26. The House of God

Covering Ephesians 2:

Ephesians Chapter 1 has finally taken its rightful place in our knowing of the Gospel. More than that, Paul’s prayer for all believers in Jesus, in verses 17-21, is more than profound. I did not see its full meaning until after finishing the last lesson. Let me paraphrase.

“I PRAY that the Apocalypse would happen to YOU, that the cover would be removed from your eyes, that you would SEE Jesus in all energeoing might and with all authority over all creation, coming through you in POWER right now into His Church.” This prayer comes out from the Pro-Thesis, from the Good Pleasure of God’s Desire, and its focus and fulfillment is coming at the end of Chapter 2, “Being built together as a dwelling place of God.”

Stewardship and Image. Something else has become very real to us out from Ephesians 1, and that is our stewardship, which is a stewardship, not over the Church, nor over creation, but a stewardship over God’s final season of opportunity. We will expand on that meaning in our study of Ephesians 4, which, in coming out from the ruling verses of his “Christ our Life” letters in Ephesians 2 & 3, Paul will now make it his primary focus from Ephesians 4 to the end of 2 Timothy.

The Gospel Comments for Chapter 2, “The House of God,” begin with a mighty summation of all that has come before, including a clear description of God’s entire purpose for humans – to be His image forever. And that is another wondrous thing coming out from Ephesians 1, a fuller understanding of image and glory.

God Proves Grace through Us. (Chapter 2) • 4 But God, being abundant and overflowing inside of mercy through His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in offenses and falling short, made us alive together, sharing together as believers the same life with Christ (by grace, God’s presence with you, you are saved), • 6 and raised us up together, sharing together the same awakening, and seated us together, sharing together as believers, being seated in the heavenly realms inside of Christ Jesus, • 7 that He might show forth and prove in the presently coming ages the surpassing riches and abundance of His grace, in goodness upon us inside of Christ Jesus.

I define “the presently coming ages” very differently now. I define it as the very next moment, the very next step, for there is no “age to come” except this moment becoming the next.

All Wealth and Abundance. ~ Covenant, then, is always where we stand right now, and Kingdom is always the very next step we take. ~ And I don’t think there is any more important way for us to place those two together than this I have just expressed.

God’s PURPOSE, then, is to PROVE, to demonstrate to all, the full meaning and expression of Grace, of God-Life that is Given. And He intends to do that through absolute GOODNESS placed upon our life together as the Church. This Grace is all WEALTH and all ABUNDANCE, and this GOODNESS is inside of Christ Jesus. Grace, giving, is the generation of all that is needed, all provision coming to all. The “Lamb” is the giving that is God, proven faithful and True through our love for one another.

Through Our Shared Life Together. Ruling Verse 5: It would not be surprising to discover that Paul repeats the meaning of Galatians 2:20 in every way he can say it, more often than any other Gospel Truth.

Ruling Verse 6: Jesus carried us inside Himself all the way into all that He is right now. Ephesians 2:6 places us with Jesus inside of God and inside of His throne (see Revelation 12:5). Jesus shares all authority with us together.

The Form for God through Jesus: Sym, sym, sym – Together, together, together – God’s Form is Life shared together.

Kingdom: Covenant is always where we stand right now, and Kingdom is always the very next step we take. And in every step forever, God’s purpose is to show to all creation His Grace and His Goodness through our shared life together.

Saved by Grace through Faith. • 8 For by grace you are saved, through faith; and this not of yourselves, rather, it is the gift of God [Himself], 9 not out from works or human performance, so that no one can boast [in themselves]. • 10 We are indeed His workmanship, His poem, having been formed inside of Christ Jesus for good works prepared out from God, out from His pro-knowing, that we should walk inside of them.

