The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 88

Goo., not in Rome, but- in heaven. Therefore it is an indestructible buildincr. Jesus Christ is called "the chief Corner-stone," which has its true supporting-pla~e in the foundstion. because it is the binding-stone of the building, holding two walls because it is built into both. Perhaps there is a. reference to the union of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, who ha.s made both one, and thus builds the whole number of believers into the glorious temple, and bears the weight of the whole structure. lL IT IS FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER. It is not a mere heap or mass of heterogeneous materials. 1. The materials must be prepared for their place in the building .so as to promote its unity and compactness. All the members of the Church must first be joined to Christ as the Foundation, and then cemented to one another by love. Thus their unity gives beauty as well as strength to the structure. " Happy, indeed, the stones that God chooses to be living stones in this spiritual temple; though they be hammered and hewed to be polished for it by afflictions and the inward work of mortification and repentance." 2. The members are to have each their proper place in the building. Thus only can it become a compact structure, Some have a. higher, some a. lower place; some are appointed to teach, others to be taught; some to lead, others to be led ; some to counsel, some to execute ; but all the stones are to keep their due place, and thus grow up into a holy temple, "edifying itself in love" (eh. iv. 16). The Lord requires stones of all sorts and sizes, the smallest as well as the la1:-!est, for his temple; and it ought to reconcile us to our respective positions, that it is the Lord"s own hand which not only :fits us into our place, but keeps us there. Ill. IT IS IllPERFECT BUT STILL GROWING. " It groweth into an holy temple." It is growing by the accession of new stones, or by the addition of new members, and by the addition of new graces in the individual members. Provision is made for a. vast increase in its size and height, but as it is fitly framed together in its growing dimensions, it will lose nothing in symmetry and strength by its continuous elevation. IV. THE n"D o& DESIGN OF THE llUILDING. "For a habitation of God." When we build houses, it is that men may dwell in them. Thus the Church is the temple of God. " Know ye not that ye a.re the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor. iii. 16). "I will dwell in them, and walk in them" (2 Cor. vi. 16). Thns "we will be filled with all the fulness of God" (eh. iii. 19). Thus we have the true temple of the Father, built in the Son, inhabited in the Spirit, the offices of the three blessed Persons being distinctly pointed out: God the Father in all his fulness dwells in, :fills the Church; that Church is conslituted to him a holy temple in the Son; is inhabited by him in the ever-present indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I'B.A.CTICAL LEBSONB. 1. Think of the safety and glory of the church. Christ is its Foundation. All the stones a.re knit to the Comer-stone. It is well proportioned, because the Holy Spirit is the Architect; it is vast in its proportions, for it is spread over the earth ; and it is inviolable, for it is devoted to the Lord. 2. Think of God dwelling in the Cbnrch. The Christian is an epitome of the Church. He is himself a temple of the Holy Ghost. (1) What condescension in God to dwell in human he.arts! "It is a marvel that the habitation he has chosen for himself is e.n impure one." (2) What a fearful thing it would be to be in collision with such a God I (3) How careful. we ought to be not to defile this temple I We ought to live purer lives, to breathe a sweeter air, to open our hearts to all that is heavenly. . (4) W~t an awful thought, that the holy God dwells in our unholy hearts, watchlilg us 10 our secret moments, and reading our very thoughts! (5) Yet let us remember with gratitude and love that "the high and lofty One who inhabiteth eternity, whose r..a_~e 1s Holy," selects his dwelling-place "with him that is of a contrite and humble spmt. -T. C. Veni. 1-7,-The re8f/,N'ection and ascension of the soul. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians was, a.s we have seen, that they might ~pprecia~e the mighty power of. God to us-ward who believe. This power was first marufested 10 the person and expenence of Chri,-t in rai1iing him from the dead, in exalting him to the Father's right hand, in putting all things under his feet, and in constituting him Head of his Church. We are now to notice a parallel experience of power in the case of the believer. L CoYBIDEB THE BEBUBBECTIOII OF TRE SOUL. (Vere. 1-5.) In these verses the Olt. IL 1-22.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 85