God's Temple

1 Cor 3:16-17  Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. ESV

 

Drive through any large city today and you will see the walls of many buildings covered with graffiti. It may only be a name and date, or it may be something more sinister, such as gang signs or obscenities. An entire wall may even be covered with a spray-painted mural. One of the justifications of those who engage in this practice is that it is actually an art form. Those who consider graffiti painting to be a form of vandalism, however, are quick to point out that the problem with this so called "art form" is that it uses other people's property as its canvas.

While you and I might accidentally damage someone else's property, we would never think of entering that person's home to intentionally deface or destroy it. In fact, if our neighbors were to ask us to watch their home while they went away on vacation, we would be especially vigilant to make sure no one damaged it.

In 1 Cor 3:16 we are told to exercise similar care over God's property. In particular, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are God's temple.

The Corinthians were very familiar with the idea of a temple. Their pagan background was filled with them. Therefore, the language used by Paul in this verse would have brought to the Corinthians' minds the many familiar shrines that surrounded them, and in which were placed statues of the Greek and Roman pantheon.

Those who were from a Jewish background, however, would think of something quite different when they read Paul's words. For them, there was only one temple, just as there was only one true God. The reader from a Jewish background would see the word temple and immediately think of Jerusalem and the temple of Jehovah. More specifically, the particular word used by Paul in this verse would bring to mind the sanctuary itself—the place where God demonstrated His presence in a visible way through the shekinah cloud. Although the term Shekinah does not appear in the Old Testament, it was used by the rabbis to speak of the glorious cloud which went before Israel during the wilderness journey.

When Israel traveled through the wilderness, God made His presence known by means of a cloud that traveled before them by day and a pillar of fire that gave light by night (Ex 13:21-22). When the tabernacle was completed, the cloud of glory filled it to such a degree that even Moses could not enter it (Ex 40:34-35). God did the same when the temple of Solomon was dedicated, causing the priests to flee from the sanctuary

(1 Kings 8:11). The tabernacle and the temple were both visible reminders that God had chosen to dwell among His people.

Because of this, one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the Jewish people was the destruction of Solomon's temple by the Babylonians. They saw the decree by Cyrus, king of Persia in 538 B.C., that permitted them to return and rebuild the temple as a singular mark of God's deliverance. However, in an event that was prophesied by Jesus in Luke 21:6, the temple was destroyed again by the Romans in 70 A.D., nearly twenty years after Paul penned these words.

Paul does not say that we are "a temple," as if there were many. He says that we are "the temple." He is saying that the church is the one true temple of the living God. This description is all the more significant when we realize that the temple in Jerusalem was still functioning at the time Paul wrote these words.

The church is the new temple, a dwelling place for God through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The fact that God has chosen the church to be His temple places us under obligation. Being the temple of God means that we are also accountable as caretakers of it: "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple" (1 Cor 3:17).

Although this is the kind of warning we might normally expect to find in the Old Testament, it is also consistent with the New Testament. For example, when Ananias and Sapphira conspired together to lie to the Holy Spirit, they were severely judged. As a result: "Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events" (Acts 5:11). These tragic deaths were a proof of God's ownership of the church and a solemn reminder of the reality of divine judgment.

I once visited a church and noticed that the building was in bad condition. The paint was peeling, the steps were cracked and crumbling, and the sign out front had several letters missing from the church's name. In every aspect, the building made a statement about this church and its members. In bold letters, it said: "We don't care." The way a church takes care of its building and grounds says a lot about it. But the way a church lives says even more. There are signs of neglect that are far more serious than peeling paint and crumbling cement.

Since the church is God's dwelling, we should be concerned about its condition. If there are weaknesses, we should strive to build them up. Where there is failure, we should work toward restoration. We cannot show any less regard for God's house than we would for our own. The blemishes that mar the true temple are things like unkind speech, envy, factions, and outbursts of anger. One couple who grumbled about some of the decisions the new pastor of the church they attended had made justified their anger by saying: "After all, its our church!" They were mistaken. It is not the congregation's church. It is not the board's church or even the pastor's, either. The church belongs to God. It is His temple, and He will hold us accountable if we do anything to harm it.

Lord of the Church, glorify Yourself through Your people. Make me Your instrument to build up the church. May the glory of Your presence shine through Your people so that others will know it is Your dwelling place. Amen

Thanks to John Koessler for allowing us to publish his material.www.johnkosessler.com

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John Koessler serves as chair and professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is married to Jane and has two sons, Drew and Jarred. John is the author of ten books and numerous articles. He also serves as a contributing editor for the Moody Bible Institute publication Today in the Word, where you can read his monthly “Theology Matters” column. You can contact John via email at John.Koessler@moody.edu or by phone at (312) 329-4077