A THREEFOLD PORTRAIT OF A CHRISTIAN
Ephesians 2:19-22

INTRODUCTION
A. One of the beautiful things concerning the Bible is its way of describing to us in different fashions what it means to be a Christian
1. Some do not act like a Christian ought to because they do not really know what it means to be a Christian.
2. Being a Christian is much much more that simply having Christian as a label
3. Being a Christian is a way of life!
4. When the Bible describes what it means to be a Christian, we had better stand up and take note.
B. In Ephesians 2:19-22, Paul sets forth a three-fold portrait of a Christian. Paul says a Christian is:
1. A citizen in the kingdom of God
2. A member of the family of God
3. A temple in which God dwells
DISCUSSION
A. CHRISTIANS ARE CITIZENS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
1. Ephesians 1:19a
2. Paul first pictures the Ephesians’ new status – a nation that had become a holy nation of God
a. In the Old Testament the Jews were the holy nation
b. The Gentiles, though, were not
c. Notice how Paul had earlier described them… Ephesians 2:12
3. But before Paul paints this positive picture, he presents a negative one – he presents the Gentiles as “strangers and sojourners”
a. “Strangers” were those who found themselves among people who were not their own
1) They were strangers – they did not belong
2) They were always looked on with suspicion and dislike
b. “Sojourners” (“foreigners” – KJV) were one step farther than strangers.
1) They were resident aliens, they had come to live in a place, but had never become a naturalized citizen
2) He might live and work there, but was still an outsider
c. This was not true of the present state of the Gentiles
1) They were “fellow-citizens”
2) They were not members of God’s kingdom on a passport, but on a birth certificate – by the new birth
3) They were saints as much as any other saint (Gal. 3:28)
4) They were, as 1 Peter 2:9-10 puts it…
4. What are the implications of being “fellow-citizens” in the holy nation of God?
a. They had become a people set apart from others
1) 2 Corinthians 6:17
2) James 4:4
3) There must be a clear distinction between us and the world
b. Submits to the authority of their King
1) Jesus is “King of kings” (1 Tim. 6:15)
2) We must recognize His rightful rule – we must obey – we must honor
c. There are benefits to be enjoyed
1) Ephesians 1:3
2) In the Lord’s kingdom our need of provisions are fully met, we enjoy protection, and avail ourselves of all its resources.
d. Fellowship with faithful brethren
1) Fellowship with those who can lift us up, strengthen us, and share our mutual joys and sorrows
2) We are fellow saints with all the faithful who have gone on before
e. There is the future glory of this kingdom
1) We know that one day … Philippians 2:10-11
2) We are citizens of a kingdom that cannot be shaken
3) 1 Corinthians 15:24
B. CHRISTIANS ARE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF GOD
1. “But ye are … of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19b)
2. As a Christian we are a part of God’s family
3. Notice the privileges we enjoy as members of God’s family:
a. Special care … 1 Peter 5:7
b. Abundant provisions … “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psa. 37:25)
c. Special love … John 3:16
d. Discipline … Hebrews 12:4-11
e. Training … Titus 2:11-12
4. With these special privileges comes great responsibilities
a. Matthew 5:16
1) A child reveals a great deal about his parents
2) By his actions and speech he reflects the kind of parents he has
b. Jesus is the perfect example for us – concerning Jesus, the Father said… Matthew 17:5
5. When a decision must be made concerning moral and ethical issues, we must ask:
a. If is worthy of my Father’s son?
b. Is it consistent with the family to which I belong?
c. Would my elder brother do it?
C. AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE A TEMPLE IN WHICH GOD DWELLS
1. Ephesians 2:20-22
2. Paul says this building of God is a structure developed by an active process, according to certain plans and specifications
a. Christians are living stones “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets”
1) The “apostles and prophets” laid the foundation through their teaching concerning the church
2) They taught a doctrine to be believed and obeyed
3) Matthew 16:18
4) Ephesians 4:11-12
b. Jesus is the “chief corner stone”
1) The corner stone is the most important part of the foundation
2) The corner stone governs all parts of the foundation
3) There is not to be a single line in God’s building that is not governed by His Son.
c. The whole building is “fitly framed together”
1) God’s building does not have walls that are not attached to each other, otherwise they would fall
2) Every part of the building is important to its overall strength
d. This building, fitly framed together, grows “into a holy temple in the Lord”
1) The church as a whole is the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16)
2) Christians as individuals are the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19)
3) The temple of God is not a holy building, but a holy people
CONCLUSION
A. Paul paints a beautiful portrait of what it is to be a Christian
B. Christians are:
1. Citizens in God’s kingdom
2. Members of God’s family
3. The temple in which God dwells
C. Are we living up to this privilege?

Tom Moore
Park Heights church of Christ
P. O. Box 107
1300 East Boynton Street
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.parkheightscoc.com
http://harrisandmoore.org
https://fromthepreacherspc.org/
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“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.”