SAINT PAUL AND EPHESIANS 2:19
*SAINT PAUL AND EPHESIANS 2:19*
19“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
*This question was asked, in relation to the need for sacramental confession*
SO THEN YOU ARE NO LONGER STRANGERS. Alluding to the name (yrkn) , "a stranger", by which the Jews called the Gentiles. It means that they were not now strangers to God, to the grace of God, the love of God, and communion with him; they are not strangers to the throne of his grace; they are not strangers to Christ, to his person, his work and office, to his righteousness, to his voice, and to believing in him; they are not strangers to the Holy Spirit, as an enlightener, a comforter, the spirit of adoption, and as a seal and earnest of future glory; they are not strangers to their own hearts, the corruption and deceitfulness of them; they are not strangers to the devices of Satan; they are not strangers to the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises
AND FOREIGNERS: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, IN THE CHURCH OF GOD; BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS (AND ALIENS, BUT YOU ARE FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS).
The city they belong to is either THE CHURCH BELOW or HEAVEN ABOVE. The Church below is the city of God, of his building, and where he dwells, of which Christ is the foundation, which is strongly fortified with the walls and bulwarks of salvation, is delightfully situated by the river of divine love, and is endowed with various privileges. The heaven above, is a city of God also, and where he has his residence, and which is the habitation of angels and saints; of this city in either sense saints are citizens; such who are saints by separation, who are set apart by the Father's grace, and by attribution, or through Christ's being made sanctification to them, and by the regenerating grace of the blessed Spirit; and these, as they have a right to a name and a place in the church on earth, have also their citizenship in heaven; and which they have not by birth, nor by purchase, but by the free grace of God, which gives them both a right and an association. Paul believes and teaches that Gentiles who believe in Christ have equal grace and privilege with believing Jews:
AND ARE OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD:
The Household of God is called the household of faith, the church of God consisting of believers, the family in heaven and on earth named of Christ; in which family or household God is the Father, Christ is the firstborn, ministers are stewards; and here are saints of various growth and size, some fathers, some young men, some children. All believers belong to this family, whether Gentiles or Jews. These believers do not come into this household by birth, nor by merit, but by adopting grace. People in the household of faith are freed from all servitude and bondage; they can never be arrested, or come into condemnation; they have liberty of access to God, and share in the fulness of grace in Christ; they are well taken care of; they are richly clothed, and have plenty of provisions; and will never be turned out, and are heirs of a never fading inheritance. BUT ONE THING IS IMPORTANT: THEY MUST MAINTAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN THIS WORLD. This is achieved by doing good things, and when we sin against God, we go for sacramental confession to re-establish the convenant.
Ephesians 2:19-22 sum up the two-fold idea of this chapter—union of the Gentiles, with God and with God’s chosen people—in the metaphor of the One Temple, of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone, and which, both collectively and in the individuality of each part, grows into a habitation of God.
Strangers and foreigners.—Here the word rendered “stranger” means properly an alien, or foreigner; while the word translated “foreigners” signifies the resident aliens of an ancient city, who were but half-aliens, having free intercourse with the citizens, although no rights of citizenship. The latter word is used literally in Acts 7:6; Acts 7:29 (there rendered “sojourner”), and often in the LXX (Septuagint) version; perhaps metaphorically in 1Peter 2:11. Such a sojourner, though in some sense less an absolute alien than the mere “stranger,” was one on whom by daily contrast the sense of being an alien, excluded from power and privilege, was more forcibly impressed.
Fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.—In sense this double expression preserves the double idea running through the whole chapter. The phrase “fellow citizens of the saints” is applied to the Gentiles, as now united with the Israel (people of God) in one “commonwealth.” (cf. Ephesians 2:12).
“Members of the household of God” refers rather to the union with God, restored by the blood of Jesus Christ. (cf. Ephesians 2:13.) As to the metaphor, the word “stranger”—that is, alien—seems to be opposed to “fellow citizen”; the word “foreigner”—that is, half-alien—to members of the household: for the resident aliens stood opposed to the “houses,” the families or clans, of the citizens—the unit in ancient law being always the family, and not the individual. The Gentiles were now brought into a “household,” and that household the household of God Himself.
