The Epistles · Chapter 2 of 6
Ephesians 2
Paul describes the movement from death to life. Once dead in sins and children of wrath, believers are made alive with Christ by grace through faith, saved not by works but as God's gift and workmanship. Once far off, Gentiles are brought near by Christ's blood. He is our peace, breaking the dividing wall, making Jew and Gentile one new man, and building both into a holy temple, a dwelling for God.
What happens in Ephesians 2
Paul reminds the Ephesians of their former condition: dead in trespasses and sins, following the course of this world and by nature children of wrath. Then comes the great turn: but God, rich in mercy, for his great love made us alive together with Christ, raised us up, and seated us in heavenly places. This salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, lest anyone boast; we are his workmanship, created in Christ for good works. Paul then addresses the Gentiles, once without Christ, aliens from Israel, strangers to the covenants, without hope and without God.
But now those far off are brought near by Christ's blood. He himself is their peace, breaking down the wall of partition and abolishing the enmity, to make of the two one new man and reconcile both to God through the cross. Through him both have access by one Spirit to the Father. No longer strangers, they are fellow citizens and God's household, with Christ the chief cornerstone, growing into a holy temple, a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2 in context
Ephesians celebrates God's vast plan to unite all things in Christ. After a chapter of praise and prayer, chapter 2 grounds that plan in personal and corporate salvation. It speaks first to every believer's rescue from spiritual death, then to the healing of the deepest division of the ancient world, between Jew and Gentile.
Paul writes to a largely Gentile church, assuring them of full belonging in God's people through Christ.
Main themes of Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2 (KJV)
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Verses to carry from Ephesians 2
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”Ephesians 2:8
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”Ephesians 2:10
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”Ephesians 2:14
Thematic connection
How Ephesians 2 points to Jesus
Christ is the turning point of the whole chapter. Believers are made alive, raised, and seated together with him; salvation is found in Christ Jesus and grounded in his blood. Paul says he himself is our peace, the one who breaks down the dividing wall and abolishes the enmity in his own flesh, making two peoples into one new humanity and reconciling both to God through the cross.
Access to the Father comes through him by the Spirit. And in the closing image, Christ is the chief cornerstone on whom the whole building is joined and rises into a holy temple. From spiritual resurrection to reconciled community to the dwelling of God, everything in this chapter is accomplished in and through him.
Questions about Ephesians 2
What does Ephesians 2:8-9 teach about salvation?
Paul teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, and that even this is not from ourselves but is the gift of God, not a result of works, so no one can boast. It means salvation is entirely God's initiative and provision, received by trusting him rather than earned by effort. Human pride is excluded, and all the credit belongs to God.
What is the dividing wall Christ broke down in Ephesians 2?
Paul refers to the deep hostility between Jews and Gentiles, symbolized by the law's barriers and even by a literal wall in the temple that kept Gentiles out. Through the cross, Christ abolished that enmity, making the two into one new humanity. Both now share equal access to God and belong together in one body, the church.
Reflection
Remember what you were, and then linger on the two words that change everything, but God. Your salvation was never your achievement but his gift of mercy. And notice that the same grace that raised you also joins you to others once far off. Let no wall you keep standing outlast the one Christ tore down.
A prayer from Ephesians 2
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