Once we were far from God — strangers, aliens, and without hope — but through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been brought near and reconciled to Him. Christ Himself is our peace, tearing down the dividing wall that once separated Jew and Gentile, uniting us as one people under God. No longer outsiders, we are now fellow citizens and members of God’s household, built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. Together, we are being joined and shaped into a holy temple, a living dwelling place where God’s Spirit resides and works among His people.