Eph 2:17–22 — The Spiritual Temple

Let’s get a bird’s eye point of view of the paragraph:

Verses 11-13: our former alienation from the covenant people of God. Verses 14-16: the means by which we were reconciled into one body.

“He himself is our peace” forms a title to the section (v. 14a). It is followed by a “who” clause fleshing out what it means that he is our peace:

“who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (v. 14b) Verse 15a then answers the question:

How did he make the two one and destroy the barrier?

“By abolishing in his flesh the Law with its commandments and regulations” This then is followed by a twofold purpose statement:

Christ’s purpose was …

First, “to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace” 15b). And, second, “in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (v. 16) Verses 17-22: the result of Christ’s work. The work of Christ in establishing peace through his cross has now been announced by means of the preaching of the Gospel Christ came and “preached peace” to both Jews (the near ones) and Gentiles (the far off ones) (v. 17) Verses 19-22 then wrap it up with the result of this reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles in the one trans-national body of Christ - the erection of a spiritual temple founded on Christ the cornerstone. Therefore, the paragraph begins with our former status as aliens (vv. 11-13) and concludes with the reversal of our status in Christ (vv. 17-22) In between these two sections is the middle section (vv. 14-16) which focuses our attention upon the means by which this reversal was effected, namely, the abolition of the Law by means of Christ’s death. This morning we are going to look at the third section - vv. 17-22. The theme is the spiritual temple that is being built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. The passage reveals 5 characteristics of this spiritual temple:

Its Gospel Origin: the preaching of the gospel of peace. Its Living Members: this temple is not made of physical materials but of the redeemed. Its Christological Foundation: the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Its Organic Growth: by means of the fellowship of the body, mutual edification, and the means of grace. Its Eschatological Goal: to be the eternal dwelling place of God.

(1) Its Gospel Origin: the preaching of the gospel of peace (vv. 17-18)

Verse 17

“He came and preached peace” The word “preached” should be translated “proclaimed the gospel” He came and proclaimed the gospel of peace or the good news of peace When did Christ come and preach peace?

Christ himself is the evangelist the herald of the good tidings of peace. But he preaches through the apostles and those servants whom he continues to raise up in every generation as faithful preachers of the gospel In Romans Paul applies Isaiah 52:7 to himself and the apostles Rom. 10:14-17.

Verse 18

Since both Gentiles and Jews have access to the Father it follows that the same message of peace must be proclaimed by Christ to both groups “Access” Conjures up a very specific scene of an ancient near east king who grants an audience to someone who is presented to him. It may also refer to the OT concept of being given access to the sanctuary if one comes with the proper sacrifice and in the proper state of ritual purity In Christ, the old cultic ideas of access to God are done away. There is no one earthly locale or temple to which one must come in order to have access to God’s holy presence Micah 4:1-2 has been replaced by John 4:20-24 Paul interprets his mission to the Gentiles as the fulfillment of the OT promises that in the eschatological age God would bring all the nations to Mount Zion to worship the Lord “Access in one Spirit to the Father” Adoption as sons Through the Spirit who dwells inside all believers. There is only one Spirit.

(2) Its Living Members: this temple is not made of physical materials but of the redeemed (v. 19)

Verse 19

Paul reaches back to v. 12 to describe the wondrous shift that has taken place from being outsiders to full members of God’s kingdom Paul mingles two metaphors here in his description of our new status in the body of Christ images taken from the political and the familial realms “fellow citizens” (political) and “members of God’s household” (familial). Both focus on the fact that we are “in” not “out” We are included not excluded. We belong to a transcendent political kingdom - the kingdom of heaven. We belong to the family of God. Notice that Paul views the spiritual temple not as a place or a thing but as an organism composed of the redeemed 1 Peter 2:5 - living stones.

(3) Its Christological Foundation: the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone (v. 20)

Verse 20

“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” Foundation image Points to the unrepeatable, once-for-all nature of the work of the apostles and prophets 1 Cor. 3:10-11 - Paul is a wise masterbuilder everyone else is building on the foundation. The prophets in view here are the New Testament prophets mentioned in 1 Cor. 14. Not the OT prophets Proof: Eph. 3:4-6 4:11 “some apostles, some prophets” To assert that the Gentile believers are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets is to state that their membership in God’s people rests on the authoritative teaching delivered to the church through the apostles. The apostles and NT prophets laid the foundation by their authoritative teaching ministry. This is a solid argument against continuation of word gifts that were commonly exercised in the church while the apostles were still alive and before the close of the canon of Scripture “Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone” Building practice of laying the cornerstone first. This stone would determine the shape and orientation of the rest of the building. The walls would be set in line with the cornerstone which established the basic setting to which all the other stones must conform Christ is the vital cornerstone on whom the whole building is constructed. The position of all the other stones in the superstructure is determined by Christ As new stones and walls and structures are gradually added the building grows out from him along the line and pattern which he has established once for all. The founding revelation given in Christ is merely being elaborated upon by the apostles and those who come after them to continue their work. All must be built on Christ, supported by Christ, conformed to Christ.

