THE TEMPLE OF GOD

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

In verse 9 of this chapter, Paul, referring to the congregation of God's children that make up the church of Christ at Corinth, tells them that they are God's building. These are the same Christians Paul identifies in the lesson text addressing them as the temple of God, in whom the Spirit of God dwelleth.

Both the tabernacle, used by the Jewish nation, during their wilderness wonderings, as well as the permanent Jewish temple erected in Jerusalem, was, during the Jewish Dispensation, God's dwelling place among His chosen people. That analogy is carried over into the teaching found in the lesson text. Here the temple of God represents two bodies in which He dwells. First, the temple of God is His church. Although misunderstood by His Jewish audience, when asking for a sign that would establish Himself as the Messiah, Jesus answered and said unto them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19). This He accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection from the grave. Indeed, it was this resurrected body of Christ that served as the foundation for His church. Paul told the Ephesian Christians that Jesus Christ Himself was the chief corner stone of the church, which served as an habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph. 2:20-22).

This temple, God's church, is not to be defiled. It is holy, and it is to remain holy, and serve the purpose for which God, the author of eternal salvation, designed for it. His church, the body of Christ, is, not only to teach, edify, and fill the spiritual needs of the membership that makes it up, but it is also responsible for spreading the word of God, and teaching Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind, throughout the world. To defile this body, the church of Christ, through envying, and strife, and divisions, ...and walk as men (See Vs. 3 above), is to defeat the very cause for which God designed it. A church defiled, is an abomination in the sight of God. Unless it is reconciled to God through sincere repentance, it shall God destroy.

Also, every Christian is a temple of God, in which He dwells. Later on in this letter to the church at Corinth, Paul wrote, What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Also, Peter referred to Christians as lively stones, ...a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5). The writer of the Hebrew letter said that Christians are to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Heb. 13:15-16).

These passages from God's holy word, tells us that each individual Christian is to glorify God, ...to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, ...(giving) praise to God continually, ...giving thanks to His name, ...to do good and to communicate forget not. Here we have God's design for each Christian - their duties and responsibilities to fulfill the will of God. Christians are, not only to praise and give thanks to God, but each is to do good - communicate to others. Where others have spiritual needs, Christians have a responsibility to fill that need to the best of their abilities. Communicate to them through word and deed. Feed, clothe, and provide shelter for the hungry, bare, and homeless. Comfort those that are distressed, sad, and those in mourning. Lift up the fallen. Teach the unlearned. Sharing God's gifts with others is the responsibility of every Christian. These things we owe to all that are physically in need - this we owe to them, with God receiving the honor and glory.

Christians also owe a debt to God and to all that are spiritually destitute. It is the duty and responsibility of every Christian to communicate and share, the gospel of Christ wherever there are open and receptive hearts and minds. To all that are searching for the hope of salvation, we are to lead them to Jesus Christ in whom it can be found. To accomplish the will of God, Christians must make sacrifices, but with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Paul wrote to each Christian in the church of Christ in Corinth, and to every Christian today, telling them ye are the temple of God. No man is to defile this temple; it is to become and remain holy in His sight. Only then, can the temple of God, His church and each Christian within it, do His will!