The full definitions of (1) grace, (2) saved, and (3) faith are found in Ephesians 1, but as expansions of Romans 8:28-30. In contrast, the definitions we once knew are found in Genesis 3, the rebellion and wickedness of Adam. Let’s give the old first. – For by placing unworthiness upon yourself and not Jesus, you continue hating the way God made you, putting off “salvation” to someday and faraway, through holding the right ticket, the hope of ascendancy and superiority.

Defining the Basics. Here are the same words out from Chapter 1.

Definition: ~ Defining “By grace you are saved through faith” out from Ephesians 1. ~ For by Christ Jesus energeoing all, the giving of God Himself into you, you are made just like the Lord Jesus Christ inside your presently dying body, through the continual speaking of God into you and you back to God in return, the confident assertion that your humanity is what God looks like, God as He wishes, His praise and glory.

Wow. “By grace you are saved through faith” is actually a description of the Ekenosis, coming soon into this study. Saved, that is, being made just like Jesus, is three vital things, all working together. First, we know the Father as Jesus knows the Father; second, we love one another as Jesus loves us; and third, those who see us, as we are, see the Father.

From Grace to Glory. Definition: Grace is knowing the Father as Jesus knows the Father; loving one another is the heart of Salvation, the place where God is at Home; and acknowledging, in our humanity, that we are the image of God, is the ongoing action of Faith.

Then we have “good works out from God” as our every next step. This is simply a description of the Life we share with God, every next moment, every next step, a Life that is Grace, a Life that is Salvation, a Life that is Faith. “Workmanship” is another word for Glory, God’s greatest achievement.

Life: Life is every next step we take with God. Our works can be good only as they are flowing out from a shared life with God in the confidence of our faith. We are the Father’s workmanship. Making us like Jesus, that we would love one another, is His great achievement, that is, His Glory.

One New Man. • 13 Now, however, inside of Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have become near inside of the blood of Christ. • 14 For He Himself is our peace, having made both Judeans and the ethnic families one, 15 and having dissolved the wall of division or separation, having annulled, abolished, done away with, caused to cease in His own flesh the hostility of the law of commandments publicly decreed, that from the two [Judeans and ethnic peoples] He might create inside Himself one new man, making peace.

The hostility against including non-Judeans inside the Church continues to be the primary reason for the refusal of the Messiah, or at least of Paul’s gospel during his lifetime. This is the exact issue of Acts 28:23-29, something that happened around the time Paul wrote Ephesians 2.

A New Man for a New Age. But the contention is NOT the main point, just something to be addressed and swept aside. The main point was what Brother Sam Fife called, “a new man for a new age.” Indeed, “Christ as a many-membered body” and “being built together as the dwelling place of God” were the core of all that he taught.

Put together into one flow these three verses for yourself: Genesis 1:1, Revelation 3:14, and Ephesians 2:15. All things are created “inside the beginning.” Jesus is “the beginning.” One new man, the new creation, created by Jesus inside Himself, the same ‘beginning” of the creation of God, now brand new. A new man for a new age – Christ revealed in His Body, many walking together as one, the House of the Living God.

No Partiality in God. There is no distinction inside of one, and God means for there to be no distinction. For some to be elevated or demoted, included or excluded on the basis of natural descent or human ability is something not found in God (see Romans 2:11).

Ruling Verse 6: Regardless of anyone’s background or history, the same Way, carried by Jesus, consecrated by Blood, is wide open to whoever desires to draw near to God. Inside His own flesh, Jesus eliminated all former legal or covenant distinction that makes some superior to or separate from others.

Kingdom: We are created anew inside of Jesus as one together. This required humility, of receiving those we may not like, is essential to the House God intends to fill with His unending presence made known, for all come out from God, and each one is created inside of Christ Jesus.

The Protection and the Entrance. • 16 So that He might reconcile both completely to God, changing all from one state of being to another, inside one body through the cross, having killed the hostility inside that cross. 17 Now, in coming again, He has proclaimed the gospel of peace to you who were once far away and peace to those now near. • 18 For through Jesus and inside of one Spirit, we possess already the entrance into the Father.

