“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (Ephesians 2:19)
Paul wrote the Ephesians from a Roman prison to all believers. He explains the position we have as children of God. Prior to verse 19, he explains the position we had in relation to God before becoming children of God. “That at that time ye 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:” (Ephesians 2:12)
Without Christ, the anointed Messiah, we were estranged away or alienated from the citizenship of Israel. Paul is not talking about national citizenship, but spiritual unity with the God’s purpose for spiritual Israel and a descendant of Jacob (Israel) by faith as children of faith and faith descendant of Abraham. This is now our connection to Israel. (Galatians 4:26-31) We were without any promise from God, far from the life God gives. Our understanding was darkened and our hearts blind to the things of God. “God has made so many promises to His children, but as aliens we Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:18-19) We had no rights to any promise God had made. We had no hope, no expectation of God’s help or Goodness because we were in this world without Him.
But now we, who were far from God, have been united to the Father and His Will and Purposes. “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled.” (Colossians 1:21) Gentiles and descendants of idol worshippers and workers of iniquity have been embraced by God because of the sacrifice of Jesus. This is the great mystery that has been revealed now. Paul wrote: “How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:” (Ephesians 3:3-6)
Now we are of the God’s own household together with all the great men and women of faith mentioned in the Bible, that house built on faith, the foundation that the prophets and apostles laid down and Jesus secured as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20) And God Himself through the saving work of Jesus has not only brought us near to Him but has made us royal members of His household. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1Peter 2:9-10)
We are a royal priesthood. When do we function as that royal priesthood? The answer is in church. When we come together and worship, we are functioning as royal priests together, building that sacrificial altar of praise to God. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 2:5) This is why gathering together is so important. Together we make that perfect sacrifice of praise, worshipping together.
Many people come late to church, after all, we are just singing songs. But the reality is that we’re not just singing songs, we are worshipping. We are making that sacrificial altar to God. I believe that when we realize what church is and what worship is, we will never skip church and we will never be late to church.
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