Ephesians 2:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved —

NIV: made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

NASB: even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

CSB: made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

NLT: that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

KJV: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

NKJV: even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

We do not make ourselves alive; God does. Our sins completely separate us from God, both spiritually, and in our eternal destiny. And yet, the trespasses which Paul mentioned in verse 1, which make us "dead," were not enough to stop God from making us alive. Interestingly, we are made alive "together with Christ." This includes the idea again that Jesus is alive; He is risen from the dead and reigns at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20).

Colossian 2:13 offers similar words: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." Becoming alive involves forgiveness. The last part of this verse adds another reference to the fact that our salvation is purely owed to God's grace. Paul's readers were already saved Christians. This salvation took place by God's grace, something Paul sought to remind them of so they would remain in a state of thanksgiving and live fully devoted to the Lord.

Ephesians 2:1–10 clearly explains the relationship between our lack of obedience, the grace of God, and our salvation. Those who are saved by Christ do not deserve this salvation. It is only by mercy, and by grace, that God chooses to forgive. In this section, Paul will repeat the claim that human effort has no impact on salvation whatsoever. No Christian can brag about their ''goodness,'' since we are saved entirely by the grace of God, not by our own good deeds.

Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is accomplished on the basis of grace, through faith. Good works, human effort, and our best intentions will never be enough to earn salvation. Every person is marked with sin, both deliberate and accidental, and for this reason we deserve to be separated from God. Only through His mercy and grace can we be saved, leaving no room for bragging. This also means that all who are saved, Jew and Gentile alike, are part of the same spiritual family. There is no cause for hostility between believers; we are all unworthy, and all saved by the same kindness of God.

The first three chapters of Ephesians focus on doctrinal issues; the last three show how those principles should be applied in real life. Chapter 2 makes a pair of related points about our status as saved believers. First, salvation is entirely dependent on the grace of God, not human efforts. Second, this means all Christians are part of the same family, Jew and Gentile alike. This bridges chapter 1's explanation of God's awesome glory to chapter 3's discussion of God bringing His long-awaited plan into action.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.

Accessed 12/21/2024 8:19:43 PM