Chamber 5 -- The Audience
Chamber
(Eph. 2:11-19)
In most houses of the great, where audience is sought, there are often
many humiliating restrictions. Here, the Gentile who was by nature so very far
off, so alien, so strange, is made nigh and given an access that is without
compare in any other dispensation. Here we are in the presence of a new
creation, `of the twain' He has `created' (ktizo) one new man. Here the
atmosphere is one of peace, peace by the blood of His cross, peace that is the
consequence of `reconciliation'. Here the enmity that is evident in such
passages as Acts 15 is for ever banished.
Chamber 6 -- The Living
Room
(Eph. 2:19-22)
The title of this section may at first seem misleading and appear to
belittle the glorious figure that is here introduced, namely that of a holy
temple. We shall miss the essential truth, however, of this passage if we
intrude into its teaching the imagery of Ark, Altar, Incense, Cherubim,
Lampstand, Priest and Levite. These were shadows all of which are absorbed,
fulfilled and replaced by the finished work of Christ. The ultimate purpose of
the tabernacle of Moses, and the temple of Solomon, was that it should be
possible for God to `dwell' among His people, and this is the expressed purpose
in Ephesians 2:22 `an habitation of God (Christ, Revised texts) in spirit'.
Chamber 7 -- The Secret
Chamber
(Eph. 3:1-13)
In many ancient houses there is to be found secret chambers, secret
passages, places designed to facilitate escape from military search or religious
inquisition. Here, however, though the `mystery' is the central feature, there
is nothing mysterious about the truth, it simply means that until God revealed
this phase of His purpose it was a complete secret which no amount of searching
and pondering could discover.
This concludes the inspection of the doctrinal wing of the building.
Under the guidance of the apostle we cross the vestibule over which the central
tower is erected -- which corresponds with Ephesians 3:14-21, and to which we
return at the close of this tour of inspection -- and make our way to the
practical wing where once again seven chambers await our presence.
The Practical Portion
Chamber 1 -- The Guard
Room
(Eph. 4:1-6)
The sevenfold doctrinal teaching of Ephesians 1 to 3 is balanced by the
sevenfold practical response of Ephesians 4 to 6, and the exhortation which
covers the whole practical section is `walk worthy'. The first practical effort
is not directed to ministry, preaching or other forms of service, but of
`keeping' as a sacred trust, the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. This
unity is itself sevenfold, the central member being the `one Lord'.
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