You Are the Temple of God 1 Corinthians 3:16

Paul the apostle shared how “if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss”, and he added, “but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire”, and in chapter three and verse sixteen of First Corinthians, Paul shared how the church members in Corinth were “the temple of God” where we read:

Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

The verse begins, “Know you not that you are the temple of God,...” Paul began with the word, “Know you not” which means “do you not perceive, notice, discern and discover” “that you are the temple” or “that the Corinthian church members are a fane, shrine and spiritual temple consisting of the saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. The church members in Corinth were as “the temple of God” where God dwells.

The verse goes on to say, “...and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”. Paul continued with the word, “and that the Spirit” which refers to “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “dwells” or “resides, inhabits and lives” “in you” which refers to the Corinthian church members. God's “Holy Spirit” lived inside the believers in Corinth.

When we consider these words from Paul, we realize that God's “Holy Spirit” “lives” within those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”. This makes them like the “temple” of old where the presence of God dwelt among His people. Rather than an “earthly tabernacle or tent” or a “gold lined temple” like Solomon built, God now “dwells” within His children. Jesus Christ gave access for this to be so, and when we “believe” on Him, the Spirit of God takes up residence within us. Paul questioned the Corinthian believers as to whether they knew this or not. Do we?

Next time Paul shares what happens “if any man defile the temple of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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