Month: March 2021

Lesson 15

Ephesians 5: 22-33, Husbands and wives

VV 22-24, 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

A wife is to submit to her husband just as she submits to the Lord. The husband is the head over his wife, just as Christ is head and Saviour over His bride, the church.

V 25, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Greek for love is “agape”, which means unconditional and sacrificial love. A husband is to love his wife just as Christ loved His bride, the church, and sacrificed His life for her.

VV 26-27, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Christ sanctified and cleansed His bride, the church, by the washing of the word, to make her holy, spotless, and glorious.

VV 28-29, 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Greek for cherish is “thalpo”, which means to care with tenderness. A husband is to love and care tenderly for his wife as his own body, just as the Lord loves and cares tenderly for His bride, the church.

VV 29-31, 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. 31 “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Christians are members of the body of Christ, the church. Christ is the head of the body and Christians are parts of the same body, the bones, the ligaments, the joints, etc. In marriage, a man is to leave his parents and be joined with his wife.

VV 32-33, 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Marriage between a man and a woman is a great mystery, just as marriage between Christ and His bride, the church, is a great mystery. A husband is to love his wife unconditionally and sacrificially and in return the wife is to respect her husband.

Lesson 14

Ephesians 5: 15- 21

VV 15-16, 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time because the days are evil.

Greek for circumspectly is “akribos”, which means with precisely, carefully, or diligently. . We must conduct ourselves diligently and wisely. Greek for redeeming is “exagorazo”, which means to buy up or rescue from loss. We must try to buy back lost time by practicing good time management and using our time wisely for the kingdom of God.

V 17, Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Paul commanded his listeners, and us, not to be foolish, but to understand and discern the Lord’s will.

V 18, And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Paul commanded his listeners, and us, not to be drunk with wine but instead be filled with Holy Spirit.

V 19, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Paul commanded his listeners, and us, to speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. To worship the Lord by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to Him as our spiritual act of worship.

V 20, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Paul commanded his listeners, and us, to be thankful to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and submit to each as we submit to God with fear.

1 Thess 5: 16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”.

Lesson 13

Ephesians 5: 8-14, From darkness to Light

V 8, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

We were once spiritually dead, spiritually blind, and we walked in darkness. When we are born again, we are made alive, regenerated, spiritually awakened, and walked in the light of Christ. We are children of Christ and belonged to the family of God. As Christians, we are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”.

V 9, (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

When we are born again, we receive the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which frees us from the requirement of the law

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law”.

VV 10-11, 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

Paul commanded his listeners, (and us), not to have anything to do with the unfruitful works of satan. Instead, we are to expose them to other Christians through correct teaching.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”.

V 12, For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

Sinful things done in secret and in darkness are shameful.

John 3: 20, “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed”.

V 13, But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Jesus Christ the light of the world exposed all things. Nothing is hidden from His omniscient power.

John 1: 5, “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it”.

Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account’.

John 3:19-21, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

V 14, Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

When we are born again, we are made alive, awakened, regenerated, and received the true light of Jesus Christ.

John 1:4-5, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it”.

John 1:9, “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world”.

Lesson 12

Ephesians 5: 1-7

V 1, 1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children.

Therefore, is the connecting link to the previous chapter. Many years ago, Paul was in Ephesus for 3 years and he knew his audience very well. Hence, it was appropriate for him to address them as dear children. In view of all that God had done, Paul encouraged his audience, (and us), to be imitators of God.

V 2, And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Greek for love is “agape”, which means unconditional or sacrificial love. Demonstrate unconditional and sacrificial love to each other to just as Christ demonstrated His unconditional and sacrificial love for us when He sacrificed Himself to God on the cross for us.

VV 3-4, 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Greek for uncleanness is “akathartos”, which means morally impure. Greek for filthiness is “rhuparia”, which means moral defilement. Greek for foolish talking is “morologia”, which means moronic speech. Greek for coarse jesting is “eutrapelia’’, which means obscene jokes. Paul commanded his audience, (and us), to stay away from adultery, immorality, moronic speech, and obscene jokes. Instead, we should always give thanks to God.

V 5, For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Greek for covetousness is “pleoneksía”, which means greediness. Greek for idolator is “eidololatres”, which means an idol worshiper. A fornicator, an unclean person, a greedy person, and an idol worshiper will be excluded from the Kingdom of God and Christ.

V 6, Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Greek for empty words is “kenos logos”, which means deceitful or erroneous teachings. Paul warned his audience, (and us), not to be deceived by erroneous teachings and not to associate with false teachers. Greek for wrath is “orge”, which means anger. God’s anger will come upon those who disobey Him.

