growing in God’s grace. C. The past separation and hopelessness (2:11–12). Paul is addressing Gentiles who were “strangers from the covenants of promise.” The cultural and religious separation between Jews and Gentiles was pronounced in the first century. The miracle of Christ’s new life in the believer is also moving toward a new community. D. The new union and present peace (2:13–18). In Christ, Jews and Gentiles are “one new man from the two” (v. 15), both having “access by one Spirit to the