Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: Eph. 2: 19-22 Jan. 21, 2024

Message: “God’s Holy Temple!” by Pastor George Gnade

Intro.: 1. As most of you know, we have been studying key verses in the Book of Ephesians, and today we are considering Eph. 2: 19-22. Before we do, let me summarize what we have learned already

a. So far we have been reminded of our blessings in Christ.  As it says in Eph. 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

b. Then we were reminded of the power available to us in Christ. In Eph. 1:19-20, Paul wanted us to know of “God’s incomparably great power for us who believe.” He compares that power to “ the working of His great might which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in heavenly places.”

2. Then in Eph. 2:8-9, we learned about our wonderful salvation in Christ. It says: “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that is not of your own doing, for it is a gift from God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

3. Finally, in Eph. 2:14-18, through this wonderful gift of  our salvation, Jesus offered His peace to Jews and Gentiles alike, “breaking down the hostility that was between us” and “creating in Himself, one new man, so making peace.”  

4. That brings us to the passage we are studying today. In Eph. 2:19, it begins with the word “consequently.”  Other translations use the word “therefore.”What are the consequences of all the good news we just referred to?

a. We often talk about the negative consequences of doing the wrong things. 

b. Praise the Lord for the positive consequences of doing the right things.

A. In Eph. 2: 19, Paul tell us that the first positive consequence of knowing Christ was their change in status.

1. Earlier, Eph. 2: 12, before knowing Jesus, the Gentiles were described as “being separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise.”

2. Once they came to know and believe in Jesus, vs. 19 says: “Now you (Gentiles) are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of the family of God.” 

a. Yes, in Christ, we are all equal. We are all one happy family in the Lord. The Greek word “ecclesia” is used to describe God’s church as people called out to work together for Him.

b. Every true church that loves the Lord has a role to play in the plan of the Lord. We are now His family.

B. In Eph. 2: 20, we learn the second positive consequence of their new relationship to Christ. Here Paul describes the firm foundation on which we are built.

1. Vs. 20 says we were “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus, Himself, being the chief cornerstone.”

a. Jesus is the rock of our salvation. We have no existence apart from Him. That is why four gospels are committed to the details of His life, death, burial and resurrection. And in fact, Jesus is the key to understanding all of the Scriptures. It is all about Him.

b. But Jesus chose helpers and disciples, some of whom were also chosen by Him to become His apostles.

2. Through the prophets of the O.T. along with the apostles of the N.T., our Bibles were written so that we have an accurate record of the history of mankind, especially zeroing in on prophecies about Jesus’ coming. 

a. What a blessing God’s Word is to those who trust Him and believe in Him. It is the foundation of our faith. Its content does not change.

b. Denominations change. Interpretations change. People change. But God gave us His Word which does not change. So our faith is built on this foundation.

3. The second positive consequence of becoming a Christian is we now have God’s inspired Word to help us.

C. The third consequence of having Christ in our lives is found in Eph. 2: 21. It says: “In Christ, the whole building is joined together and rises up to become a holy temple in the Lord.”  It is the gift of being a part of God’s growing temple.

1. But this temple is not made of wood or stone like in the O.T.  This building is made up of all the people who are called by Jesus to become His followers.

a. In I Peter 2:5-6, it says: “As you come to Him, the Living Stone, who was rejected by men , but chosen by God and very precious to Him, so you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual building” where we are considered to be “His holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

b. Protestants call this “the priesthood of all believers.”  Each Christian is to serve the Lord as if he were a priest working in God’s temple.

c. The point being made in Eph. 2: 21 is that everytime another person is saved and puts their trust in Christ, God’s spiritual temple grows bigger and bigger, rising up and becoming a holy temple located all over the world.

2. As a result, no physical building, or even city for that matter, is large enough to contain us. But through Christians everywhere, gathering to worship Jesus wherever they are, the church continues to grow and will continue to grow until everyone who is going to be saved is saved.

3. As it says in Eph. 2:22, “In Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling where God lives through His Holy Spirit.”  This last verse personalizes it. It even includes you and me, assuming we also have chosen to believe in and follow the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit in our hearts that makes us into one spiritual temple called to serve Him.

In conclusion: 1. Ephesians Chapter two begins by telling us everyone who has ever been born is considered by God to be dead in their sins until they choose to repent and open their hearts to Him.

a. Even though a person is physically alive, without Christ we are spiritually dead. Dead like in “ stone dead.”

b. But when Jesus enters our hearts, we are made alive together with Christ and, as we learned in our passage today, we become “living stones” instead.

2. While humanly speaking we build buildings out of wood and bricks, God is building His spiritual temple out of people like you and me who commit our lives to Him.

a. In the process, we are made part of Jesus’ family with all the rights and privileges of heaven.

b. Like icing on a cake, we are also given the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts to help us as well as the Bible to teach and guide us.

3. All of these things are the positive spiritual consequences of  becoming a Christian and choosing to love and follow the Lord.  Amen!