Putting this passage into it’s the larger context (that is, Ephesians 2:19-21), Paul has been telling the Ephesians about what God has done for them. God has blessed them and he has chosen them to be adopted into his family. They have obtained redemption through Jesus’ blood. If that wasn’t enough, Paul says that God has made known to them his will, and has given them an inheritance in the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds the Ephesians that they were once dead in their trespasses and sins. They lived “in the lusts of our flesh” and the natural outcome would have been wrath, but in his mercy, God has raised them from the dead with Christ, and has made them alive.
Paul continues to say that although the Jews and the Gentiles were once separate peoples, even enemies, they are now made into one people by the blood of Christ. The Gentiles have been brought into the fold, and two peoples have been made into one by the cross, creating peace horizontally between the Jews and the Gentiles, and vertically between believers and God.
In light of the fact that God has blessed them; in light of the fact that Christ has made them alive, and in light of the fact that Jews and Gentiles have been made into one people, those who were formerly outsiders are now given equal standing with other believers. Paul uses the imagery of strangers and aliens. “Strangers” connotes isolation and anonymity. Aliens in a foreign country would have no standing, rights, or protection. This is who they were, Paul says, but their identity has changed. They have become “fellow citizens with the saints.” All believers are given equal standing in the kingdom of God. He uses the present tense “you are” to emphasize that this reversal of fortune is immediate and it is permanent. He goes further to say that the Jews and Gentiles they are not just citizens together, but members of God’s household.
In Ephesians 2:20, God’s household is a structure, and his people are the building material. It should be noted that the phrase “having been built” is a passive perfect participle, indicating that the construction of God’s household is not done by the stones, but by God himself. The foundation of God’s household is the apostles and prophets. The job of both apostles and prophets was to proclaim the message of God to people. So we see that not only does God do the building of his household, the foundation is based on the words God gave to his messengers. God’s household is built on God’s Word, made by God’s hands and made of God’s people. One of the CONTENTS OF THE WORD OF GOD IS RECONCILIATION WITH GOD WHENEVER WE SIN AGAINST GOD. This is done through CONFESSION. While we Catholics do Sacramental confession, the Protestants do not see the necessity for sacramental confession.
19“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
*This question was asked, in relation to the need for sacramental confession*
SO THEN YOU ARE NO LONGER STRANGERS. Alluding to the name (yrkn) , "a stranger", by which the Jews called the Gentiles. It means that they were not now strangers to God, to the grace of God, the love of God, and communion with him; they are not strangers to the throne of his grace; they are not strangers to Christ, to his person, his work and office, to his righteousness, to his voice, and to believing in him; they are not strangers to the Holy Spirit, as an enlightener, a comforter, the spirit of adoption, and as a seal and earnest of future glory; they are not strangers to their own hearts, the corruption and deceitfulness of them; they are not strangers to the devices of Satan; they are not strangers to the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises
AND FOREIGNERS: IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, IN THE CHURCH OF GOD; BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS (AND ALIENS, BUT YOU ARE FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS).
The city they belong to is either THE CHURCH BELOW or HEAVEN ABOVE. The Church below is the city of God, of his building, and where he dwells, of which Christ is the foundation, which is strongly fortified with the walls and bulwarks of salvation, is delightfully situated by the river of divine love, and is endowed with various privileges. The heaven above, is a city of God also, and where he has his residence, and which is the habitation of angels and saints; of this city in either sense saints are citizens; such who are saints by separation, who are set apart by the Father's grace, and by attribution, or through Christ's being made sanctification to them, and by the regenerating grace of the blessed Spirit; and these, as they have a right to a name and a place in the church on earth, have also their citizenship in heaven; and which they have not by birth, nor by purchase, but by the free grace of God, which gives them both a right and an association. Paul believes and teaches that Gentiles who believe in Christ have equal grace and privilege with believing Jews:
AND ARE OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD:
The Household of God is called the household of faith, the church of God consisting of believers, the family in heaven and on earth named of Christ; in which family or household God is the Father, Christ is the firstborn, ministers are stewards; and here are saints of various growth and size, some fathers, some young men, some children. All believers belong to this family, whether Gentiles or Jews. These believers do not come into this household by birth, nor by merit, but by adopting grace. People in the household of faith are freed from all servitude and bondage; they can never be arrested, or come into condemnation; they have liberty of access to God, and share in the fulness of grace in Christ; they are well taken care of; they are richly clothed, and have plenty of provisions; and will never be turned out, and are heirs of a never fading inheritance. BUT ONE THING IS IMPORTANT: THEY MUST MAINTAIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN THIS WORLD. This is achieved by doing good things, and when we sin against God, we go for sacramental confession to re-establish the convenant.
