Jul 14 2008
A Place for God to Dwell
Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
This passage of scripture has intrigued me for many years now as I’ve dealt with it in my mind. Several truths have jumped out at me recently as I have been meditating on it.
Many times this passage is used to exhort the church to become something they are not. It is used as a catalyst to stoke the fire of unity within the context of the local church. I have even heard preachers use it and say things like, “This is what Paul is telling us we need to strive for.” I believe that kind of preaching is needed. We should all strive for the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. However, in this particular passage of scripture Paul doesn’t exhort us, as a body, to become anything. He is not giving us direction or instruction. He simply states what GOD is doing in the midst of a real, true body of believers.
Look where all the action takes place and who is doing it. The conception of the body is found in the actions of God, “2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off(Gentiles) and peace to those who were near(Jews).” It was undoubtedly God who initiated the process of building this body, the “Holy Temple.” God is always the initiator in the building of His church. There wasn’t a rebellion in the ranks of Judaism that caused men to seek after God . Nor was there a discontentment in the sinful lives of the Gentiles that prodded them to run to the Saviour. Rather, it was God’s own determination and action that caused men to repent and believe in Him.
Notice as well that it was also God who grafted people with polar opposition together as one group. In doing so he formed a church. “19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ” The Jews and Gentiles didn’t have a conference one day and determine that they would start to seek after God and form a new religion. It was the sovereign hand of God that worked them together forming one body with one father. Prior to God’s actions there was no common unifying element in the lives of these 2 groups. But now because of what God has done they have: a common spirit, a common father, a common household, a common nature and a common citizenship.
Further, we recognize that God is not only the engineer of this construction process but he is the carpenter as well. Ephesians 2:21 says, “21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” It is God who is building the body. Precisely putting every piece into place so that it becomes a dwelling place that is worthy for God to dwell in. He is the master carpenter. He knows what materials are needed and useful. He knows how to fashion each piece so that it fits perfectly.
This passage is not one of exhortation for us to “do better” at being unified. Rather, it shows how God is building His church so that He can have a place to dwell among men. We should relish the fact and feel priviledged at what God is doing in our churches.
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