The Church consists of every person who has ever or will ever place their trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Over the last two millennia, there are billions who, enabled by the Holy Spirit, have come to see their sinfulness, separation from God, total helplessness, and the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf. In response, these individuals have placed their trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins. All believers collectively comprise the Church.
The New Testament records some fundamental metaphors to describe the Church, such as the Body and the Temple, the latter of which we will explore today.
From Physical to Spiritual Temple of God
The temple of the Old Testament, situated atop a hill in Jerusalem, was the physical place where both the presence of God and the glory of God resided until He withdrew His presence and His glory because of the continual sin of the people of Israel.
In the Old Testament, the temple was the physical place to pursue God, to make sacrifices to God, and to connect with God.
In the New Testament, the Church is called the Temple of God. The major meanings of the Church as the Temple are similar to the Old Testament meanings of the temple and are spelled out for us in Ephesians, 2 Corinthians, and 1 Peter.
The Temple of God as His Household
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” -Ephesians 2:19-20
The Church is God’s household. We are the place where God dwells in the Person of His Holy Spirit.
This household was built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. These people were the first builders of the Church—starting from bare ground with approximately 120 believers, which has now grown to billions of people.
And the cornerstone of this household is Jesus. He is the Creator of the Church. He died to enable Her creation. Without Jesus, we have no more than a huge collection of deluded, pitiable, and hopeless people.
“In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” -Ephesians 2:21-22
In Jesus, the whole building is being fitted together. It is Jesus who causes the Church to work—to fit together, to function, to relate, to worship, to forgive, to reset, and to serve.
In Jesus, the whole building is growing into a holy temple in the Lord. By the power and work of Jesus, we are all growing and drawing closer to each other and becoming more like what Jesus envisioned when He rescued us.
In Jesus, the whole building is being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Jesus is causing us to knit, grow, and be a place of holiness where the Holy Spirit is able and pleased to dwell.
The Holy Temple of God: Called to Separation
“What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’” -2 Corinthians 6:16
Since we are the Temple of the living God, we must separate from all idols. We serve the living God and not dead idols. We find life and hope in God alone.
Since we are the Temple of the living God, He dwells in us and walks among us. God is Immanuel, God with us. Amazingly, the God of eternity lives in us and walks everywhere with us!
He is our God. We are His people. This is a stunning, joyful truth! This is amazing love and kindness!
Because these things are true, we must separate from uncleanness and pursue perfect godliness in the fear of God.
“Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’” -2 Corinthians 6:17
God is holy. He is so holy that angels fly around him for eternity saying the word “Holy.” We must be holy for He is holy. Praise be to God for Jesus who makes this impossible feat a reality for all who trust in Him!
“And, ‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’” -2 Corinthians 6:18
God will be a Father to us. He is the Father we wanted and needed—the very best. He is the Father who acts for our well-being at every moment.
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” -2 Corinthians 7:1
Living Stones in God’s Temple
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” -1 Peter 2:4-5
We come to Jesus who is the Living Stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God.
Jesus is the Living Stone, and we are also living stones. We are part of this metaphorical Temple, but we are not inanimate stones. We are living stones who breathe, love, serve, and worship in gratitude.
We are living stones who are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood.
As living stones, we are able to grow and create a beautiful spiritual house as we become a priesthood of holy people. A prophet is a person who speaks to people for God. A priest is a person who speaks to God for people. We are priests and must be incessantly interceding to God for others—lost and saved, kind and unkind, family and strangers, friends and enemies. We must incessantly intercede for anyone and everyone!
We offer up spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ which are acceptable to God.
We worship God through the souls we lead to Christ, the service we do for Christ, the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and the praise of God on our lips.
The Eternal Temple of God
In the New Testament, the Church is the Temple of God—a people who pursue God, make sacrifices for God, and connect with God.
The Old Testament temple was destroyed. The New Testament, Body of Christ Temple will stand, grow, and thrive forever. Jesus, the Living Cornerstone, will see to it!
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