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Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Christians are part of God\u2019s household and will live with Him for eternity.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cNow<\/span>\u201d is ara<\/em><\/span>, which is an inferential particle. That is, it indicates that an inference, or conclusion is being made. It is somewhat difficult to translate directly into English, but is often translated as \u201cnow,\u201d \u201cthen,\u201d \u201cso be,\u201d \u201cin conclusion,\u201d or \u201ctruly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTherefore<\/span>\u201d is from another Greek inferential particle, oun<\/em><\/span>. This word is most often translated \u201ctherefore\u201d or \u201ccertainly.\u201d<\/p>\n The words \u201cno longer<\/span>\u201d are translated from a single Greek word, ouketi<\/em><\/span>. This is made up of ouk<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cnot\u201d and eti<\/em><\/span> which refers to a duration of time. It is most often translated as \u201cyet\u201d or \u201cstill.\u201d When these two words are combined they mean \u201cnot still\u201d or \u201cno longer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStrangers<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word xenos<\/em><\/span>, which we saw back in verse twelve. It refers to someone who is \u201ca stranger\u201d or \u201can alien.\u201d<\/p>\n Paroikos<\/em><\/span> is the Greek word translated \u201cforeigners<\/span>.\u201d It is made up of para<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cby, beside, or near\u201d and oikos<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201ca dwelling place\u201d or \u201ca house.\u201d Thus, paroikos<\/em><\/span> refers to \u201csomeone who lives nearby,\u201d that is, \u201csomeone who lives in a nearby foreign country.\u201d<\/p>\n As we saw above, the opening words of this verse indicate a conclusion is being drawn. In this case, the two words ara oun<\/em><\/span>, are best translated as \u201cSo then,\u201d That\u2019s the basic meaning of \u201cNow, therefore\u201d as we have in our translation here (New King James Version). Paul is not saying \u201cNow\u201d as opposed to \u201cpreviously.\u201d He is simply summarizing what he has been teaching. This summary takes us back to verse twelve, where Paul said that we were \u201caliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n Paul has been teaching us about how the blood of Jesus Christ and faith in His death on the cross as payment for our sins has broken down the dividing wall between the Gentiles and Jews. By breaking down this wall, we are at peace with the Jews and with God and we have access to God the Father through the Holy Spirit. So then \u2026<\/p>\n We are no longer strangers from the covenants of promise and we are no longer foreigners from the commonwealth of Israel. Instead, we are fellow citizens of a holy nation with all the saints. \u201cSaints<\/span>\u201d is a reference to all those whom God has declared righteous through faith, from the time of Adam to the present day. And, not only are we fellow citizens of that holy nation, we are now members of God\u2019s household. That means that when we leave this life and \u201cgo home\u201d it will be to God\u2019s home.<\/p>\n As Christians, we have so many precious promises that will help us endure this life of service to God. One of the greatest promises, however, is that when this life is over, we will live with Him in His home forever. What a blessing!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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