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.
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.
Once you were far away from God,
but now you have been brought near to him
through the blood of Christ.
(Galveston, TX)