Ephesians (W4D4) Cornerstone

Week 4. Thursday: The Cornerstone

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.

READ: Ephesians 2:19-20

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words

• No Longer (Greek: ouketi): no more, no further

• Foreigners (Greek: paroikos): aliens, without citizenship

• Strangers (Greek: xenos): without knowledge of, unheard of, without share in

• Fellow Citizens (Greek: sympolitēs): having privileges and duties in God’s family

• Before Christ, Jews and Gentiles were considered totally separate.

• In Christ, both Jews and Gentiles now share the same kingdom.

• Household (Greek: oikeios): belonging and devotion as a family (Galatians 6:10)

• We are fellow citizens and also members of the same family.

• God sees and treats us exactly as He sees and treats Christ (Romans 8:14-17).

• Foundation (Greek: themelios): the beginning, the groundwork

• Our ultimate foundation is Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).

• The message and writings of the apostles forms our doctrine (1 Cor. 3:10)

• Chief Cornerstone (Greek: akrogōniaios): the corner foundation stone (1 Peter 2:6)

• The is a word picture that illustrates how Christ holds everything together.

• A cornerstone would be placed at the extreme cornerstone of the foundation of a building. It set the foundation and squared the building. Everything else in the structure was set and aligned to the cornerstone. It also had to be the strongest part of the building.

APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?

According to this passage, we are citizens of God’s kingdom. A citizen enjoys the privileges and protection of the kingdom in which they live. A citizen also has duties and responsibilities that come with those privileges and protections. While it is a wonderful truth that believers are citizens of God’s kingdom, the passage doesn’t stop there. We are also members of God’s household. We are not only citizens in God’s kingdom, we are members of God’s family! Why is this important? Because the children of the King have a much higher place of privilege and protection that a mere citizen. Children also have a higher sense of duties and responsibilities as well.

What privileges and protections are included in the kingdom and family of God?

What duties and responsibilities do we have in the kingdom and family of God?

PRAY: Ask God to help you live out your calling as His child.