Young People's Group

The Privilege of Being Part of the Lord’s People

by Mitchell Tan
November 27, 2015

HAVING A DEEP SENSE OF BELONGING TO GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

It is indeed a special privilege and joy to belong to God and His people. When once we were strangers and foreigners to God and to each other, now we are part of a wonderful entity called the Church. The apostle Paul in the text of Ephesians 2:19-22 used five powerful imageries to bring across this sense of belonging to His people.

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22

1. THE KINGDOM OF GOD

When we were dead in our trespasses, we were part of this world (Ephesians 2:1-4). We as Gentiles were foreigners to the kingdom of God. But now in Christ, we have the privilege of being fellow citizens in the universal kingdom of God. We have become fellow Christians with all the saints in the world.

2. THE FAMILY OF GOD

It is also wonderful to know that we belong to God’s family. Once we were strangers, but now the Lord has given us the status of being members of this spiritual household. This privilege of belonging to the family of God, once you have it, is something no one can take away from us.

3. A STRONG BUILDING

Another imagery to describe the Church is a strong building built on a strong foundation. That foundation is the Lord Jesus, the prophets and the apostles. We are built and fitted together on what they have taught from God’s word and the example that they have set for us.

4. THE HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD

Furthermore, we grow together to become a holy temple of the Lord. More than just a strong building, we are being built up to be a holy people, where His glory would be.

5. THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD

Finally, we become a place where the presence of the Lord would lovingly reside by means of His Spirit. It is through the Spirit of God that we are being built together as a place for the Lord to dwell in and make His home. What a great privilege for the Lord to dwell in us!

OUR PRECIOUS CHRIST BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER AS ONE

All the above can only come about in and through the person of Christ. It is upon the Lord Jesus as the chief cornerstone that the church is founded. It is also in the Lord Jesus that we can be fitted together as a building. With Christ as the chief living stone, chosen by God and precious, we as living stones are being built together to be a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-5). Our togetherness is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s exercise greater faith in the Lord Jesus and focus on Him. Let’s dwell on His word and apply it to our life so that we may bond even more together. May we find a deeper sense of togetherness in the Lord Jesus now and always!

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