Ephesians 2:19-22: Citizens and Members of God’s Household
No Longer Strangers and Aliens
Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:19-22 mark the climactic moment in his discussion of reconciliation: not only are we forgiven, but we are also adopted into God’s family. He tells the Gentiles, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19, NRSV). This profound statement speaks directly to their new status as full participants in God’s kingdom through Christ.
The terms “strangers and aliens” would have deeply resonated with the first-century audience. In Roman society, citizenship was a highly prized status that afforded protection and privilege, while foreigners were marginalized. To be an outsider was to be vulnerable, with limited rights and opportunities. Yet, Paul flips this imagery by declaring that the Gentiles’ true citizenship is not tied to any earthly empire but to God’s eternal kingdom. This echoes the message of Hebrews 13:14, where the author writes, “For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” Just as Israel had been promised a home in the land of Canaan, Christians now belong to a heavenly kingdom—a citizenship secured through Christ.
Moreover, this call to belonging goes beyond the Gentiles. In Acts 15, during the Jerusalem Council, we see an early church wrestling with questions of inclusion. The apostles and elders, recognizing that the Spirit had fallen on the Gentiles as well as the Jews, concluded that salvation through Christ was for all, regardless of ethnic or cultural background. The decision, as recorded in Acts 15:19-20, set the precedent for a church where divisions of race and heritage no longer held sway. Just as God’s covenant with Israel was always meant to extend to the nations, in Christ, there is no distinction.
Built on the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets
Paul’s metaphor of a building provides rich theological insight into the church’s foundation. He states, “This household is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). The image of a building with Christ as the cornerstone highlights both the stability and unity of the church.
In the ancient world, a strong foundation was critical for the structural integrity of any building. The cornerstone, placed at the junction of two walls, was the most important stone in ensuring the alignment and strength of the entire structure. In the same way, the apostles and prophets—the witnesses to God’s revelation—serve as the foundation of the church, always pointing to Christ as the center.
This idea is not new. In the Old Testament, the prophets were the ones who laid the groundwork for God’s promises and his coming Messiah. The prophets spoke of a time when God’s kingdom would be established and all nations would be blessed (Isaiah 2:2-4). In Acts 3:18-20, Peter affirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophetic promises, pointing to the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. Christianity is not a break from Israel’s story but its fulfillment.
This theme of continuity is echoed in Hebrews 1:1-2, where the author writes, “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.” The apostolic testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ serves as the fulfillment of the prophetic vision. Christ, the cornerstone, binds both the Old and New Testaments together, creating a unified whole.
John Calvin, in The Institutes of the Christian Religion, describes the church as “the mother of all believers” (IV.1.4), emphasizing that faith is nurtured and strengthened through the teachings passed down from the apostles. The Westminster Confession of Faith also upholds the idea that the visible church stands on the teachings of Scripture, the apostles, and the prophets.
A Dwelling Place for God
Paul’s metaphor reaches its climax in Ephesians 2:21-22: “In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” The church, as a spiritual temple, is where God dwells, not in buildings made by human hands but in the hearts and lives of his people. This notion has deep roots in the Old Testament, particularly in the temple imagery.
The idea of God dwelling with his people is first seen in the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites through the wilderness. Exodus 40:34-35 recounts how the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle: “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” This was the place where God’s presence resided among his people. Later, Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem would become the focal point of Israel’s worship, but even then, the temple was not seen as able to fully contain God’s glory. As Solomon prays in 1 Kings 8:27, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!”
The true fulfillment of this promise comes in Christ. In John 2:19-21, Jesus declares, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” referring to his body as the true temple. Through his death and resurrection, Christ becomes the locus of God’s presence, and through the Holy Spirit, God now dwells within his people. The church, therefore, is not just an institution or organization but the living, breathing temple of God on earth.
This idea is also highlighted in Acts 2, where the apostles receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Spirit descends upon them, empowering them to proclaim the gospel in various languages. The coming of the Spirit marks the inauguration of the church as God’s dwelling place, where his presence resides not in a building but in the hearts of believers.
Ephesians 2:19-22 – Meaning for Today
So, what does it mean to be citizens and members of God’s household today? In a world marked by division, alienation, and isolation, the church stands as a beacon of true belonging. Ephesians 2:19-22 calls us to embrace our identity as members of God’s family, a family that transcends earthly divisions of race, nationality, and social status. The church is a community where these walls are torn down, and where Christ unites us as one.
In Hebrews 13:14, we are reminded that “here we have no lasting city,” but we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. This passage challenges us to examine where we place our identity. If our primary citizenship is in heaven, then our loyalty and allegiance must be to God’s kingdom rather than to political or national identities. While we remain engaged with the world around us, our lives should be shaped by our commitment to Christ.
Furthermore, this passage calls us to live out the reality of God’s dwelling within us. The church is not just a place we attend; it is the body of Christ, the living temple where God’s Spirit resides. We are called to embody this truth by living in unity, building one another up, and living out our faith in the world. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 serves as an early example of how the church must continue to seek unity and inclusion, ensuring that no one is excluded from the household of God.
As members of God’s household, we are also part of something much larger than ourselves. The Belgic Confession (Article 28) reminds us that it is the duty of all believers to join and unite with the church. In this community, we grow together in faith, love, and mission, bearing witness to the transformative power of God’s presence in the world.
Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:19-22 offer us a powerful vision for the church: a home, a family, a temple. It’s a vision that transcends time, space, and culture—a vision that is both communal and eternal. May we live as those who truly belong to this household, embodying the presence of God in the world.
