10-13-19 Consequently,

Scripture  Ephesians 2:1-22

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

          11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

          14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

          19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

          What if the apostle Paul had not lived, preached and written these words? The church of Christ could have become a sect of the Jews and we would still be outsiders with no chance to get in. But that didn’t happen – a second generation of Christians sprang up. Those who the first apostles influenced and led to faith in Jesus but picked up the mantle for the generation who would follow them. People Like Polycarp 69-156.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, (paroikos = living alongside, a resident alien. A resident alien did not have to live to the full letter of the Jewish law, but they also did not receive the full benefits or protections of citizenship) but fellow citizens with God's people (Like national citizen ship but not very personal) and members of God's household, (now a part of God’s very own family) 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (oikodomh = could be the cornerstone or the keystone of an archway) 21 In him the whole building is joined together (BTW being joined together doesn’t just happen. It involves an elaborate preparation of the surface of the stones, cutting, rubbing, smoothing and testing the stones, preparation of the dowels and the dowel holes then fitting them together with molten lead. Jesus doesn’t just show up and we are suddenly built – no it says we are being built – we are in the process of being built into a holy temple. God has not finished preparing our stones and getting us ready to perfectly fit in the exact spot he wants each of us. But that only happens when we first do what Peter did / “Who do you say that I am?” “You are the Christ…” “…On this rock I will BUILD my church”) and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

          Where do we best get fashioned into the stones he wants us to be? IN WORSHIP!

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.