The temple of the Lord
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
In the letter of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, his metaphoric use of the word "Temple" is taken from the old testament. The temple of Jerusalem represented the presence of God with Israel.
Though God does not literally dwell in temples that are made with hands of men. The temple simply illustrated that God was working in Israel to carry out His eternal purpose of the cross.
In the verse above, Paul affirmed that the Corinthian disciples were the temple of God in Corinth. The existence of Christians in Corinth was God's evidence to the Corinthian community that God was working in the city.
The Corinthian Christians, therefore, were the manifestation of the work of the spirit in Corinth as men and women humbly submitted to the message of the Gospel and lived a changed lives.
This is so also in the world today for every believer in Christ, we are the carrier of God's presence in the world through whom God is working and manifesting His power and grace.
We have been redeemed and saved from the world of sin, our life then should receive a turn around from a wretched life of sin to a holy and righteous one. By this, our attitude, behaviour and character among the people becomes the revelation of God to them. We are the mechanisms of God's manifestation in the world.
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Living below the standard of God's holiness, aligning with the world and giving oneself to the nature of the flesh are methods by which man defiled the temple of God.
God is holy and all who are carriers of His presences must be holy, God reserves his harsh anger against those who defiled his temple. Because, instead of them to be a channel that bring souls to His kingdom, they become a means by which many will end in Hell.
As long as you have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, you have become the temple of the living God, you have become a channel by which God speaks to the dying world. Do not provoke God by living contrary to His will.
He is holy, be holy
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me for defiling your temple in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, give me the grace to live my whole life for you in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.