Eph. 2:19-22 - No Longer Strangers and Aliens

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

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We Are God's Dwelling Place

Vs. 19 - "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household," -

“So then... no longer... aliens” - Because of Christ’s work (2:11-18).

“Fellow citizens... of God’s households” - Members of God’s house are believers. Non-believers are not spiritually co-equal. Every believer has the same standing - in Christ (Col. 1:13-14). Non-believers have no standing.

“Saints” - Holy ones = true believers. (See: Psa 27:4). Note it is “with the saints”. The original first followers and believers were Jewish. We Gentiles are co-equal in Christ.

Vs. 20 -  “ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,” - 

“Having been built... prophets” - This household, all the members of God’s family (see end of v. 19), See: 1 Cor 3:9ff; Matt 16:16ff. The church is founded upon the teachings of the prophets and the apostles that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and our personal Savior. See: Acts 5:12. This is the foundation - 1 Pet 1:10-12.

“Christ Jesus... cornerstone” - A cornerstone is: 

(1) a stone joining two walls together;
(2) the starting point of a building or construction;  

(3) something of fundamental importance.

Christ is all three in the life of the church.

(1) He joins the Jew and Gentile together into one faith;
(2) Jesus is the beginning of the church. (Col 2:18-29)
(3) Jesus is so fundamental that without Him we are nothing, (1 Cor 15:17, 19)

Vs. 21 - “ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,” - 

“in whom the whole building” - In Christ the entire church is “growing into a holy temple” (Col 2:19). Note that we are fitted together - not just helter-skelter, but neatly. We each have our place and our job to make the church function smoothly, with one purpose - to glorify God. (1 Cor 3:16ff).

Vs. 22 - “ “ in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” - 

 “built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” - God dwells in the church in HIs Holy Spirit, and in Christ the church has its existence. Note: the church has no existence outside of Christ, who is God. Yet, the church is formed for the purpose to provide a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. A true picture of God beginning and completing a work. (Phil 1:6).

Verse 11-22 are an essay on the equality of our position in Christ. Our relationship to God does not depend on who we are, or what we do - it depends upon Christ. “In Him all things come together; He is before and in all things.” (Col. 1:15-20)

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