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"You are the temple of God..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:16

AN AWESOME TRUTH

There are many wonderful truths that may be discovered in the reading of the Scriptures! The following text reveals an awesome truth!

“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.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

1. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God”

a) This was a truth Paul wrote in his epistle to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:21).

b) This was a doctrine that Paul certainly wanted the Corinthians to know deeply.

2. “And that the Spirit of God dwells in you”

a) This was also written in the Ephesians epistle (Ephesians 2:22).

b) The Spirit of God dwelt in the community of believers (that is, the church).

c) Of course, He also indwells each and every true believer.

3. “If anyone defiles the temple of God”

The following are things that could defile the temple of God:

a) Through entertaining false teachings.

b) Through causing schism.

c) Through doing things that will bring dishonour to the Lord’s name.

4. “God will destroy him”

a) Anyone who harms the Church is liable to being judged by God.

b) God has every right to protect His church.

5. “For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are”

a) “The temple of the Lord” is another way of describing “the Church” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

b) The very nature of the Church is that it is holy and it should never be desecrated in any way.

THE EXAMPLE OF HOW GOD DEALT WITH THE TEMPLE IN ANCIENT DAYS

1. The tabernacle at Shiloh was destroyed (Jeremiah 7:12-15).

2. The temple at Jerusalem was also destroyed (Jeremiah 19-21).

3. The tabernacle and the temple had not been honoured!

4. The priests and the temple were punished for desecrating the temple (Jeremiah 7).