyms; Psalm 51:5; James 2:26]; ² in which you then walked according to the course of this world [1st Corinthians 6:9-11], according to the ruler [the Devil - Satan] of the authority of the air, the spirit [the Devil - Satan] who is now working in the sons of disobedience; ³ among whom also we all conducted ourselves then in the perverted desires of our flesh, doing the wishes [plural] of the flesh and of the mind [plural = thoughts], and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. ⁴ BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses [See Ephesians 2:1], made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved); ⁶ and has raised us up and seated us together in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus [SEE Colossians 1:13—Who delivered us from the authority [dominion OR kingdom] of darkness [the Devil - Satan; SEE Ephesians 2:2] and transferred us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son [a present Kingdom and a present possession, though much is yet to be possessed (Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 1:13, 14; 1st Corinthians 1:22; 2nd Corinthians 5:5)]], ⁷ in order that in the coming ages He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith [belief - Titus 3:5, 6: John 6:44; James 2:19]; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For of [by] Him we are made [a product], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared [planned] beforehand [Ephesians 1:4] in order that in them we should walk.

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This Page Last Updated: 03/08/08 A. Allison Lewis aalewis@christianbeliefs.org