What does "being built together" imply about Christian community and unity? The Verse in Focus Ephesians 2:22: “And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.” What “Being Built Together” Reveals • A present, ongoing process—God is still at work in us. • A joint project—no brick is laid alone; every believer is placed alongside others. • A divine purpose—becoming the Spirit’s dwelling, not a monument to ourselves. One Structure, Many Stones 1 Peter 2:5 echoes the idea: “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.” • Living stones touch—there are no gaps. • Each stone is shaped to fit; God refines personalities and gifts for harmony. • Removing one stone weakens the wall; isolation always hurts the church. Shared Foundation, Shared Identity Ephesians 2:20 reminds us the foundation is “the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” • We unite around revealed truth, not personal preference. • The cornerstone aligns every other block; Christ determines our direction and priorities. Unity Across Old Divides Earlier in the chapter (2:14), Paul says Christ “has made both one.” • “Built together” joins Jew and Gentile, background and culture. • The wall of hostility comes down, replaced by the walls of a new temple. Mutual Support and Growth Ephesians 4:16: “From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love.” • The building imagery shifts to a body, underscoring interdependence. • Growth happens “in love,” the mortar holding the structure firm. Indwelling Presence 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” • The community, not a building, is God’s chosen address on earth. • Unity is essential because the Spirit will not divide Himself among competing factions. Practical Implications for Today • Prioritize corporate worship—bricks belong in walls, not in storage. • Cultivate relationships—seek out believers unlike you and build bridges. • Serve one another—every gift supplies what the structure needs (1 Corinthians 12:7). • Guard doctrinal purity—shift the foundation and the whole house cracks. • Pursue reconciliation quickly—disunity vandalizes God’s dwelling. Final Encouragement God is crafting a single, seamless sanctuary out of diverse lives. Every time believers gather, forgive, serve, and speak truth, another stone settles into place, and the presence of the Spirit becomes that much more evident to the watching world. |
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