Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:11-17

The Temple of God

Intro.

1. God’s constant desire is to dwell with His people:

a. In Eden, Gen. 3:8-9.

b. Tabernacle for Israel, Exo. 25:8.

c. Solomon’s temple, Deut. 12:5; 1 Kgs. 9:3; 8:10-13.

d. With Christians, 2 Cor. 6:16.

e. Eternity, Rev. 21:3.

2. God’s house:

a. House of prayer, Matt. 21:13 (Isa. 56:7).

b. House of sacrifice (2 Chrn. 7:12).

c. House of holiness: God’s presence (Holy Place, Holy of Holies), Heb. 9:1-3.

3. The OT temple is typical of the church and God dwelling with Christians, 2 Cor. 6:16.

I. THE TEMPLE OF GOD.

A. The Church of Christ (universal), Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:19-22.

1. Holy temple in the Lord, 2:21.

a. Holy priesthood, 1 Pet. 2:4-5.

b. Holy lives, 1 Pet. 1:13-16; 2 Cor. 6:17; cf. 1 Tim. 3:15.

2. House of sacrifice, 1 Pet. 2:5. (priests)

a. The church offers acceptable worship to God, Jno. 4:23-24.

b. Our behavior must be acceptable to God for our worship to please Him, cf. Amos 5:21-27.

3. Dwelling place of God in the Spirit, 2:22.

a. Ezekiel’s vision of a New Temple (Ezek. 40-43): The church, Ezek. 43:9-12 (Isa. 2:2-3). The law of holiness!

b. Emphasizes the value of the church: To diminish the church is to diminish God’s dwelling with Christians! (Eph. 3:10-11)

B. The Local Church, 1 Cor. 3:11-17.

1. God’s building, 1 Cor. 3:9.

2. Built on the foundation of Christ, 1 Cor. 3:11.

3. Be careful how you build the local church, 1 Cor. 3:12-15.

-Not carnally (cf. the context of division, 1:10-12; 3:1-4).

a. Not like Diotrephes, 3 Jno. 9-11 (1 Cor. 3:21).

b. Not with false doctrine and compromise with it, Rev. 2:14-15.

c. Not with immorality, Rev. 2:20; cf. 1 Cor. 5:1-2.

4. Compelling reasons to remember the congregation is the temple of God:

a. The Holy Spirit dwells with you, 1 Cor. 3:16.

b. Warning against the defilement of its holiness, 1 Cor. 3:17.

c. Christ dwells with the churches, Rev. 1:20-2:2.

C. Each Individual Christian, 1 Cor. 6:19-20.

1. The Christian’s fellowship with God includes fellowship with His Spirit.

a. By keeping His commandments, 1 Jno. 3:24; cf. 2 Jno. 9.

b. By practicing brotherly love, 1 Jno. 4:12-13.

2. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit:

a. You were bought at a price (blood of Christ), 1 Cor. 6:20 (7:23).

b. You belong to God! 1 Cor. 6:20

c. Instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:13).

3. Christians are obligated to be holy! 2 Cor. 6:16

a. Be a living sacrifice unto God, Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:5.

b. Moral purity:

1) In mind, Rom. 12:2.

2) In body, 1 Cor. 6:15-18; 1 Ths. 4:3-5.

c. Applications includes: Flee fornication, pornography, lasciviousness, lust, immodest clothing, alcohol, drugs (nicotine, marijuana, etc.)...

d. All these and more defile the holy use of the body and do not “glorify God” (1 Cor. 6:20).

Conclusion

1. When the individual Christian is defiled, the local church may become defiled (if the sin is ignored, allowed or even encouraged).

2. When the individual Christian becomes defiled by sin it prevents God’s presence in his/her life (holiness, temple), 2 Cor. 6:16.

3. No defilement will enter heaven. Therefore, repent and be holy. God’s temple is holy.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: December 6, 2013