Text (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” One of the most elementary principles of Christian thought and life is expressed in these words: "Ye are not your own." "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit." "Glorify God therefore in your body." The sense of Divine ownership rather than self ownership is the inspiration of all Christian dignity and strength.
Last week I was in Buxar, Bihar, India where I was privileged to dedicate a new church building for God’s glory. Several Hundreds of people participated in the service, majority of them were non Christians. The neighborhood villagers and residents were extremely delighted to see a church in their own village. It was an exciting time as we were gathered to dedicate the new church building and set aside for God's glory, and yet I tried to seize the occasion to point out what believers well knew, that a church is not a mere building, but is people, and, though the building was beautiful, useful and essential in the carrying out of the plan that God has given , it was not what our Lord had in mind when he said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," (Matthew 16:18 ). Jesus, of course, meant the people, and the remarkable thing about the church is that it is a growing and living organism, made up of people whom Peter calls "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5). The Greek word Ekklesia, which is translated throughout the New Testament as “Church,” refers to a gathering of people, not a building. The church is that universal, mystical body made up of every person who has trusted Jesus Christ by faith and has been born into the family of God.
Why do people highly regard and esteem church? Why do they try their best to be good and not to do any wrong when they are in the church? If we notice, no one speaks bad words or smokes or gambles or gets drunk in church. Why? The obvious reason is because people believe that church is sacred (holy) place. In the old dispensation of the law, the tabernacle and later the temple were given over entirely to God for His sacred use. They were called “holy” because they were separated and used for His purpose and glory alone. It symbolized the house of God on the earth. The idea of the old temple was not that of the modern church, which is a building in which men may gather to worship God. The old temple was a shrine for Deity to dwell in; and this Divine presence in the central shrine was conceived as hallowing the entire temple buildings, right through to the outer courts and gates. So, if "Christ dwells in our hearts by faith," if our souls know his Divine presence, - then all the forces and powers of our body are consecrated, and ought to be hallowed. Our whole life, in its narrower and in its wider circles of relationship, must be thought of as sanctified, treated as pure, made and kept ever "clean," ever "holy."
According to the New Testament, in Acts 17:24, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands”
In John chapter 2:19 Jesus told the religious leaders, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” This is our Lord's answer to the Jewish request for a sign which should warrant His action in cleansing the Temple. John 2:21 tells us that Jesus was referring to HIS BODY. Christ's body was like the Temple, as it regards those religious services which were performed in it. In the Temple was a standing oracle; in Christ's humanity dwelt the true and living oracle of heaven. In the Temple was the altar of sacrifice and the atonement for sin. Both derived their efficacy from Him who His own self bore our sins. The Temple was the house of prayer. However Compared with Christ body, the temple at Jerusalem, in all its glory, beauty, and service, was but a meager structure. We must ever be on the alert to see realities, and not let our eyes be deceived by mere appearances. Though they killed Jesus (they destroyed the real temple) by nailing Him on the Cross, but He resurrected on the third Day! As He is resurrected Christ is a temple for all nations. In Him God dwells accessible to all: anywhere, irrespective of sacred times and places. Therefore Every Christian with Jesus in their heart is a temple of the living God. This is why Apostle Paul taught, “You are the temple of God” (I Cor. 3:16). The reason he can say that is because we have been redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of redemption and resurrection, the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in the redeemed.
So Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth the following words: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17) This is one of the most wonderful pictures given in the Scriptures depicting our relationship with God. We are His Walking temples. It’s about opening the door of our hearts and letting GOD do HIS work inside of us. Christianity does not happen ONLY in church as many people think. Christianity is wherever Christians are because wherever Christians are, they are the Temple of God. We are Christians NOT ONLY ON Sunday –- we are Christians EVERYDAY! Some people try to be Holy only during the Holy Week and on special holy days and live away from God throughout the rest of the year. This is not the Christianity that the Bible talks about rather true holiness are a LIFESTYLE. In other words, that’s how Christian live EVERY DAY.
What Paul is trying to tell us is that our Body is the dwelling place of Almighty God! Paul further said “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” That means God must be the One who is in control of what we do with our bodies. If your body is the Temple of God, then you must treat your body with care and respect. You stay holy and healthy and you don’t do anything that will jeopardize that. The word "temple" is the word that was used for the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. The Holy of Holies was a sacred place in the innermost part of the Temple where the Ark of the Covenant rested. The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. It was in the Holy of Holies where only the High Priest of Israel was allowed to go once a year on the Day of Atonement, to offer a sacrifice for the people. There was a curtain that separated all of humanity from the Holy of Holies. When Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that you and I now have access to God through the blood of Jesus Christ, In fact, the writer of Hebrews calls Jesus the "veil" or the "curtain" through which we enter the presence of God. So, now, because of us having been baptized by the Holy Spirit, we have made peace with God and have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We are temples of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament the LORD God had a temple for His people; however, in the New Testament He has His people as a temple. There are several comparisons between our bodies and the original Temple of God.
