What does this verse mean to you?
I've copied and pasted the NIV, but please feel free to look it up in your own version.
Ephesians 2:19-22 states, “you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”
Here's what it means to me:
First looking at what a Cornerstone is: It's a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls. It's an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based. It has also been called a “Foundation Stone”. It's the first stone set in a construction of a foundation. It's very important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the ENTIRE structure.
So, looking at this verse, we see the teachings, the examples, of Christ Jesus Himself laid down as the cornerstone. We see the apostles (representing the New Testament teachings) and the prophets (representing the Old Testament teachings) building off of that cornerstone, the foundation of God's household – His church. In Him, we, on a more personal level, are also being built on this foundation to be a part of this building, God's church, so that God can live in us.
In short: Jesus is the cornerstone of our foundation both on a personal level, for our own personal relationship with God and on us, His church, as a whole.
I've copied and pasted the NIV, but please feel free to look it up in your own version.
Ephesians 2:19-22 states, “you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”
Here's what it means to me:
First looking at what a Cornerstone is: It's a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls. It's an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based. It has also been called a “Foundation Stone”. It's the first stone set in a construction of a foundation. It's very important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the ENTIRE structure.
So, looking at this verse, we see the teachings, the examples, of Christ Jesus Himself laid down as the cornerstone. We see the apostles (representing the New Testament teachings) and the prophets (representing the Old Testament teachings) building off of that cornerstone, the foundation of God's household – His church. In Him, we, on a more personal level, are also being built on this foundation to be a part of this building, God's church, so that God can live in us.
In short: Jesus is the cornerstone of our foundation both on a personal level, for our own personal relationship with God and on us, His church, as a whole.
