(Being a series of studies in the Scriptures, made for broadcasting in America.

and are an attempt to present the Truth of the Scriptures in the simplest possible way.)

Having stressed the inestimable privilege of uninterrupted access to the Father, for

both Jewish and Gentile believers in this Body, Paul now informs the latter that they are

no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens of the saints (literally) and of the

household of God (2: 19). "Fellow-citizens of the saints" is a strange expression, but

when we realize that the word translated "saints", can mean holy things as well as holy

people, and that in Heb. 9: 8 it is rendered "holiest of all", we can see that the Apostle

is stating something more wonderful than that the Gentile is now being blessed with the

Jew, for this had been clearly revealed as God's purpose through Abraham and was

always true of Gentile proselytes. He is now revealing the supreme truth that Gentiles,

once so far off and distant from God and from blessing, are now so near that they belong

to the very holiest of all, the most holy place in heaven where the ascended Christ has

now entered (Heb. 6: 19, 20). What an overwhelming change God's abounding grace

had made! It sounds too good to be true!

The Apostle continues "having been built (literally) upon the foundation of the

apostles and prophets". Does this mean the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets,

or are they themselves the foundation?  In chapter 4:, verses 8-11 make clear that at

His Ascension the Lord Jesus gave a new order of apostles and prophets which must not

be confused with the calling of the twelve apostles in His earthly lifetime. The ministry

given through the new apostles, of which Paul was chief, was a foundation ministry, built

of course upon the one foundation, Jesus Christ (I Cor. 3: 11), and He is the chief

cornerstone upon Whom the whole Temple building rests, the Greek term being derived

from the Septuagint of Isa. 28: 16. It is important to note that the emphasis here is

not on this Temple's magnificence, like Solomon's, but upon the fact that it is a home.

The words "household", "built", "building", "builded together", and "habitation" all

contain the Greek word for "home". This means that the great purpose of God which lies

behind the preparation and erection of this edifice, is to provide a permanent home for

Himself. Up to this point God has had temporary homes. The material heavens He

spread out as a tent to dwell in (Isa. 40: 22) and later on, when His earthly people were

journeying from Egypt to Canaan, He dwelt in another tent, in the holy of holies of the

Tabernacle. But as the figure suggests, these were only temporary homes. It is not too

much to say that God desires a permanent home, and this home will be provided by this

church, now described as the Body of Christ. When this calling is taken to the highest

heavens, completed, and the figure changes from Body to a Temple, a dwelling place for

God, and each believer, Jew or Gentile, is likened to a living stone, "fitly framed

together" by the great Architect and Builder. Chapter 2: 5, 6 is going to tell us that God