The holy Temple of God on earth

1 Cor 3:16: Don't you (plural) know that you yourselves (plural) are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (plural)?

Paul's message is: the church, the congregation of believers, can also be called the temple of God.

"You yourselves are God's temple." There are two words that Paul could have used for "temple." One which includes the entire temple area and structure on Mount Zion in Jerusalem and the other, the word that Paul uses here, that speaks of the sanctuary itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. The sanctuary is where God lives: his Name, glory and his power are present here.

The church is God's temple. But what does this mean? This tells us three things about the church and therefore about us, his people.

Firstly, this tells us that the church is where God lives. She is his sanctuary. In her is present his Name, his glory and his power. From here comes God's disclosures of who he is - to us and to the world. The church is where God has his home on earth and where men and women enjoy his presence.

Secondly, this tells us that the church is indwelt by the Spirit of God. The Bible teaches us that where God's Spirit is, there is the temple. That's why Paul can say, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you" (1 Cor 3:16). A church indwelt by the Spirit is a church filled with gifts and fruit, that grows, increases and matures.

Thirdly, this tells us that she, God’s church, is the body of Christ. More than once Jesus identifies the temple with his body. That is why Paul can say elsewhere that with Christ she suffered, with him she died, and with him she was raised. And, someday, with him she, his church, will be glorified.

The church is God's temple. And God's temple, says Paul, "is sacred." God's temple is holy. God's temple is special, set apart, consecrated, not used for ordinary things. The congregation, the followers of Jesus, the Body of believers, is holy, set apart, reserved for God and his use.

But many don't believe this. They want to believe that if anything is holy, it is a place, or a structure or at the most, an organisation.

But it is a people, a congregation of believers, that is holy. "You yourselves are God's temple and ... God's temple is sacred." The church, the people living in the Body of Christ, belong to God. She is his dwelling place and she is indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

And God does not tolerate her destruction. Instead, by God's grace and power, we are to build her up.

How do we do that? We can encourage and contribute, instead of criticize and take away from her beauty with the words we use, the thoughts we have and the attitudes we display. We can walk and live by the Spirit instead of falling from one sin into another. We can keep faith with each other, instead of breaking our promises. We can listen to the Word instead of following error and heresy.

So tell me, are the way that you live in the Body of Christ break her down, or build her up? Do you destroy or do you build up the holy church of Jesus?

Prayer: Dear Lord – thank you for the privilege to live in the Body of Christ - here on earth and for all eternity. Make me, by your Spirit, a builder and a beautifier of your church - in Jesus Name. Amen.