The Temple of God

Scripture

¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ¹⁷ If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. — 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV

Observation

In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 where Paul warns against Sexual Immorality in vv 19-20 he emphasize the meaning of our bodies again. Paul amplifies that God is in possession of our bodies: “do you not know that you are God’s temple“. Similarly to the temple of God in the OT, which “was devoted and consecrated to God and set apart from every common to a holy use, to the immediate service of God” _{(The Matthew Henry Study Bible – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)} – “for God’s temple is holy“. Our bodies as ones of believers and followers of Christ are holy place for the Holy Spirit: “God’s Spirit dwells in you“.

But as any building can become desolated and destroyed, same can happen to the body of a person. And here Paul means physical destruction even death, due to disobedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit and disrespectful attitude towards the physical body: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him“.

“In light of the certainty of our eventual meeting with Christ at The Judgement Seat, it vital to live in a daily obedience to the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We must be especially respectful of our bodies and what we do with them, for He has made them individual temples to house His glory.” _{(The Henry Morris Study Bible – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)}

Application

This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.

⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

1. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you .. ?” — 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV
2. Are you obedient to the guidance of the indwelling Spirit of God?
3. Do you care of your body like it is a holy temple of God?
4. Do you present your body as a living sacrifice?
5. Do you worship to God with your body which is house of His glory?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for giving us bodies. We thank You Lord, that You cleansed and sanctified us in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. We pray Lord Jesus, that Your Spirit will indwell in us, will guide us and reprove our wrong doings. We pray that with the Power of the Holy Spirit our bodies will be holy and will be use by You Lord for Your greater Glory.

We pray in the Holy name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen