Ephesians: His Glorious RichesSample

We live at a time when people are quick to write off the church. It’s not so much the question, ‘Does the church have a future?’ but, ‘Does the future have a church?’! It is therefore wonderfully refreshing to see how significant the church is in the plans and purposes of God. 

We have already seen that it is the body of Christ and He rules over all things on its behalf (1:19–23). Paul now reminds us that through the work of Christ, Gentiles have been reconciled to God and to each other. Paul uses three pictures to describe the church: 

The church is like a kingdom of which we have become citizens (v. 19). Our citizenship is in Heaven and this affects every part of our lives (Phil. 3:20–21). What are our responsibilities and privileges as citizens? 

The church is also like a family or household. Those who were once outside the intimate circle of the home have now been brought into the family (v.19; Matt. 12:49–50). We have God as our Father, Christ as our older brother and all other believers as our siblings. This will have implications for how we live now (Acts 2:42–47; Heb. 10:24–25). 

Finally, the church is a spiritual temple (vv. 20–22). We often identify the word ‘church’ with a physical building. In the Old Testament God commanded His people to build a tabernacle and then a temple, and He chose to dwell among them there (Ex. 40:34–38; 2 Chr. 7:1–3). Since Pentecost, though, God no longer manifests His glory in a physical building. He now dwells in the lives of individual Christians (1 Cor. 6:19–20) and in the corporate church. The most exciting thing about being among God’s people is that God is there. 

The church is to be both Bible-based and Spirit-filled. It is built on the solid foundation of the testimony of the apostles and prophets contained in Scripture (v. 20). The Bible creates the church and keeps it healthy. God dwells among His people in the church, filling the church with His Spirit (v. 22). 

The church is an inclusive, welcoming community, where we are called together to be a people of love and mutual support. As we gather, our greatest desire is to meet with the God who chose to dwell among His people.

Reflection

Think about the three pictures that Paul uses here. How do they help you to understand the church? 

What difference should God’s presence make in our lives (see Ps. 139:1–12)?