"In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." (Ephesians 2:21)

This verse is at the heart of Paul's beautiful exposition of the growth, one by one, of the great body of believers who will eventually comprise "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Hebrews 12:23). Here the figure of a great building is used, "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:20).

Upon this strong foundation the building is erected, with each stone being selected and prepared by God for its own specific place in the beautiful edifice. The stones, of course, are individual believers. These "lively stones, are built up a spiritual house" (1 Peter 2:5), and like the beautiful temple of Solomon, where "the glory of the Lord filled the house" (2 Chronicles 7:1), these "also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22).

Each stone must be exquisitely chiseled and polished, so that all will be "fitly framed together" when placed in the building. The stones may well be of varied sizes, shapes, and hues in order to display the architectural pattern and message planned and designed by the divine builder, but each is necessary for the integrity of the building. Some may be large stones, highly visible and ornate; others may be small and scarcely noticed, but all are essential, and must be "fitly framed together," so that the finished structure indeed can serve appropriately as "an holy temple in the Lord."

Every true Christian is a stone for the spiritual temple, now being cut and carefully dimensioned for a specific role, then polished and adorned for that precise location in the heavenly building (or ministry in the work of God), where he or she can best serve God (Revelation 22:3) in the eternal ages to come. HMM