Ruling Verse 5: Contempt for others and its corresponding exaltation of self are not found inside the House of God, for the Cross has already killed all such hostility.

Ruling Verse 6: The Way into the knowledge of God is not a solitary journey for anyone. Just as there is peace between each of us and God, so there is peace among us together inside one Spirit. Our entrance into God is a SHARED entrance.

Take Your Brother with You. I finally understand how Paul’s continuing discussion of the issue of ethnicity fits. Ethnic superiority is one of the more powerful ways by which humans elevate themselves in their own eyes, with the corresponding contempt for others. As such, it represents ALL excuses for such wickedness. The rule of God’s House is this – “Receive one another in just the same way that Jesus receives you.”

Then we see that Paul places this rule into the intimacy of our union with Christ and into our pursuit of the knowledge of God, that is, Life. And this I have known from the start, from the same time that Ruling Verse 12 became the first to enter my determination. – If Jesus saves me; He saves my brother also. – Take your brother with you into God.

The Heart at the Center. We now see that Adam’s sin was not a violation of law nor a moral indignation. Rather, it was something personal to God. Adam turned from seeing Jesus and saw others. In that moment, he hated both. Adam reached for control over the House of God out from arrogance and contempt. Jesus saw others and gave Himself for their sake, but He did so for Father’s sake, that God might have a body of people walking together in whom He might dwell.

Adam cut God to the Heart. Jesus placed God’s Heart, that you and I might be included, above His own soul. In a round-about way, Paul is placing this same Heart shared with a God who walks beneath at the center of God’s House. Yet I also know, of truth, that superiority is the enemy of God.

Ruling Verse 12: A Dwelling Place for God. • 19 So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow-citizens with the devoted ones and of the household, the family, the domestic intimacy of God, • 20 having been constructed together [as a House] upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, the joining and completion, • 21 inside of Whom the whole building, being fitted together, is increasing into a temple, devoted inside the Lord. • 22 Inside of Jesus, you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God inside the sphere of Spirit.

I do not have the advantage of having written 2-3 chapters on these words as I do for each of the Ten in Symmorphy I: Purpose. We must briefly address what is actually here. – The main point is Verse 22 – Being built together for a dwelling place of God.

The Greek Words. Verse 19: Sympolitai – fellow citizens, natives of the same town. Oikeios – Belonging to a household, domestic, related by family. The metaphor goes from a town, with all the meaning of commerce and neighborliness, to a large household, filled with family members and servants.

Verse 20: Epoikodomēthentes – Having already been built (upon the apostolic and prophetic ministries). Akrogóniaios: Jesus as the cornerstone – that which joins together and that which caps as the completion.

Verse 21: Synarmologoumenē – being fitted together, used again in Ephesians 4:16. Auxanó: To grow, increase, become greater. Naos: Temple, sanctuary

Inside of Christ Jesus. The important thing for both 21 and 22 is that “being fitted together” takes place INSIDE OF Christ Jesus.

Verse 22: Synoikodomeisthe – are being built together. Again, used also in 4:16. Katoikétérion: dwelling place, habitation. The metaphor then goes from a busy household to a devoted temple, and finally to the Habitation, the Dwelling Place of God – inside the realms of the qualities of Spirit.

The thing is, this has been a ruling verse for me since I was twenty years old, having embraced Christian Community. We cannot know the full meaning of this House apart from knowing the Pro-Thesis, God’s pleasure and purpose. Then, just as Ruling Verse 1 is the heart of Ruling Verse 9, so Ruling Verse 2 is the heart of the fitting together of the House.

The Tabernacle Pattern. After writing most of this lesson, and now listening to it read to me a further time, I see an obvious pattern in the layout of the metaphors Paul is using, for we are seeing the Tabernacle. Yet this is God’s House, so we see it as completed, from the inside out. But Paul begins with the town, the camp of Israel, the meaning of commerce and neighborliness. He then goes to a large household filled with family members and servants, the outer court.

