Are You a Member of God's Household?
Are You a Member of God’s Household?
As we continue in our study of the Epistle to Ephesians, Paul by the Holy Spirit has established how individuals are saved by grace of God. Now in our present study, Paul shifts to the establishment of the Church, the body of Christ. The “modern family” is what we have today? There is a TV show with that title that depicts the evolving nature of what constitutes a “family”. The modern family is a mixture of all kinds of set ups (married at least once, with step children and step fathers and step moms, etc.). It is unlike the traditional family with one dad and mother and the children. How do these compare to the household of God – God’s Family? What is God’s family like and what constitutes God’s Household?
Let’s listen to Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Are you are member of the Household of God? “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”. The Greek translated “household” is best understood in our present time and we can relate to as “extended family”. In an extended family, there is room for every one – there are grandpa, grandma, great grand and great-great grand, then father, mother, cousins, nephews and nieces and etc. The list could go on forever. God has a very big family. Notice that it did not say “God’s denomination” but “Household”.
Who is a member of God’s Household? The individuals saved by grace are the members of God’s family. They collectively have one identity -15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two”, There is one new man created in Christ Jesus when Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law on the Cross. If you believe and trust in Jesus Christ for your reconciled relationship to God, then you are a member of the Household of God. “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. Have you been reconciled to God? You can by prayer do so right now?
God’s Household is built on the foundations of the Gospel as handed to us by the apostles and prophets (vs. 20). God’s Household is not a physical building and it is not defined by a physical building or where you meet. Jesus is the cornerstone of His Household, the unshakable Rock that holds every member of His household together and gives them life.
God’s household is still under construction “being fitted together” (vs.21). God is still fitting it together using all His household members to fit it all together. No one is an island in God’s household and there are no lone rangers. God’s household is living and dynamic. God’s household grows and is growing both individual members and collectively as a body, “grows into a holy temple in the Lord”.
God’s Household is a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit”. The Spirit of God lives in and among God’s household. There are no boundary limits and God’s household exists anywhere, anytime and anyplace. We are God-carriers (by His Spirit) so His Church is everywhere. In God’s Household, we are the Church. We do not go to Church. How can you go to yourself? It makes no sense. Let’s be the Church wherever we are.
What does this mean for you and me? We must embrace God’s household made up of all kinds that are saved from all walks of life, race, tribe, past sins etc. Paul will be launching into the “One Anothers” in the coming chapters of Ephesians. In God’s household and like any household, there will be misunderstandings, offenses, forgiveness and acceptance and bearing with one another and praying for one another, and preferring one another and etc. In God’s Household, grace abounds much more.
Like your natural family, you do not choose members of “God’s Household”. Listen to Jesus 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35. Why? Because you and I will encounter people groups and types in God’s Household we are not used to loving or relating to e.g. the Jew and the Gentile, the White and the Black, Brown, Green and the Yellows, different ages, different cultures, different incomes and lack of income etc. Are you ready? Remember, God is “fitting” it all together and enabling and managing His Household. Let us trust God and relate to one another in love and not in fear of our physical differences. Amen.
Have a Grace Day! Receive and Give Grace today to all.
As we continue in our study of the Epistle to Ephesians, Paul by the Holy Spirit has established how individuals are saved by grace of God. Now in our present study, Paul shifts to the establishment of the Church, the body of Christ. The “modern family” is what we have today? There is a TV show with that title that depicts the evolving nature of what constitutes a “family”. The modern family is a mixture of all kinds of set ups (married at least once, with step children and step fathers and step moms, etc.). It is unlike the traditional family with one dad and mother and the children. How do these compare to the household of God – God’s Family? What is God’s family like and what constitutes God’s Household?
Let’s listen to Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Are you are member of the Household of God? “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”. The Greek translated “household” is best understood in our present time and we can relate to as “extended family”. In an extended family, there is room for every one – there are grandpa, grandma, great grand and great-great grand, then father, mother, cousins, nephews and nieces and etc. The list could go on forever. God has a very big family. Notice that it did not say “God’s denomination” but “Household”.
Who is a member of God’s Household? The individuals saved by grace are the members of God’s family. They collectively have one identity -15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two”, There is one new man created in Christ Jesus when Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law on the Cross. If you believe and trust in Jesus Christ for your reconciled relationship to God, then you are a member of the Household of God. “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. Have you been reconciled to God? You can by prayer do so right now?
God’s Household is built on the foundations of the Gospel as handed to us by the apostles and prophets (vs. 20). God’s Household is not a physical building and it is not defined by a physical building or where you meet. Jesus is the cornerstone of His Household, the unshakable Rock that holds every member of His household together and gives them life.
God’s household is still under construction “being fitted together” (vs.21). God is still fitting it together using all His household members to fit it all together. No one is an island in God’s household and there are no lone rangers. God’s household is living and dynamic. God’s household grows and is growing both individual members and collectively as a body, “grows into a holy temple in the Lord”.
God’s Household is a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit”. The Spirit of God lives in and among God’s household. There are no boundary limits and God’s household exists anywhere, anytime and anyplace. We are God-carriers (by His Spirit) so His Church is everywhere. In God’s Household, we are the Church. We do not go to Church. How can you go to yourself? It makes no sense. Let’s be the Church wherever we are.
What does this mean for you and me? We must embrace God’s household made up of all kinds that are saved from all walks of life, race, tribe, past sins etc. Paul will be launching into the “One Anothers” in the coming chapters of Ephesians. In God’s household and like any household, there will be misunderstandings, offenses, forgiveness and acceptance and bearing with one another and praying for one another, and preferring one another and etc. In God’s Household, grace abounds much more.
Like your natural family, you do not choose members of “God’s Household”. Listen to Jesus 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35. Why? Because you and I will encounter people groups and types in God’s Household we are not used to loving or relating to e.g. the Jew and the Gentile, the White and the Black, Brown, Green and the Yellows, different ages, different cultures, different incomes and lack of income etc. Are you ready? Remember, God is “fitting” it all together and enabling and managing His Household. Let us trust God and relate to one another in love and not in fear of our physical differences. Amen.
Have a Grace Day! Receive and Give Grace today to all.
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