[0:00] Well, thank you. It's wonderful. As I said, it's wonderful to be here. You may have not met me. I have not met many of you, but we're family. It's like coming to see family. Well, it is coming to see family because in Christ we are family. So my brothers and sisters, it is great to be here. If you want to turn with me to Ephesians chapter 2, we'll be looking at verses 17 to 22 this morning. And as you're turning there, I wonder what comes to your mind when I say home? Probably the place you're living now.
[0:42] You might think of the place where you grew up. Our thoughts of home often involve a building, four walls, a roof, maybe a familiar piece of land. And yet there's a lot more to our idea of home than just a structure, isn't there? Home is a powerful, a deeply emotional concept for us. And it should be because it's the place where we should belong.
[1:12] The place that is most truly our place. Home is the place where we should be able to go and feel comfortable and free and relax and really be ourselves. Now, of course, in this world, which is broken by sin, it doesn't always work out that way because homes are just as impacted as the rest of the world by our sin. And often I think we even feel it more so at home because home is where we get to see each other really up close. We get to see what we really are without covering up some of the things that are destructive. It's where we are hurt by others. It's where we maybe cause destruction ourselves with our sin. And we have to admit that.
[2:01] And yet for all of that, we know what home should be. We know even with all the problems, home can give us a real taste of what it means to live in security and freedom and openness and love and the joy that all those things brings. There's a reason why home is such a deep part of our experience as humans.
[2:25] And I think even with the disappointments and all the joys of it, the reason is home is what we're made for. Our homes on earth are actually a picture of a reality that's far greater, far bigger, far longer lasting than our homes here on earth. And we're going to look at this passage this morning in Ephesians.
[2:50] And it's a place where the church is actually described as the temple of the Lord. And what I want you to see this morning is that the temple is the place where God lives.
[3:03] His dwelling place, his home. It's a place where God chooses to live with his people. So to call the church God's temple is a powerful picture. And it shows us where all of our longings for home are meant to come to rest and are meant to point us to. So let's look at our text.
[3:25] Ephesians chapter 2, starting in verse 17. It says this, Amen.
[4:15] Amen. Amen. This morning we'll look at how Jesus brings us into his home. And more than that, we'll look at how Jesus makes us into his home.
[4:29] And we'll consider what all of this means for us right now today. But first, I just want us to focus first on how Jesus brings us into God's home. Look at verse 19.
[4:41] You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household. That means through Jesus Christ, God's people belong in God's house. We belong there.
[4:57] It means God's home becomes our home. Our place of security and openness, of love and joy and life. This has been God's purpose for humanity since the day he made us. In the Garden of Eden, God himself walked with Adam and Eve. He lived with them. His purpose all along was to live with his people.
[5:24] And they walked freely with God and they spoke freely with him and they enjoyed each other's company. So in a very real sense, the Garden of Eden was, in a sense, the first temple.
[5:36] God's dwelling place on earth. And Adam and Eve were a royal priesthood, communing with God, worshipping God, representing him to the rest of creation. That's what humanity is made for.
[5:49] We're made to be at home with God. That's why we long so much for home now. But we long for it now from a distance because we're not living in Eden anymore, are we?
[6:02] Not, not at all. Adam and Eve were at home with God and yet they rejected him in his own house. When they sinned against God, they basically said to God, you know, we like your house, but we'd like to be the masters of this place without your interference.
[6:20] And that's where it all went wrong. And that's where it all still goes wrong. Because every time we sin, we're basically saying the same thing to God. We want to take his place as the master of his house.
[6:34] We want to run his place our way. According to our goals, according to our rules, according to our advantages. We try to kick God out of his own house.
[6:47] And guess who ends up having to leave? It's not God. Adam and Eve were forced out of the garden into the wilderness. And that is where humanity has been ever since.
[7:00] Trying to build our own home without God. If you look at human history, it's obvious this has not worked very well, has it? And it's not working today in the world, in our lives.
[7:15] We're like the foolish builders that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7. Building our lives and our nations and our whole world on the sand. Instead of building it on the firm, secure rock that is Christ himself.
[7:30] We've tried it all. We've tried everything. We've tried money and power and fame and sex and drugs and pleasure and family and friends, success, wars, economies, everything. We've tried it all over and over and over again.
[7:42] Generation after generation. And none of it is strong enough or stable enough to be our home. Because our home is God. We're made for him.
[7:54] But the amazing thing is that after humanity rejected God in his own house, he did not give up on us. His purpose to be at home with his people remained unchanged.
[8:07] If you look through the Old Testament, you'll see this everywhere. God made a covenant with his people Israel. He promised in Leviticus 26, I will put my dwelling among you.
