Completed Work OF Grace

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


**Ephesians 2:1-22** reveals the *completed work of grace* and the *mystery of God's will*—that both Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ to form one family, the Church. This chapter beautifully explains how God's grace saves us and reconciles us to Himself and to each other. 

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### **Key Points from Ephesians 2:1-22**

#### 1. **Saved by Grace Through Faith** (Verses 1-10)
   - **Verses 1-3**:  
     - We were all spiritually dead in sin, walking in disobedience and deserving of God's wrath. This was true for both Jews and Gentiles.  
   - **Verses 4-5**:  
     - But God, in His mercy and love, made us alive with Christ, saving us by grace. This salvation is entirely God's gift, not something we earn.  
   - **Verses 6-7**:  
     - God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in heavenly places, demonstrating His incomparable grace and kindness.  
   - **Verses 8-10**:  
     - Salvation comes by grace through faith, not by works. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works that He prepared for us to walk in.

#### 2. **Unity Through Reconciliation** (Verses 11-18)
   - **Verses 11-12**:  
     - Gentiles were once alienated from God, excluded from the promises of Israel, and without hope.  
   - **Verses 13-14**:  
     - Through the blood of Christ, Gentiles who were far away have been brought near, and He is our peace, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles.  
   - **Verses 15-16**:  
     - Christ abolished the law's hostility by creating "one new humanity" from the two (Jews and Gentiles), reconciling both to God through the cross.  
   - **Verses 17-18**:  
     - Through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles have access to the Father by one Spirit.

#### 3. **God’s Household: One Family in Christ** (Verses 19-22)
   - **Verse 19**:  
     - Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.  
   - **Verses 20-22**:  
     - The Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. Together, we are being built into a holy temple, where God dwells by His Spirit.

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### **The Mystery(Secret) of Grace and God's Will**
- The "mystery" refers to God's eternal plan to unite Jews and Gentiles into one body through Christ (Ephesians 3:6).  
- In the Old Testament, Israel had a unique covenant relationship with God. Gentiles were largely excluded. But through Christ, this distinction is abolished, and everyone has equal access to God by grace.

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### **Significance for Believers**

1. **Grace Is Central**:  
   - Our salvation and reconciliation with God are not based on ethnicity, works, or status but solely on God's grace.  

2. **Unity in Christ**:  
   - The dividing lines between Jews and Gentiles (or any human divisions) no longer matter. In Christ, we are one family.  

3. **A New Identity**:  
   - Believers are no longer outsiders but full members of God's household, with Jesus as the cornerstone of this new temple.  

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### **Application**

- **Rejoice in Grace**: Thank God for saving you by grace and giving you a new identity in Christ.  
- **Live in Unity**: Embrace and celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ, knowing we are all one in Him.  
- **Be the Temple**: Let your life reflect God's presence as part of His holy dwelling place.

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### **Summary**
Ephesians 2:1-22** beautifully reveals the completed work of grace and God's will to unite both Jews and Gentiles into one family through Christ. This is the ultimate fulfillment of His plan to reconcile humanity to Himself and to each other. Through Jesus, we are made alive, saved, and built into God's spiritual house where His Spirit dwells!

Apostle Paul