because you were at that time without Christ, being alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers of the covenants of the promise, having no hope and being atheists in the world.

But

For you are all the sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus;

For our citizenship is in the heavens; whence we are indeed looking for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

having a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written upon them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.

Household

It is sufficient for the disciple that he may be as his teacher, and the servant, as his lord: if they call the landlord Beelzebul, how much more the inmates of his house?

Then therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; and we are. And on this account the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

General references

for your fellowship in the gospel from the first clay until now;