THE KING’S BUSINESS
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sisted o f the apostles and prophets, not the Old Testament prophets, but the New Testament prophets (cf. ch. 3 :5 ; 4:11), i. e., the apostles and prophets were the first .’stones laid, but “ Christ Jesus Himself” was “ the chief corner stone” (cf. 1 Peter 2:6; Isa. 28:16), i. e., the great stone at the cor ner in which the sides came together, in which they were imbedded and on which they rested. Indeed, the Lord Jesus in the ultimate analysis is Himself the founda tion (1 Cor. 3:11). In Christ’ “all the building” (or each several building, if we take this rendering o f the Revised Version : the thought is o f a multiplicity o f struc tures, porches, courts, towers in the build ing) is “fitly framed together” (cf. ch. 4:16), i. e., Jesus Christ holds the building together, gives it integrity, unity, cohe sion. Thus being more and more fitly joined together in Christ, the building groweth (by the addition o f new members and the perfecting o f those already mem bers) into a holy temple (rather, “sanctu ary;” not merely the whole temple area; but the temple house, the place where God was peculiarly manifested) in the Lord.” The temple is not yet perfect, the building is growing into the temple. In a sense the body o f believers is already the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16), and even the individual believer’s body is a temple o f the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), but this temple is as yet a very imperfect thing, but it is grow ing into a perfect sanctuary, and when per fected this sanctuary shall reflect fully the . glory of Him who dwells therein. All this growth is “ in the Lord” Jesus, in vital union with Him. Sunday, July 7 . Eph. 2 : 22 . “In whom (i. e., in Christ),” Paul con tinues, “ye also are builded together for (more literally, into) a habitation o f God in the Spirit.” The word translated “habi tation” is a very strong word, meaning per manent dwelling place. The church into which the Ephesians were being built will be the eternal dwelling place o f God. The building o f this eternal abode o f God is all done “ in the Spirit,” i. e., by the Holy
not the ultimate one to whom we go, “the Father” (i. e., His Father and ours—John 20:17) is the ultimate one to whom we go (c f. Heb. 7:25). Our approach to the Father, while through Christ, on the ground o f the atoning blood, is “in the Spirit,” i. e., in the Spirit’s power and under the Spirit’s guidance (cf. Jude 20, R. V .; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 3:3, R. V .). Note well in this verse our relations to and dependence upon each one o f the three persons o f the Trinity: our access, or introduction, is to the Father; it is through the Son; it is in the Holy Spirit. The “ one Spirit” in whom we approach God leads necessarily to the “one ness” o f believers (cf. v. 16; ch. 4:3). This eighteenth verse rules out all the priestly claims o f those who would stand between the individual believer and frod. Each indi vidual believer has access for himself through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, unto the Father. Hallelujah! Saturday, July 6 . Eph. 2 : 19 - 21 . Paul now comes to the conclusion o f the whole matter, what the Gentile believers are now become as contrasted with what they aforetime were. “ So then,” contin ues Paul, “ye are no more (better, no longer) strangers (as they had been hith erto—cf. v. 12), iand sojourners.”. The word translated “ sojourners” means unnatural ized foreigners liable to removal at any moment. ~Gentile .Christians were not merely tolerated sojourners, they were full citizens, with every right o f citizenship, heirs to everything (cf. Gal. 3:29). “ But,” Paul continues, “ye are “fellow-citizens (Phil. 3 :20, R. V .) with the saints (the saints o f God, i. e., all men set apart from the world to be members o f the body of Christ, all true believers in Christ), and o f the household o f God” (i. e., members o f the family—cf. Rom. 8:16, 17; Gal. 4:6). “ In Christ” the Gentile believer, once afar off, is at least at home in God’s family. Now Paul turns to another figure, and a wonderful one (v. 20). The Ephesian believers had been built into a house, a tem ple (cf. 1 Peter 2 :4, 5, R. V .; 1 Cor. 3 :9, 10). The foundation o f the temple con-
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