Become One to Be Built

Summary: Paul reminds the Gentile believers of their past: they once lived outside of God’s covenant people, without the Messiah, without the promises given to Israel, and without true hope or God in the world. But now, through Christ’s sacrificial death, those who were far away have been brought near. Christ Himself becomes the source of peace. He breaks down the barrier that once divided Jews and Gentiles and removes the hostility created by the law’s requirements. Through His work, He forms one new humanity in Himself, reconciling both groups to God through the cross. In Christ, peace is proclaimed to those far away and those near, and both now have access to the Father through the same Spirit. As a result, Gentile believers are no longer strangers or outsiders. They become fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household. This household is built on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole structure grows into a holy temple, joined together into a dwelling place where God’s Spirit lives. Teaching: If the wall between Gentiles and Jews has been torn down, then we must also understand that the walls between believers within the church have been torn down. Saying that Jesus abolished the law and saying that He fulfilled it mean the same thing: the power of the law’s demands has been replaced by the power of Christ’s grace. His grace becomes our King and the realm we now live in. The law exposes sin as sin. So when a person lives under the law, they either become proud of their own righteousness, or they collapse under guilt and self‑condemnation, or they judge others through the standards of the law. Faith, however, is about building. Especially for the head of a household—be a builder, an architect. The blueprint, the materials, and the guidance are all found in the Word, and the Holy Spirit teaches and leads. We are being built up in the Spirit and in the Word. Because we are living in the last days, take courage and understand what it means to be built up through faith Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Mar 30, 2026 Ephesians 2:11-22