Ephesians 2:1-10 (Amplified Bible)  1AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins     2In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God].     3Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God's] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.     4But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,     5Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).     6And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).     7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.     8For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;     9Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]     10For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. What makes us different?  As Believers and Children of Holy God, what makes us different from the world? We do not habitually walk in sin?  We have been recreated.  We have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:15-16).  We have the very life of Christ – vs. 5 He gave us the very life of Christ Himself. 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 (HCSB) 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. 16 For: who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. What did we do to be so blessed?  Absolutely nothing (verses 8&9). However… Even though we cannot, and did not, work to earn our salvation, our salvation is made manifest – is shown-by the way that we live. Verse 7 tells us that God offers us all of this grace and love; He changes us from the inside out because He wants to demonstrate His Free Grace.  He demonstrates it to us by saving us from our sins and an eternity in hell.  He saves us that we might live out what He has given us by loving Him and loving others.     10For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. When we do these good works toward others, we are loving God and loving people.  Jesus said these are the two greatest commandments:  Love God/Love People.  Again, we do not earn our salvation through these good works, but we do tell the world that God is real. There’s a little verse that often shows up on greeting cards.  It goes something like this – I’ve never seen God; but I know how I feel.  It’s people like you that make Him so real. Are you making God real to others?  Is your life a living epitome of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5)? We can’t do it alone.  In John 15, Jesus compares us to a vine and branches.  He is the vine and we are the branches.  Apart from Him we can’t do anything.  With Him we can do all things. How do we abide (live) in Him?  Prayer and Bible Study.  Personal worship. How’s your love life with your Savior?  Today is a good day to make any needed changes.