Jesus First: A Study on EphesiansSample

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Chapter 2 of Ephesians highlights the transformation from spiritual death to life through faith in Christ. Paul reminds the Ephesian believers of their former state of sin and disobedience, emphasizing God's rich mercy and grace that saved them. By God's unmerited favor, they have been brought to life with Christ, not by their works but as a gift, created anew to walk in good works that God prepared for them beforehand.

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Paul is communicating to the believers in Ephesus about their spiritual transformation through Christ. It emphasizes that they were once spiritually dead due to sin, but through God's grace and the work of Christ, they have been made alive and saved by faith. The passage underscores that salvation is a gift from God, not based on their own efforts, so that no one can boast. Additionally, it highlights that believers are God's handiwork, created for good works that God prepared in advance for them to do.

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We can see the emphasis of the centrality of God's grace, the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice, and the purpose of believers' lives in doing good works. We can boldly walk in humility, because we recognize that our salvation is solely by God’s grace. Let us approach others with the same kindness and understanding that has been shown to us by God.