08-28-2022 - Ephesians - The Cornerstone and Walls
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· 2 viewsThe church is a group of people where the Holy Spirit dwells
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We come to the conclusion of chapter 2 in Ephesians. If you have your Bible, go ahead and turn there. Just a reminder, there are notes on the podium as you come into the sanctuary. We’ve been journeying through this letter written to most likely a group of churches in conjunction with Colossians. And we are learning about how God wants to bring unity of all things under Jesus. And that plan is being explained by Paul in these first three chapters.
These first three chapters give us the overview of God’s plan for reconciliation with us sinners and how that is bringing unity between him and us. We are now starting to learn how that unity is taking place between people. Last week we looked at how the Jewish people had an inside path to God because they were the chosen people and had God leading their nation.
The gentiles are everyone outside of the Jewish nation, which means we did not have God leading our nation as well as no hope for the Messiah because there was no prophecy about a Messiah for the gentiles. We learned that there was a divide between Jews and gentiles and how God’s plan for unity begins with giving gentiles equip opportunity to have access to God.
Today we are going to look at the language God uses to describe what this unity is supposed to look like. We will look at these four verses by using three words: foundation, formation, function.
Main Point
Main Point
Let’s go ahead and read Ephesians 2:19-22 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Paul starts off with another transition, because this entire time he is building off of prior concepts. Since God is bringing unity to all people between himself and each other, there are effects that take place. Paul gives us a clue into the type of relationship we have with God and with others.
He starts again by reminding us of what we were. We were foreigners and strangers. As a foreigner, it can be difficult to figure out the culture, language, and customs. And as strangers, we don’t know anybody. God is reminding us, that prior to Christ, that is how we were (on top of being a sinner dead in our sins). But he refers to us by new titles, “fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.”
These ideas are not new to this letter at this point. Paul talked about in Ephesians 1:5 that we get to be adopted to sonship (or daughtership). We become children of God. And the idea of citizenship is something Jesus talked about often in the Gospels when he talked about the kingdom of heaven. It is a kingdom that we join when our lives are found in Jesus.
But it’s more than just a title change. It let’s us know that we are known. We known by God and we get to be known by other brothers and sisters. There develops familiarity with other believers that help us to feel apart of God’s family. And Paul uses an analogy of being built in a temple. Here is a picture of a temple. This idea of course doesn’t mean that Paul is saying specifically we become a temple. He’s using it to engage our imagination so we grasp what’s at stake as we move towards unity with each other. And so, let us look at our three words.
Foundation
Foundation
Our first word, foundation. What makes up the foundation of this temple we are getting built into? These verses give us two parts of this foundation. The first part, and most important is the cornerstone, Jesus. In this picture we see a cornerstone on a building. These were the first blocks laid on the foundation for any building. If this block is off, then the entire foundation is wrong which then causes problems as the building is built.
This block needs to be perfect. And thankfully, the cornerstone, Jesus Christ is perfect. Jesus sets the lines for the foundation which allows the building to be built according to spec (chapters 4-6 in Ephesians). 1 Peter 2:4, “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—” And then in 1 Peter 2:6-7 “For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,””
This cornerstone was set by God. We learned that in Ephesians 1:7-8 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” By Jesus and through Jesus we get to be added to this temple being built.
But it wasn’t just Jesus that was the foundation, it says that it was also built on the apostles and prophets. The apostles are pretty easy to figure out. It tells us who the apostles where in Acts 1:12-13 “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.”
But they added one more apostle to replace Judas and we learn who it is in Acts 1:23-26 “So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.”
Along with Paul, these were the apostles talked about in our verses today. But they also mention the prophets. It is natural to think that maybe Paul is talking about Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, etc. But Paul is actually talking about people in the first century who also had received revelation about the mystery of the church and how it was to look in the world. In fact, Paul talks about it in Ephesians 3:5 “which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” as well as Ephesians 4:11 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.”
God revealed prophecies to people in the Old Testament but there was different prophecy about Jesus, the church and unity among all people in Jesus. The apostles and prophets taught the truth to those in the first century and it is the same teaching this day. The New Testament was written by these guys. It is the letters we study today to live the same life they were called to live 2000 years ago. It is our foundation to live boldly in Jesus today.
