Discoveries Bible - Ephesians 2
2:1-3
Think about the difference God has made in our lives. In the past, we had nothing. We were zombies walking around in a death trance – committing crime after crime as we blindly followed the spirit that inspires evil and controls the way this whole world operates. We thought we were satisfying our deepest desires, but we came up empty, at the business end of God's displeasure.
2:4-10
But God didn't leave us there. He saw us, envisioned a different destiny, and cared enough to intervene. This is because God is who He is. He doesn't leave us to what we deserve, but looks at every angle to give us good we never deserved. That's how we get saved from the doom we created for ourselves. God looked at where He put Jesus – way above everything and everybody – and found a way to put us right there with Him. Why did He do this? So we could have a front row seat for all eternity, soaking in the full measure of His measureless kindness and love toward us. This is God's gift to us – not something we worked to earn – but something we received simply because we trusted Him. No room for bragging here. I mean, let's get real: Dead zombies doing something good? No way! It's God who creates something good in us, and then that good bubbles up and overflows everywhere we go.
2:11-13
Let's look at it a different way. In the past, those of you who are not Jewish were outsiders. In other words, even if you wanted God, you couldn't have Him. You were stuck. Without God's good promises, you had zero hope. But Jesus changed all that. What looked like another pointless Roman execution was really God's ingenious plan for Christ's lifeblood to pay the way for you to enter God's family. Once upon a time, the entrance requirement was your own blood in the rite of circumcision. But now better blood has been shed. Christ is in; and, because you are connected with Christ, you are in. You are finally home.
2:14-18
Jesus Himself is our peace. Here's why. Jesus didn't want anyone estranged from God, whether Jew or Gentile. Nor did He want us estranged from each other. So He tore down the “Berlin Wall” that separated Jews and Gentiles. How did He do that? He one upped the old Jewish law, living a better life than law keepers ever could, and dying to fulfill all the requirements of the law. Jesus finished out the law, tossed it aside, and gave us all something better – privileged access to the Father and peace with each other.
2:19-22
As a result, you Gentiles are no longer foreigners, but co-citizens of God's kingdom, members of God's household. Together we are like a house: Jesus is the main foundation, then the church starting leaders and those who speak for God. Put us all together, connect us properly, and we rise high become a magnificent building set apart for God to live in by His Spirit.
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