[8:20] I will walk among you and be your God and you will be my people. That was God's purpose. To be at home with his people still going forward. God lived among his people in the tabernacle, which was the first, it was like a tent temple basically.
[8:37] And then later in the temple building that Solomon built, those structures were a sign of God's presence with his people. But the point was never the structure. The point was God's presence with his people.
[8:50] God being there in spite of their sin against him. But the system was not perfect because the people could not freely approach God.
[9:01] Even though he was there in their midst, he was there with his people, their sin against God was still a barrier. Only certain people could come in fully to the temple.
[9:12] Only on certain days, only with certain sacrifices made for sin. But animal sacrifices, of course, could never fully deal with human sin. They could never fully accomplish salvation.
[9:28] So they could only look ahead to a time when God promised that he would provide the perfect sacrifice. To take the punishment for sin on himself fully.
[9:39] So that we could be forgiven once and for all time. And brought back into full and free the presence of God fully. Brought back home where we belong.
[9:51] And that perfect sacrifice, of course, was provided by Jesus Christ on the cross. If you look back at the beginning of Ephesians 2, in verse 4, Paul says this.
[10:02] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved.
[10:16] In other words, Jesus did what we could not. He paid for our sin so that we could come home. And that is the salvation that we see talked about in verse 17 and 18.
[10:28] He came, that's Jesus, came and preached peace to you who were far away. And peace to those who were near. For through him, we both have access to the Father by one spirit.
[10:40] No matter how far away people were from God. No matter how near. Everyone can approach God the same way. Through him. Through Jesus.
[10:52] Jesus is the road home. He is the only road home. Because no religious system in the world can deal with our sin that separates us from God. Only the blood of Jesus can do that.
[11:04] But Jesus can deal with our sin. And he can deal with it completely. So that now anyone can come. No matter how far away we're coming from. If we come through Jesus.
[11:16] God was fulfilling his plan. To make a home with his people. When Jesus came to earth. He brought the presence of God to us fully.
[11:27] In himself. Paul says in Colossians 2. In Christ. All the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form. God himself.
[11:38] John's gospel says. Became flesh. And made his dwelling among us. And the word there that he uses. In the original language is.
[11:49] He became flesh and tabernacled among us. He made his home like that tent temple. He. The presence of God. Was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
[12:00] He came to earth. And he was the presence of God. Emmanuel. God with us. God with us. Jesus came to bring God's presence to us.
[12:11] And in doing that. He fulfilled in his own body. The role of the tabernacle and the temple. That was used all through the Old Testament. He even called his body a temple. In John 2.
[12:23] He prophesied. Destroy this temple. And I will raise it again. In three days. He didn't mean a building. He meant his body. Which was the presence of God.
[12:34] Among his people. In a way that the old tabernacle and temple could never be. And they did destroy that temple. That temple that was his body. And yet he did fulfill that prophecy.
[12:47] And raise it again after three days. And now because of his death and resurrection. We can have access to God. As Jesus says in John 14. Anyone who loves me.
[12:58] Will obey my teaching. My father will love them. And we will come to them. And make our home with them. What an amazing promise.
[13:12] When you come to Jesus. You are coming home. Your true home. The home that every other home on earth. No matter how good it is. It can only ever be just a faint reflection. Of this home.
[13:26] Verse 19. You are no longer foreigners and strangers. But fellow citizens with God's people. Members of his household. We are welcomed home with God through Jesus.
[13:41] But these verses go further. So we need to go further as well. To follow them. Because not only does Jesus bring us into God's home. This says he actually makes us into God's home.
[13:54] Jesus makes us into God's home. Look at verse 20. As we follow on in the text. It says. We are members of his household. Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[14:05] With Jesus Christ himself. As the chief cornerstone. In him. The whole building is joined together. And rises to become a holy temple. In the Lord.
[14:16] And in him. You too are being built together. To become a dwelling. In which God lives. By his spirit. You see in verse 20.
[14:28] How the picture changes. Not only are we members of God's household. At home with him. We actually become a holy temple in the Lord.
[14:38] In other words. We become the home where God lives. By his spirit. What he's saying is that the presence of God. That used to be in the temple. Now lives in the people of God directly.
[14:52] We don't need a building anymore. We are the building. We are the house where God lives. And if you look back over scripture. You'll see the glory of this. Because like when Moses completed the tabernacle.
[15:06] God's glory filled it. We see that happen in Exodus 40. When the tabernacle tent is completed. God sends a cloud with fire in it.
[15:18] It descends on the new tabernacle. The fire comes down on their sacrifices. And it shows visibly the presence of God. And awesome power and glory.
