Building God’s Kingdom

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT)

Good Morning. Prior to verse 19, Paul stated that because of Christ’s death, we all are one in Christ.  I would like to put emphasis on all.  Romans 2:11 says, “For there is no partiality with God.” (NKJV) My daddy is a contractor so I called him because I wanted to know what took place in the construction of a building.  Paul used this analogy as well within this scripture when he said, “Jesus Christ himself is the chief cornerstone.”  I wanted to take it a step further.  Before a contractor starts building, he makes sure the foundation is stable to hold the walls and eventually the top of the building.  In this text, we’re not talking about a physical building.  The Lord is the foundation of this temple in verse 21.  We are the 2x4s, and eventually the bricks and cement that hold everything in place.  As Christians, we are responsible for helping God to continue building upon the foundation that God has already set in place.  How can we do that?  We have to set an example as God has done.  John 13:34 (NKJV) says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  God loves unconditionally, and we should do the same.  No one is perfect, but God.  Also in Colossians 3:13 (NKJV) says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”  When God died on the Christ, he forgave us of our sins; past, present, and future.  We should do the same for our fellow Christians.  Those are just a few to get you started.  Are you helping to build up God’s temple?  Have a Blessed Day!