Lesson 11

Ephesians 4: 17-32

VV 17-19, 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Greek for futility is “mataios”, which means moral depravity or vanity. Greek for lewdness is “aselgesia”, which means licentiousness. We should not behave as the non-believing Gentiles, morally depraved, misinformed, spiritually dead, ignorant, and blind, surrendered to licentiousness, uncleanness, and greed.

VV 20-24, 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Now that Paul’s audience, (and we), had heard and taught by Jesus Christ in truth, we must put away the old self-controlled by the flesh and put on the new man controlled by the Holy Spirit, created by God in righteousness and holiness. This is the spiritual warfare between the old self of the flesh, old man, and new self of the Spirit, new man.

Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish”.

Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

VV 25-28, 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Paul commanded his audience, (and us), not to lie, not to sin when angry, not to steal, get employment, and give financial assistance to those in need.

VV 29-32, 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul commanded his audience, (and us), not to speak unwholesome words, and not to grieve the Holy Spirit. We are to speak gracefully without bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and malicious words. We are to show kindness, tenderhearted, and forgiveness just as Christ had forgiven us.

Lesson 10

Ephesians 4: 7-16, unity in diversity

VV 7-10, 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”, what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ gave grace and spiritual gifts to all Christians in proportion to their faith. According to their level of faith, some may receive more and others may receive less. Ephesians 4:9 is problematic. Does this verse mean that Jesus Christ descended into hell before His resurrection, as stated in the apostles’ creed? Most biblical scholars do not think so. One interpretation on “He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth” just means that Jesus Christ was buried into the grave before His resurrection.

Ephesians 4:8 is a quotation from Psalm 68:18, “You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there”.

1 Peter 4:6, “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit”.

VV 11-13, 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Jesus Christ raised up leaders to equip, edify, teach, and unite the body of Christ, the church, through the 5 fold ministries. These are the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Although there is a diversity of spiritual gifts, there is unity in one Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation, he who gives, with liberality, he who leads, with diligence, he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”.

1 Cor 12: 7-10, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all, for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kind of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues”.

V 14, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

The diversity of spiritual gifts is for sanctification, maturity in the Christian faith, and discernment of false doctrines taught by false teachers.

VV 15-16, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supply, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Paul commanded his audience (and us), to speak the truth in love to other Christians with a pure motive and a sincere heart. Jesus Christ is the head of the body of Christ, the church, and Christians are the different parts of the body connected together into a living organism.

Colossians 1: 18, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence”.

Colossians 3:15, ‘’Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful”.

1 Cor 1:27, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it”.

1 Cor 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit”.

Lesson 9

Ephesians 4: 1-6

V 1, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Therefore, is the connecting bridge to Ephesians 1-3. After saying those things in Ephesians 1-3, he had these things to say. Paul said he was a prisoner of the Lord and not a prisoner of Nero Caesar. He was put imprisoned by the will of Jesus Christ, his master. Greek for beseech is “parakaleo”, which means to encourage. Greek for worthy is “axios”, which means, befitting. Greek for walk is “peripateo”, which means to conduct one’s self. In response to all that God had done for them, Paul encouraged his audience to conduct themselves in a manner befitting of their calling.

V 2, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Greek for lowliness is “tapeinos”, which means humility, poor in spirit, dependence on the Lord, and not on self. Greek for gentleness is “praus”, which means meekness. Meekness is power under control. Jesus had omnipotent power at His disposal and yet He was very gentle. Long-suffering in Greek is “makrothumos”, which means patience or perseverance. Greek for love is “agape’’, which means unconditional or sacrificial love.

Paul encouraged his audience to conduct themselves in a manner befitting themselves of their calling, by showing humility, meekness, patience, and sacrificial love for one another.

Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”.

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.

Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”.

VV 3-6, 3, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Greek for endeavoring is “spoudazo”, which means to act fervently. Paul encouraged his audience to act fervently, peacefully, and be united in the Holy Spirit. There is only one body, the Church, the body of Christ, the one new man in Christ. There is only one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. There is only one Hope, heaven. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. The is only one Faith, Christianity. The is only one baptism, Christian baptism. There is only one God, the Holy Trinitarian God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Father above all Christians, through all Christians, and in all Christians.

Lesson 8

Ephesians 3: 14-21, Paul’s prayer

Paul prayed for his audience, the Christians at Ephesus and the surrounding region in Asia Minor (Turkey).

