1. All people are by nature spiritually dead, transgressors of God’s law, and under the rule of Satan. | 1:7; 2:1–3, 5, 11–12 |
2. God predestined his elect to redemption and holiness in Christ according to the free counsel of his will. | 1:3–14; 2:4, 8–9 |
3. God’s rich mercy in Christ has saved sinners; this free gift is by grace through faith alone. | 1:7–8; 2:4–14 |
4. Christ’s earthly work of redemption was part of his cosmic reconciliation and exaltation in this age and the next. | 1:15–23; 3:1–13 |
5. Christ’s reconciliation entails uniting all people, whether Jew or Gentile, into his one body, the church, as a new creation. | 1:23; 2:10–22; 3:1–21; 4:1–6 |
6. Christ’s people are renewed to new lives of holiness in thought, word, and deed, and must reject their old, sinful lifestyles. | 4:1–3, 17–32; 5:1–20 |
7. Holiness of life entails submission to proper authorities, and loving and considerate care for those in submission. | 5:21–6:9 |
8. Christ has given powerful gifts to his church to bring about her unity, maturity, and defense against the onslaughts of the devil and his allies. | 4:7–16; 6:10–19 |