"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." 1 Cor. 3:16-18
(Although, a complete reading of 1 Corinthians 3 would be useful.)
(Although, a complete reading of 1 Corinthians 3 would be useful.)
We can learn from the above passage of Scripture that we Christians are each a temple of God. We know that this includes both the spiritual aspect and the physical aspect. In 1 Cor. 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ", we see that the very base for the construction of this temple is Jesus. What Jesus did by His death on the cross was to establish a path by which His people could be brought to a saving faith which would lead to a spiritual rebirth. That path was God's grace, delivered effectively by the Word of God. We were made new creatures spiritually.
We can see by example that the physical portion is also referenced, as seen in John 2:19-21:
We can see by example that the physical portion is also referenced, as seen in John 2:19-21:
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body."
Now, some people have used this verse to show that everything from smoking, drugs, processed sugar, caffeine, red meat, etc., etc., etc., are forbidden. Is this what is being said here, or are we trying to create a new form of law? Let's see....
In 1 John 3:16, we read, "Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren." We can see God's love for us in His laying down His life for us. We show our love by laying down our lives for other Christians. It certainly appears that there is nothing special about our worldly bodies that would beg us to treat them in any way as special, or as having need of being protected. But yet, the body is the temple. We must look further.
Matthew 16:24-25 says, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Here we see that a Christian not only must not cherish his own life, but must intentionally give it up moment-by-moment to Christ Jesus. Again, there is a deeper meaning to being the temple of God, and it is coming into focus. And, along the way, we start to see what the real source of defilement is.
As shown earlier, each Christian has a foundation that is Jesus Christ. If we look at 1 Corinthians verses 12-16, we can now see a true picture of what is happening:
In 1 John 3:16, we read, "Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren." We can see God's love for us in His laying down His life for us. We show our love by laying down our lives for other Christians. It certainly appears that there is nothing special about our worldly bodies that would beg us to treat them in any way as special, or as having need of being protected. But yet, the body is the temple. We must look further.
Matthew 16:24-25 says, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Here we see that a Christian not only must not cherish his own life, but must intentionally give it up moment-by-moment to Christ Jesus. Again, there is a deeper meaning to being the temple of God, and it is coming into focus. And, along the way, we start to see what the real source of defilement is.
As shown earlier, each Christian has a foundation that is Jesus Christ. If we look at 1 Corinthians verses 12-16, we can now see a true picture of what is happening:
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
The construction of the temple isn't about foods or drinks. It is about doctrine! Edification, instruction...the very act of teaching, either directly or indirectly, another of our brothers or sisters. It also means what we ourselves learn and apply to our own lives. The Holy Spirit leads us to knowledge, but how we handle that knowledge is up to us.
We see above that these actions of teaching, preaching, ministering and the like are opportunities to gain a heavenly reward. They in and of themselves do not affect salvation. That makes complete sense, seeing how salvation is not of works, lest any should boast (Eph. 2:9). No, these works are a building up that takes place after, and separate from, salvation itself. As we build our brothers and sisters up (and ourselves, too), we gain rewards, PROVIDED WHAT WE ARE TEACHING IS CORRECT!!!
I cannot stress that last little bit enough. As we read in the first section of Scripture, we are told that those that defile the temple will be destroyed. What can lead to the temple being made unclean, wasted, defiled?
Jesus Himself answered this question:
We see above that these actions of teaching, preaching, ministering and the like are opportunities to gain a heavenly reward. They in and of themselves do not affect salvation. That makes complete sense, seeing how salvation is not of works, lest any should boast (Eph. 2:9). No, these works are a building up that takes place after, and separate from, salvation itself. As we build our brothers and sisters up (and ourselves, too), we gain rewards, PROVIDED WHAT WE ARE TEACHING IS CORRECT!!!
I cannot stress that last little bit enough. As we read in the first section of Scripture, we are told that those that defile the temple will be destroyed. What can lead to the temple being made unclean, wasted, defiled?
Jesus Himself answered this question:
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Matt. 15:11
When asked by Peter to explain what this meant, Jesus said:
"Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." Matt. 15:17-20
It isn't what goes in, but what comes out of the heart, that can defile. Some people try to say that tattoos are forbidden. Some say smoking is sinful. Others will say that alcohol is evil. But, what does the Bible say about the things that come into a man?
"Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ [is] God's." 1 Cor. 13:22-23
(Please, keep in mind that some of these things may be harmful to the body. But, that which is harmful does not HAVE to be that which can defile. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 15.)
It is a shame that so many people try to apply the bondage of Old Testament Law to Christians. Jesus gave us freedom from the law ("Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Gal. 5:1.) We are warned not to abuse that freedom ("For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Gal. 5:13.) Instead, we are told, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." in verse 14 of Galatians chapter 5.
So, to cap this off, if we teach one another that which is only from the Word of God, in the spirit of love that can only originate from God Almighty through Jesus His Son, then we can rest assured that we will not defile the temple of God, either of our brothers and sisters or ourselves.
Grace and Peace....
So, to cap this off, if we teach one another that which is only from the Word of God, in the spirit of love that can only originate from God Almighty through Jesus His Son, then we can rest assured that we will not defile the temple of God, either of our brothers and sisters or ourselves.
Grace and Peace....
