Together in Christ

Intro: Architecture is an art form all its own. Taking materials of different properties and values and creating a functional yet aesthetically pleasing building. I’ll admit that, while I thoroughly enjoy the architecture of buildings, such as the art museum in Milwaukee, WI or the Opera in Sydney Australia, I am not the most versed on architecture or architects. Yet, there is one architect whose name, and influence, I am familiar with, Frank Lloyd Wright. Probably one of the most notable of Wright’s houses is the Fallingwater house in western Pennsylvania. In that house he brought not only the normal building materials into his design but he also brought a river and waterfall into the aesthetics of the home.

In the Old Testament, the famous architect, YHWH brought together a variety of materials together to create a special dwelling, which we would refer to as the Tabernacle. A tent with three spaces, and special coverings, special furniture and special fragrances. It was in this tent that the nation of Israel would go to meet with YHWH. Four centuries later, David would begin the process of collecting materials and then his son Solomon would create a building off of the design of the Tabernacle, we know this building as Solomon’s Temple. Solomon took materials from stone, to cedar, to gold, bronze and silver, to specially dyed fabric to make a formidable and stunning building. While the different materials have different purposes, from foundations, to walls to ornamentation, they all serve one purpose – To magnify God and draw people into worship. This morning while we aren’t going to look at creating a home or office like Wright, or a physical Tent or Temple as in the Old Testament, we are going to look at the architecture of the Great Architect – YHWH. Paul uses this metaphor in the letter to the Ephesians which is where we are going to find our text this morning.

Ephesians 2:11-22

Ephesians 2:11–22 NASB95

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 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.

We’re going to look at YHWH’s new architectural design in three parts.

I. Different Materials

A. Strangers and Aliens

1. xenos – xenophobia

dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries

2. paroikos – different house, foreigner

3. Gentiles were the primary audience and had been excluded from the Temple and the blessings of Israel.

B. Brought together

1. Fellow citizens of a New Town

2. tou theo oikeioi – into God’s house

3. No longer excluded but included

Trans – Next we want to look at the beginnings of a building it’s Foundation. No matter how spectacular a building it’s going to have significant issues if the foundation isn’t sure.

II. Foundation

A. Jesus Christ

1. Life

2. Death & Resurrection

3. Ascension

4. Cornerstone – the beginning of the foundation that becomes the guiding point for the rest of the building. From orientation to the shape of the building.

B. Apostles

1. Teaching

2. Writings

III. Building

A. Growing

1. Generation upon generation. There have been 49 to 98 generations – depending upon whether you are going off reproduction or lifespan – since Jesus’ ascension in 30 AD.

2. Continuing in the same teaching

3. Looking for the same salvation

B. Temple

1. The place where God dwells via His Spirit

2. The place where we meet with God

3. The building that is supposed to draw others into presence of God to worship!