Ephesians 2:12

New International Reader's Version

Before you believed in Christ, you were separated from him. You were not considered to be citizens of Israel. You were not included in what the covenants promised. You were without hope and without God in the world.

Cross References

Genesis 15:18

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, “I am giving this land to your family who comes after you. It reaches from the River of Egypt to the great Euphrates River.

2 Chronicles 15:3

For a long time Israel didn’t worship the true God. They didn’t have a priest who taught them. So they didn’t know God’s law.

Ezra 4:3

Zerubbabel and Joshua answered them. So did the rest of the family leaders of Israel. They said, “You can’t help us build a temple to honor our God. You aren’t part of us. We’ll build it ourselves. We’ll do it to honor the Lord, the God of Israel. Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us to build it.”

Exodus 12:45

But a hired worker or someone who lives with you for a short time is not allowed to eat it.

Isaiah 14:1

The Lord will show tender love toward Jacob’s people. Once again he will choose Israel. He’ll give them homes in their own land. Outsiders will join them. They and the people of Jacob will become one people.

Isaiah 44:6

“I am Israel’s King. I set them free. I am the Lord who rules over all. So listen to what I am saying. I am the first and the last. I am the one and only God.

Isaiah 45:20

“Come together, you people of the nations who escaped from Babylon. Gather together and come into court. Only people who do not know anything would carry around gods that are made out of wood. They pray to false gods that can’t save them.

Isaiah 61:5

Outsiders will serve you by taking care of your flocks. People from other lands will work in your fields and vineyards.

Jeremiah 14:8

You are Israel’s only hope. You save us when we’re in trouble. Why are you like a stranger to us? Why are you like a traveler who stays for only one night?

Jeremiah 17:13

Lord, you are Israel’s only hope. Everyone who deserts you will be put to shame. The names of those who turn away from you will be listed among the dead. Lord, they have deserted you. You are the spring of water that gives life.

Ezekiel 13:9

“Israel, my power will be against the prophets who see false visions. Their magic tricks are lies. They will not be among the leaders of my people. They will not be listed in the records of Israel. In fact, they will not even enter the land. Then you will know that I am the Lord and King.

Ezekiel 37:26

I will make a covenant with them. It promises to give them peace. The covenant will last forever. I will make them my people. And I will cause there to be many of them. I will put my temple among them forever.

Ezekiel 47:22

Each of the tribes must receive a share of the land. You must also give some land to the outsiders who live among you and who have children. Treat them as if they had been born in Israel. Let them have some land among your tribes.

Hosea 3:4

So the people of Israel will live for a long time without a king or prince. They won’t have sacrifices or sacred stones. They won’t have sacred linen aprons or statues of family gods.

Numbers 18:19

Part of the holy offerings the Israelites bring to me will be set aside. No matter what it is, I will give it to you and your sons and daughters. It is your share for all time to come. It is a covenant of salt from me. The salt means that the covenant will last for all time to come for you and your children.”

Luke 1:72

He has been kind to our people of long ago. He has remembered his holy covenant.

John 10:16

I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 15:5

“I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me.

John 4:22

You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know. Salvation comes from the Jews.

Acts 2:39

The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

Acts 28:20

I share Israel’s hope. That is why I am held with this chain. So I have asked to see you and talk with you.”

Acts 3:25

What the prophets said was meant for you. The covenant God made with your people long ago is yours also. He said to Abraham, ‘All nations on earth will be blessed through your children.’ (Genesis 22:18; 26:4)

Romans 9:8

In other words, God’s children are not just in the family line of Abraham. Instead, they are the children God promised to him. They are the ones considered to be Abraham’s children.

Galatians 4:8

At one time you didn’t know God. You were slaves to gods that are really not gods at all.

Ephesians 2:19

So you are no longer outsiders and strangers. You are citizens together with God’s people. You are also members of God’s family.

Ephesians 4:18

They can’t understand the truth. They are separated from the life of God. That’s because they don’t know him. And they don’t know him because their hearts are stubborn.

Colossians 1:21

At one time you were separated from God. You were enemies in your minds because of your evil ways.

Colossians 1:27

God has chosen to make known to them the glorious riches of that mystery. He has made it known among the Gentiles. And here is what it is. Christ is in you. He is your hope of glory.

Colossians 1:5

Your faith and love are based on the hope you have. What you hope for is stored up for you in heaven. You have already heard about it. You were told about it when the true message was given to you. I’m talking about the good news

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what happens to those who die. We don’t want you to mourn, as other people do. They mourn because they don’t have any hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

Don’t desire to commit sexual sins like people who don’t know God.

2 Thessalonians 2:16

Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loved us. By his grace God gave us comfort that will last forever. The hope he gave us is good. May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father

1 Timothy 1:1

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus, just as God our Savior commanded. Christ Jesus also commanded it. We have put our hope in him.

Hebrews 11:34

They put out great fires. They escaped being killed by swords. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became powerful in battle. They beat back armies from other countries.

Hebrews 6:18

When God made his promise, he gave his word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made his promise and gave his word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them.

Hebrews 8:6

But Jesus has been given a greater work to do for God. He is the go-between for the new covenant. This covenant is better than the old one. The new covenant is based on better promises.

1 Peter 1:21

Because of what Christ has done, you believe in God. It was God who raised him from the dead. And it was God who gave him glory. So your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:3

Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope. This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

1 Peter 3:15

But make sure that in your hearts you honor Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.

1 John 3:3

Christ is pure. All who hope to be like him make themselves pure.