Introduction
If you’ve ever been involved with a building project, you know that there are any number of setbacks. Finances run dry. Sub-contractors start quarreling. The environmentalists discover there is an endangered snail on the property. Seasoned GC’s will tell you this is just par for the course. This is just the way it is. The Holy Spirit is a General Contractor, and the way He goes about His building project is scandalous, as we see in this text before us.
The Text
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 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.
Ephesians 2:17-22
Summary of the Text
Earlier in this chapter, Paul stated earlier that Christ is our peace (v14). He now cites Isaiah’s prophecy of the messianic restoration of Israel (Is. 57:19). His application, though is what is of interest to us; Paul applies it to Christ preaching peace to those far and near (v17). The Prince of peace grants not only Jews but also Gentiles access to the Father by the same Spirit (v18). The Spirit uses Jewish & Gentile bricks in the same building project.
The result of this was that the Ephesian Gentiles are no longer reckoned as strangers. They are full fledged citizens of God’s household; they didn’t need a visitor’s visa (v19). God is building a temple for Himself. A temple that would grow and fill all the earth with worshippers of the triune God. These Gentile believers are comforted with the knowledge that they are not on the reject pile. Rather, they are included in the next row of bricks; all in plumb with the doctrine of both the apostles of Christ, and the prophets of Christ (vv20-21). Consequently, this is an important text for underscoring the hermeneutic of continuity. The Old and New Testament are in agreement and are not at odds with each other. The doctrine of the Word is that of continuity, not discontinuity.
The apostles’ and prophets’ doctrine is itself in conformity to a cornerstone. That stone is Christ (v20). Rejected by the builders, but chosen by God (Cf. Ps. 118:22, 1 Peter 2:4-6). Now, let me draw your notice to the two “in whoms” this chapter closes with. First, in Christ the entire building is “fitly framed” as a unified and growing temple (v21); secondly, in Christ they are built together as God’s dwelling place through the Spirit (v22). Not one brick is out of place (predestination Eph. 1:5, 11); and all the bricks together form a unitary temple dwelling for God (the church/covenant community, Eph. 1:22). The Gospel is not individualistic, but it is for individuals. The Gospel is also not communist, but it does form a covenant community.
The Rock in the Way
As we see here, the Holy Spirit is in the process of assembling an astonishing building project. This building project is a growing temple. It is a temple made out of people. But people are messy. They are made in the image of God, but due to sin, they are hopelessly messy. People don’t get along with each other. But Paul says that the Holy Spirit is building on the cornerstone of Christ with bricks that used to be arch-rivals.
Trying to get a group of people to get along is like trying to get an engine to work without any oil. Inevitably the friction of slights, envies, gripes, and grievances will cause the engine to seize up. But the Spirit of God is building a temple that will one day fill the world with worshippers from every nation, tribe, and tongue that are in fellowship with each other. How will He accomplish this? By Christ’s death which secured God’s peace with man.
Mankind imagines we can build a utopia apart from Christ. But the Lord Jesus Christ is gloriously in the way of all such humanistic projects. The chief priests and the Gentile rulers all inspected this cornerstone and set Him aside. He was not fit, in their eyes, to build a functioning society upon. But the Holy Spirit says, “This is the stone upon which we will build the Lord’s temple.” The Holy Spirit filled the artisans of the tabernacle and temple with skill to build (Ex 31:3, 1 Ki. 7:14).
Is Jesus in Your Way?
There is a poignant application here. Have you come to view Jesus as being in your way? You wouldn’t say it out loud of course, but have you thought something along these lines, “If I confess my sin, won’t that get in the way of my reputation?” We can be tempted to think that some faithful application of God’s Word politically is too difficult because it doesn’t poll well and therefore we should prioritize other matters. You might have an enemy and Christ’s call to love them gets in the way of how gratifying it is to seethe against them. You might say, “Won’t loyalty to Christ be an obstacle to my career, my glory, my comfort, and my prestige?” Of course!
Being a Christian means letting the Holy Spirit tell you what the building materials are. He says the foundation is Jesus. Jesus isn’t in your way, He’s the foundation. The Spirit tells you to strive for unity with the brethren (Eph. 4:3). He also says that your rigid beams of envy are actually rotted through; your nails of bitterness are rusty; your pride and self-righteousness are a terrible option for insulation.
A Growing Temple
The Spirit is overseeing the construction of a temple which grows. Christ is the foundation of the new creation. By faith in Him you are brought into that building project, because you too are made new.
Christian unity is not found on the wobbly stool of self-righteousness, pride, or social action. Christian unity is founded on shared forgiveness for sin. Notice what Jesus’ sermon is: peace. How is that peace brought about? The blood of His cross (Eph. 2:16).
The goal of this building project which the Holy Spirit is overseeing is that you can dwell in a house with the God who is perfectly holy and not be consumed. The Holy Spirit is making arrangements for God and man to dwell together forever. The foundation of that peace between God and man, and by result man with his fellow man, is Christ alone. The Spirit is not confined to one locality. He intends for this temple to grow until it fills the whole world.
Access to the Father
There are two sinful attitudes that need to be dealt with as we think about this building project the Spirit is at work on. The first is the temptation to shrink back from Christ thinking He is not for you. The very reason Christ came is that the Spirit might bring you to God. The second temptation is to sort those who come to God through Christ into two separate lines. As if there were the VIP line, and the line of those who can only press their faces against the window of God’s grace hoping to get in. The Spirit brings both Jew and Gentile to the Father.
The Holy Spirit makes us uncomfortable with how He goes about building this building. He puts people together who we wouldn’t put together. He puts to death our old rivalries. He compels us to love our enemies, and by grace see enemies converted into friends. He makes certain that the entire edifice is in conformity with Christ, all of Christ. He comforts you with the knowledge that He is able to take away all your rough edges and has a spot in the wall of this temple for you. Though all earthly rulers and kings and philosophers expound on their vision for how to shape humanity, the Holy Spirit quietly yet steadily works on to make humanity into a temple for the Living God. He does this in the preaching of Christ and Him crucified. He does this by declaring that it is by grace you are saved through faith. He does this by taking the stone which the builders rejected and insisting that it be the cornerstone. He does this by making everything about the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
The charge is this, don’t concern yourself with those who in their disdain for Christ pour out their resentment upon God’s people. Such men see Christ as an obstacle, you must see Christ as He is in fact, the true foundation for life. The world will think you’re strange for making your life all about Jesus, but you should think it strange that they’re attempting to build their lives on the foundation of spaghetti noodles.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
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