The imagery in the language of the Bible is beautiful. I am particular fan of contrasts in the Scripture, and in the book of Ephesians there are many such contrasts regarding who we WERE and who we ARE. Here is a simple chart of some of these beautiful, meaningful contrasts in the book of Ephesians.
Sometimes each side of the chart is explicitly made known in the reference, and other times it is inferred. In the case of Ephesians 3:12, for example, if we are now able to approach, it means we once were held back.
| WERE | ARE | Reference |
| Darkness | Light | Ephesians 5:8 |
| Dead | Alive | Ephesians 2:1 |
| Far Away | Near | Ephesians 2:13 |
| In Hostility | At Peace | Ephesians 2:14-16 |
| Excluded | Included | Ephesians 2:12 |
| Foreigners | Citizens | Ephesians 2:19 |
| Separated | One with Him | Ephesians 4:18 |
| Held Back | Able to Approach | Ephesians 3:12 |
| Orphans | Adopted | Ephesians 1:5 |
| Unbelievers | Believers | Ephesians 1:19 |