[15:30] Then the exact same thing happens. When Solomon builds the temple. In 2 Chronicles 7. King Solomon builds this massive beautiful new temple for the Lord.
[15:40] A permanent building to replace the tabernacle. Which was a tent. And during that dedication ceremony. The same thing happens. Fire comes down from heaven. And consumes the sacrifices.
[15:53] And the priest could not enter the temple. Because the glory of the Lord filled it. Just like the tabernacle. God visibly displays his presence.
[16:03] In glory and power in the new temple. Now his presence was there. Now this is where it gets really interesting. Because what we see. If we go to Acts 2.
[16:15] Is that when the disciples of Jesus gather in the upper room in Jerusalem. On the day of Pentecost. After Jesus' resurrection. After his ascension. Acts 2 says this.
[16:26] Suddenly. A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven. And filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire. That separated and came to rest on each of them.
[16:37] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. And began to speak in other tongues. As the Spirit enabled them. Do you see what's happening here? It's the same thing. It is fire from heaven.
[16:50] Anointing the new temple of God. Just like in Exodus. With the tabernacle. Just like in Chronicles. With the temple. There is fire.
[17:00] There is glory. There is the presence of the Lord. Coming in a visible way. But the difference. The difference here. Is that now God's presence.
[17:11] Has come in power. Visibly. Not on a specific place. Not on a specific building. But directly on God's people.
[17:22] The fire comes down. And rests on each one of them. The temple has moved. It was the Garden of Eden. It was a tent.
[17:33] It was a building. It was Jesus himself. God with us. And now. Through Christ. When we are united to him. The temple of God. In the world now. Is us.
[17:45] The people of God. These tongues of fire. Is not just some random miracle. This is the consistent sign. Of God's presence. Now filling his people directly.
[17:56] Without the need. For a separate meeting space. Without the need. For ongoing sacrifices. Without the need. For mediation. For mediation. By priests. Jesus is. The once for all sacrifice.
[18:07] For his people. He has become. The cornerstone. For a new kind of temple. He is the high priest. Who makes us. A kingdom of priests. As Peter says.
[18:18] We are the temple of God. The place. Where God. Dwells. On earth. And all of this is possible. Because we are united. To Christ.
[18:28] Who is the chief cornerstone. It is only as we are united to him. That we can rise. To become this temple. Where God lives. I wonder.
[18:39] Have you ever thought of yourself. As a temple. If we are together. And individually. The temple of God. We ought to see ourselves that way. We ought to live.
[18:51] In the light of that truth. And what does that look like? How do we live on earth. As the temple. Of God. At home. With him. Well we don't have to guess about this.
[19:03] The New Testament actually draws out. Several. Specific applications. For us directly. So let's look at a few of them. Just briefly. Think about these. First of all.
[19:14] First of all. Being God's temple. Gives us a new purpose. As God's. Royal. Priesthood. 1 Peter. Chapter 2. Peter says this. As you come to him.
[19:25] The living stone. Rejected by humans. But chosen by God. And precious to him. You also. Like living stones. Are being built. Into a spiritual house.
[19:37] To be a holy priesthood. Offering spiritual sacrifices. Acceptable to God. Through Jesus Christ. He goes on. You are. A chosen people. A royal priesthood.
[19:48] A holy nation. God's special possession. That you may declare. The praises of him. Who called you out of darkness. Into his wonderful light. A temple is a place of worship.
[20:00] Isn't it? And worship is the natural overflow. Of love. And wonder. And when we're at home with God. Our love and wonder. And his goodness and glory.
[20:11] Will never end. So this temple becomes a place of worship. Because it's a home. Where we live close to God. Where we experience more and more.
[20:22] The wonder of all that he is. We won't be able to help. But praise him for all of that. We don't worship God from a distance. We worship up close. Because he has brought us close to himself.
[20:34] He has brought us home. With him. We are the temple of God. The royal priesthood of that temple. Declaring forever the praises of him.
[20:44] Who called us out of darkness. And into his wonderful light. And that changes how we relate to God. Certainly. But it also changes how we relate to one another.
[20:56] Being God's temple motivates us. To love and unity within the church. 1 Corinthians 3. Paul tells the church. Not to fight. Not to divide among themselves.
[21:08] And he reminds them of this. He says. Don't you know. That you yourselves are God's temple. And that God's spirit dwells among you. If anyone destroys God's temple.
[21:21] God will destroy that person. For God's temple is sacred. And you together are that temple. This is serious stuff.
[21:32] We are together the temple of God. Our new purpose is not just for us individually. We're being built together with God's people. And that means we need to be mindful of how we treat one another.
