Understanding Ephesians 2

1) We should not forget that we all were sinners and lost in our transgressions. Thus we should not forget this fact and look down on new Christians or people who still live according to the world.
vs 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
-So now that we know Christ we should no longer be held captive by gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and the desires and thoughs of the flesh. We need to constantly (each day or more) ask the Lord Jesus to renew our minds lest we go back to our sinful natures.

2) We should not be held captive by our guilty consciences because we stumble- no that is the trick of the enemy. Jesus makes us strong through our weaknesses because this shows us that we need him- however, this is not an excuse to continue sinning. That is why God did not just use anything or anyone to save us...no longer did He use the blood of animals but He used the blood of the one who was without sin- His only begotten son. The price of Jesus Christ is immeasurable that is how much God wants us reconciled back to Him- so there is nothing that we can do that is bigger than the blood of Jesus Christ. All our sins can be forgiven if we ask God. He sent His son to save us while we were sinners; He let His son that had no sins die for us who had/ have uncountable sins. Do not let Jesus' death be in vain come to the cross- you are never too far gone. Paul killed many Christians- he had the blood of many innocent people (that believed in Christ) on his hands- but God was able to forgive him and use him to spread the word and write a large chunk of the new testament.

vs 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-God loved us and continues to love us (even when we were/are dead in sins). It is only by His grace-His favor that we are saved. It was definately not up to us on our own or upto our works. We are created to do good works-that God predestinated for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

14 For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.

Amen