The temple, then, is the Devoted Place, devoted to God, the worship of Church together. Finally, the habitation of God is the Most Devoted Place, which makes “being built together” to be the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat. Having this understanding will allow the meanings of Ruling Verse 12 to take us in wondrous directions.

Defining the Rule. More than that, we see that Ephesians 4:11-16 is a critical companion passage to Ruling Verse 12, showing HOW this House is actually being built. At this point, I will just have to wing it, although these things must develop over time.

Defining the Rule: The purpose of everything is a House for God, that He might have a dwelling place inside of creation. God cannot be perceived by any created ability. In order for God to be known, He must have a created Form that fits Him in all ways. That Form is the Church, and God is known by the interaction of believers in Jesus loving one another in daily life together. People from all ethnic families are invited to be part of this Household. The Temple itself is found inside of Christ Jesus. The key action is that we are being fitted together as God-made-visible, that is, Love, inside Spirit worship.

Expanded and Personal. Brethren from all ethnic families are welcomed without distinction, all are fellow citizens with the devoted ones and are of the household, the family, the domestic intimacy of God. All believers into Jesus have been constructed together as a House upon the foundation of the apostolic and prophetic ministries, Word and Spirit together, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, the joining together and the completion of everything. Inside of Jesus the whole building, being fitted together, is increasing into a temple, the place of God’s worship, devoted inside the Lord. Inside of Jesus, you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God inside the sphere of Spirit, that God might be known by all through your shared lives.

Christ Made Personal: I am part of God’s House. Inside of Jesus, I am built together with my brethren as God’s dwelling place. Our Love for one another is God made known.

Life and Covenant. Life: Life is knowing the Father. Nothing can live except God be made known. God made known changes everything for everyone. The Church as the dwelling place of God, right here inside this heaven-earth, is Salvation.

Covenant: The Covenant that is our hearts, Christ Jesus joining everything together, making us just like Himself, is for one purpose, that God might come Home, that God might be known inside of creation inside His Temple. This is where we stand; this purpose consumes the entirety of our lives.

Speak Christ: We speak Christ that we might know Jesus Sent into us. Jesus inside of us causes us to know that we are already the Household of God, that our shared life together is already God-among-us. Thus we together call our every interaction as the Love of God flowing between, regardless.

Symmorphosed and Filled! Ruling Verse 1: God’s purpose is to be made known inside of creation, the meaning of “the image of His Son.” This knowledge of God is found inside the gathering together of many brethren, just like the Lord Jesus. The gathering together is already glorified, God already revealed. And through our gathering together inside of Jesus, we synergeo with God and one another, making all things good.

Ruling Verse 2: It is the Temple of God, many gathered together and built together as the dwelling place of God, which God FILLS with all of His fullness. Christ Jesus in the heart of each member is the Heart of this Temple. More than that, every part of its gathering and construction is rooted and grounded inside of Love. We KNOW God together. Together, we are filled with all the fulness of God revealed.

From Rivers to Intimacy. Ruling Verse 3: God made known is Rivers flowing out. The River of Life originates out from the Sanctuary, out from the Devoted and Most Devoted of the Temple, our very hearts.

Ruling Verse 4: God made known is Victory in every place. “Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.” Ignorance of God, self-exaltation and contempt for others, manipulation and control, all flee from before a God who fills His Church with His Glory. 

Ruling Verse 5: “Receive one another as Jesus receives us” takes the union of our Savior with each one of us, in His giving of Himself to us, right into the Most Devoted Place, the Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat upon it. Jesus making us to be just like Himself then becomes the going forth of God, causing all to know the intimacy of His Love.

From Boldness to Love. Ruling Verse 6: Hebrews 10 does not teach us how we are to enter into God. It teaches us that Jesus has already carried us here inside Himself inside the Father. It means that we are very bold as we apprehend all that is God together.

