This Week’s Passage: 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
You’ve heard the phrase, I have no doubt, that it is not about us, it is all about Him. The passage this week illustrates this to a tee. Beginning with the word consequently. This word looks back to the previous few verses which talk about how it is because of Jesus that we have gained access to the Father. Then goes on to say that because of Jesus we are no longer alienated from God. Because of Jesus we are considered first class citizens of the kingdom of God. Because of Jesus we are a part of the family.
Verse 21 then says that because of Jesus Jews and Greeks together – who have been redeemed, adopted, chosen, forgiven, predestined, (all words that Paul has used earlier to describe what God has done )- can come together to display the gospel in the form of the Church. Together they can reflect the magnificence of God’s holiness to a world that languishes in sin and desperate hopelessness.
Then verse 22 concludes the chapter by saying that because of Jesus God’s Spirit dwells within us – in fact He lives in us so that we can be a walking talking example of what a God filled, God fueled new creation looks like.
We should never forget that it is all because of Jesus we’re alive. The band Casting Crowns put it like this:
Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory
And I am alive because I’m alive in You
It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
It’s all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man’s life
It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
I’m alive, I’m alive
Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory
And I am alive because I’m alive in You
It’s all because of Jesus I’m alive
It’s all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man’s life
It’s all because of Jesus
Every sunrise sings Your praise
The universe cries out Your praise
I’m singing freedom all my days
Now that I’m alive
I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive
You can hear (and watch) them sing the song here if you would like.
As you go through your day today remember this: It’s not about us, it’s all about Him.
I’m just sayin’!
Next Week’s Passage: Ephesians 3:1-6
I’m a little disappointed you gave a link to the real people singing it and didn’t just record yourself singing it. I like your singing recordings 🙂 I think you need to do one of the Jonah rap
I like verse 19, it really explains the the idea of all GODs people as a Family unit. The verse continues on to call us citizens, re-enforcing the fact that we all belong to him.