Ephesians-House You're Building
[11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [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, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:11–22 (ESV)
In 2011, God gave my family and myself a beautiful gift: a brand-new house. A blog post doesn’t have the word space needed to describe every miracle or move that God made in His generosity.
One of the things that made this journey with God so special was the group of people alongside us. My husband and I were newlyweds who had moved away from the group of friends we had grown close to during our college years. This group of friends had been a part of our relationship since we started dating. The thought of finding new friends like those we were leaving behind seemed improbable. Through the providence of God, we ended up making connecting right away with a group of young marrieds who wanted to meet weekly to study scripture together. Those were magical days in that we all had young families and desired fellowship to inform our parenting, marriages, and faith.
Our unity grew and an opportunity came for us to build a neighborhood together. A few of the couples had skills with building and development. Over the course of several years we lived on our future homestead together in different formats. We started in trailer’s without power and water. When one house would finish, we’d rearrange our configuration to try to make the resources in life easier for each other. Eventually, through many divergent paths, four of us were living together in community. We shared holidays, monthly dinners, and created shared spaces to gather around a campfire, celebrating milestones. There was always someone there if you needed help and the kids ran around the acreage building forts, dirty from dawn to dusk. It was idyllic. Life was full of all the best things.
After years of sacrifice and waiting, it was finally our turn to move into our new home. I wanted to bless God not only for our new home in a neighborhood of believers, but for all he had done in my life. He had taken a girl and given her a man who loved Jesus to marry. He took that couple and gave them a group of friends who loved Him. He then raised her children in a place of safety and joy. I was brimming with gratitude and all around me could see the work of God--how He knits us together with people to strengthen our faith. The house I was to live in was a testament to God’s power and grace.
As a humble offering and testimony, I started this blog—The House You’re Building. God built me a house but more importantly, fortified around me a community of people to live with. A faith-family to share wins and losses, joys and pains, doubts and insights. As we gathered to grow closer to Him, we also grew closer to each other. The house was just a symbol of a spiritual dwelling all who are called by the Spirit enjoy. Christianity by its nature is a joining of God to men, and by that divine union men to one another.
v. 11-13…remember that you were
To highlight the unity of between believers, Paul starts this section reminding the reader of the separation that once existed between two people groups-the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews, God’s people whose origin was the patriarch Abraham had a physical symbol to designate them, circumcision. This act was a physical sign to display membership in the people of God but was always intended by God to be temporary as His new covenant would be shown by the changing of hearts, not the cutting of flesh.
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:28–29
The Gentiles were not circumcised but more importantly were district from the Jewish people because they were alienated from the covenants of Abraham[1], Moses[2], and David[3], having no hope because there was no connection to God.
v. 14-18…He himself is our peace
But through the sacrifice of Christ, the wall of hostility is broken down for people far from God. The laws the separated God’s people from everyone else were no longer needed because Christ fulfilled them all, bringing friendship and unity to all who come to Him in faith. We are restored in relationship to God as a group of people, no matter our former aliances. Verse 16 highlights this truth by stating that we are reconciled to God as one body. Those who by their spiritual heritage were close to God (Jews) and those who seemed unlikely to ever draw near (Gentiles). It doesn’t matter how you grew up, who your family is, how you were raised, all people have access to God the Father through the Spirit because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
Even though the Jews had the covenants, the law, and participation in ethnic line of Christ, they still did not have what it took to make it to the presence of God. They were still unworthy. So even if you went to church your whole life, you can’t rely on external “religious” pedigrees to save you. You must be circumcised in the heart and cut yourself open in humility to see your need and take what Christ offers, sin paid for by His sacrifice on the cross.
And the Gentiles, who felt far away, were actually in the same circumstances than those who were “close” to the holiness of God. Maybe you seem far away, maybe the way you have lived makes you feel permanently disqualified from drawing need to God. This peace with God is available to you too. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, Christ in His physical body bore the wrath of God. When you accept this sacrifice, you receive the Spirit and the rest of your life is filled with the righteousness of Christ.
v. 19-22…being built together
The outcome of the Christ’s work is a unity between all people who rely on Christ for their atonement. We are a new people, a household, built on the faith of the apostles, the men Christ spent time with and were commissioned to tell the world about him, making disciples. We also draw on the words of the prophets, those who spoke for God before Christ came. The key to this foundation is Christ, called the cornerstone in Ephesians 2. The first stone in the foundation of the church, the one that the rest of the building is set upon and determines the structure of the building. The cornerstone makes the building square and stable.
For Christ determines what the church becomes, what kind of temple we are and you dear reader are a part of it if you have exchanged your sin for the righteousness of Christ. For we are all under construction, becoming more like God so we fit together better. Being corporate as a Christian isn’t optional. The kingdom of faith is now our home country. We are becoming together a sanctuary set apart, dedicated, and sacred to the presence of God. That is the house He is building.
Questions for reflection:
1. Can you remember what it was like before you knew the Lord? How did it feel to be far from God? Let this recollection give you appreciation once again for the sacrifice of Christ and compassion for others who don’t know Him.
2. Is there anything but the sacrifice of Christ you are relying on to be confident of saving faith? Have you made your acceptance of His gift personal or have you been relying on your upbringing to convince you you’re a Christian? Conversely, do you believe that no matter what your life has been like you can know Christ and be united to God? Do you need to exchange your sin for His perfection?
3. How connected are you to the body of Christ? In what ways can you build up the unity of faith with others?
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