Ephesians: Word Come Alive (audio)

Word Come Alive is an expanded translation (paraphrase) of the New Testament contemporary, natural by respected editor Martin Manser. Linking phrases and background information are supplied in italics within the text to help make the message more immediately understandable. For example, Ephesians 2:4-7: But God – what marvellous words these are: ‘but God’! God intervened in this desperate situation simply because of who he is. He is infinitely rich in mercy, so he did not deal with us as we deserve. As a result of his great love, with which he loved us, he made us spiritually alive together with Christ. Because we are joined to Christ, God brought us to a new spiritual birth and into a living relationship with him. God made us alive, even when we were spiritually dead because we disobeyed him. You’ve been rescued only because of his grace – his kind love, his generous favour, that gives us life that we don’t deserve in the slightest. Stop and reflect on this: you and I have been rescued from slavery to sin, God’s just anger and death. We’re now alive to God because we’ve been brought into a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ – and all this is only because of God’s incredible love. Even more than this: God raised us up from spiritual death to life together with Christ. He has seated us securely together with him right now in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. At this very moment, we are enjoying the Father’s glorious presence together with Christ! God’s purpose in doing this was that he might showcase into the distant reaches of time the extravagant wealth of his generous love which is displayed in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. What glorious, marvellous privileges are ours in Christ!