A.In the previous lesson, we considered two figures for the church that are presented in the epistle to the Ephesians – the body of Christ and the bride of Christ.
B.Let us continue our study of figures for the church in Ephesians by noticing three figures that are found in one passage.
1.“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22)
2.The three figures to notice in this passage are:
a.The kingdom of God;
b.The family of God;
c.The temple of God.
II.THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A.Paul explained that the Gentiles have been made citizens in God’s kingdom through Christ in Ephesians 2:11-22.
1.The former state of the Gentiles is stated in verse 12 – “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
2.However, the Gentiles status has changed because of Christ – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints” (v. 19).
3.The term “kingdom” is used explicitly in Ephesians 5:5, and a kingdom is implied in chapter two.The believing Gentiles are called citizens, meaning that they have citizenship in God’s kingdom.
B.In the same passage, Paul explained that the Jews in Christ were also a part of this same kingdom of God along with the Gentiles.
1.Notice these phrases indicating that the Jews and Gentiles have been united in Christ:
a.“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (v. 14)
b.“…in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace” (v. 15)
c.“…and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross” (v. 16)
d.“AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY (Gentiles - SED), AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR (Jews – SED)” (v. 17)
e.“…for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” (v. 18)
2.Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles are “fellow citizens with the saints” (v. 19).Their citizenship is now in the same kingdom, the kingdom of God.
C.This kingdom to which believing Jews and Gentiles belong is the Lord’s church.
1.The things of which Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:11-22 were accomplished in Christ Jesus.All of believers in Christ are united through Him, and all are citizens of this kingdom.
2.All who are in Christ are in the body of Christ, which is the church (see Part 1).Therefore, all who are in the church are citizens in the kingdom.
D.Citizenship in the kingdom of God is a tremendous honor for every Christian.
1.At the time in which Paul wrote to the Ephesians, Rome was in power.Citizens of the Roman Empire had privileges that others did not enjoy.The Ephesians understood the privilege of being a citizen in the kingdom.
2.Similarly, citizens in the kingdom of God are privileged to have all of the rich blessings through Christ which those who are outside of the kingdom do not enjoy.With Christ as King, members of the church are blessed with “every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3).
III.THE FAMILY OF GOD
A.Notice again the words of Ephesians 2:19, where Paul wrote that believing Gentiles were now “of God’s household.”
1.This invokes the figure of a family, indicating the very closest kind of relationships that people enjoy on the earth.
2.Again, this describes the vast change in the status of the Gentiles, for once they were “without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12), but now they are “of God’s household” through Christ Jesus.
3.Indeed, both believing Jews and Gentiles are in the family of God because they received “adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:5).
4.As such, believers in Christ have God as their Father, and they strive to be like Him.“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Eph. 5:1; see also 4:24; 5:8).
B.As members of God’s household, Christians are blessed to be heirs of God.
1.Notice the references made to this inheritance in Ephesians 1:14, 18; 2:7; 3:6, 8; 5:5.
2.Members of God’s family are heirs to the richest blessings of an eternal and spiritual nature.The privileges of being a child of God are beyond measure.See also 1Peter 1:4.
C.Just as the church is synonymous with the kingdom of God, so also it is synonymous with the household of God.
1.Paul stated this explicitly in 1Timothy 3:15 where he wrote, “the household of God, which is the church of the living God.”
2.Again, we see that all who are in Christ Jesus are in the household of God.Likewise, those who are outside of Christ are estranged from God and not part of His family.
3.Therefore, to be in the family of God, one must be in the church of the Lord.
IV.THE TEMPLE OF GOD
A.The third figure to notice in Ephesians 2:19-22 is that of the temple of God.
1.A temple is a structure that has been built and sanctified for the purpose of worship.
2.Of course, Jews were well familiar with the temple in Jerusalem, but the Gentiles also understood temples.In fact, the temple of the pagan god Diana was located in Ephesus, and it is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
B.The church is described as the temple of God because it is the center of God’s service and worship, and it is the spiritual dwelling place of God.
1.Whereas the temples of the Jews and the Gentiles were material structures, the church is a spiritual structure built by Christ (Matt. 16:18).
a.This temple is built a foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the corner stone, the first and most important part of the structure (Eph. 2:20).
b.The remainder of the temple is constructed of believers in Christ, as Paul wrote, “you are also being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22).
c.Paul used this same figure of the temple of God to describe the church in 1Corinthians 3:16-17 – “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
2.In this spiritual temple, all of the praise, glory, and wisdom of God are to be proclaimed.
a.Notice that Ephesians 3:10 says, “so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”
b.Also notice Ephesians 3:21 that says, “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
c.This conforms to Paul’s words to Timothy, where he described the church as “the pillar and support of the truth” (1Tim. 3:15).
C.Again, by the same reasons that one must be in the church to be in the kingdom of God and the family of God, one must be in Christ and in the church in order to be a part of the temple of God.
V.CONCLUSION
A.These simple figures presented in God’s word prove that all of the confusion about the church has come from man.We can understand exactly what Christ desires for His church.
B.All that the church has become is exactly as God intended it to be, for the Scripture says, “This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:11).Let no one ever say otherwise.
