In this lesson we look at the fourth C in Ephesians chapter two, namely the Church. We focus on the four aspects of the church which Paul mentions in the chapter. We might call these "snapshots" of the church which picture it from different viewpoints. These perspectives help us to understand the importance of the church, the blessings of membership in it, and why it is one of the five priceless things. We should treasure the church, and ensure that not only do we gain membership in it, but that we hold on to it at all cost.

"...in one body...
and of God’s household" (Eph 2:16,19).

The Church in Ephesians

The church of Christ is an important topic in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Just before we move into our four points in Ephesians chapter two, just notice quickly some of the things Paul teaches us about the church in his letter to the Ephesians generally.

• The church is the body and fulness of Christ, and he is the supreme head of the church (Eph 1:20-23)
• The church is the commonwealth of Israel, the one body, the household of God, and God's holy temple (Eph 2:12-22)
• The church grows up in the truth and in the love of Christ (Eph 4:1-16)
• Christ loved the church as his bride, and gave himself up for her (Eph 5:21-33)

Now let's focus on the church in Ephesians chapter two.

Children Of Obedience In God’s Household

"...You formerly walked according to the course of this world... the sons of disobedience... children of wrath... But God... made us alive together with Christ... you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household" (Eph 2:2-6,19).

In the beginning of the chapter, Paul outlines the problem which all human beings have, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. (The Jews are the "we" in Ephesians 2, and the Gentiles are the "you").

The world is in the sway of the evil one, "the prince of the power of the air". People have become "the sons of disobedience... children of wrath" (Eph 2:1-3 1Jn 5:19).

This is certainly not the will of God, and God did something about it --something marvelous-- through Jesus Christ his Son who was put to death upon the cross. This makes it possible for everyone to come back to being children of obedience like God intended from the beginning (Eph 2:10,13).

Therefore, instead of being children of disobedience and wrath, alienated from God, we can become the sanctified children of God's household and family, the church (Eph 2:19, 1Tm 3:15). The marvelous about being in God's household, is that we are entitled to an inheritance which Paul describes as "the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Eph 1:18-19).

Citizens Of The Heavenly Commonwealth Of Israel

"You were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel... yet you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens..." (Eph 2:12,19).

Paul gives us a second picture of the church. It is a nation, the new "commonwealth of Israel", and we have citizenship in it. As Australians we treasure our citizenship. So do citizens of other countries treasure theirs. Citizenship not only gives us the right to reside in our country, but it confers many privileges. As members of the church we have an even greater citizenship by far. "For our citizenship is in heaven" (Php 3:20). We'll look into this aspect more deeply in our next lesson.

Members In The One Body Of Christ

"That in himself he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, and so put to death the enmity..." (Eph 2:16).

The third picture of the church in Ephesians 2 (and the most common in Paul's writings) is that of "the one body" of Christ. We have become the members and parts of that body (Eph 4:16,25 Eph 5:30). Christ is the head (Eph 1:22-23).

Perhaps the body metaphor is more than just a very good picture for helping us understand the purpose of the church and how it relates to Christ. We should probably connect this picture of the church with the fact that Jesus sacrificed his fleshly body and thereby "purchased the church" (Eph 5:25 Acts 20:28 1Pe 2:24) . Without his body on the cross, there could be no body of the church. For by the sacrifice of his fleshly body, he became "the Saviour of the body... the church" (Eph 5:23-24).

The Unity of the Body

Our study chapter (Ephesians 2) only mentions the church-body once, and we have been looking outside that chapter at other references in Ephesians. However the reference in our study chapter is to "one body" (Eph 2:16) and this oneness or unity is most important. This "one body" is later listed among the seven ones expressing "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph 4:4).

The body metaphor is very appropriate to the unity of the church, because we cannot imagine a head with many bodies any more than we can imagine a body with many heads. There is one head, and there is one body. This is one of the compelling facts that makes us believe that the church must be undenominational.

Living Stones In The Holy Temple Of God

"...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the entire building joins together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:20-22).

The fourth picture of the church in Ephesians 2 is that of "a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling of God in the Spirit" . Note some important things...

• The holy temple is in the Lord, and the Lord is in his holy temple.
• Jesus himself is the corner stone of the foundation.
• The temple is not yet finished; it is still being built, and growing all the time.
• This is a temple fitted together in a precise way. God has a pattern for it, and it won't be the true temple unless it is fitted together according to that pattern or blueprint.

At certain points in history, there has been great store placed upon building ornate cathredrals to the glory of God. However much we admire these buildings, we must wonder whether such buildings are appropriate for Christianity. The building that truly glorifies God is the heavenly one Jesus referred to when he said, "I will build my church" (Mtt 16:18) .

In past ages the temple in Jerusalem was a beautiful and glorious building. Solomon's glory was reflected in the temple he built to the glory of God. But Solomon's temple was destroyed. In the time of Christ the brand new Temple built by Herod was very beautiful. It was destroyed about 40 years later. The true temple of God is the church. "For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one. He entered heaven itself... a minister in the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, not man" (Heb 9:24, 8:1-2). Now and forever more, the temple of God is a spiritual and heavenly building, and "to him the glory in the church" is the only glory here below that's worth anything to God (Eph 3:21).

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