that. Really looking forward to what the Lord has for us in his word today. On Sunday mornings

prior to the prophecy update, we're going through the epistle to the Ephesians. And today we

begin a new chapter in chapter two. Our text will be verses, pardon me, one through nine. I'll invite

you at this time to turn there. And once you do, if you're able, I'll ask you to stand.

You can follow along as I read.

If not, that's all right.

Where you're seated, we'll begin in verse one, where the Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, is writing to the church in Ephesus and says,

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world

and of the ruler of the kingdom of the heir, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

All of us, verse three, also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh

and following its desires and thoughts.

Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

But God, verse four.

But because of His great love for us,

God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ,

even when we were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In order, verse 7, that in the coming ages, he might show

the incomparable riches of his grace expressed

in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

And then verses 8 and 9, for it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves. It is the gift of God,

not by works, so that no one can boast. Let's pray if you would join with me.

Loving Heavenly Father, will you at this time as only you can take this portion that we have here before us in your word and by the Holy Spirit bless it to our lives and to our understanding, the application of it, Lord, to our lives. We don't want our time together today here in your word to be a waste of time.

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