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Sermon preached on Ephesians 2:19-22 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 01/18/2026 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
This is now our third week working through verses 11-22, today focusing on the last section, verses 19-22. We’ve been seeing in this section how Gentile Christians have been brought into the visible church with the Jewish Christians. In the past, God had formed his church through the Israelite people under the old covenant. Now, with the coming of Christ and the ratification of a new covenant, God has widely opened the door for the Gentiles to come into the church, for all who will turn and trust in Christ. In Christ, God has brought Jewish and Gentile Christians together, both finding peace with God and each other through the reconciling sacrifice of Christ. So, then prior to Christ’s coming, the Gentiles had been strangers and aliens to God’s people, but not anymore. That’s what this passage has been telling us, but now starting in verse 19, it further declares this by explaining the new standing that Gentile Christians now have together with Jewish Christians. Paul uses three vivid descriptions to describe how they are no longer strangers and aliens. These will be our three points, to work through the three ways Paul describes the united church of Jesus Christ. First, he says that we are fellow citizens. Second, he says we together are members of God’s household. Third, he says we are growing together into a holy temple. These three descriptions describe what Jewish and Gentile Christians are together as one church of Jesus Christ.
Let us begin in our first point, then, to consider how Christians have become fellow citizens with all God’s people. Verse 19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints.” Now, when you hear of citizenship, you should think of officially belonging to a nation. A citizen contrasts with a stranger and alien. For example, in the United States, foreigners or aliens have a different status than citizens. Whether someone is here on a tourist visa, or a green card, or even illegally, all differ in status from a US citizen. The right to vote is one of those benefits of citizenship in the USA. Paul is using the analogy of earthly citizenship to speak of heavenly citizenship. Gentile Christians used to be foreigners and aliens, in terms of this heavenly kingdom. Now, in Christ, they have been received into full citizenship with the saints. That’s the big picture here.
Let’s work through the details. The words translated in verse 19 as “fellow citizens” is actually just one word in the Greek. It’s a compound word, so let’s talk about the two parts that form this Greek word. The first part of the word is the Greek prefix sum meaning “together” or “fellow”. In math, the sum, is what you get when you bring all the numbers together. So, when Paul emphasizes they are fellow citizens, he is talking about how these Gentile Christians have been added together with all the other Christians, with all the saints. Since the first Christians were all Jewish that means these Gentile Christians are being included together with these existing Jewish Christians.
Now the second part of this compound Greek word for “fellow citizens” is the Greek politai meaning “citizen”. This actually is the same root used back in verse 12 when it spoke there about the “commonwealth” of Israel. There it said we Gentiles used to be alienated from the commonwealth, or citizenship, of Israel. But now, verse 19 continues that thought by saying that we’ve now gained citizenship of a different and greater kind. To clarify, this citizenship is not in ethnic Israel as a geopolitical nation. For at the time, such a geopolitical entity was hardly even recognizable. Rather, Jesus brought the eschatological fulfillment of Israel when he came into this world announcing the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Indeed, while he came in the line of David and fulfilling the promised kingdom to Israel, he at the same time made it clear his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Thus, Paul rightly describes our citizenship with all the saints, i.e. all the holy ones of God. For as Peter described it in 1 Peter 2:9, we are a holy nation, even while the saints are spread throughout all the world. Our citizenship with all Christians is the fulfillment of the old covenant promises to Israel, being even more wonderful than they realized, a heavenly kingdom comprised of all Christ has redeemed. This is the citizenship into which Gentile Christians have been brought, together with Jewish Christians.
By way of application, let us appreciate some of the ramifications of such citizenship. As citizens of Christ’s kingdom, let us remember to submit to Jesus because he’s our king! Let us delight to serve our Lord. As citizens of his kingdom, which is above all kingdoms, let us remember that our ultimate allegiance must be to Christ’s kingdom, not our earthly citizenship. When we see so many troubles among the nations today, let us have comfort knowing that our ultimate hope is not in these earthly kingdoms. As citizens of the kingdom of heaven, let us be sure that we possess all the rights and privileges thereof. We know in this life, citizenship in the USA has a lot of benefits. But citizenship in Christ’s kingdom has far more. Indeed, we are marked with God’s protection, and his kingdom is advancing until it grows to fill all the earth at the day of Christ. These are but some of the wonderful ramifications of our citizenship with all the saints.
