SLASB Ephesians Sampler - Flipbook - Page 8
Ephesians 3
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can boast about it. 10For we are God’s master- peace to the Jews who were near. 18Now all of us
piece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, can come to the Father through the same Holy
so we can do the good things he planned for us Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
long ago.
Oneness and Peace in Christ
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their
circumcision, even though it affected only their
bodies and not their hearts. 12In those days
you were living apart from Christ. You were
excluded from citizenship among the people
of Israel, and you did not know the covenant
promises God had made to them. You lived in
this world without God and without hope. 13But
now you have been united with Christ J esus.
Once you were far away from God, but now
you have been brought near to him through the
blood of Christ.
14For Christ himself has brought peace to us.
He united Jews and Gentiles into one people
when, in his own body on the cross, he broke
down the wall of hostility that separated us.
15He did this by ending the system of law with
its commandments and regulations. He made
peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in
himself one new people from the two groups.
16Together as one body, Christ reconciled both
groups to God by means of his death on the
cross, and our hostility toward each other was
put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to
you Gentiles who were far away from him, and
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A Temple for the Lord
19So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers
and foreigners. You are citizens along with all
of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s
family. 20Together, we are his house, built on the
foundation of the apostles and the prophets.
And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22Through
him you Gentiles are also being made part of
this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
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When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner
of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles* . . . 2assuming, by the way, that you know
God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3As I briefly
wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4As you read what I have written,
you will understand my insight into this plan
regarding Christ. 5God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has
revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and
Jews who believe the Good News share equally
in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both
are part of the same body, and both enjoy the
promise of blessings because they belong to
Christ Jesus.* 7By God’s grace and mighty power,
3:1 Paul resumes this thought in verse 14: “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father.” 3:6 Or because they are united with
Christ Jesus.
OUR LIVES
BEFORE
AND AFTER
CHRIST
Before
After
Dead because of disobedience and sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Made alive with Christ
Subject to God’s anger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shown God’s mercy and given salvation
Following the ways of the world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . United with Christ Jesus
God’s enemies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God’s children
Enslaved to the devil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free to love, serve, and sit with Christ
Following our evil thoughts and desires . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raised from the dead with Christ
2:11‑16 A People United Before Jesus came, Gentiles and
Jews stayed away from one another. Jews considered all non-
Jews to be ceremonially unclean but thought of themselves
as pure and clean because of their national heritage and
religious ceremonies. Gentiles resented these Jewish claims.
However, Jesus revealed the total sinfulness of both Jews
and Gentiles—and then offered his salvation to both. Jesus
breaks down walls of prejudice so we can have real unity
with people who are not like us. Because we have true reconciliation with God, we can also have reconciliation with each
other and focus on what we have in common rather than
what separates us.
2:19‑22 The House of God We sometimes think of God’s
house as a building. In reality, though, God’s house is a group
of people. He lives in all of us who are believers and shows
himself to a watching world through us. People can see God’s
love in us when we serve Christ as Lord and live in harmony
with one another as citizens of God’s Kingdom and members
of his household.
3:1 Paul, a Prisoner Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesian church while he was imprisoned, possibly during the
two years he was under house arrest in Rome for preaching
about Christ. The Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem had
pressured the Roman authorities to arrest Paul, and he had
appealed for his case to be heard by the emperor himself (see
Acts 28:16‑31).
