Today, as we begin to pray, we will look at one last blessing from Ephesians 2:19 that involves our inclusion in “the household of God.” Our verse for today reads:
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God – Ephesians 2:19.
As always, before we can understand what the verse means, we have to understand exactly what the text is saying. We do that by defining our key terms in order to see what the meaning of the word was when it was written, and not necessarily what it means today. After all, language is constantly in a state of flux and changes with each generation. For example, 50 years ago the word “mouse” meant only one thing to everyone, a furry rodent. But today our primary thought when we hear that word is of a computer mouse. You can see the importance of discovering the original meaning of the text and not making it say what we want it to say. So let’s define our words.
The Greek word translated “household” is oikeíos and means “belonging or standing in relation to the household.” Or, more literally, “belonging to a household.” The blessing for each of us as revealed in this verse once again drives home the point we are now God’s family, His children, and as such, members of His household, the “household of God” (Eph. 2:19). Which raises just a few questions and some encouraging answers.
The Household of God
First, how does someone become a member of a household? There are basically two ways. One, you can be born into a household or family as a son or daughter. Or two, you can be chosen to be included in the household by adoption as a son or daughter. For us as believers, both ways apply.
Jesus, when talking with Nicodemus, introduced the reality of being “born again” into the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). He then went on to describe what this process of the new birth was all about by saying it is supernatural, spiritual, and has nothing to do with natural, physical birth. But Jesus also stated emphatically the new birth is the only way to enter the Kingdom of God. It is a non-negotiable, unyielding requirement. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Did you catch the non-negotiable term in His statement? It is the word, cannot.
Jesus said without the new birth you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Or, in other words, you cannot be saved or receive eternal life.
The Greek word translated cannot is a combination of two words. The first is ou which means “not, no, expressing direct and full negation both independently and absolutely.” The other word is dúnamai which means “to be able, to have power, by virtue of one’s own ability and resources.” So cannot in Greek means “not, no way, never” and “to be able or to have the power within oneself.” In essence, it ain’t gonna happen no matter how hard you try.
What Jesus was telling Nicodemus is the entrance into His Kingdom and into the “household of God” is not something we can do on our own. We are not able, we do not have the power or resources, and there is literally nothing we can do to join God’s family on our own. We have to be invited, called, accepted, changed, and “born again” by the Spirit (John 3:8).
There is so much more to unpack regarding “the household of God” and we will have to table much of that until tomorrow. But for today, praise Him for the fact your salvation was a gift given to you by a sovereign Father who chose to include you in His family (Eph. 1:4). He chose to not only adopt you as His child (Eph. 1:5), but also change you by the new birth into the likeness of His Son (Rom. 8:29). In fact, He predestined you before time began for that very purpose.
So this is your calling. This is what you were created for. You were destined to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29) so others will see Him when they see you. And rest assured, there is no higher calling than this.
Time to Pray
When you pray this morning, don’t pray as one who has no purpose or meaning in their life. Instead, pray as one who has, and who is right now, receiving an inheritance from the King and has been commissioned to bring the light of His Kingdom into a dark and foreboding world.
Spend some time today thanking Him for this wondrous calling and praise Him for how blessed you truly are!
And enjoy Him to the fullest today.
