The Temple of God

The Temple of God

God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle so that the children of Israel might worship Him.  In this temple was the most holy place where the ark of the Covenant was placed.  On the ark was placed the mercy seat.  God said of that place, “And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God” (Exodus 29:43-45).  The tabernacle (and later the temple) was God’s dwelling place among His people Israel.

The temple was called the “the house of God,” and the “house of sacrifice” (1 Chronicles 29:2; 2 Chronicles 7:12).  In Isaiah 56:7 it was called a “house of prayer.”  Jesus said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).  The house of the lord was also called a sanctuary and a palace.  Isaiah referred to it as “Our holy and beautiful temple” (Isaiah 64:11).

The temple and the items of the temple were to be kept pure and undefiled under the penalty of death.  Leviticus 15:31 says, “'Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them.”  Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron used profane fire to burn incense to the Lord, and they died for their error (Leviticus 10:1-2).  God was very serious about His temple.

Today there is no longer a designated building created by men’s hands wherein God dwells.  Zechariah prophesied in chapter 2:10-11, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," says the LORD. Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you” (Zechariah 2:10-11). 

In 2 Corinthians 6:16 Paul wrote, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’”  Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). 

 Under the Law of Moses a copy of the word of God was kept in the ark of the Covenant.  Today the word of God resides in the hearts of Christians.  In speaking about the new covenant, God said, “I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). 

 Paul wrote, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).  This verse does not teach that each Christian has miraculous powers.  Miracles have ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8).  In the context of 1 Corinthians 3 Paul is talking about being a faithful worker in God’s kingdom.  In verse 9 he says that you are God’s fellow workers, and that you are God’s building.  Verse 13 says that your work will be tested by fire.

In 1 Corinthians 3:17 Paul warned, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”  Unrepentant sinners cannot enter into the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  Yet, there is hope.  You can be made holy.  Listen to these words in 1 Corinthians 6:11.  “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”   Paul wrote, “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Timothy 2:21).  Is God’s temple clean?