Formation
Formation
But it is not just the foundation that is important. What is the building being built into? There are several phrases in these verses that gives us a hint into the formation of the building.
“The whole building is joined together”
“Rises to become a holy temple in the Lord”
“And in him you too are being built together”
We know from this passage that one analogy being used is a temple. We know from other Scriptures that we are called the body of Christ. Still in others, we are referred to as the church.
All of these analogies give us an indication that every believer is a part of this building. And that also means that every believer has a role to play in this building. Notice though the language to give the implication that the building is an ongoing process. There is no roof put on this building because parts are being added on a daily basis.
Something though that we need to look at is to phrases in this passage. The phrases are “joined together” and “built together.” These phrases let us in on a secret to this building. This building is not some haphazard construction project. There was a mission trip I went on down in eastern Kentucky. One of the days we were there, we went and helped install some cabinets in a guys house. This house looked like it had started as a one room house and then these different rooms were added on over the years.
We went to put the cabinets on the wall and quickly learned that the walls were not straight and the ceiling was not straight. It ended up being a nightmare of a project because of how out of square everything was.
This building God is building is not like that. These phrases gives us an indication that there is a master builder at work putting every piece together as it is designed. He is paying attention to details, gifting people with the gifts required making sure everyone is lined up perfectly.
Which gives us another clue into this building: every person in this building matters. There is no one who is an abstract piece with nowhere to go. Every believer has their specific place to go and specific task to accomplish.
Now let’s go back to the phrase “holy temple” as is used in this passage. In the temple, there were different areas where people could go. The phrase “holy temple” actually implies the inner sanctuary where worship takes place. This place in the temple was reserved for Jews only. Now, through Jesus on the cross, this idea of inner sanctuary is now intended for all believers.
In fact, being here this morning, gathered together is in the very essence being the inner sanctuary of the temple. The Gentiles were excluded from being in the inner sanctuary of the temple, but because God is bringing all people near him, the inner sanctuary is where a group of believers gather together. We can be here worshipping and studying the Word. We could be serving at VBS. We can be serving on Wednesday nights during the school year. As long as we are together worshipping, serving, studying or sharing, we are being the inner sanctuary.
Function
Function
Our last word we want to look at is function. And this transitions from the end of formation. What are we to be doing as the holy temple? Well, it says in Ephesians 2:22 “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
When we are gathered together, we are the place where God dwells through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let us remind ourselves of what was said in the previous chapter, Ephesians 1:17-19 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength”
When we are functioning in unity, we get to be the conduits of God’s work in this world. Remember, it is Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” where we learn that the work God has for us is enacted as we walk faithfully with him. As we strive to be a church unified in making God known, God will work and his Spirit will dwell among us.
Not this building. But in us as a church. We’ll talk more about the church next week.
It says in 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
What a wonderful plan God had in mind for all peoples of this world, not just the Jews!! To think, from the beginning of time, he had plans in place to bring about his presence to all people regardless of location on this earth. We do not need to go to a temple to find God, although he will be there. We can find him on the basketball court. We can find him in our car. We can find him around our dining room table. We can find in this place. We can find him in the school.
It doesn’t matter where you are, when a group of believers gather together, you are the inner sanctuary becoming a residing place for God’s Spirit to work and move.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I know not everyone is here this morning. But this passage gives us the clear indication that the building God is building has an end date, but that end date is unknown. You see, the building can still be added too until Jesus comes back. WE don’t know when that is. But let’s figure out how we can work to add to the building here in NW Ohio.
You see, I believe that we can make an impact here in NW Ohio. But we also have to be willing to accept the new pieces that come our way. So as a church, let’s start praying that our arms will be open to receiving anyone that joins the family of God.
Maybe for you, you are currently outside the building. You are not part of the “inner sanctuary” because you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus. We’re going to sing here in a minute. If you feel like God is tugging at your heart, he is. You are not here by accident. Don’t miss an opportunity to respond to God this morning. Let’s pray.