God's Temple

GOD’S TEMPLE

Ephesians 2:19-22

Introduction:  Have you ever felt left out and lonely?  Have you seen families playing in the park, but don’t have memories of your family doing something like that?  It is sad to be left out.  In Christ you don’t have to be!

I. Summary of the current state of the Gentile believers

     A. No longer strangers and sojourners    vs. 19

          1. ξένος: pertaining to not being previously known and hence unheard of and unfamiliar, unknown, unheard of, unfamiliar, surprising.

              Strange, foreign

          2. πάροικος: a person who for a period of time lives in a place which is not his normal residence; alien, stranger, temporary resident.

          3. Destitute of all privileges in the state or only enjoying a provisional toleration.[1]

     B. Fellow citizens with the saints     vs. 19

          1. συμπολίτης: a fellow member of a socio-political unit; fellow citizen.

          2. πολίτης: a member of a city or state, or the inhabitant of a country or district

     C. Members of the household of God     vs. 19  

          1. οἰκεῖος: one who belongs to a particular household or extended family; member of a family, relative.

          2. Children of God

     D. Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone     vs. 20

          1. Isaiah 28:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11; I Peter 2:4-6

     2. In whom the whole structure is joined together    vs. 21

3. Grows into a holy temple in the Lord     vs. 21

4. In whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit     vs. 22

II. We belong

     A. Ephesians 1:5

     B. I Peter 2:9

     C. I John 3:1

     D. Not half-way citizens; not step-children

III. We are the temple for God

     A. I Corinthians 6:19-20     as individuals

     B. I Corinthians 3:16-17     as a congregation

     C. Here, as the church universal

     D. A temple is a place of worship

Conclusion:  This lesson was intended to remind us of our relationship in Christ.  We are all family and should be treating each other as such.

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[1]Saint Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians: The Greek text with notes and addenda. 1909 (B. F. Westcott, Ed.). London; New York: The Macmillan company.