Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 2:19

"So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God," — Ephesians 2:19 (ASV)

Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

How blessedly grace annihilates all national distinction. Cowper spoke of nations which, like kindred drops, would have melted into one if they had not been divided by a range of mountains or intersected by a narrower faith. But in the gospel of grace we do melt into one. Who loves the Lord is a co-patriot with all who love him. Distinctions of nationality sweetly sink when we come to know the Saviour. We are fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God.

You are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

A part of the family of the great Householder, even God.

Citizenship is well enough in its place, but citizens do not always know one another. But we are of the household of God; we are brought into an intimate relationship with one another through our Elder Brother, who makes us the children of the great Father in heaven.

Now therefore

Another of Paul's blessed "nows." It was "but now" a little while ago; now he has another "now." "Now therefore" –

Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God:

There are many here whom we do not know. We have not seen their faces before, but if they are in Christ and we are in Christ, we are very close kin.

An old proverb says that blood is thicker than water, and rest assured that when the blood of Christ is sprinkled upon us, it creates a very close kinship.

When we are bought with the same price, made alive by the same life, and are on the way to the same heaven, we are very close kin.

We are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and all the household of God.

People make a great fuss when they grant someone the freedom of the City of London. There is a fine gold box to put it in.

You have received the freedom of the New Jerusalem, and your faith, like a golden box, holds the deeds of your citizenship. Take care of them, and rejoice in them.

You are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

You are not only in the kingdom, but you are in the royal household, which is better still. You are princes of the blood imperial. You are peers of the court of heaven: and the household of God.