No More Strangers and Sojourners

Driving home: So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners but ye are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself.

A humble country preacher's secret to usefulness was to 'tell them what I plan to tell them, then I tell them what I said I was going to tell them, and finally I tell them what I did tell them.' This illustrates Paul's structured approach in Ephesians 2.

Being the chief cornerstone in whom each several building or every part of the building or all that is building fitly framed together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the spirit. Someone is supposed to have asked a humble country preacher. What was the secret of his great. Usefulness as a teacher and a preacher of his very humble country flock and the preacher is supposed to have said well the secret of my success from the human standpoint is that I first of all tell my people what I plan to tell them then I tell them what I...

1:05 - 2:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that Gentiles are no longer 'strangers' (non-resident aliens) or 'sojourners' (resident aliens) in relation to God's people. He emphasizes that God's grace always…

Martin recounts his experience as a stranger in Pakistan, feeling no roots, hearing a strange language, and being conscious of stares. This illustrates the meaning of 'stranger' as one visiting from another country with no intimacy or rights.

When it was my privilege to go to Pakistan last spring I came to that country as a stranger. I was tolerated for a time given some protection while there. But I had no roots in the country I had no intimacy with its culture with its way of life I was conscious that I was a stranger I heard this strange language continually long to hear a sentence or two in English sometimes for hours on end hearing nothing but Urdu I was very very conscious that I was a stranger. Others were conscious I was a stranger I felt that stare continuously.

9:59 - 10:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that Gentiles are no longer 'strangers' (non-resident aliens) or 'sojourners' (resident aliens) in relation to God's people. He emphasizes that God's grace always…

Examples of Mr. Spence being a stranger in Paris and Mr. Emmerich in England are given to further illustrate the concept of a 'stranger' as a temporary visitor.

Continually during the entire stay during the past week Mr. Spence was a stranger in Paris Mr. Emmerich who's visiting with us today from out in Phoenix he was a stranger in England. We have among us today some strangers people who are passing through from another country have no residence here they are simply here for a brief stay.

10:41 - 11:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that Gentiles are no longer 'strangers' (non-resident aliens) or 'sojourners' (resident aliens) in relation to God's people. He emphasizes that God's grace always…

The Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon's kingdom is used as an example of a 'stranger' who observed but was not welcome to stay and make it her home.

The non-resident alien would be the most accurate way to describe it in contemporary jargon. Now Paul says. You are no longer such strangers who could only as it were have passing contact with the visible people of God you remember the queen of Sheba she heard this tremendous story these tremendous stories of what God had done for the nation of Israel the might and the glory of the kingdom under Solomon and she came as a stranger to observe it but she was not welcome to stay to make that her home she went back. To her heathen kingdom Paul says you know are you are no longer in the posture and ...

11:04 - 12:11 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But we must not linger too long on the negations of grace for the amazing thing of the grace of God is not so much its negations but its impartations.

Martin describes his friend Hugh Gordon as a 'resident alien' or 'sojourner' in Pakistan, having lived there for years but lacking the full privileges of a citizen. This illustrates the meaning of 'sojourner' as one who lives beside others with secured status but not full citizenship.

You go back to Pakistan all the while I was there I was with my friend Hugh Gordon now he's not a stranger in Pakistan he has spent the majority of his days there for the past 10 years he is a resident alien not a stranger but a sojourner in the sense of the meaning of this word in the original it is his home it is the place of his dwelling it is the place where he carries on most of his activity but. He does not have the peculiar acceptance and privileges afforded only to the citizens of that country if there were to be a war between Canada and Pakistan immediately he would be evicted from th...

12:12 - 13:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Believers are now full citizens of God's city or nation, Zion, sweeping away all former distinctions and animosities. This citizenship is granted by spiritual birth, not earthly…

The phrase 'deal with them seriatim' in a business meeting is used to explain how Martin will address the three aspects of the believers' new status one by one in order.

In a business meeting, someone presents an agenda and someone says, well, we'll deal with them seriatim. One by one in the prescribed order. All right? What is the first then aspect of this present status?

