Paul the
apostle explained to the Ephesians how Jesus' dying on the cross
brought Jews and Gentiles
“access”
to God. No longer were the Gentiles “strangers and foreigners”,
but they were made “fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the
household of God”. In chapter two and verse twenty of his
letter, Paul shared how “Jesus Christ” is “the chief
cornerstone” where we read:
And are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
The
verse begins, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets,...” Paul began with the words, “And are
built” which means “to finish a structure, edifice or temple
of which the foundation has already been laid” “upon the
foundation” which literally means “a foundation of a
building, wall or city” and metaphorically means “the beginnings
or first principles of an institution or system of truth” “of
the apostles” which refers to “the delegate, messengers and
ones sent forth with orders” “and prophets” which refers
to “ones who were moved by the Spirit of God and therefore were his
organ or spokesman who solemnly declared to men what he has received
by inspiration especially concerning future events and in particular
such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human
salvation”. God demonstrated the “building” upon His
“foundation” which was established by the “apostles
and prophets” through Jesus Christ.
The verse continues, “...Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
Paul added, “Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the
Savior of mankind and God” “Christ”
who is “the anointed One, the Messiah and Son of God” “himself
being the chief corner stone” which refers
to “the stone placed at an extreme corner of the foundation”. The
“chief cornerstone”
was the primary stone upon which a building or edifice was sustained.
Jesus Christ is the “chief cornerstone”
of the building of God, His church.
When we think through
these words of Paul, we see the significance of Jesus' role in the
building of the church or temple of the Lord. The church was built
upon this main “stone”
which was previously rejected by the “builders”. As the Psalmist
wrote in Psalm 118:22 “The stone which
the builders refused is become the head stone
of the corner.” Though Jesus was “rejected” by men, he was
accepted by God and made the most important “stone”
in the “building of God” or the “church”. Let us never forget
the importance of God's chosen “cornerstone”,
Jesus, who brought to everyone the opportunity to be saved from their
sins and be in a relationship with God.
Next
time Paul shares about “the holy temple of the Lord”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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