(4) Its Organic Growth: by means of the fellowship of the body, mutual edification, and the means of grace (vv. 21-22)

Verses 21-22

Mixture of construction and organic metaphors “being joined together” (construction) “growing” (organic) “Being joined together” Doesn’t just refer to the fact that each believer is joined in a communion and fellowship with other believers That is true, but the reason we are joined together is because of the foundation we share in common. The ecumenical movement misses this central point There can only be unity among Christians if we agree on the foundation, which is Christ. There can be no unity between those who both claim the name of Christ but who have radically different conceptions of who he is and what he came to do. But among those who confess that Jesus is Lord the eternal Son of God who took our complete manhood into personal union with himself in order to accomplish our redemption through his blood …

there can and ought to be unity in the Spirit regardless of our differences on the non-essentials “being fitted together and growing” The building is still under construction and progressing toward the eschatological unveiling of Rev. 21.

(5) Its Eschatological Goal: to be the eternal dwelling place of God (v. 22b)

What is the temple?

Obviously it is the church, but the church in what sense?

The universal visible church?

The invisible church?

It is best to see it as a heavenly entity that now exists in the heavenly places in Christ but which is manifested in earthly form wherever and whenever the church meets in worship. The book of Revelation provides a helpful picture:

At the very beginning of the book we see the church in Rev. 1-3 as a heavenly reality. We behold the exalted Christ walking among the 7 golden lampstands, evaluating his church and calling her to greater faithfulness.

At the end of the book, this same Lord and Head of the Church brings the church to the perfection of eschatological glory. We behold in Rev. 21 the New Jerusalem, radiant with divine glory, coming down out of heaven as a bride prepared for her husband Jesus Christ.

That is what Paul is talking about.

In fact, when you take Eph. 2 and combine it with Rev. 21 you have a complete NT commentary on Ezekiel’s vision of the eschatological temple. The church of Jesus Christ is currently in heaven being prepared.

The heavenly church certainly has visible manifestations here on earth whenever God’s people gather together for worship. But in its fullness, the church is an unseen, invisible reality in the heavenly places in Christ.

At the end of history, the church in her full glory will be revealed, as a gift of heaven.

Like a metamorphosis from a caterpillar into a butterfly:

The church is now hidden in the cocoon of heaven, hidden with Christ in God in the heavenly places.

Jesus is perfecting and sanctifying and preparing her for his wedding day. What you see now when you look at the visible church is not what she will be.

But at the last day, the day of resurrection, the church will emerge in an apocalyptic metamorphosis-event as the eternal dwelling place of God.

She will be presented to Jesus Christ as a perfect Bride, radiant with the glory of her Bridegroom, completely free from any spot or wrinkle.

And what will be the eternal function of that heavenly temple?

“To be the dwelling place of God in the Spirit” God’s desire from the very beginning, at creation, was to dwell with his creatures in union and communion That desire was frustrated but not negated by the fall. Now in the church that desire is in the process of being brought to fruition.

Application

Jesus Christ is the greater Solomon From his exalted position as King in heaven he is engaged in a massive building project. He is building his church the work isn’t finished yet but it will be unveiled at the coming of Christ Preaching of the gospel Gathering the elect into the visible church for worship, fellowship, mutual edification, and spiritual growth. The means of grace are not something WE do. They are the construction activity of the heavenly temple-builder. We have a part to play in this and we must be careful how we build 1 Cor. 3:10ff. The attributes of the church evangelical - calling more Gentiles into the body founded upon Christ - He sets the direction for everything mutual love, edification, fellowship characterized by a Godward focus on worship experiencing now what we will be doing forever in heaven (Rev. 5:11-12) Consider what is going on in worship. It is more than meets the eye. We are gathering with all the church before the throne of God in heaven to worship God through Christ - access According to Hebrews 12:22-24 the church participates in the heavenly assembly gathered at the throne of God with a myriad of angels praising the Lord. This has major implications for the current debates over worship styles. The issue isn’t entertainment or therapy (man-centered). It is being a holy temple for God to dwell among us (God-centered). The church’s earthly worship now is preparation for her heavenly worship in eternity!

Therefore, our worship ought to imitate, however failingly and haltingly, the God-centered glory and bliss of our worship in heaven. And what is that? Rev. 5:11-12.