The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 87

equality with all the other members, as to privilege, protection, and government. They are thus brought into relation, not with the Jews either of the present or the past, but with saints of e.11 dispensations e.nd all times; for the Church of God which Jesus II purchased with his own blood" does not date from the da.y of Pentecost, but covers the whole period of human history since the beginning of time. The e.broga.tivn of old theocratic distinctions leaves a new community in which" there is neither Jew nor Greek, circumcision nor uncircumcision." III. THE HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP HAS IMPORTANT ETfilCAL BEARINGS. Those whose "citizenship is in heaven" are not to "mind earthly things" (Phil. iii. 20), but to think of the Saviour who is to be revealed with transforming power in the final resurrection. The laws of heaven are to be our guide on earth. Our calling is, therefore, a "high calling."-T. C. Ver. 19.-The Church a family. The Gentiles were no longer mere inmates of the family without domestic rights, like the guests of the priests in ancient times (Lev. xxii. 10), but "members of the household of God." I. THE CHURCH IS OFTEN LIKEJ,,"'ED TO A FAMILY OB BOUSE, which is a much more intimate brotherhood than the city with all its preciollll franchises. The Church, which is the pillar and ground of the truth, is the house of God (1 Tim. iii. 15); we are Christ's house (Heb. iii. 6), and it is at this house of God that judgrnent often begins in the dispensations of Divine providenc!) (1 Pet. iv. 17). 'l'his is the house of which Moses was a servant (Heb. iii. 5); therefore it was in existence before Pentecost. This is the true "household of faith" (Gal. vi. 5). 1. It has God for a Father. This relation is more tender than that of a civil ruler. .And therefore we are more than fellow-citizens of the saints; we are children of God by faith in Chri~t Jesus (Gal. iii. 26). 2. Christ is the Firstborn and elder Brother, "a. brother born for adversity," allied to us by the dee.rest ties of sacrifice and sympathy. 3. It is a large family, for it includes "the whole family in heaven and in earth" (eh. iii. 15) -saints old and young, of all lands, of all times. 4. We enter this family, not by birth, but by adopting grace. 5. It is a. separated family, its members divided by time and space, opinion and feeling; but all the members will be at last brought home to " the house of many mansions,'' the "holy place not made with hands," which our Saviour he.s gone before to prepare. II. TIIE GENTILES ABE NO LONGER SOJOUBNEBB, BUT MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSEHOLD OF Goo. They are not like guests; abiding for a. time, but eventually going forth again. The blessing of .Abraham "having come upon the Gentiles" (Gal. iii. 14), they have been born ago.in; they have become children of God by faith (Go.I. iii. 26); they have become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; they arc "clothed with the beautiful garments of salvation; " they shall go no more out, for they have received an eternal inheritance. III. THIS POSITION OF PRIVILEGE ought to make us jealous of our Father's honour, mindful of our Father's guidance, loving in all our relations to the members of the great household, and studiously careful to promote its harmony and prosperity.-T. C. Vers. 21, 22.-The Church a holy temple. It is elsewhere co.lied" a spiritual house," composed of "living stones," built upon him who is a living Stone laid in Zion, elect, precious, though rejected of men (1 Pet. ii. 4, 5). Each believer is n. living stone, dug out of the quarry of nature, hewn by the Word and ministry, la.id in the foun- dation, and built into the heavenly structure. The Church is God's building, not man's. There are four things observable in the apostle's account of this blessed structure. I. IT HAS A 0000 FOUNDATION. Built on the foundation of "apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone." It is built on the foundation that apostles and prophets laid, namely, on Jesus Christ himself, who is at once Foundation and Corner-stone: "Other foundation can no man lay than thnt is laid, which is Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. iii. 11). 'l'his we.s the Foundation which the apostle was always laying: "I have laid tho foundation, and another buildeth thereon" (I Cor. iii. 10). But it was God himself who bid this stone in Zion : "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief Corncr- stono, elect, precious" (1 Pet. ii. G). Thu foundation is not, therefore, in runn, but iu  THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS, [ou. n. 1-22,