[21:46] We're part of the same structure. We're built on the same cornerstone. We are becoming the home of God together. And we should value each other accordingly.
[21:57] We should build each other up accordingly. When we build each other up. When we help each other become more and more what God made us to be. We are building up the temple of God.
[22:08] His home. Being the temple of God gives us a new purpose. To praise our glorious savior. Our king. It ought to motivate us as well.
[22:18] To love and seek unity. And build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally. Being God's temple. Motivates us to purify ourselves.
[22:32] As God's home. I'll read you from 2 Corinthians chapter 6. Paul says this. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
[22:45] What fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
[22:59] For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said. I will live with them. And walk among them. I will be their God. And they will be my people. Therefore.
[23:11] Come out from them. And be separate. Says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing. And I will receive you. I will be a father to you. And you will be my sons and daughters. Says the Lord Almighty.
[23:22] Therefore. Since we have these promises. Dear friends. Let us purify ourselves. From everything that contaminates. Body and spirit. Perfecting holiness.
[23:33] Out of reverence. For God. Paul says the reason we purify ourselves. Is not to impress God. Not to win his favor. Not to make him love us.
[23:45] The reason we purify ourselves. Is because we already are. The temple. Of the living God. And we want to live. Close to him.
[23:56] Because God is already. Living close to us. And we want the house of God. To be a beautiful place. A clean place. A place that is worthy. Of God himself.
[24:06] We don't want to bring sin. And rebellion. Into God's house. As 1 Corinthians 6. In 1 Corinthians 6. Paul.
[24:17] Applies this specifically. To sexual sin. He says to us. Do you not know. That your bodies. Are temples. Of the Holy Spirit. Who is in you. Whom you have received.
[24:27] From God. You are not your own. You were bought. With a price. Therefore honor God. With your bodies. If you belong to Jesus.
[24:38] You are the temple of God. What are you bringing. Into God's temple. What are you using. God's temple for. We need to ask ourselves.
[24:50] Seriously. You are not your own. But I want to remind you as well. You are not on your own. To purify this temple. He doesn't just leave that job.
[25:02] Up to us. God is the builder. He is the purifier. Of his house. He is the one. Who can cleanse us. From all unrighteousness. He is the one.
[25:12] Who can make us stand. Pure and faultless. Before him. He is the one. Who is building. This temple. On the cornerstone. Of Jesus Christ. And he will. He finishes.
[25:23] What he starts. And it is in that. Sure hope. It is in that. Unbreakable promise. That we can purify. Ourselves. Because it is not our power. We don't have the power.
[25:33] To do that. But he does. And he is living. In us. With us. So we can. And we will. Eventually. Have complete victory. God will purify.
[25:45] His home. But we can begin. To live that out now. Recognizing. Who we are in Christ. And who it is. That lives. In us.
[25:56] God will fulfill. His purpose for us. The purpose that he had. From the very beginning. To live at home. With his people. Revelation 21. This is God's purpose.
[26:06] Then I saw a new heaven. A new earth. For the first heaven. And the first earth. Had passed away. And there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city. The new Jerusalem. Coming down.
[26:17] Out of heaven. From God. Prepared. As a bride. Beautifully dressed. For her husband. And I heard a loud voice. From the throne. Saying look. God's dwelling place.
[26:28] Is now among the people. He will dwell. With them. They will be his people. And God himself. Will be with them. And be their God.
[26:38] He will wipe every tear. From their eyes. There will be no more death. Or mourning. Or crying. Or pain. For the old order of things. Has passed away. Our home.
[26:49] Is secure. In Christ. Forever. You might long for it now. You might at times. Feel so far away. From the comfort.
[26:59] And security. And joy. And rest. Of home. But even now. If you are trusting in Jesus. You are already. Resting.
[27:10] On the cornerstone. Of God's temple. Being built together. With all God's people. Into a home. That will last. For eternity. If you have not come to Jesus.
[27:23] This morning. Then I would urge you. To put your trust. In his salvation. Put your life in his hands. I would urge you. To come home. Come home.
[27:34] To God. And if you are trusting in Jesus. Remember. Who you are. You are. The temple. Of the living God. You are his holy priesthood.
[27:47] You are God's household. The people. God himself. Chooses. To live with. You can hold your head up in that. You can declare the praises.
[27:57] Of him who called you. Out of darkness. Into his. Wonderful light. You can trust him. To purify you. As you work in his strength. To purify yourself.
[28:09] As God's temple. He will keep every promise to you. He will bring you home forever. He is your home. Look.
[28:20] God's dwelling place. Is now among the people. And he will dwell with them. They will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And be their God. Amen.
[28:32] Thank you.