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A HOLY TEMPLE
1 Corinthians 3: 16-17
June 12, 2019, WED p.m. – MBC Baesa
Introduction:
• Some of the metaphors we talk about the church used in the New Testament:
“It’s a Building”
“It’s a Body”
“It’s a Growing Body”
“It’s a Flock”
• Now we want to tackle another metaphor, “It’s a Temple”. The purpose is that it is to be a holy dwelling place for the Holy God.
• To remind ourselves what kind of temple in the Old Testament let us refer to some passages that described Solomon’s temple in 2 Chronicles chapters 3 to 4 and in 1 Kings chapters 6 to 7.
• The place of worship are as follows:
1. Porch – 10 cubits by 20 cubits (a cubit is about 1 ½ feet)
2. Holy Place –20 cubits width, 40 cubits length, 30 cubits height (45 feet or approximately 4 stories high)
3. Holy of holies – 20 cubits by 20 cubits
The courtyard’s dimensions is not given but the great bronze and the bronze laver were here included.
• The temple of Solomon is like the height of some of the modern condominiums of today, but a little bit shorter and narrower. However, the interior was overlaid with gold.
• Again I say the temple was the place of worship. God instructed the Israelites during their wandering that a fixed place of worship would be chosen in the land and all their worships were to be held there, an issued decree that was frequently ignored by men like King Solomon.
In spite of that, the temple was the appointed place where God met with His people. It became the most important part of religious and national life. It was a place resorted by everyone.
• In 2 Chronicles 5:11-14, amazingly the presence of God filled this place of worship when the temple was dedicated.
• We can see the impressive picture of worship with dedicated choirs singing and musicians with elaborate rituals conducted by the priests during the national religious worship.
• Holiness is the primary idea of the temple as a dwelling place for God provided in the land.
1. As distinctions from all other nations, the presence of God in the land made the land holy.
2. As restriction of entering in the temple, the holiness and majesty of God was emphasized.
3. The people were forbidden to enter the house of God but were only allowed to assembled themselves in the courtyard.
4. The priests could only enter the holy place as they minister here and then being their exclusive domain according to a strict set of orders.
5. On the Day of Atonement, the holy of holies was opened once a year and was entered only by the high priest.
• The reasons for all of these are to emphasize the holiness of God that men should fear God and have reverence unto Him.
• In 1 Corinthians 3 as our passage of study, the temple is a very specific term, it described a specific part of the temple which is the holy of holies.
• Listen, God has done something different from the Old Testament temple worship. God today is worshipped wherever the church gathered together instead of a fixed location for worship in the OT temple.
• The house of God the church is now composed of holy people instead of a holy building of the OT.
• Christians are the temple of God.
• Let us broaden and expand this metaphor called temple for us as a local church. In this 21st century, it was a local temple of God.
I- THE PROTECTION OF GOD FOR THE HOLY TEMPLE (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
A. The Clarification of the words
1. The Temple here is the holy of holies
2. The Term “ye” is in Plurality as in the corporate body
• Avoid confusion between the 1 Corinthians 3 and 1 Corinthians 6.
→ The 1 Corinthians 3 refers to a group of people to a local church, it was also a temple of God (Not H.S)
→ The 1 Corinthians 6 refers to the body of believer, it is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “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? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Wherever God lives is God’s temple. Each individual believer of Christ is the temple of Holy Spirit as indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
→ Holiness of life does not make the Holy Spirit participant in the activity of sin.
3. The Translation difference between KJV and NASB
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” KJV
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” NASB
a. “The temple” KJV
b. “A temple” NASB
In Greek there is no article, therefore each local church is a temple of God and not the temple of God. No one location in the New Testament era.
4. The Third person of Trinity presence – Spirit of God dwells in the local church
a. It is the Holy Spirit presence the reason why the local church is God’s temple.
b. It is the Holy Spirit presence is the reason why the local church is holy place.
