Equally of the Household of God
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/10/2016 PM
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Text:
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Ephesians 2:19-22
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Psalters: |
85, 67, 238, 133 |
- The meaning.
- In our text Paul is inspired to use a variety of figures of speech to show unity with diversity.
- These figures describe the unity of the body of Jesus Christ.
- This means that all other human considerations do not matter: nationality, wealthy, skin color, etc.
- Though they were still Gentiles according to the flesh, they have been brought into the body by the blood of the Lamb.
- That which unites and makes all believers in God’s only begotten Son to be one is the “foundation” and the “cornerstone.”
- The “foundation” consists of the “apostles and prophets.”
- This foundation is made up of the New Testament truths as taught by the apostles and the New Testament prophets.
- The heart of their teaching was that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- The household of God is being built on that foundation.
- The Ephesian believers were being gathered and thus united with the Jewish believers.
- The on-going building is “through the Spirit” (22).
- What makes the household of God, the church and a spiritual temple is God’s indwelling.
- In the various figures of speech God spiritually dwells with His people together as in a house.
- This makes the church “an holy temple.”
- The “temple” is the physical structure which represented God dwelling in the midst of and with His people.
- The growth of this household of God is not natural, but is “in the Lord” (21b).
- The growing holy temple is the “habitation of God.”
- Application.