God’s New Temple For Us!
"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the
saints and members of the household of
God."
Ephesians 2: 19
Only Jews were allowed on grounds of the temple
(Acts 21:26-28), but Herod’s Temple (the Jerusalem
temple in Jesus’ day) had an outer courtyard where
Gentiles would gather (where the money changers
and merchants set up shop—John 2:14-17).
Apostles Paul and Peter wrote of a new temple,
a spiritual edifice made up of Jews
and Gentiles
alike who were united into one Body through
faith in Christ.
God’s purpose in Christ was abolish the law
which was dividing Jew and Gentile “so as to
create in Himself one new man from the
two,
thus making peace” (Ephesians 2:15).
“Peace” was preached to those far off (Gentiles)
and those who were near (Jews), granting both
“access by one Spirit to the Father” . The whole
building is growing into a
“holy temple in the
Lord” (verses 21-22).
By the grace of God, there is no longer
a distinction between Jew and Gentile—
there is one Lord over all (Romans 10:12;
Galatians 3:28). If you are in Christ, you
are a living stone in His new temple.
"We are one in Christ;
let us be friends with
one another."
Charles Spurgeon