5. The Total destruction gives us warning (v. 17)
1 Corinthians 3:17 “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
• Let us take a look in Strong’s data on the word “destroy”
→ phtheiro {fthi'-ro} Meaning: - to corrupt, to destroy
a) in the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted or "destroyed" when anyone defiled or in the slightest degree damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties
b) to lead away a Christian church from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide
c) to be destroyed, to perish
B. The Context of the warning.
1. Paul wrote conflict and a party spirit in the local church. – 1 Corinthians chapter’s 1-4
2. Paul mentioned earlier in our passage about the “wood, hay, stubble” which he refers to ministers of the Gospel and leaders in the local church. – 1 Corinthians 3:12, 3-8, 10, 22.
3. Paul told the Corinthians that the destruction was the wicked divisions and unholy spirit between members of the temple of God. Paul told them that kind of spirit of division and divisiveness has no place in the house of the Lord – you are holy temple, the dwelling place of the Holy God.
II- THE PREMISES IS CLEAN FOR GOD'S HOLY TEMPLE (2 Corinthians 6:16)
2 Corinthians 6:16 “Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” NASB
2 Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” KJV
A. Expanded context
1. The Separation Principle: Avoid unequal yoke with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:13- 18)
2 Corinthians 6:13- 18 “Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
a. The passage is often applied to marriage. [but not much refer it here]
b. The passage is contextually applied to church membership
1) We can see in our context that false teachers attack Paul in Corinth.
2) We can see in our context that Paul reminds the true believers to be open in their fellowship with him, but on the other hand, Paul instructs them they have nothing in common with unbelievers [this is an implication regarding what these false teachers were]
2. The Separation call (v. 17-18) and cleansing (2 Corinthians 7:1)
2 Corinthians 6:17- 18 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
B. Especially Concerned
• Every local church of God must be especially concerned about the purity of its membership
1. We are the holy sacred place, the holy of holies, the place of God’s dwelling [shekinah glory]
2. We as believers in Christ are given the responsibility by God for keeping God’s temple cleansed
a. We need to purge out the old leaven of immoral membership – 1 Corinthians 5
b. We need to Purge out the troublesome preachers of error and of rebellion to the apostles-1 Corinthians 6
III- THE PLACE OF GROUND FOR HOLY LIVING (Ephesians 2:19-22)
A. Conversion in Christ with new condition (Ephesians 2:19-22)
1. In the household of God: No more divisions for Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles are no longer strangers but fellow citizens of the saints.-v.19
Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
→ The household here is the Greco-Roman household.
→ In the household the master, wife and children and even slaves, all are one. This is a featured image of a socially cohesive unit functioning together.
2. The local church are God’s building (v. 20)
Ephesians 2:20 “ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
3. The local church are built into a holy of holies in the Lord (v. 21)
Ephesians 2:21 “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:”
4. The local church are being built for a dwelling place of God (v. 22)
Ephesians 2:22 “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
B. Consequences of the new condition (Ephesians 4-6)
1. There is a Behavioral Transformation displayed (Ephesians 4:25-32; Ephesians 5:1-20)
2. There is a Relationships Transformation designed (Ephesians 5:21-33; Ephesians 6:1- 10)
a. Marriage
b. Parent/child
c. Master/slave
3. There is Consciousness Transformation discovered (Ephesians 6:11)
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
IV- THE PURPOSE OF OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES IN THE HOLY TEMPLE (1 Peter 2:5, 9-15)
A. The Principle of Spiritual sacrifice as acceptably offered (v. 5)
1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
B. The Practice of Spiritual sacrifices as clearly defined (v. 9-15)
1. Abide walking in the light to show God’s praise. (v. 9)
1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”
2. Avoid fleshly lusts (v. 11)
1 Peter 2:11“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”
3. Applied Honesty (v. 12)
1 Peter 2:12 “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
4. Act submissively to the laws of the land (v. 13-14)
1 Peter 2:13- 14 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
5. Aim always to Glorify God (v. 15)
1 Peter 2:15 “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”
Conclusion:
These are admonitions corporately but applied individually.
They are accountable to one another because of holiness; they need to consider one another against wickedness – to one another or even to those unsaved.
Paul said, “Ye are the temple of God” – these passages give us the reasons and evidence for a personal commitment to church membership for the glory of God in His temple, right here in Messiah Baptist Church.
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