Ephesians 2:19-22 meaning...

Here Paul is reminding his readers that as believers in Jesus Christ, they are no longer outsiders or foreigners, but they are now part of the household of God. They are citizens of God's kingdom and fellow members with other believers, who are referred to as saints.

• Unity in Christ: 

One of the main themes of this passage is unity in Christ. Believers are no longer strangers or aliens, but they are part of a larger community of faith that is united in their belief in Jesus Christ. This unity is possible because believers are all built on the same foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone.

"built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone": Paul emphasizes that the foundation of the church is built on the teachings of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone. This means that the message of the gospel and the teachings of Jesus are the basis of the church's beliefs and practices.

• The Holy Spirit's work: 

The Holy Spirit is mentioned twice in this passage, emphasizing the importance of His work in building up the church. The Holy Spirit is the one who joins believers together and transforms them into a holy temple for God. The church cannot grow or be built up without the work of the Holy Spirit.

"in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord": The church is described as a temple that is being built up in the Lord. The church is not just a building, but it is made up of believers who are being joined together by the Holy Spirit. As believers grow in their faith and come together in community, the church grows and becomes a holy dwelling place for God.

• The importance of community: 

The church is not just a building or a group of individuals who believe in Jesus Christ. It is a community of believers who come together to worship, learn, and grow in their faith. Believers are being built together into a dwelling place for God, which means that the church is not just a collection of individual believers, but a community that is being transformed by God's grace.

"In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit": Paul emphasizes that the believers themselves are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Holy Spirit. As believers come together in faith and unity, the Holy Spirit works in their lives and in their midst, transforming them into a holy temple that is pleasing to God.

• A holy temple in the Lord: 

Believers are being built into a holy temple in the Lord, which means that the church is a sacred and holy place. As believers come together in worship and in community, they are creating a space that is set apart for God's purposes.

Overall, Ephesians 2:19-22 emphasizes the importance of believers coming together in faith and unity to form a community of faith that is being transformed by the Holy Spirit into a holy temple for God. This passage reminds believers of their identity and purpose as part of the larger body of Christ and encourages them to come together in worship, learning, and service to God.

Ephesians 2:19-22. You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

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