The Local Church: The Dwelling Place of God

Introduction

Ephesians 2:18–22 ESV

For through him we both have 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 members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

When I was growing up, the favorite thing for a guest speaker to do was bash the local church. When I went to camp, we were all told what is wrong with the local church. When we would go to conference, speakers were frustrated and fed up with the “status quo” of the local church. I think back on those moments, and I have to ask the question, “How are you even here if not for the local church?”

Today is no different; the local church is dealing with similar issues, but they manifest in different ways.

A pastor friend of mine recently did some research on something that is happening in the church today: The Great Resignation.

Pastors are resigning at a similar rate as counselors and first responders.

After COVID, most churches have only seen a return in groups and worship attendance at nearly 70% of what is was before COVID.

A record number of church splits have happened due to predominantly political reasons.

We need the local church.

We must hold this tension. Some idolize the local church, while others so not see the need of the local church. We must be reminded that (1) Jesus - not the local church - has the power to save mankind, but Jesus loves and sacrificed Himself for the local church.

Paul talked very amicably about the local church. Paul loved and affirmed the local church.

CIT: The local church is God’s blood bought bride that consists of His blood bought people who are called to worship Him and spread the message of the cross to others.

Explanation

Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

Jews and Gentiles have access through the Holy Spirit to the Father.

The Greek word here, prosagoge, means access or introduction. In other words, we have access to God, or we have been introduced to God. In oriental courts during the time of Jesus, there was a prosagogeus who brought the person into the presence of the king.

Implications:

We have access to God in common. That access changes everything.

The Holy Spirit lives inside of us, and we have a relationship with God the Father.

We live in a supernatural community.

Applications:

Do we look like a supernatural community? I am not telling you we all have to start speaking in tongues, but our community looks differently because we have Christ.

The world changed the day that everyday families had access to electricity. It was a change that was so large, that homes were never the same. The same happens in the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

We were once defined as strangers and aliens. We have now been defined as citizens and members.

From stranger to family.

Not everyone can just show up at your house for dinner.

A lot of people, if they showed up unnanounced and walked into your house - would get arrested.

We don’t do that in the South - everyone owned 14 guns each in the South.

Some people walk into the house like family, and they have a seat at the table.

From alien to citizen.

The Jews and Gentiles now have an equal share in the Kingdom.

I have travelled all over the world, but I am only a citizen of the USA.

I can buy land, have protection and rights, etc.

I don’t have that in the other places that I go.

Ephesians 2:20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone.

The apostles and prophets are the foundation.

The prophecies of the prophets show us who Christ was.

The teachings of the apostles build up the church.

Just as the prophets said with all authority, “Thus sayeth the Lord,” and they spoke for God with the words that God gave them - so we now say, “it is written,” as the apostles penned the words of the New Testament with no less guidance from the Holy Spirit or authority from God.

Christ is the cornerstone that is the foundation of the church.

A cornerstone was the most crucial piece of the building. It was essential to the foundation, helped hold the building steady, set the building, and kept it in line. One ancient cornerstone on a building measured 38 feet and 9 inches. If the cornerstone was bad, the building was bad.

We often think of Christ as the cornerstone of our own personal lives.

The Bible tells us to come to Him as living stones whereas He is the cornerstone.

However, I must note that every New Testament reference of Christ as cornerstone refers to Christ BUILDING HIS CHURCH.

You cannot divorce your faith in God from the local church.

Ephesians 2:21 “in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

We are the dwelling place of God.

People think that this building is the sacred space of God.

I have had the great joy of stepping into some of the largest and most ornate churches in the world. People stand in awe of these places. They seem to feel the presence of God.

The church is not a building, it is the people.

There is nothing special about this room outside the fact that we, God’s people redeemed by his name, meet here.

It is sacred, not because of the baptistry or the high ceilings or the organ or piano or even the pulpit. It is sacred, because we meet here as the temple of God.

We don’t believe this; because if we did, we would not miss church except in the most extreme of circumstances.

Ephesians 2:22 “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Notice that the phrase, “being built” is used to refer to the present. The church will continue being built until Christ returns.

We are called to share the message with others. The church is continually being built.

Hear me: The church has been through worse, and it will go through worse. But it will prevail. Not because of the strength of the institution or the ingenuity of the preaching or the style of music being sung or the size of the preschool hall or the cutting edge of the student ministry - but because the church is the BRIDE OF CHRIST. In HIS name, it will prevail.

Invitation

Know Jesus.

Love the local church.

Give your life to Him.