For we are God's masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.

From: Paul, an apostle of the Messiah Jesus by God's will. To: His holy and faithful people in Ephesus who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.

In union with him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's grace

That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,

You, too, are being built in him, along with the others, into a place for God's Spirit to dwell.

Surely you have heard about the responsibility of administering God's grace that was given to me on your behalf,

which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:

I have become a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.

until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah.

and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God's image in righteousness and true holiness.

Do not do this only while you're being watched in order to please them, but be like slaves of the Messiah, who are determined to obey God's will.