In Ephesians 2 Paul explains how God saves sinners by grace through faith, and not by works, and how Christ creates a new people united in Him. Paul begins saying that the Ephesians had been dead in their sins following "the ruler of the kingdom of the air... gratifying the cravings of their sinful nature... and were therefore objects of wrath... but God who is rich in mercy made them alive with Christ... and seated us with him in heavenly places with Christ... for it is by grace you have been saved... not by works... though created to do good works". Paul then goes on to say that through the blood of Christ they, Gentiles, who had been outside the promises of God and distant from God, had now been brought near. "For Christ himself is our peace and made Jew and Gentile one in Christ... and created in Jesus one new man thus making peace... for through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit... so you Ephesians are no longer aliens but fellow-citizens with God's people... built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the chief cornerstone".
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