Title: The Saints Who Make Up the Temple
Text: Ephesians 2:21,22
Title: Saints who make up the temple
The Bible speaks of two types of temples.
One is the Jerusalem Temple, and the other is the “spiritual temple” as the church established after Pentecost.
Today's text is the record of the 'spiritual temple'.
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First, Paul talks about the four elements that make up the ‘spiritual temple’ in the text.
The first is the apostles and prophets as the ‘ground’.
Apostles and prophets are both those with teaching offices, and spiritual temples are built upon the precepts they teach.
Jesus called them, chose them, and gave them authority to teach in his name.
Therefore, it can be seen that the ‘foundation’ is the word of God and a lesson.
The second is Christ as the cornerstone.
Just as the cornerstone supports and unites the structure of a building, so in Christ the structure of the ‘spiritual temple’ is joined together and formed.
The third is the saint as a building material.
Just as materials such as steel and wood are needed to build a building, each individual member of the “spiritual temple” becomes the material.
Some saints become 'reinforcing bars', and some saints become 'trees'.
And these materials are combined in Jesus Christ, who is the cornerstone, to form a complete temple.
The fourth is God and the Holy Spirit as the resident.
Just as God was present in the Jerusalem temple, God is also with the spiritual temple.
The spiritual temple has an organic character built around such living personalities, and has the characteristic of being gradually built up in Jesus Christ rather than being completed.
♣ The temple being built in Jesus
Paul said that all the saints who share in salvation through the cross must become one as citizens of the same kingdom of God.
It is like a single building, connected to each other and being built into a temple.
Christ broke down the wall between Jews and Gentiles with the cross and made them one.
Therefore, all are being built into one temple in Christ.
Since the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of every believer, each and every believer is a temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells.
But also the church, the organic community of saints, is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, believers should strive to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit in Christ, transcending all differences.
Then, what is the role of Christ as the cornerstone in the ‘temple of God’?
First, it serves as a cornerstone.
The foundation stone is absolutely essential to support the pillars and to build a strong house.
If a house doesn't have a foundation, it will collapse in an instant.
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and cornerstone of the living temple.
Jesus Christ is the root, foundation, and beginning of the church.
Second, it acts as a bridge.
To build a building, be it wood, stone, iron, or anything else, they must be well connected.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the life of a building lies in its connection.
The corner stone firmly connects the wall and the wall as one, and it is the center and source that connects all materials.
In the same way, Jesus Christ plays the role of connecting the saints, the material of the spiritual temple.
In Jesus, Jew and Gentile, East and West, South and North are connected.
In this way, the temple of God is built.
Third, he makes a secret sacrifice.
Cornerstones are absolutely necessary in a building, yet they do not reveal themselves.
They are content with quietly fulfilling their duties under a pillar that is inconspicuous.
Jesus Christ takes on the role of such a cornerstone.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a manger for us, labored for the poor, marginalized, and sick, and in the end gave up His whole body for sinners, but people viewed Jesus Christ as lowly.