13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
13 Now because of Christ - dying that death, shedding that blood - you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
6 This mystery is
6 The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I've been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
6 And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
(Read Ephesians 3:1-7)
For having preached the doctrine of truth, the apostle was a prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; the object of special protection and care, while thus suffering for him. All the gracious offers of the gospel, and the joyful tidings it contains, come from the rich grace of God; it is the great means by which the Spirit works grace in the souls of men. The mystery, is that secret, hidden purpose of salvation through Christ. This was not so fully and clearly shown in the ages before Christ, as unto the prophets of the New Testament. This was the great truth made known to the apostle, that God would call the Gentiles to salvation by faith in Christ. An effectual working of Divine power attends the gifts of Divine grace. As God appointed Paul to the office, so he qualified him for it.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--
4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
(Read Ephesians 4:1-6)
Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart. They had all one faith, as to its object, Author, nature, and power. They all believed the same as to the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. In all believers God the Father dwells, as in his holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.
20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules.
20 He never did this to the other nations; they never heard such commands. Hallelujah!
20 He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the Lord!
20 He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord !
(Read Psalm 147:12-20)
The church, like Jerusalem of old, built up and preserved by the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, is exhorted to praise him for all the benefits and blessings vouchsafed to her; and these are represented by his favours in the course of nature. The thawing word may represent the gospel of Christ, and the thawing wind the Spirit of Christ; for the Spirit is compared to the wind, John 3:8. Converting grace softens the heart that was hard frozen, and melts it into tears of repentance, and makes good reflections to flow, which before were chilled and stopped up. The change which the thaw makes is very evident, yet how it is done no one can say. Such is the change wrought in the conversion of a soul, when God's word and Spirit are sent to melt it and restore it to itself.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 2:13
Commentary on Ephesians 2:11-13
(Read Ephesians 2:11-13)
Christ and his covenant are the foundation of all the Christian's hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but who is able to remove himself out of it? Would that this were not a true description of many baptized in the name of Christ. Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the misery of a person, separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the body of Christ, fallen from the covenant of promise, having no hope, no Saviour, and without any God but a God of vengeance, to all eternity? To have no part in Christ! What true Christian can hear this without horror? Salvation is far from the wicked; but God is a help at hand to his people; and this is by the sufferings and death of Christ.