The Spirit Makes Us God’s Dwelling Place

by Laura Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

Key Passage(s): Ephesians 2:11-22

Supplementary Passage(s): Isaiah 28:16; 1Corinthians 3:10-17

 

God’s dwelling place has never been bricks and mortar. He has always dwelt among his people. But once Jesus came, lived, died, rose, and ascended, something changed: where God once dwelt with his people, he now dwells in us. The community of those who trust Jesus is and is becoming the dwelling place of God.

 

This dwelling place is built on the foundation of the good news of Jesus, written down in the words of Scripture. It is held up by and measured against Jesus himself, for he is the cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:10-17). The Spirit who dwells within us also works in and with us to build us from the inside. So, if a church intends to look and act like God's dwelling place, we who are the church must choose to live by the Spirit, tending our lives toward him, submitting to him, and partnering with him.

 

Tend toward the Spirit. Let us tend toward the Spirit by reminding ourselves that he is God with us, forming us to become the church Jesus saves us to be. Let us remember that the Spirit teaches us Jesus through the Bible and our brothers and sisters. Let us learn Jesus with all that we are in the company of our sisters and brothers in Christ. Let us learn to recognize the Spirit’s voice by slowing down to listen and testing each prompting against the Bible and in conversation with our fellow believers.

 

Submit to the Spirit. Let us submit to the Spirit’s tools and methods and set ours aside. Let us submit to his design for the structure of the whole and for how each individual believer functions in the context of the unity that is in Jesus.

 

Partner with the Spirit. If the dwelling place is to be a sound structure, we who are its living stones must submit to the Designer. Let us partner with the Spirit and one another to develop and live out our calling as the dwelling place of God in the world.