The first thing that would come to our mind when speaking of a temple is that, it is a place where God’s presence is. It is the most marvelous reality of the Christian life. The Jewish temple was also a place where the God was pleased in a more immediate manner to reside. when Solomon first dedicated it, we are told, "the house was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house." The earthly Temple was a place of consecration. Nothing that defiled was allowed on the grounds. In the New testament From the moment a person believe on Christ as his Savior, the Spirit of God dwells in him (Rom. 8:9). The indwelling Holy Spirit, a living person, a divine presence, is God’s means of reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:17).Jesus said in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Purity comes as a result of the act of consecration. Consecrated things are deemed pure, and to be used for sacred purposes only. One of the best ways to use our bodies is to Consecrate or dedicate it for the SERVICE OF GOD.
.Second the temple was place where men gathered to Pray, worship and lesson God’s word. The Jewish temple was a house of prayer. "My house (says the Great God) shall be called a house of prayer:" and implies that the hearts of true believers are the seats of prayer. People came to the temple and glorified the Lord. It was a place where songs were sung, prayers were prayed, praise was rendered, word of God was proclaimed and God was magnified. (See Isaiah 56:7.) Just as that temple was devoted to God as a place of worship, our bodies are to be places where God is worshiped. How can we worship God with our body? The Bible also tells us to OFFER OUR BODIES TO GOD AS LIVING SACRIFICES (Romans 12:1, 2). The believer must yield his or her whole life without any reserve to God. Our bodies are sacred temples, holy unto the Lord. God has claimed by means of redemption our bodies, and what He claimed for His holy purpose we must yield to Him. This is why Paul said “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
Third the temple was a place where men carried out the Duty they had been given by the Lord. It was a place where duties were performed. Duty is what one ought to do. Its root meaning is “to owe,” or “what is due.” Life itself is a privilege, offered by the Creator, God. Therefore, it is one's debt to live their life to glorify God. Duty deals with heart motives and purpose for living, which determines one's reason for certain kinds of conduct. Duty includes the responsibility to discover personal assets (talents, abilities, skills), utilize them and continuously improve, for God, self, family and society. Duty determines virtues, and vice versa. Commitments demonstrate character. Genuine character is shown as goodness, uprightness, integrity, honesty, morality. To answer the question, why duty, it is necessary to consider the alternatives to or the opposites of duty, to consider a society and life where duty is disregarded or rejected. The obvious result is selfishness, self-centeredness, rebellion, chaos, anarchy. The Christian conduct is a growth process of becoming Christ-like by imitating Him. The committed Christian knows he must do his duty, as defined by God's Word. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”(Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Ephesians chapter 6 tells us every job, every occupation, every work falls within a believer’s sacred duty. There’s no such thing as a secular job for a Christian. There’s no such thing as a secular anything because everything is to be done to the glory of God. If we are Christians, we also will seek to carry out our duty to our fellowmen, as revealed in the Word of God. In Matthew 25:34 Jesus speaks of those to whom He shall say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father," and them to whom He shall say, "Depart." It is all based upon their actions. They didn't feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and minister to those in prison and others in need. We OUGHT to feed the hungry. We OUGHT to clothe the naked. We OUGHT to visit the sick. We OUGHT to take a message of salvation and cheer to those in prison, those who have done wrong. God would have us take it into them. IF WE DO NOT, God does not say we shall hear, "Come, ye blessed of my Father." Rather, we shall be among the cursed because our lives are not bearing out what we claim in our profession. We are to carry out the responsibilities we have been given by God. There are many areas where we are duty bound before the Lord. In witnessing, in worship, in prayer, in tithing, in obedience, in holiness, in righteousness and in thousands of other ways, we are duty bound before God. In other words, in your job you’re serving the Lord with your attitude and your effort.
Fourth the old temple in Jerusalem was the scene of many sacrifices on the altars in obedience to God's commands. Every time anyone went to the temple, they were immediately confronted with a death and life scene. In each human body the seed of death is implanted, the law of mortality is at work. A threefold death has befallen man. The body dies, everlasting death is threatened, and spiritual death is inflicted. The highest life of man is a daily dying to all that is mean, false, evil, unspiritual, and wicked. The apostle felt this when he said “I face death every day--yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(1 Corinthians 15:31) Every part of our body is undergoing a process of disintegration and renovation; constantly throwing off old effete matter, and constantly receiving deposits of new and living matter. We must die while we live, in order that we may live when we die. According to the Bible, we have been born again, 1 Pet. 1:23. As a result, we are a totally "new creation", 2 Cor. 5:17. Therefore, we are expected to be dead to our old way of life, and to the way of life held so dear by this world system. (Col 3:1-9). In these verses, we are told to put off, or consider ourselves dead to, certain activities. Among them are: Fornication, Uncleanness, Evil desires and passions, Covetousness and Lying etc if you do not control your body and its passions, it will control you! To die once is a lot appointed for all; to die daily is a duty practiced, a blessing obtained by wise people; because the day is evil, they put it far from them.
Finally when men saw the temple standing there in Jerusalem, they were reminded of the powerful Name and Glory of God. 2 Cor. 3:2. Paul is telling us that everywhere we turn, everywhere we go, we are living, breathing love letters to humanity. Letters that say to sinners, "What God has done in our life,” we may be the only sermon some people ever see. So, how are we treating the House of God? Are you totally dedicated to the Lord Jesus? Are we using our body to worship Him in dedication and Devotion? Are we fully executing our Duties before the Lord? Have we put those things to Death in our life that dishonors Him? Is our life a pleasing Display of God’s glory?