21:42 - 21:56 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But now Paul says this is all done away with. You are no more strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints.

The peculiarity of ancient cities having walls around them, with citizens inside and non-citizens outside, illustrates the former exclusion of Gentiles from God's people and their new inclusion as fellow citizens.

For remember, this was the peculiarity, one of the peculiarities of cities in those days. They were identifiable entities. They had walls around them. And if you were a, a part of that city, you were within the walls and had rights and privileges to everything within the walls.

25:58 - 26:14 Read in full sermon

The point: think of your privileges as a citizen of the city of God.

Martin speaks of looking at his children and wondering how the same parents could produce such diversity, illustrating that diversity exists within a family while still sharing common parentage.

You see, it speaks of family members. Now granted, within the family there is great diversity of abilities, appearances, temperament, growth, maturation, tremendous diversity. Some of us look at our children and wonder how in the world the same parents could have produced such diversity. Individuals.

34:54 - 35:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Beyond citizenship, believers are equal members of God's family, sharing a common Father and enjoying the intimacy, protection, and provision of His household. This status…

The contrast between a motel (distant, no laughter, no familiar odors) and one's own home (familiar, shared experiences, unique smells) illustrates the difference between being a stranger/sojourner and a member of God's household.

Why? Because he's conscious that he shares in common with every member of the household all the privileges. Oh, do you catch something of the glory of this? Paul says, you are no longer strangers and sojourners who pay for a few nights stay in a motel. You ever anybody go by a motel and say, that's my house? Some of us who have to stay in motels don't find them very attractive.

37:03 - 37:25 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The most significant thing about the church is right in that little phrase habitation of God dwelling in his people this is what constitutes it a sanctuary holy in union with the Lord Jesus how could we become stones in …

The dual meaning of 'home' (a physical structure vs. the family within it) is used to explain how Paul moves from the concept of the 'household of God' to the 'house of God' (temple) without irrationality.

In whom each several building fitly framed groweth into a holy temple in the Lord in whom ye are built together for an habitation of God in the Spirit. The third aspect of their present status is bound up in these two parallel phrases he speaks of the temple holy in the Lord which is a better translation and an habitation of God in the Spirit. Now how in the world does he ever introduce this imagery from citizen and family member to living stones in a temple? Well apparently in the mentality and language in which Paul wrote and thought you had something very parallel to our own experience in E...

38:57 - 40:24 Read in full sermon

The point: how can you take the members of Christ and join them to a harlot?

The hypothetical scenario of someone daring to destroy the tabernacle with an axe and God striking him dead illustrates the seriousness of destroying God's temple, which is now the church.

they have some church problems at Corinth some people begin to attach themselves to personalities and begin piously to justify divisions how does Paul deal with it? he says he says he says he says he says he says he says he says he says he says he says don't you know that you are a naos of God you are a temple of God whoever destroys that temple God will destroy him what would happen if some man dared to come in with praise and affrontery into the tabernacle with an axe in hand to destroy that visible dwelling place of God God strike him dead Paul says don't you know you're a temple of God the...

49:43 - 51:08 Read in full sermon

The point: I speak a word of encouragement to some of you again new in the faith you look at your brothers and sisters who are so far beyond you in knowledge experience grace advances in holiness and you somehow feel well I I just …

A three-year-old refusing to come to the family table, feeling unworthy due to immaturity, and asking for food in the cellar, illustrates the false humility that grieves God when believers don't embrace their full privileges.

Peter even goes beyond Paul and mixes the imagery further he says we're living stones built up a spiritual house to be a spiritual priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God acceptable to God he says we're not only the naos the sanctuary we're the priesthood what a beautiful imagery mixed metaphors but wonderful realities conveyed by means of the mixed metaphors children of God may we be found meditating often upon it and we're living in the midst of it and I speak a word of encouragement to some of you again new in the faith you look at your brothers and sisters who are so ...

54:04 - 55:22 Read in full sermon