The Temple of God - 1 Cor. 3:16-17

Introduction Some of the most beautiful buildings in the history of humanity were temples where deities were worshiped, Solomon's temple itself being one of the greatest of them. These temples provided a place in which devout followers of a particular deity could meet with their god. The gods were said to dwell in the temples.  We know this to be true of Solomon's temple in Israel. You remember the occasion of the dedication of the temple when, after the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the temple (1 Kg. 8), God's glory and presence descended upon the temple in the form of a heavy cloud. People went there to meet God.  1 Kg. 8:10-11 – And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.  Here, however, Paul is not referring to a building made with bricks and stones where people would go to meet God. He is talking about the people themselves as a collective unit. The people are the temple of God.  I. The Church as the Temple of God, 16 A. According to Paul, this is something the Corinthian Christians should know. B. At this point you might say, "Pastor, you haven't shown that that is what Paul is saying. It is not as obvious from the text as you are making it to be." C. So, let's see if that is what Paul is saying here. D. The Holy Spirit dwells in each individual Christian, but he also dwells in a powerful and evident way in the church of God. E. The idea that the God of Israel did not dwell in buildings is not new. F. While the gods of this world say, "Look at the buildings they build for me. Aren't they glorious?" the God of the Bible says, "Look at my people. They are my temple. Aren't they glorious?" II. The Church as the Holy Temple of God, 17b. A. There two words for temple in the Bible. B. It is a holy temple. III. Destruction Is Met with Destruction, 17. A. Our translation is not very helpful here because it translate the same Greek word with two different English words. B. What is going on in Corinth that led Paul to warn them about destroying the church? DISUNITY among the people. C. In 3:15 Paul says that those who build the church with the wrong materials will still make to heaven, but here those who destroy the church will be destroyed by God in the day of judgment. D. Why so severe a punishment for promoting disunity in the church? Because God loves his church! E. The Bible speaks of the Church in many different ways. F. And God loves every one of these meanings. G. Ultimately, the local church is the full representation of the church of God. H. The church is where the glory of God dwells on earth and his is going to be very careful to protect it. Conclusion Timothy Dwight wrote the great hymn I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord. In it, he says, "I love thy church, O God! Her walls before thee stand dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand. For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend, to her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end." Is that what you think of the Church of God?  Action Points · God says that the church is his bride and his is jealous for her. Think about your attitude toward the church and see if it matches God's. · Test what I said concerning seeing the glory of God in the church. o Spend this week and the next few weeks praying for the church, the people in it, the pastor, elders, deacons, ministries, yourself in relation to the church. o Prepare yourself for church by making sure your weekly schedule matches the importance of the Lord's Day.

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