And I was dead in the trespasses and sins
in which I once walked, following the
course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom I once lived in the passions of my
flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and by nature I was a
child of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with
which he loved me, even when
I was dead in my trespasses, made me alive together with Christ—by grace I have
been saved— and raised me
up with him and seated me with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages he might show
the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward me in Christ Jesus.
For by grace I have been saved through
faith. And this is not my own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that I may not boast.
For I am his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk
in them.
