Ephesians 2
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
"Quickened" = † ζωοποιέω zōopoiéō, dzo-op-oy-eh'-o; from the same as G2226 and G4160; to (re-)vitalize (literally or figuratively):—make alive, give life, quicken, spiritually made alive, of the spirit, quickening as respects the spirit, endued with new and greater powers of life.
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
This is talking about the "Kenites", the offspring of Cain and the world walking with them in their evil actions. If you're ignore Christ, you're following satan. Your fooled by his tricks, "prince of the power of the air" satan winds of lies. They're floating everywhere today on tv, radio, in your churches, etc.
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
If you haven't ask The Lord into your life, you're living for that fleshly way. Those desires that lead to death. Paul's pointing out he was once living in that place, but has change from their ways, changed from those kenites that followed their dad satan.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
How great is God's love? He sent His Son out of the heavenly realm where there was no harm to endure pain and suffering for YOU. That through Christ, we would wake up and see The Truth and choose Him over the flesh and satan. That's Love!
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Even though we had nothing but evil intent, God sent His Son. God knew the evil of humans but showed us favor anyway, He gave us The Way. †
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Only in Christ Jesus † Eph. 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. We have been shown favor in our accepting Christ Jesus, The Beloved. Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
This age to come is when that millennium age starts, that 7th trump and on into eternity. Those who chose Christ will live a life they couldn't have imagined.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Your faith in Christ is what gives you the favor of God by being saved from death, which is satan. We can't have life without having Christ. Without Christ in your life, satan will fill the void. Why would anyone waste His gift is beyond me because this world is full of takers, yet they refuse to take Christ.
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We, ourselves have no way to life everlasting. It is ONLY through Christ that we have life. It is in Him we live today and do the work we do in an evil world. It is He that gives us the strength to get things done. It's the will of God that we follow Christ and use those gifts He has given us. The Glory is His!
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God's handiwork - "workmanship" is for us to do the work of Christ. We shouldn't just sit around saying "I'm a Christian" but use those gifts God has given you. For some it may be opening doors with a smile and a "God bless you" for others it may be handing out The Bible. Some play drums in their Church and others by tithing so The Church can get its work done. Christians are can do children of God.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Those circumcised were those of the "whole house of Israel" all twelve tribes. Those not of that house had no hope. Christ came that ALL may have hope. That ALL may have The Way to God, The Way to salvation.
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Without Christ, there is NO hope. I thank God daily for Christ Jesus and the choice I have when I open my eyes each day.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Want peace of mind? One Way, that's through Christ Jesus. He came that we can live. Live in confidence that He paid the price for us that believe and follow Him. When He died on that cross, the veil that separated us from talking to God was torn apart, giving everyone the same opportunity without any bondage. Matthew 27:50-51 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; It is where we got the idea for the name of this Ministry; Open Veil Ministry.
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
This is talking about that blood ordinance. The law hasn't changed, it holds today just as it did from the beginning. What is gone is that blood ordinance of sacrifice. Christ became the last sacrifice once and for all time. Hebrews 10:1-10 1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Through our belief in Christ, we have been given The Way to God. In Truth, there is no division, but you must study as to have that Truth. Christ came that we may have His Way opened to us. 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Christ experienced this flesh to show us how to get it done in the flesh and to defeat satan and he has nothing for those that choose Christ, because we have already won with Christ. Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Christ Jesus Yahshua, The Word is still reaching across this world in every direction.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Through Christ we have access to The Holy Spirit.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Through Christ, we become part of His family and the Kingdom of God.
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Those Apostles of the New Testament and those Prophets of the Old Testament are within The letter of God, The Bible and are to be studied. They ALL followed Christ, That Chief corner stone. "The chief corner stone" was a stone that was laid and then everything from that point is measured from it. Christ Jesus is our "chief corner stone" in which EVERYTHING is measured from. In Him our temple is built.
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The Word is in you and is built for you. †