Eph 2: 19-22

1. A NEW NATION: vs. 19

“Fellow Citizens”

We were foreigners and aliens. But now we are fellow citizens with all the saints (God s people).

Once no relationship with God or God s people.

Now we have the citizenship rights of the citizen.

Saints are people who are set apart to God.

Fellow citizens: a people being built into a new nation under God. – A holy Nation.

And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
     and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
     and with your blood you purchased men for God
     from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
     and they will reign on the earth." Rev 5:9-10 (NIV)

 

2.   GOD S FAMILY: Vs. 19

“Members of God s household”

Psalm 68:6

“God sets the lonely in families”

Eph 1:5

We are been adopted. A kingdom is one thing: a household or family is another.

Eph 3:14, 15. We have one father.

Eph 4:6. One God and father of all.

            Here the emphasis is not on fatherhood but on brotherhood into which, across racial barriers, the Father s children are brought.

Brothers and sisters is the common word used for Christians in the New Testament. It expresses a close relationship of affection, care and support.

            Philadelphia, or brotherly love should always be a special characteristic of God s new society.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 (NLT)

Every member has duties to perform for the sake of the family. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. Gal 6:10 (MSG)

3.  GOD S BUILDING: vs. 20

“Built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the corner stone.”

 

Jesus the cornerstone: the first stone laid.

As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.              1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)

 

Corner stone is a directional stone or standard stone. Zech 4:10

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel s hand. For these seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world." Zech 4:10 (NLT)

 

Therefore how we construct over the foundation is important. Corner stone is a supportive stone. All other stones are placed upon it and held up by it.

 

11 Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. 12 Take particular care in picking out your building materials. 13 Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won t get by with a thing. 14 If your work passes inspection, fine; 15 if it doesn t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won t be torn out; you ll survive—but just barely. 1 Cor 3:11-15 (MSG)

 

4.  A GROWING ORGANISM: vs. 21

The word “Gross” or “rises” is a biological word, the idea of a living organism. The Church will grow till Christ comes. 1 Pet 2:4, 5. Christ is the living stone.

 

Eph 4:15, 16 Growth happens when each part does its role.

 

Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ¹⁶ Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Eph 4:15-16 (NLT)

 

Mat 16:18. The Church is active and growing.

 

And now I m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. Matt 16:18 (MSG)

 

5.  A WORLD WIDE TEMPLE: vs. 21

We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God. Eph 2:21 (MSG)

A Holy Temple built by God. : The universal Church.

 

Why is it built by God?

"But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 1 Kings 8:27 (NLT)

 

However, the Most High doesn t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,
⁴⁹ `Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that?  asks the Lord. `Could you build a dwelling place for me?
⁵⁰ Didn t I make everything in heaven and earth?  Acts 7:48-50 (NLT)

 

"The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn t live in custom-made shrines. Acts 17:24 (MSG)

 

The whole universe could not contain His infinite being. The new temple is not a building nor located in one place. It is God s family, a community without any caste divisions or barriers.

 

 It is spread world wide.

What was the purpose of the temple? Eph 2:22: a dwelling place of God.

Jesus lives in them individually and as a community. 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19

While Paul wrote this, In Ephesus stood the magnificent temple of Diana. And in Jerusalem stood the only Jewish temple built by Herod.

 

6.  A LOCAL TEMPLE: vs. 22

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph 2:22 (NIV)

 

All of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home. Eph 2:22 (MSG)

 

The Local Church is God s home.

Are the Jacob s able to recognize the Bethels?

 

I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They re his people, he s their God. Rev 21:3 (MSG)