「你們得救是本乎恩……」（8節）

經文
以弗所書二1-22

1你們死在過犯罪惡之中，他叫你們活過來。

2那時，你們在其中行事為人，隨從今世的風俗，順服空中掌權者的首領，就是現今在悖逆之子心中運行的邪靈。

3我們從前也都在他們中間，放縱肉體的私慾，隨著肉體和心中所喜好的去行，本為可怒之子，和別人一樣。

4然而，神既有豐富的憐憫，因他愛我們的大愛，

5當我們死在過犯中的時候，便叫我們與基督一同活過來。你們得救是本乎恩。

6他又叫我們與基督耶穌一同復活，一同坐在天上，

7要將他極豐富的恩典，就是他在基督耶穌裡向我們所施的恩慈，顯明給後來的世代看。

8你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的；

9也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。

10我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裡造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的。

11所以你們應當記念：你們從前按肉體是外邦人，是稱為沒受割禮的；這名原是那些憑人手在肉身上稱為受割禮之人所起的。

12那時，你們與基督無關，在以色列國民以外，在所應許的諸約上是局外人，並且活在世上沒有指望，沒有神。

13你們從前遠離神的人，如今卻在基督耶穌裡，靠著他的血，已經得親近了。

14因他使我們和睦（原文作：因他是我們的和睦），將兩下合而為一，拆毀了中間隔斷的牆；

15而且以自己的身體廢掉冤仇，就是那記在律法上的規條，為要將兩下藉著自己造成一個新人，如此便成就了和睦。

16既在十字架上滅了冤仇，便藉這十字架使兩下歸為一體，與神和好了，

17並且來傳和平的福音給你們遠處的人，也給那近處的人。

18因為我們兩下藉著他被一個聖靈所感，得以進到父面前。

19這樣，你們不再作外人和客旅，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人了；

20並且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶穌自己為房角石，

21各（或作：全）房靠他聯絡得合式，漸漸成為主的聖殿。

22你們也靠他同被建造，成為神藉著聖靈居住的所在。

"For it is by grace you have been saved..." (v.8)

Bible reading:
Ephesians 2:1-22

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

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

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)—

12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.