Let us turn now in our second point to consider how Paul speaks about becoming members in God’s household. That’s the ending of verse 19, that we are no longer strangers and aliens, but… “members of the household of God.” So, again, in context, this says that Gentile Christians have together become members of God’s household with Jewish Christians. So, the imagery changes here from the idea of citizenship in a nation to being a member in a household. The Greek word is oikeioi which gets translated as “members of the household.” This word specifically emphasizes the people who belong to a specific home. Now, I might note that households back then would include not just the parents with their children, but also any servants of the house. But the context clearly shows that Paul isn’t saying we are just servants of this house. No, chapter 1 made this point clearly, that we have been adopted into God’s household, and possess an inheritance as sons of the Most High. That means that we are a part of this household as family.
Let us appreciate that this is not just any household that we have become a part of. This is God’s household. God has made us a part of his family. We sit now at his table. Let us appreciate how exalted of a position this is. Just compare this with the previous imagery. It is wonderful to be citizens of God’s kingdom. It’s even more wonderful to be family with God in his house. By rough analogy, imagine if you were a citizen of Great Britain. There would be certain rights and privileges that come with such citizenship. But then imagine if you were also a part of the British royal family. That would come with even greater privileges and honor. And that analogy pales in comparison to being a part of the house of the High King of Heaven.
Let us also appreciate how this further develops what was found in the old covenant in seed form, but is more clearly brought out under the new covenant. What I mean, is that the Old Testament does teach the idea of God’s adoption of Israel. For example, in Exodus 4:22, God says that Israel is his firstborn son, teaching the idea of adoption by God expressing a father-son relationship between him and his people. God even reinforces the idea by bestowing on them an inheritance in the Promised Land. Yet, these ideas are only beginning to be revealed under the old covenant. What is there in seed form under the old covenant becomes more clearly and wonderfully described in passages like this, where we become part of God’s own household, with an everlasting and glorious inheritance beyond a mere plot of land in Canaan. Indeed, we will inherit even the whole of the new creation and reign over it with Christ, in a glorious world without end.
Again, by way of application, let us appreciate some of the ramifications of being such members of God’s family and household. One application that comes to mind is prayer. As God’s adopted family, we are encouraged to draw near to him in prayer as our heavenly father, seeking good gifts from him. Think of how that speaks against the faulty Roman Catholic argument that says we should pray to Mary because Jesus couldn’t deny his mother. Well, we have now all become family with Jesus. Jesus himself says we can ask the Father directly, for as he says in John 16:27, “For the Father himself loves you.” Let us be encouraged to seek good gifts from our heavenly Father who loves us. If we are in Christ, he won’t turn you away, calling you a stranger, but receive you as his beloved child.
Another application is to appreciate that being a part of his royal family exalts our position. Paul in 2 Timothy 2:12 speaks of how we will reign with Christ. Elsewhere, he speaks of how we will even judge angels (1 Cor 6:3). As adopted sons, we share in the royal status of Christ. Let us take heart in this present life, while we might at times seem to be in such lowly position, that we are exalted sons of the Most High with a divine inheritance as his sons. Let us find confidence in the high position God has set us in.
Another application is to consider the implication to our relationship with our fellow Christians. In context, this application seems particularly relevant. In the past, Jews and Gentiles generally kept separate from one another. Now, in Jesus, Jewish and Gentile Christians find themselves part of the same adopted family. Whatever families or tribes we came from, we now have an even greater family we are a part of. This complements the applications we took the last couple of weeks, that there is no room for segregation or enmity today between Christians. Any earthly allegiances or ethnicities or culture or language or identity becomes secondary and fleeting compares to the eternal position and heritage we now have in God’s family. Our new identity as Christians calls us to consider the priority of our allegiances in this life.
Let us turn now in our third point to consider how we are now growing together into a holy temple. Yet again, Paul changes the imagery here. Not only are we fellow citizens of a holy nation, and adopted family together in God’s house, but we are also becoming God’s holy temple. So then, the imagery becomes that of us being a physical building, but not just any structure, but one that is a temple where God dwells by the Holy Spirit.
There are some specifics given about this building. First, we notice that its foundation is described. The foundation, per verse 20, is that of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. Maybe you remember how in Revelation 21:14, when it saw a vision of the coming New Jerusalem it described the wall of the city having twelve foundations, with them bearing the name of the twelve apostles. The vision portrays the same historical truth. Jesus came into this world and appointed his twelve disciples to be his foundational apostles. They bore witness to the risen Christ and spread Jesus’ teachings and gospel to the world. The prophets confirmed this message by the prophetic power of the Holy Spirit. But it is Christ Jesus himself who is the chief stone in the foundation. A cornerstone was typically the first stone laid down, generally in the corner. It would orient all the other subsequent foundation stones. That’s Jesus!
