Once you were dead because of your disobedience
and your many sins.
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world,
obeying the devil—
the commander of the powers in the unseen world.
He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those
who refuse to obey God.
All of us used to live that way…
But God is so rich in mercy,
and he loved us so much,
that even though we were dead because of our sins,
he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
