Tuesday, July 18, 2023
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
The Body of Christ - The Family of God
When I was little girl, in church every Sunday, we always sang this song – The Family of God. The song talked about how good it is to be a part of the family of God – washed in the fountain, cleansed by the blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod…We are all in the same family, traveling this road together. It is a fond memory now, but at the time I loved that we were singing a song about all being in one family – the very best family. Even as a child growing up in a very dysfunctional home, I treasured the value of the family of God.
In the passage above, Paul was talking to Christians with a Gentile background. They had been thought of as second-class citizens. They were not a part of God’s chosen people, Israel, and were excluded from His covenant promises. Paul used words like aliens, separated, and strangers when taking about Gentiles. But now, as children of God, they were equal to their Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. At the foot of the cross we are all equal. God sees us all the same. Not only are we all the same, but we are all members of the same household. We are all in the same family – the family of God!
Being one body and in the same family, we share a foundation of faith that was built by the apostles and prophets that came before us. Jesus is the cornerstone. The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building. It binds the other stones together and the stability of the building is dependent on it. That is exactly what Jesus is for the body of Christ. He is the cornerstone that binds us all together in Him and The Holy Spirit is the cement. Though there are many things that can divide us, salvation binds us together. We share the same problem – sin, but we also share the same solution in Jesus and the same hope in His resurrection.
This passage is summed up with the ultimate example in Christian unity- the family of God. It may not be the perfect family (because it doesn’t exist!) but it will be the closest we will ever get. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has brought us into His family, made us citizens instead of trespassing aliens. He has brought us together into one household, with Himself as the cornerstone. With Jesus’ death and our salvation, He has brought us into a covenant that will never be broken. We are one with Christ – all of us. The body of Christ is made up of all the parts (us) working together to worship and serve Him. Regardless of our past mistakes and sins, God forgives, restores, and brings us all together in Him as a new family both here on earth and in eternity.
Every church I have been a part of has been a family to me and I am so thankful for the family of North Side Baptist Church. Being a part of the family of God is the greatest privilege and gift we will ever receive. There is absolutely nothing we could ever do to earn this gift of love, mercy, and grace. Many days we prove how unworthy we are in our own eyes, yet He still calls us His sons and daughters.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:14-17