The point here is that foundation of this temple is there in Christ and his initial witnesses. What has come after that is further building up the temple. That is expressed at the start of verse 20. The Gentile Christians were built on top of that foundation . The building idea is then expressed more generally in verse 21. It says that the whole structure is being joined together, growing into a holy temple. I love how that explains the building metaphor in terms of people, using organic terms. Buildings don’t normally grow, they are constructed. Yet, this temple is growing by people, Christians, being added to it. Peter uses similar imagery in 1 Peter 2 when says we Christians are each living stones being built up into a spiritual house, built on Jesus the Living Stone. In the final verse, Paul once more brings this to bear on the Ephesians. He says, “In him you also are being built together.” The Ephesians are part of this temple God is building!
Again, we can think of how this has connection with the old covenant but then advancement to reveal something far more wonderful. In the old covenant they had a single, central place of worship in the temple that King Solomon built. God did dwell there by the Holy Spirit, and God’s people come from far and wide to meet God there for worship. Of course, that access to God in worship at the temple was limited, as we discussed last week. But now, under the new covenant, there yet remains one temple for the church, but it is made up of God’s people. Clearly, the point is that we have become a spiritual building for God’s presence. That means wherever God’s people are assembled, we have direct access to him and are able to worship and have communion with him in Spirit and in truth.
I love how we see the Trinity so clearly in verse 22. It speaks of how God the Father dwells in us by the Holy Spirit since we are now his temple. But it says that we are a temple, “in him”, a reference to Jesus. Jesus has made us a temple in himself. The Father now dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. You might remember in Sunday School we recently studied how the Athanasian Creed said the Trinity is an essential element of our Christian faith. This passage agrees, that our Christian faith is inherently expressed and explained in Trinitarian terms, but I digress.
Again, by way of application, let us appreciate some of the ramifications of being such a holy temple. It means we, Christians, are the church, the temple of God. I would argue that there is something that misses the point when some churches have built these enormous and ornate structures that try to physically model heaven on earth, when it’s the gathered people that are the temple and not the building that’s the temple. That might be like the analogy of someone who cares more about their physical beauty than their inner beauty. What will make the church really look beautiful to God is not if the building is ornate but if the people inside are adorned with faith and godliness.
Another application is that sometimes Christians can mistakenly think their personal prayer is more holy if they go into a church building to offer it, but that’s not the case either. Individual Christians can pray anywhere to the Lord and have confidence we have access to him by the Spirit. And especially as the church gathers together, we are enjoying this reality that we are temple of God.
Another application is that the temple is still under construction. There are still souls being converted to Christ, and each one is another stone in the temple God is making. Since the foundation is laid already, we must not try to lay another one. That means we can’t try to win souls for Christ by giving some different message. Our job is to continue to build on that apostolic foundation Christ has given us. We look to faithfully bear witness to Christ as the apostolic church in our day. This passage reminds us that before becoming a Christian, we were not a part of this holy temple. But now, we are no longer strangers and aliens, but have been built onto this holy temple that God is growing with all the saints.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, this is now the third week in this passage. There’s been a clear and common theme throughout. God has made outsiders insiders. He has made those both far and near to have peace together with God. Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians are united as one body of Christ. Today’s passage wonderfully culminates this teaching with these three descriptions. If we have become a Christian, then we are no longer strangers and aliens to God and his people. Instead, one, we have become citizens of Christ’s kingdom. Two, we have become family members of God’s household. Three, we have together become a holy temple for God’s Spirit.
Let me then ask you this question. Do these new labels describe you? Or, are you still a stranger and alien? If you are a still a stranger and alien, I beg you to wait no longer. Why risk being eternally separated from God and his people? Turn in faith to Christ today, while yet there is opportunity for salvation.
For indeed, what we’ve now become as Christians, will only get better when Christ returns. On that day, all earthly citizenship will fall away forever when the kingdom of Christ comes in the full. That day will be our coming out day, when God will reveal to all the world who are the sons of God. On that day, he will usher in the new creation. And in that New Jerusalem, there will no more physical temple because God himself will dwell with us there. It will be like the former Eden, but better, for God will always be there with us, and it will be a Paradise that can’t ever be lost again.
Praise be to God for what he has made us to be and is making us to be in Jesus.
Amen.
Copyright © 2025 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
