The Book of Ephesians Pt. 25 Living Stones in the Temple of the Living God!
In our last post, Paul urged the Ephesian believers not to respond with civil disobedience because he was sitting in a Roman jail. Then Paul got on his knees and prayed for that church and all believers. He prayed that we would have a growing knowledge and experience of Christ dwelling in us through His Spirit. He prayed that the Father in heaven would send strength into our inner man so that we can be firmly rooted and grounded in our faith in Christ and in the love of God.
Paul's prayer expands to include the love of Christ for us.
Ephesians 3:18-19 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
The words "may be able" mean to be eminently able with full strength to "comprehend." The word "comprehend" means to lay hold of with your mind. The idea here is that the strength Paul prayed for is used to help believers know the certainty of the indwelling Spirit and that Christ is in us. It is so we become solidly anchored to Christ and the Word. And, strength for grasping with our minds the variegated facets of God's love in Christ.
Paul mentioned that each individual believer needs to obtain a growing understanding of spiritual truth.
Photo replica of Temple of Dianna at Ephesus.
Paul used construction terms in Ephesians 2 such as a building, fitly framed together or referring to Christ as the Cornerstone. Paul wants us to catch a glimpse of how wide, how tall, how long and how deep the temple of God is. Why? Because in that pagan culture, there were many pagan temples of great size, beautiful materials and outstanding design, but the Temple of God is not like those physical temples.
The Temple of God is a spiritual temple, a spiritual dwelling place for God. Standing in stark contrast to pagan temples made from lifeless, inert materials, the Temple of God is made up of living stones! Each believer is a living stone set in place by the Master Craftsman, the Spirit of God. Thus, while the temple of Dianna used marble and granite and wood, think about the Temple of the Living God. Each believer is different and diverse from one another. We have different minds, different bodies, different colors, different likes, different dislikes, different skills, gifts and talents, yet we are one with each other in the body of Christ.
Differences in gifts, administration & operations.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5) And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
There is a wide variety of spiritual gifts within the church. Some gifts like preaching, teaching or being an evangelist are given to edify the local church and spread the gospel.
The word "administrations" refers to gifts given in order that the church body might be served better. This would include helping meet basic necessities like food, clothing or shelter, like the first deacons who helped serve meals to the Hebrew widows (Acts 6). The word "operation" is from a word that refers to the power of God's Holy Spirit to grant spiritual strength and power for serving God in a wide variety of ways.
One body but many different members.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14) For the body is not one member, but many.
The Temple of God is an unseen Temple but it is also a living Temple, composed of living stones, infused with power from the living God to accomplish His purposes. I really cannot imagine a great contrast than of what Paul is setting in front of us.
Believers are living stones in God's Temple.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3) Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Paul speaks of the fulfillment of God's promise to put a new spirit and a new heart in those who are born again (Ezekiel 11:19; 18:31). Spiritual life comes from the regenerating work of God's Spirit in us and stands in contrast to the stone tablets engraved with the 10 commandments.
1 Peter 2:2-5 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Believers are those living stones in the spiritual house that God is building. We also have tasks that God purposed for us to participate in. We are to live holy lives, offering up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God the Father because we are "in Christ." These include witnessing, worshipping God, walking a worthy walk, studying His Word, loving one another,
Pagan temples reflect the men who invented pagan gods. Such "gods" have no life in themselves. They cannot speak, lift a finger, answer a solitary prayer, cannot feel or do anything. Pagan temples are also lifeless, limited by time, space and matter and can do nothing for anyone.
We are to know the love of Christ.
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
The next petition in Paul's prayer is for all believers to know the love of Christ. The word "know" is a word that means to know someone more intimately through experience and learning about them. In this case, we are learning about the love of Christ.
The love of Christ keeps us safe and secure.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What do we know about the love of Christ? Quite a bit and Paul teaches about it extensively. He raised a rhetorical question about what might separate us from the love of Christ. This kind of question in this context demand the answer of "Nothing can!" Tribulation, distress, persecution, peril, sword, nakedness or famine cannot separate us from the love of Christ.
Jesus also taught about this infinite love when He said that no man can pluck His sheep out of His Father's hand (John 10:27-30).
The love of Christ motivates us to live for God's glory.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15) And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
In this text, Paul tells us that the love of Christ is a constraining love. What does this mean? The Greek word means pressing us firmly together or holding all things together. In the metaphorical sense, it means to closely adhere together with teaching the Word and living by what God says to us. The English definition means the moral force of God's Spirit that compels us to live according to the Word of God.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Paul then closed out this chapter and his prayer with a doxology of praise to our All Glorious God. We all have needs great and small but the apostle shifts our focus to God who is supremely able to meet and exceed all of our needs.
The word "able" means that God has the power, resources, and willingness to do all that He has promised to do.
The words "exceeding abundantly above" have the idea of so much being given that it overflows everything. A river or lake would overflow its banks. A grain silo would be covered up by a huge mound of grain.
God our Father is able then to nurture, protect and meet His children's needs beyond our wildest estimation.
To our Heavenly Father, Paul says, be all glory in the church of Jesus Christ, forever.
Here is a link to a stirring hymn of the Christian faith titled "All Glory, Laud and Honor" that captures exactly the kind of praise the church of Jesus Christ should give to our Glorious God. The words to this hymn are also included and you will find your heart full of love for God as you read the words and listen to the performance.
To thee, Redeemer, King
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring
Thou David's royal Son
Who in the Lord's name comest
The King and Blessed One
Are praising Thee on high
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply
With palms before Thee went
Our praise and love and anthems
Before Thee we present
They sang their hymns of praise
To Thee, now high exalted
Our melody we raise
Accept the love we bring
Who in all good delightest
Thou good and gracious King
Thoughts to Ponder...
The vast love of God passes all human knowledge. This is why we must turn to the pages of scripture and hear from God. He alone can teach us about His love and He wants each of us to fully know and grasp it.
The love of God is fully manifested in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus loved His disciples until the end. Jesus said that there is no greater love than giving up your life so that someone else might live. The love of God sent Christ to the cross and Jesus endured it all for the pure joy of saving sinners by His redeeming grace.
May our hearts be encouraged and lifted up with praise to God for His mighty work to save us and for His vast love lavished upon all who will believe.
Bob
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