Ephesians 2: A Fresh Start with

Hey there! It’s been a minute, and I hope you’ll forgive the little break I took to spend time with family over the holidays. Things got a bit hectic when we rolled into December, but I’m back, and I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s dive into something that’s been on my heart lately.

I want to be upfront: this journey through the Bible is as new for me as it may be for some of you. I’m just documenting my reflections and learnings here on the blog, so we’re learning and growing together. My prayer is that through this process, you’ll develop your own deeper connection with God, not just take my word for it. So, with that said, let’s explore Ephesians 2 together.

Saved by Grace

Right from the start, Ephesians 2 reminds us of the transformative power of God’s grace. In verse 1, Paul writes, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” That word quickened stood out to me, so I looked it up. It means to bring to life, to stir up, or awaken. Honestly, that made me excited just reading it. We were spiritually dead, but through Jesus, God stirred us to life.

Paul doesn’t sugarcoat things—before Christ, we were following the “prince of the power of the air” (verse 2). That’s a reference to Satan, who operates in the unseen realm and manipulates the desires of the flesh. Also, I want to say this really speaks to not only his limited power but his power in comparison to God and for that, that gave me comfort. It’s a reality check to think about how easily we’re misled when we live outside God’s will, and makes me think about how more aware we need to be of how we move on this earth.

But here’s the good news: through Christ, we’ve been raised up TOGETHER (verse 6). We’ve been given a place in heavenly realms, not because of anything we’ve done but purely because of God’s grace. Verse 8 makes this real clear to us: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

Living in Grace

During a recent Bible study with friends, we talked about how grace isn’t a free pass to live however we want. Instead, it inspires us to live in reverence to God, just like we respect loving parents. It’s not about earning salvation—it’s about showing gratitude and love for the gift we’ve already been given.

Unity in Christ

The second half of the chapter dives into the unity that Christ brings. Paul talks about Gentiles being “uncircumcised” and Jews being “circumcised,” which can feel a bit confusing. In simple terms, circumcision was a physical sign of the Jewish covenant with God, separating them from Gentiles. But through Jesus, those divisions no longer matter. His sacrifice brings us all together into one family under God.

Verse 14 says it like this: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” Christ didn’t just save us—He united us. Which is a prophecy fulfilled from Isaiah 49:6, where God speaks of bringing salvation to the Gentiles.

Takeaways

This chapter left me with a deep appreciation for God’s grace. It’s a powerful reminder of His unconditional love—not based on what we do, but rooted in who He is. Through Jesus’s sacrifice, we’re brought into a relationship with God and united as one body of believers.

That said, we must not take God’s grace for granted. Just because it’s freely given doesn’t mean we should abuse it. Out of love and reverence for Him, we’re called to honor His laws and commandments. Paul addresses this in Romans 6:1-2, where he asks:“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.”

This rhetorical question hits hard. God’s grace isn’t an excuse to keep sinning—it’s a call to live in obedience out of gratitude and love. And the warning in Hebrews 10:26 is sobering: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”

That’s a terrifying place to be. For me, it’s like my relationship with my parents. Because I love and respect them, I do my best to follow their rules. But I’ve also faced serious consequences when I knowingly disobeyed them. Even worse than the punishment, though, is the disappointment I could see in their face and feel it in their hearts. Even know it brings my heart to tears. That feeling stays with me, and I think it’s a small reflection of how we should feel when we disobey God—our loving Father who has done everything to bring us into a relationship with Him.

Let’s strive to honor God not out of fear of punishment, but out of love and reverence for who He is and all He’s done for us.

One lingering question I had was, “Why weren’t we united from the start?” The answer, I think, lies in God’s promise to Abraham’s lineage—Jesus was always meant to come through that line to fulfill His plan for salvation. The promise to Abraham that his family would bless all families of the Earth and it has. But the beauty is, His plan has always been for all of us, Jew and Gentile alike.

What about you? What stood out to you from Ephesians 2? I’d love to hear your thoughts or what God revealed to you in your own study. Let’s keep growing together!