Ephesians 2:19-22 sum up the two-fold idea of this chapter—union of the Gentiles, with God and with God’s chosen people—in the metaphor of the One Temple, of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone, and which, both collectively and in the individuality of each part, grows into a habitation of God.
Strangers and foreigners.—Here the word rendered “stranger” means properly an alien, or foreigner; while the word translated “foreigners” signifies the resident aliens of an ancient city, who were but half-aliens, having free intercourse with the citizens, although no rights of citizenship. The latter word is used literally in Acts 7:6; Acts 7:29 (there rendered “sojourner”), and often in the LXX (Septuagint) version; perhaps metaphorically in 1Peter 2:11. Such a sojourner, though in some sense less an absolute alien than the mere “stranger,” was one on whom by daily contrast the sense of being an alien, excluded from power and privilege, was more forcibly impressed.
Fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.—In sense this double expression preserves the double idea running through the whole chapter. The phrase “fellow citizens of the saints” is applied to the Gentiles, as now united with the Israel (people of God) in one “commonwealth.” (cf. Ephesians 2:12).
“Members of the household of God” refers rather to the union with God, restored by the blood of Jesus Christ. (cf. Ephesians 2:13.) As to the metaphor, the word “stranger”—that is, alien—seems to be opposed to “fellow citizen”; the word “foreigner”—that is, half-alien—to members of the household: for the resident aliens stood opposed to the “houses,” the families or clans, of the citizens—the unit in ancient law being always the family, and not the individual. The Gentiles were now brought into a “household,” and that household the household of God Himself.
Putting this passage into it’s the larger context (that is, Ephesians 2:19-21), Paul has been telling the Ephesians about what God has done for them. God has blessed them and he has chosen them to be adopted into his family. They have obtained redemption through Jesus’ blood. If that wasn’t enough, Paul says that God has made known to them his will, and has given them an inheritance in the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds the Ephesians that they were once dead in their trespasses and sins. They lived “in the lusts of our flesh” and the natural outcome would have been wrath, but in his mercy, God has raised them from the dead with Christ, and has made them alive.
Paul continues to say that although the Jews and the Gentiles were once separate peoples, even enemies, they are now made into one people by the blood of Christ. The Gentiles have been brought into the fold, and two peoples have been made into one by the cross, creating peace horizontally between the Jews and the Gentiles, and vertically between believers and God.
In light of the fact that God has blessed them; in light of the fact that Christ has made them alive, and in light of the fact that Jews and Gentiles have been made into one people, those who were formerly outsiders are now given equal standing with other believers. Paul uses the imagery of strangers and aliens. “Strangers” connotes isolation and anonymity. Aliens in a foreign country would have no standing, rights, or protection. This is who they were, Paul says, but their identity has changed. They have become “fellow citizens with the saints.” All believers are given equal standing in the kingdom of God. He uses the present tense “you are” to emphasize that this reversal of fortune is immediate and it is permanent. He goes further to say that the Jews and Gentiles they are not just citizens together, but members of God’s household.
In Ephesians 2:20, God’s household is a structure, and his people are the building material. It should be noted that the phrase “having been built” is a passive perfect participle, indicating that the construction of God’s household is not done by the stones, but by God himself. The foundation of God’s household is the apostles and prophets. The job of both apostles and prophets was to proclaim the message of God to people. So we see that not only does God do the building of his household, the foundation is based on the words God gave to his messengers. God’s household is built on God’s Word, made by God’s hands and made of God’s people. One of the CONTENTS OF THE WORD OF GOD IS RECONCILIATION WITH GOD WHENEVER WE SIN AGAINST GOD. This is done through CONFESSION. While we Catholics do Sacramental confession, the Protestants do not see the necessity for sacramental confession.
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