Ephesians · chapter 2 of 6
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Ephesians 2 describes the passage from death to life: we were dead in trespasses and sins, but God, rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ; we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, and created for good works. It then shows that Christ broke down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, made them one people with access to the Father and builds them into a holy temple for God.
After the praise and prayer of chapter 1, Paul shows how the power that raised Christ applies to real people. Ephesians 2 contains one of the clearest expositions of salvation by grace and of the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles in the church.
Paul reminds his readers that they were dead in their trespasses and sins, in which they walked following the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air. All of them, Jews included, lived in the desires of the flesh and were by nature children of wrath. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive together with Christ, raised us up and seated us with him in the heavenly places. By grace they have been saved through faith; this is not their own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. They are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that they would walk in them.
Then Paul invites the Gentiles to remember their former condition: called the uncircumcision by the Jews, they were without Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Now in Christ Jesus those who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Christ himself is our peace: he made the two peoples one and broke down the dividing wall of hostility, abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace. He reconciled both to God in one body through the cross. Through him both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So the Gentiles are no longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. In him the whole structure, joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, and they too are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
God, rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive together with Christ even when we were dead in sins. The starting point of salvation is God's initiative, not our effort.
We are saved by grace through faith; it is not from ourselves but the gift of God, not by works, so that no one may boast. It rules out any pride and leaves us with gratitude.
We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works that he prepared beforehand. Works are not the cause of salvation but its fruit and purpose.
Christ is our peace, who made the two peoples one and broke down the dividing wall. Reconciliation with God leads to reconciliation between people who were once opposed.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Dead in their trespasses and sins. — Ephesians 2:1
Answer: Rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us. — Ephesians 2:4
Answer: By grace through faith; it is a gift of God and not a result of works. — Ephesians 2:8-9
Answer: For good works, which God prepared beforehand. — Ephesians 2:10
Answer: The dividing wall of hostility. — Ephesians 2:14
Answer: Christ Jesus himself. — Ephesians 2:20
Ephesians 2 puts us in our place and at the same time gives us hope. Recognizing that we were dead frees us from pride and comparison; knowing that God made us alive frees us from fear and guilt. In a small group you can share how you experienced grace and what needs to change so that gratitude, not duty, moves your works.
The chapter is also a call to unity. If Christ broke down the wall, the church cannot build others by origin, class or background. The class can ask whom it finds hard to draw near today and how to receive that person as a member of God's family.
Ephesians 2 shows that salvation is the work of grace and that Christ has made Jews and Gentiles one temple. In chapter 3, Paul will explain the mystery of that unity and pray that believers may know the love of Christ.
Paul speaks of spiritual death: a person without Christ is separated from God and cannot give himself life, even though he is physically alive and active. That is why salvation is described as resurrection and not as moral improvement.
No. Paul excludes works as the cause of salvation, but verse 10 affirms that we were created for them. James, for his part, speaks of faith shown in works. Good works are the consequence of grace.
It refers to Satan, described as the spirit at work in the disobedient. Paul mentions him to show what Christ rescued us from, without giving him more than the place of a defeated power under Christ's feet (1:21-22).