A Note from our Pastor:

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:22

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

If you have not read the writings on verses 20 and 21 I encourage you to go back and read those before you read this writing. The context is important.

As the Apostle concludes this particular thought, he leaves us with something important to consider. While we could take the view that this writing was only in the present tense for those at Ephesus, we understand that scripture has been preserved because it is relevant and beneficial for each generation that reads it. Therefore, if the verse was present tense for those at Ephesus, it is also present tense for us today.

The Apostle here says, ye also are builded together. In other words, we are being told that presently we as believers are being made into the holy temple in which God will take up his place. That the work is current and we are part of that spiritual structure.

So does that mean that the temple has never been complete and God has never taken up his place?

Yes and No. God abides with his children even as we continue to build the temple. The evidence is clearly present to see that in times past God has blessed his people, has blessed the visible church, and as such we believe that God was dwelling with them. While this spiritual temple is always being built, there is a sense that generations before have completed their work on building the temple.

However, we cannot say that the temple is forever complete. It is not a situation in which the saints of old adequately served God and built the temple and we get to just enjoy their work. The work of building the temple as an abode of God is something that each generation must take on actively.

So what does building that temple look like?

That work takes a variety of forms. Clearly, it is reading scripture, singing hymns, offering prayer, listening to preaching, and generally growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. It also takes the form of actively praising God. Whether that be through prayers of thanksgiving, singing hymns of praise, sharing your testimony with others, or attempting to show God’s love to those around you part of building the temple is giving praise to God. Another act of building the temple is service. We must dedicate our lives in service to God but also to our brothers and sisters in the church and our neighbors in this life. When we actively learn about God, we actively praise God, and we actively serve God we are able to build the spiritual temple.

Let us remember that the building of the temple is a work that falls to each generation to perform and let us be actively about our work.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah