A Holy Temple
A Holy Temple. What a beautiful picture is painted in these verses by the Apostle Paul. Continuing his treatise on the Jews and Gentiles, Paul states that we, as believing Gentiles, are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
19 Now,
therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22, NKJV
A Holy Temple
What a beautiful picture is painted in these verses by the Apostle Paul. Continuing his treatise on the Jews and Gentiles, Paul states that we, as believing Gentiles, are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Imagine that--members of the household of God! How has that been accomplished? Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of this building--the holy temple. This temple, which is still being fitted together, is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
As believers, then, we are certainly not strangers or foreigners to God. We are fellow citizens with all believers throughout all of the ages. That may not seem overly significant to us in the 21st century, but it was shocking to the Jews in the early church.
Paul views the apostles and prophets as those who have built the foundation for the current temple of God. What a view of the patience and long suffering of God! When it seemed as though only one nation in all of the world had truly obtained a place in God's kingdom, God was laying the foundation of His church which would include people from all nations in the world.
This building (the church of God) was not a happenstance creation. Rather, this building was fitted together. One gains the perspective of a building of integrity in which each part has been molded and shaped so that it fits exactly in place. What an amazing God. Nothing in His kingdom has been done by chance. Everything has occurred exactly as God has planned even before the creation of the world.
We, then, as believers in the 21st century are also a part of this holy temple. God, the Spirit, continually works in our hearts and lives perfecting us and making us more like Christ.
In a day when one would suppose that things occur just by chance, it is a good reminder that we have a God who is actively involved in the affairs of man. He is patiently, and with great precision, building His church. And, this church will endure throughout all eternity!
Let us then, as children of God, be encouraged each day as we consider the great work God is doing in each and every one of our lives. God not only loves us and saves us, but He keeps us and grows us day by day so that we becomes more and more like Christ.
So we see that the difficulties we face in this life are only momentary afflictions purposed by God. He never leaves us or forsakes us, but is always ready to answer our cries for help. Our God is involved in even the tiniest details of our lives.
Let us take joy that we, by the grace of God, have been called to be members of the very temple of God!
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