Unity in Christ

11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” q which is done in the flesh by human hands. r 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, s without hope t and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood u of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one v and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create w in Himself one x new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body y through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. z 17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news a of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. b 18 For through Him we both have access c by one Spirit to the Father. d 19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the * saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, e with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building, being put together f by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. g 22 You also are being built together h for God’s dwelling i in the Spirit.