Built on Jesus

Ephesians 2:19-22

Introduction:

Talk about how I am the modern day Tim Taylor, from Home Improvement. If the only way I could get into Heaven was on my own accord, my own works, what I built in this life, I wouldn’t get in. But thank God that JESUS is who our foundation is built upon. He is the one who gives us life and whom our Hope is in, not what we can do or what we have done, but what He did on the Cross.

Last week reminded us to look back on who we were before Christ and to remember what He did for us on the Cross.

We will see in the text today that Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone, and our foundation is built on HIM alone.

We will also see a lot of metaphors (welcome to metaphor mania)!!

Read the text:

Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Walk through the text:

Verse 19

Re-read the text

Another translation said “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. YOU are members of God’s family.”

The Gentiles are not seen as second-class citizens who have to look in from the outside anymore, they are part of the family of God.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

Talk about going down to Georgia in a few weeks to do a family reunion with Ashley’s family, how I got into the family and how we can share with others how we got into the family.

The Gentiles have been adopted as children (just like we have) of the heavenly Father, receiving all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with it.

Paul uses the language and imagery of family to reassure his Gentile readers that their heavenly Father welcomes them as His own children, promising to protect and provide for them.

There was nothing the Gentiles did and there is nothing we can do on our own accord to be part of God’s household, JESUS did all the hard work, he sacrificed everything, it was His blood that was shed.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (Jesus unites us all)

Verse 20

Re-read the text

Paul is talking about new testament prophets and apostles, not old testament.

The term "apostle" is referring to someone chosen, commissioned, and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ. This includes the Twelve Disciples as well as Paul who encountered Jesus personally.

The term "prophet" refers to a person gifted by the Holy Spirit with the ability to prophesy, serving to edify, comfort, and encourage.

One commentary said this: “The Church rests on the total unique Event of which Christ is the center, but in which the apostles and prophets, filled and guided by the Spirit, and doing their work in unique closeness to Christ, had an indispensable and untransmissible part.”

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, an essential part of the foundation.

In ancient construction, the cornerstone was meticulously placed because the entire structure depended on its alignment. Similarly, the foundation of the church, made up of the apostles and prophets, had to be properly aligned with Christ. Without Jesus, we have no true foundation.

All believers are built upon this foundation, measuring their lives in accordance with Christ.

Christ was the binding stone, giving strength and unity to the entire structure. But the beautiful part is the building grows as the body of Christ grows (Look ahead to Ephesians 4:16.

My question to you is: Is your foundation built on Jesus? Or is it built on something from this world. Money, work, something other than Jesus.

Verse 21

Re-read the text

Another translation says “We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.”

For a thousand years, the Jerusalem Temple—first built by Solomon, then by Zerubbabel, and later by Herod—served as the central place of God's presence and the spiritual heart of His people.

Paul returned to the thought which led him to a description of the church as a building, which would be relatable at this time.

The language used in this text is a verb, it’s on going. Every time a new convert trusts Christ for salvation, another stone is added. Thank GOD for this!

The church is a living and growing organism today!

One commentator said this: “Formerly outcasts, relegated to an outer court in the temple, the Gentiles are now themselves a part of the temple. God has His presence in them. God’s people, not a particular place or building, is the dwelling place of God.”

Verse 22

Re-read the text

What an incredible and enormous privilege we have been given, WE get to take part in this process today if we choose to. We get to help build the church together.

One commentator said this: “Paul has shown that though the Gentiles were formerly outside God’s household, they are now one “new man” with Jewish believers. This new entity is like a temple that is structured on the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the chief Cornerstone; it is indwelt by God through the agency of the Holy Spirit.”

Today the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding us, we just have to be in tune and pay attention.

This is a reminder to us that the work is not finished. God still wants to use us and Rices Creek to continue building and adding more stones.

The question is, will you actively participate and join Him in this work?

Two Takeaways:

Takeaway 1:

There is still work to do

Takeaway 2:

The real work is going to happen in the community

Conclusion:

We know what the task at hand is, the question is are you ready to commit?

You have been given a brick. This is