Monday, May 14, 2018

Building the Temple of God (SD18)

1Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
    Since the physical body of every born-again Christian is the Temple of God, then what type of temple have we prepared for the Holy Spirit?
1Cor 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The Outer Court
Eze 18:30-31 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?"
   When a Jew sinned, he would bring a sacrifice to the Priest, who would offer it as a burnt offering to the Lord.
    In Christ Jesus, every Christian has a new heart and also a new Spirit (Holy Spirit) in him. So when he repents the blood of Jesus will cleanse his sins and unrighteousness (better than the sacrifices of the Jews).
However, if any Christian constantly commit and then repent of the sins given by our Lord Jesus below, then he has not obtained a new heart nor the Holy Spirit and his salvation is doubtful.
   Similarly, if pastors and church leaders (priesthood) frequently commit these sins, then they are false christs (false teachers and false prophets)
Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Sanctification of Priest
1 Pet 4:3-4 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
    Brethren, since we have been saved by the grace of God, cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, and have the Holy Spirit of redemption in us, let us not stay at the Outer Court, but move on to become His disciples (faithful servants) by freeing ourselves from worldly ambitions and lusts with the sanctification in truth (abiding in His word).
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

The Holy Place
    When a disciple loves to read and meditate on the word of God (bible only and not books), this is a sign of his love for God. He is just like eating the unleavened showbread in the Holy Place. Since our Lord promised us that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him, then He will surely reveal (light from the lampstand) to us His truth, knowledge and understanding.

Eph 2:20-22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
   Brethren, only a holy body (Holy Place) is a satisfactory dwelling for the Holy Spirit.