“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2.19-22
In my house, I have a capstone in the living room. We have three. They are just for decoration but I often look at them and wonder how they stay in place. The capstone is the stone at the top of a arch, these are limestone blocks set in place, one against another. When I think of a cornerstore I see a similarity in the building necessity. Without the cornerstone, the whole house would be out of wack, not straight and out of alignment.
In this passage, Paul talks about Jesus as the cornerstone. He uses this metaphor by implying that with Christ, the whole of the “foundation of apostles and prophets” were built. Without Jesus, everything falls apart. But with Christ, “the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.”
Paul then says that we are a part of this. We are “being built together to become a dwelling place in which God lives by his Spirit.” What wonderful news! And, what a new concept. Before Jesus, people had selective fillings by the Holy Spirit of God. Meaning there were certain times and occasions when God would put within people his Spirit to accomplish a particular purpose or task. But now, we have his enduring and indwelling presence. Those who trust Christ have the Spirit with them always.
Now if you are like me, you sometime nurture that more than at other times. Sometimes we really clue in to who God is and what God wants and we “feel” his closeness. I have Revive Youth Camp coming up in a few weeks and you better believe that I will “feel” his presence. We will be focused on the Lord and the Spirit will be freely moving among us (revivetexas.org).
When Jesus become our Messiah and Lord, he becomes our cornerstone. We, as Paul writes, become that dwelling place, built together, where God’s Spirit dwells. It’s not only a temporary dwelling but a permanent residence where God sets up camp. He comes in and does not leave. Although we may quench the Spirit or even deny that he is with us, God’s Spirit remains pursuing us back into a right relationship with him.
What good news! God is with us. Let’s open up our hearts to Christ so that his light might shine on us.
“O Lord God, you are good. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for your power and grace among your people. Come now, Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me. Help me know the truth of your Spirit and the grace that you offer. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen