(RSV)
Eph 2:1-22
[1] And you he made alive, when you were dead through the
trespasses and sins
[2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world,
following the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
[3] Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh,
following the desires of body and mind,
and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of
mankind.
[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, out of t he great love with
which he loved us,
[5] even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
[6] and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
[7] that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches
of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not
your own doing, it is the gift of God --
[9] not because of works, lest any man should boast.
[10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand,
that we should walk in them.
[11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh,
called the uncircumcision
by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by
hands --
[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and
without God in the world.
[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been
brought near in the blood of Christ.
[14] For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken
down the dividing wall of hostility,
[15] by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and
ordinances,
that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so
making peace,
[16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the
cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.
[17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and
peace to those who were near;
[18] for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the
Father.
[19] So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you
are fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God,
[20] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ
Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
[21] in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into
a holy temple in the Lord;
[22] in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God
in the Spirit.
(NAB)
Rom 3:19-31
19 "...the whole world stand accountable to God,
20 since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing
the law;
for through the law comes consciousness of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from
the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all
who believe.
For there is no distinction;
23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in
Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his
blood,
to prove his righteousness because of the forgiveness of sins
previously committed,
26 through the forbearance of God -- to prove his righteousness in
the present time,
that he might be righteous and justify the one who has faith in
Jesus.
27 What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out. On
what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from
works of the law.
29 Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to Gentiles,
too? Yes, also to Gentiles,
30 for God is one and will justify the circumcised on the basis of
faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course
not!
On the contrary, we are supporting the law..."
(NIV)
Romans 2:6-8
6 "...God "will give to each person according to what he has
done."
7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and
immortality,
he will give eternal life.
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and
follow evil,
there will be wrath and anger..."
(NIV)
Romans 11:21-22
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare
you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness
to those who fell,
but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise, you also will be cut off.