The Temple Today Chapter Seven

MONEY CHANGERS 7

THE TEMPLE TODAY

Eph. 2:18 – 22 “For through HIM (Christ) we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit unto the father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow – citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
1 Cor. 3:9 – 11 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given me (Paul the apostle) as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
(emphasis and parenthesis mine)

These amazing verses of scripture describe the Lord's present-day temple, the temple workers, and the main support of it all.
In the Old Testament, we find that God had given Moses specific and very detailed instructions for the building of his temple. It was the people of Israel who built it out of particular materials and particular colors, and only Israelites were to enter it and use it. There was a veil which hung in this temple, (Ex, 26:31 – 34). Only the high priest could go behind this veil where the ark of the Covenant sat, and where God's presence was. (Lev. 16) It was the high priest who made atonement for the sins of the people. These New Testament scriptures, however, describe a different kind of temple which is not built only by the Israelite people. In fact, it does not speak of a temple built by the hands of any man.
These verses tell us that both Jews and Gentiles alike now have access to God the Father by one Spirit and that both come together making up the household of God. In other words, all those who have been born again by Jesus Christ now have become his temple. WE ARE the temple that is built for his habitation!
'Habitation ' in the Greek is katoiketerion, kay-oy-kay-tay'-ree-on, “dwelling place” (Strong's)
When Jesus cried out from the cross,”It is finished”, and that veil which hung in the temple, was torn in two, it was evidence of the fact that the Law of Moses was finished, and that from that time on, God's presence was not going to be limited to a place behind a material veil any longer. Now God would come and dwell inside of his people - HIS TEMPLE.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 “What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Before Jesus died, he told his disciples that it was profitable for them for him to go away. If he did not die, the Comforter, which is the Spirit of Truth, could not come and dwell inside of them. You see, as long as the Mosaic Law remained in effect, the presence of God would be behind that veil in the temple, and the people would have to obey that law and come with their own sacrifices to the temple. The priest would have to make atonement for them, and they would not be allowed behind the veil into the presence of God.
Jesus had to fulfill and finish the Law before the Holy Spirit would come to dwell inside of men instead of behind that old temple veil.
Jn. 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you.”
So then, Jesus bore our sins in his body and his body was torn. He shed his blood and cleansed us, thus he fulfilled all of the Law, and when he died he finished it altogether.
First, his body was torn, then the veil of the temple was torn. In Hebrews 10, his flesh is called a veil, which was torn for us. Now we do not have a man to go for us, behind a veil in a temple made by man, but we ourselves come through a different veil into the presence of God and WE become his temple.
Heb. 10:19-23 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a NEW AND LIVING WAY, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, HIS FLESH'
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (emphasis mine)

Now then, WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS? IS IT NOT IN HIS TEMPLE?
Oh yes! But praise be to God, WE ARE THAT TEMPLE!! Although we do not look like that magnificent building of old, yet this present day temple has been fearfully and wonderfully made by God himself.
Ps. 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
This temple is of far more value than the old one. This is seen in the price that was paid for it. Jesus gave his life for it. The Spirit of the most high God, and the Spirit of the high priest, who are actually one, now dwell in his temple and is willing to dwell there continually. This temple stands upon a foundation and that foundation is Jesus Christ. There is no other. Upon the foundation is built people – souls. God works through his laborers to build the temple larger, more pure and more perfect.
2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Speaking of Jews and Gentiles, the apostle Paul says -
Eph. 2:14-15 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain (...two [Strong's]) one new man, so making peace.”
(emphasis mine) (added notation)
The Greek word for 'enmity' is echthra, ekh'-thrah, “hostility; by impl. A reason for opposition: - enmity, hatred.” (Strong's)
Dear Reader, consider for yourself.
WHAT DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY WAS THE ENMITY OR HOSTILITY BETWEEN JEWS AND GENTILES?
WHAT DID CHRIST DO?
The enmity was the commandments contained in ordinances. He abolished it in his own flesh.
WHAT WAS THE RESULT? One new man!
There are those Gentile (anyone not a Jew) Christians today who call themselves spiritual Jews, however, if you are one who feels this term to be somewhat applicable, I suggest you be careful of how you use it, for what is really of importance is to be a new creature in Christ, who is now the body and temple of Christ, where his Spirit can dwell continually. The bringing down of the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile is to make of the two, one new man, not just a revised version of the old, but a new man. It does not say here that he was making the Gentiles into Jews, nor Jews into Gentiles, but rather he was bringing unity, through Jesus, and making one NEW MAN.
There has been a problem with men wanting to judge themselves by law rather than by the heart and Spirit, but please remember who the temple of God is, on what foundation it stands and who the chief corner stone is. Then let God dwell in his temple and do his work in your life.
The apostle Paul admonished this way. -
1 Pet. 2:3-5 “If so be that you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (emphasis mine)
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE HAS BEEN BUILT? A SPIRITUAL HOUSE!!
Jesus, the cornerstone of his own temple, is not a dead, inanimate stone, but he is a living stone, supporting a living temple, made up of stones which are alive because of the life he has given them.
Yes, he was disallowed of men. Disallowed in the Greek is apodokimazo, ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo; to disapprove, that is, (by impl.) to repudiate: - disallow, reject” (Strong's). To repudiate, according to Webster, is “To reject, to cast away or disown; to disavow; to refuse to acknowledge or pay, as a debt.
Yes, men disapproved of him and rejected him, but God had chosen him. To God he is, and will always be precious. The one men rejected brought life and liberty to those who would receive him. He sent his Spirit to dwell in them. Now we see a temple that is not made with any sort of wood, metal, or precious stone. It is not made of dyed threads or beautiful paintings. We see that it is a living organism. It is you and I, who are in Christ Jesus! HALLELUJAH!
1 Cor. 3:16-17 “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.”
2 Cor. 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; as God hath said, I will DWELL IN THEM, and WALK IN THEM, and they shall be my people.” (See Lev. 26:12)
Rom. 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your BODIES a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (emphasis and parenthesis mine)
It is important that we do not confuse the true house of God with the building in which the saints gather together, for indeed God's presence once dwelt in a building, but we need to be clear in our thinking as to where God dwells now. If this were not important, why would so much be said in scripture concerning this truth? God does not put these things in his Word just to fill space. A church building can never be a substitute for the temple of God, nor can a pastor be a substitute high priest. The real and true is here. Neither accept a substitute for the temple of God nor over look the real and the living. Seeing then, that tithing, in the Mosaic Law supported the ministers of a physical temple, and a high priest, let us carefully consider the ministers of this new temple.
WHO ARE THEY?
WHAT ARE THEIR DUTIES?
We need to see the plan of God, given in the New Covenant and not try to sew a piece of old cloth into a new garment. It would not benefit, but would cause problems, for remember, there is a veil that remains over the hearts of those who read the Law of Moses to see how to live righteously today. If tithing were a New Testament teaching, we would need clear instructions as to how to give it and to whom, for too many changes have occurred for us to follow the pattern of tithing in the Old Law.
Let us go on now and look at how the New Testament priesthood is to operate today. Perhaps you will find answers making themselves apparent as you look into God's Word and see how it applies to your life in Christ. God's Word is very beautiful and all of God's teachings fit together perfectly.