In Ephesians and Colossians, Paul assures Christians that Jesus is the answer for every need and hope. Jesus represents God in the most complete way. He makes us complete or “full” in every way. “In Christ” we enjoy all of Heaven’s blessings (Ephesians 1:3).17
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority (Colossians 2:9-10). M18
Paul assures members of God’s family that they are, right now, citizens of God’s “kingdom.”
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:12-14). M
They belong to God’s family or “household.” They – not that huge building near Ephesus – they are the “temple” that matters. The living God dwells inside His family!
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22). M
What are dead stones compared with the living, eternal temple? Citizenship in the earth’s strongest empire holds many advantages.19 But those advantages are as nothing compared with the blessings of God’s kingdom. Thus Paul encourages them, “seek the things that are above” (Colossians 3:1).
17. Research subject – Fullness: Colossians 1:9-11,15-20,28; 2:2-3,9-10,13,19; 3:11; 4:12; Ephesians 1:3,8,10,21-23; 3:19-20; 4:10,13,15; 5:18; 6:11
18. The letter M beside a passage of Scripture stands for “Memory Verse(s).” It suggests a passage that you may wish to memorize.
Picture: Today the remains of the theatre of Ephesus seats many thousands for concerts. This is the same theatre where crowds protested Paul’s success (Acts 19).