Ruling Verse 7: The task of Jesus is to build a House for God. We are part of that House – IF – we hold firmly to completion our bold speaking of confidence in Christ our only life, and the exultant boasting of our hope that Jesus makes us to be just like Himself. We walk together as filled with God from the start.

Ruling Verse 8: Being just like Jesus is loving one another. Our love for one another is God-made-visible to all creation. When creation sees a people who give all that they are for one another’s sake, they will know that God indeed sent Jesus into the world. In coming to such Communities of Love, they are coming to the worship of God.

The Rock and the Fire. Ruling Verse 9: Creation set free happens only out from the Completion of this Temple filled with God. Our refuge is the Most Devoted Place, seized into God and into His throne, built upon the Rock. Our going forth together is the knowledge of God in every place, the cause of all Life and Liberty.

Ruling Verse 10: The dwelling place of God is built only inside of Jesus, and it is built by Jesus inside of each one of us personally, and inside our gathering together. The knowledge of God comes only out from many together as One, for God is Love, and Love is all our interactions together. Thus this devoted Temple alone is the presence of age-unfolding LIFE inside of creation, the Heart and Worship of God inside the Spirit. This is why we put the Lord Jesus Christ upon ourselves, upon each other, and upon our gathering together, a woman clothed with the sun, for our God is a Consuming Fire.

The Kingdom as Father Made Known. Kingdom: Although the full Temple of God is the Church universal, the Love of God needs each local gathering together to be fully visible. Thus it is Communities of Christ, the arising New Jerusalem, all across the earth, that are the pattern of all that is Kingdom, the Father just being Himself inside every interaction of creation.

The Form for God through Jesus: Ruling Verse 12 is the Form for God through and inside of Jesus. It is the Completion of God’s Purpose, the whole meaning of everything. God has one Form only, believers in Jesus loving one another with pure hearts fervently inside of a life shared together. We are speaking of Christian Community, brethren dwelling together in unity, Life forevermore. Inside of Community, we belong; inside of Community, Father and we are at Home.

The Seasons of Our Lives. Again, I feel that my wording of all these things is only a rough draft. My understanding of the other Ruling Verses grew slowly over time and through writing out from what God actually says over and over. I wrote all of Symmorphy I: Purpose without ever seeing many critical parts of all of them.

God orders the seasons of our lives and leads us always into His knowledge. When I see now how this passage from Ephesians 2 fits as the Twelfth Ruling Verse, in conjunction with 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 as the Eleventh, I know that God has brought me full circle, back to where I stood at age 20. I have only one season, now, that I would be led into by God, and that is Christian Community again, but Community as God means it, out from the Flow of Gospel Word, inside the Glory of many such Communities everywhere.

Ephesians. Consider the five parts of Ephesians. The Pro-thesis is a back and forth between Purpose and Good Pleasure to Image and Glory, culminating in the most powerful definition of the Church in the Bible.

The Purpose of everything, then, is the dwelling place of God, His form inside of creation. Yet this Form, in itself, seems incomplete; thus it is critical for us together to know Love, and to KNOW that we are together already filled with all the fulness of God.

Coming out from this Apocalypse, however, the deep concern of Jesus and of Paul is HOW every local gathering together of believers is knit together as that very House. And thus comes the zeal for Thy House eating us up, the stewardship of those who watch and care, that God be always at Home.

Let’s Pray Together. “God, our Father, we ask You to anoint us with Your all-consuming zeal for Your House, that Your Spirit would enable us to give to You all that we are for the sake of Your Heart’s Desire, Your Home inside creation. Father, let our travail for Your people prevail, let our faith inside of You triumph over all that prevents Your Word from being read upon the hearts of all Christians everywhere.

“Father, make us part of the building together of Your House, in all practical reality, bring us together into Christ Community, that we might know You as Love among us. God, our Father, make Your Church, Jerusalem, to be a praise in all the earth. Let Your Kingdom come as the dawning of the Age of Tabernacles. Father, it is so!”