From Genesis to Revelation we find three prevailing analogies regarding God’s desire and design in a people; A Bride, A temple, A Body/family. He is drawing together and making something of, and building something in, His own.
Consider His temple dwelling
[Psalm 118:22-23 NASB95] 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner [stone.] 23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
In God’s blueprint, that which is central and most important was rejected by men who would build their own thing out of brick . But He has chosen Him (Jesus) as the choice stone and laid Him in as the Cornerstone. That cornerstone of God’s doing/shaping/choice is now marvelous in our sight.
[Isaiah 28:16-17a NASB95] 16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone [for] the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes [in it] will not be disturbed. 17 “I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level; ….
He has laid this tested/tried/approved stone which is choice/costly, select/best of its class/excellent,splendid in place on the highest mount in the city. It has been, not just laid haphazardly, but founded/established/fixed/seated firmly, appointed and ordained. You can trust and believe in it in building upon it because it will not (literally) be hurried, that is; made to move quickly or disturbed, shifted.
[Ephesians 2:19-22 NASB95] 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner [stone,] 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Godhaving made us members of HIs household having built us upon that stone prophesied of in Psalms and Isaiah. Jesus!…. is raising/growing up (growing here literally means is causing increase as in a plant or crop, making it to be greater) a temple, a sanctuary, a consecrated place.
Note that that temple is singularly IN the Lord/Master/Decider/Owner/Possessor, and in Him you, corporately, are being “built together”, literally put together, constructed together with others, into a dwelling; that is an abode or habitation, dwelling place. This dwelling place is for God and He is abiding there by the Holy Spirit’s power and influence.
Consider that God, the first part of the Trinity, has made His abode in this temple made up of us, and is there as/by the Holy Spirit, whom we consider the third part of the Trinity, as the whole thing is founded in Jesus, the Son or second part of the Trinity. This temple holds a representation of the fullness of God in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and His glory should be evident upon it.
[1Peter 2:4-7 NASB95] 4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For [this] is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER [stone,] AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER [stone,]”
We come to Him/Jesus, who is the original living cornerstone, breathing and holding life. The precious one, rejected of men, but choice, chosen, selected of God and the one with precious and priceless worth. And in coming to Him we are transformed to living and breathing holding life stones ourselves. And, we are being built up, erected, founded, established into a spiritual house. That is, one filled with and governed by the Spirit.
It is quite a work God is doing in us through Jesus. May we capture a glimpse of that work in building a habitation for Himself and may we as the Psalmist declare:
23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
[Revelation 21:2-4 NASB95] 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be [any] death; there will no longer be [any] mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”