Ephesians 2:1-7

1You were once dead because of your failures and sins.

2You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God.

3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.

4But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.

5We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God’s kindness  that saved you.)

6God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus and has given us a position in heaven with him.

7He did this through Christ Jesus out of his generosity to us in order to show his extremely rich kindness in the world to come.