Brought Near by His Blood

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called uthe Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from 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 by the blood of Christ.

Christ Our Peace

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one vnew man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might wreconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby xputting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For ythrough Him we both have access zby one Spirit to the Father.

Christ Our Cornerstone

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been abuilt bon the foundation of the capostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being dthe chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into ea holy temple in the Lord, 22 fin whom you also are being built together for a gdwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The Mystery Revealed

3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—2 if indeed you have heard of the 1dispensation of the grace of God awhich was given to me for you, 3 bhow that by revelation cHe made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles dshould be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 eof which I became a minister faccording to the gift of the grace of God given to me by gthe effective working of His power.

Purpose of the Mystery

8 To me, hwho am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles ithe unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the 2fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who jcreated all things 3through Jesus Christ; 10 kto the intent that now lthe 4manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church mto the 5principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 naccording to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access owith confidence through faith in Him. 13 pTherefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, qwhich is your glory.