1 Corinthians 3:16-17, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
You are the temple of God: Paul will later (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) speak as individual Christians being temples. Here his emphasis is on the church as a whole (though it has application to individuals).
When Paul calls the church a temple, don't think he is using a picture. The physical temple was the picture; God's dwelling in us is the reality.
What makes the church a temple? The Spirit of God dwells in you. The word used for temple (naos) refers to the actual sanctuary, the place of the deity's dwelling, in contrast to the broader word hieron, which was the temple area in general.
If anyone defiles the temple of God: If you defile the church, God will destroy you. God's temple - His church - is holy, and it matters to God how we treat His holy temple.
Dear God, I praise you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit living in me. Guide me to listen to Him each moment.
No comments:
Post a Comment