Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit. and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
靠恩典、憑信心
1你們從前死在過犯和罪惡之中。 2那時，你們隨從今世的風俗，順服在空中掌權的魔鬼，就是如今在一切悖逆上帝之人心中運行的邪靈。 3我們以前也在他們當中隨從本性的慾望，放縱肉體和心中的私慾，與其他人一樣生來就是惹上帝發怒的人。
4然而上帝有豐富的憐憫，祂深愛我們， 5儘管我們死在過犯之中，祂仍然使我們與基督一同活了過來。你們得救是因為上帝的恩典。 6在基督耶穌裡，上帝使我們與基督一同復活，一同坐在天上， 7好藉著祂在基督耶穌裡向我們所施的恩慈，向後世顯明祂無比豐富的恩典。 8你們得救是靠恩典，憑信心。這不是出於你們自己，而是上帝的禮物； 9也不是由於你們的行為，以免有人自誇。 10我們是上帝的傑作，是在基督耶穌裡創造的，為要完成上帝預先安排給我們的美好工作。
在基督裡合而為一
11因此，你們要記住，從前按照肉體來說你們是外族人，那些肉體上受過人手所行割禮的以色列人，稱你們為「沒有受過割禮的」。 12那時，你們與基督無關，也不是以色列人，在上帝應許的諸約上是局外人，你們活在世上沒有盼望，沒有上帝。 13但你們這些從前遠離上帝的人，如今在基督耶穌裡，靠著祂所流的血已經被帶到上帝面前。 14因為基督耶穌親自給我們帶來了和平，用自己的身體拆毀了以色列人和外族人之間充滿敵意的隔牆，使雙方合而為一， 15並廢除了以誡命和規條為內容的律法制度。祂這樣做是為了在自己裡面把雙方造成一個新人，成就和平， 16並藉著十字架消滅彼此間的敵意，使雙方藉著一個身體與上帝和好。 17祂來傳揚這平安的福音給你們這些離上帝很遠的外族人，也給我們這些離上帝很近的以色列人。 18我們雙方都是靠著祂在同一位聖靈的引導下來到父上帝面前。
19因此，你們不再是外人或過客，你們與眾聖徒一樣是天國的子民，是上帝家裡的人了。 20你們已被建立在眾使徒和先知們的根基上，基督耶穌自己是房角石。 21整座建築的各部分都靠祂連接在一起，逐漸成為主的聖殿。 22你們也靠著祂被建造在一起，成為上帝藉著聖靈居住的地方。
