The Letter of St. Paul
to
the
Ephesians
Chapter 2
1. You were dead through trespasses and sins. 2. in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.
(The Letter of St.Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 1 to 3)
Oh God my Father before I fall into the temptation of passing judgement on others and or criticise them for the mistakes that they did in the past or still doing in the present, it is best for us including myself that we are far from perfect, and that if I look back in life or focus on the present I will also find sinful acts in my background and issues that are still pending in my life. Therefore before judging others, it is wise of us to focus on our own trespasses, however, had not Jesus saved us and forgave us of our sins again, and again our situation would be hopeless. Thank You, Jesus, for having our sins nailed on, the cross and paid for by means of Your passion Amen.
4. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5. even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved- 6. and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7. so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 4 to 7)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for loving me and for focussing on my positive attributes, instead of blaming me for my sins even though at times they were many. Thank You ,Jesus, for crucifying my sins on the cruel cross so that with You I could be resurrected Amen.
8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God 9. not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10. For we are what he has made us; created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for the gift of faith in You. It is a gift that I will treasure with all my heart and all my body and all my soul. I thank You for making me a Christian according to Your plan even before I was born You had already made plans for me which are still unfolding up to this very day and hour Amen.
10. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verse 10)
Amen oh God my Father, such powerful verses, may I also live long enough to fulfil the plan that You have made for me even before the time of my creation thank You, Jesus. Oh, Father being a Catholic or a Christian or a Roman Catholic is not like being a member of a social club, but indeed it is a way of life based on the Bible and all that Your Holy Spirit reveals to us by means of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. I also believe oh Jesus that You speak even by means of other churches because the faith of such believers reflected by the works done in Your name are also worthy of merit and praise Amen. I pray that You bless us all regardless of such differences Amen.
11. So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision"- a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands- 12. remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 11 to 13)
Oh God my Father there was also a time when, You were a stranger to me, times when I was taught about You but did not have a relationship with You, however then came that special moment when You Yourself called me to follow You, and this has been the turning point of my life, when I really started living my life with You Amen and thank You Jesus.
14. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verse 14)
Oh God by means of Your resurrection You have broken down the barriers that restricted us from having access to heaven and opened up the opportunity for us to one day join You forever. Amen. I pray that as You broke down such barriers You break down the divisions in Your Church, between Catholics, Roman Catholics, Protestants and people from different religions Amen.
15. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16. and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 15 to 16)
Oh God my Father on the cross You abolished and paid for our sinful self and all its lures in order to make us united in ourselves and with each other as being baptised and reborn from the spirit and not only from the flesh Amen.
17. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18. for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 17 to 18)
Oh God my Father I thank You for having mercy on me and calling me back to You, when You were still a stranger to me. I thank You for giving me a chance to experience life in Your Spirit which is the one and only true life that is not an illusion or fake as are many of the ways of the world. I thank You for Your presence which is present in me, even though as a sinner I am not worthy to experience such a pure and loving spirit Amen. Thank You, Father.
19. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20. built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22. in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
(The Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 19 to 22)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for this great honour and privilege of being one of Your many friends and part of Your body on earth that is the Church. I thank You more for considering me as a place where You can dwell Amen. I pray that I will always be humble enough to allow You a place in my life Amen.
Oh God my Father I would like to end this second chapter of St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians with the following prayer;
Oh God my Father blessed be Your Name, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I thank You for calling me from my previous way of life to have a relationship with You. I thank You for crucifying my sins and those of the world and for paying the penalty instead of me. I pray that I become a dwelling place for You where You can find rest and pleasure and satisfaction Amen. Thank You Jesus.
