What does being "joined together" in Ephesians 2:21 imply for church unity? Setting the Scene in Ephesians 2 • Paul has just declared that Gentiles and Jews, once hostile, are now “fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). • Verse 20 grounds that household “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” • Verse 21: “In Him the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” The phrase “fitted together” (or “joined together”) is the hinge: a Spirit-wrought unity that is structural, continuous, and purposeful. The Phrase “Joined Together” Explained • Greek term sunarmologeō pictures stones precisely cut and locked into place—no gaps, no wobble. • This is not a loose association but an intentional, interlocking design. • The verb is present, showing ongoing action; Christ keeps knitting believers into one temple. Spiritual Architecture: Christ the Cornerstone • A cornerstone sets alignment for every other stone; deviation distorts the entire structure. • Unity flows from common submission to Christ’s lordship. – 1 Corinthians 3:11: “No one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 2:5: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…” • When all parts take their cues from Him, harmony results naturally. Practical Implications for Unity Today • Shared Identity – We are “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15); racial, cultural, generational barriers bow to this greater identity. • Mutual Dependence – Like stones, believers rely on those beside them for strength and stability (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:21). • Doctrinal Alignment – Joined stones share the same measurements; likewise, unity requires “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). • Ongoing Growth – The temple “grows” (continual tense). Unity is maintained and deepened, not assumed (Ephesians 4:3). • Holy Purpose – The goal is “a holy temple,” a dwelling place for God’s presence (Ephesians 2:22). Unity is never an end in itself but serves God’s glory. Supporting Passages: The Bible’s Consistent Blueprint • Psalm 133:1—“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” • John 17:21—Jesus prays “that they all may be one… so that the world may believe.” • Colossians 2:19—Holding fast to the Head, “the whole body… grows with a growth that is from God.” • Romans 15:5–6—God grants a spirit of unity “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify” Him. Living Out the “Joined Together” Reality • Prioritize regular gathering; isolated stones do not form a temple (Hebrews 10:25). • Guard teaching; false doctrine misaligns the structure. • Cultivate humility; stones do not choose their position. • Practice reconciliation quickly; cracks widen if left unaddressed (Matthew 5:23-24). • Celebrate diversity under one roof; differing gifts showcase the Builder’s genius (Ephesians 4:16). Joined together in Christ, the church is not a collage of individual pieties but a single, living temple—ordered by the cornerstone, inhabited by the Spirit, and displayed to the world for the glory of God. |
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