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| THE CHURCH: THE WAY TO
GOD'S HEART |
#405
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In I Corinthians 3:9, Paul introduced another analogy for
“The People of God.” He said, “We are God's fellow workers;
you are ... God's building.” Throughout the New
Testament, God’s People are compared to a building. But not just
any kind of building. Paul asked the church in Corinth, “Do you
not know that you are a temple of God, and that the
Spirit of God dwells in you? 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” (1 Cor 3:16-17). Paul informed the church
in Ephesus that they were “a holy temple in the Lord,” a
dwelling place of God in the Spirit, “built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets,” with Jesus Christ
Himself as the “corner stone” (Ephesians 2:19-22). The
“Temple” analogy emphasizes a very important concept for us to
consider: The church is the dwelling place of God’s Holy Spirit.
God has always revealed to mankind how and where
they could come into His presence. In the days of Moses, the
children of Israel were told to “seek the LORD at the place
which the LORD your God shall choose from all your tribes, to
establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall
come” (Deut 12:5). Later, in the days of Solomon, God revealed
that Jerusalem was the place He had selected. God appeared to
Solomon by night and said, “I have heard your prayer, and have
chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. My
eyes shall be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered
in this place. For I have chosen and consecrated this
house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My
heart will be there perpetually” (II Chronicles 7:12-16). Under
the Old Covenant, “The Temple” was the place where God accepted
worship, where God heard prayers, where God’s name resided, and
where God’s attention and affection was directed.
Today, under the New Covenant, Christ’s church is the
recognized Temple of God. There is only one place where mankind
can come into the presence of God - and that is in His Temple,
the church, where His Holy Spirit resides in the heart of every
Christian (I Cor 3:16-17; Jn 14:23; I John 4:15-16). When the
apostle Peter wrote a letter to the church, he reminded them
that they were “living stones ... being built up
as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). The only worship acceptable to God is
offered through Jesus Christ. The only priesthood recognized by
God is the priesthood of believers in Christ Jesus. Why? Because
God has designated Christ’s church as His “Temple.” Indeed,
affiliation with Christ’s church is the only way to God’s heart
today.
A great burden of responsibility rests upon today’s church
to offer up worship to God which is pleasing to Him. Under the
Old Covenant, God was very meticulous in specifying the details
of the sacrificial system. God said, “Let them construct a
sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to
all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of
the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so
you shall construct it” (Exodus 25:8-9). Is there a “pattern”
for us today? Will God accept just any kind of worship from His
people today? God consumed in flames two priests who violated
the pattern of Moses’ law (Leviticus 10:1-2). Should we be any
less concerned that our sacrifice of worship is according to the
pattern? Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). Jesus said
that God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17). We must be certain that
the worship offered in God’s Temple, His Church, is according to
His Word. Paul said, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold
to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of
mouth or by letter from us” (II Thes 2:15). It behooves
Christians today to search the pages of the New Testament and
carefully study the assemblies of first century Christians. What
they did was by the authority and according to the traditions of
the apostles. Here we will find a pattern for our worship which
will be “acceptable to God ... through Jesus Christ.” (I Peter
2:5)
| Bible
Probe |
THE CHURCH: THE
WAY TO GOD'S HEART |
405
|
1. What is the emphasis of the “Temple” analogy? (I Cor
3:9,16-17; Eph 2:19-22)
2. According to I Cor 3:16-17; John 14:23; I John 4:15-16, where
does God’s Spirit reside?
3. What did Peter mean when he called Christians “living stones
... built up as a spiritual house”? (I Peter 2:5)
4. From II Chronicles 7:15-16, list four things about “The
Temple” which made it unique.
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Do you think these same points are true concerning God’s
“spiritual temple” - the church?
5. Why does Peter call the church a “priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices”?
(I Peter 2:5; Hebrews 13:15; Romans 12:1)
6. Is it possible for our sacrifices of worship to be unacceptable?
(I Peter 2:5)
Do you think God cares what we do when we worship Him? (John
4:24; 17:17)
Did God care what the priests of Israel did when they
worshipped Him? (Lev 10:1-2)
Did God supply a “pattern” for His physical sanctuary under
the Old Covenant? (Ex 25:8-9)
Did the apostles of Jesus intend for their traditions to be
carried on? (II Thes 2:15)
Is it possible for us to discover what first century
Christians did when they assembled?
Do you think we should follow their pattern?
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Your Bible questions answered here.