V 14, For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul bowed his knees in reverence to the Father in prayer. Bowing our knees is a sign of reverence and submission to the Lord. We should always bow our knees before God in prayer unless we have medical reasons like degenerative knee joint disease, knee joint replacement, and others.

V 15, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

The whole family of God on earth, “the one new man in Christ” or “the body of Christ”, and in heaven is named after Jesus Christ.

VV 16-19, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul prayed for his audience to be strengthened spiritually, by the Holy Spirit, experience the presence of Christ through faith, be grounded in love, understand the unfailing, unsearchable, and abundant love of God, and be filled with the fullness of God.

VV 20-21, 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3: 20-21 is a doxology. Jesus Christ is omnipotent and is able to do exceedingly more than what we could ever ask or imagine. Christ’s omnipotent power works in us through the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed for Jesus Christ’s name to be glorified in the Church throughout all generations forever and ever.

Lesson 7

Ephesians 3: 1- 13, Mystery of Christ revealed

The word mystery appeared 3 times in this passage.

V 1, for this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles,

Paul called himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, even though he was a prisoner of the Roman emperor Caesar Nero. Paul’s master was Jesus Christ. He was in jail for the Gentiles according to the will of Jesus Christ. The Jewish religious leaders were responsible for putting him into prison with trumped-up charges and false accusations.

V 2, if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles by the grace of God in the dispensation of grace.

VV3-6, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Greek for mystery is “musterion”, which means the mystery of a secret doctrine. This mystery of Christ was hidden in the Old Testament but now revealed to Paul by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Here is the mystery. Jesus Christ demolished the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles, Ephesians 1:9-10. The Gentiles were reconciled with the Jews into a “one new man in Christ” called the Church, sharing the same body, same family, and same promise through the gospel.

Galatians 3:28, “In Christ, there are no Jews nor Gentiles, no slaves nor free, no male nor female, no Greek nor barbarians”.

V 7, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Paul was a minister to the Gentiles by God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Greek for minister is “diakonos”, from which the word deacon is derived. ‘’Diakonos” means servant. Greek for power is “dunamis”, from which the word dynamite is derived. ‘’Dunamis” means strength or ability.

V 8, To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Paul, the greatest of the apostles, called himself the least of the saints. Paul’s preaching ministry to the Gentiles was by the grace of God. Greek for preach is “kerugma”, which means proclamation. Greek for unsearchable is “aneksereunetos’, which means impossible to fully discover. The riches of Christ are beyond anyone’s capacity to fully discover.

VV 9-10, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

The purpose of God revealing the mystery is to teach the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers, the hierarchy of satan’s demonic spirits. Greek for principalities is ‘’archon”, which means satanic rulers.

VV 11-12, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Creating a “one new man in Christ” was God’s eternal purpose accomplished in Jesus Christ. Having been reconciled with God, we can come boldly before Him.

Hebrews 4: 14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

V 13, Therefore, I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Therefore, do not be anxious, despair, or fear tribulations. Tribulations will work towards your glory. Greek for glory is “doxa”, which means splendor or excellence.

Romans 12:12, ESV, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”.

John 16:33, ESV, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

James 1:2. ESV, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds’’.

Romans 8:18, ESV, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present21 time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”.

Romans 8:28, ESV, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose’’.

Lesson 6.

Ephesians 2:11-22, One new man in Christ

VV 11-13, 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands, 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We were once Gentiles, uncircumcised, without a Jewish pedigree, without the promise of the covenant, without Christ, without hope, and without God. All these had been reversed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

VV 14-18, 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace united Jews and Gentiles by demolishing the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles. Uniting the Jews and Gentiles, He created “one new man in Christ”, a new entity called the Church. Jesus Christ reconciled Jews and Gentiles to God and each other through the cross. Both Jews and Gentiles could experience peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God. Through Jesus Christ, Jews and Gentiles had access to the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Romans 5: 1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

Galatians 5: 22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness’’.

VV 19-20, 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Through Jesus Christ, we, the Gentiles, had become citizens and members of God’s family. The foundation of our faith is the apostles and the prophets but the chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ. The chief cornerstone is one special stone that stabilized an entire stone building. The whole weight of a stone building is supported by the chief cornerstone. Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of our faith. He is the only way to God.

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”.

Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily”.

V 21-22, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The whole building with the apostles and the prophets as the foundation and Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone is the Church, the one new man in Christ. The temple of God is our body where the Holy Spirit resides.

1 Cor 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

1 Cor 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.