“KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD”
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 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.
1Co 3:18 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.
The main aspect of the son’s growth consists of a proper doctrinal establishment from a ‘milk to meat’ curriculum whereby the son can be fully utilized by the Father in being “conformed to the image of His Son.” But this important Godly design is not followed by men who seem more intent upon establishing men to be “conformed” to their image, and follow their designed way to educate today’s bible student. Paul reminds the Corinthians that THEY ARE the temple of God, and that the “Spirit of God” dwells within them, meaning that this is the designed way by our Father to have the son to grow; by doctrinally allowing the “Spirit of God” (the word of God) to dwell within the saint “richly in all wisdom.” The Corinthians were reproved of Paul because of their lack of care for the things of God, they were going back after the things of this world, and they sought after this world’s wisdom, and gloried in the men who seemed to be wise in this world; and by doing this they ‘deceived themselves,’ and hindered their edification from taking place because of their desire to “be wise in this world.”
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
The natural man desires the wisdom of this world because of the high standard that is placed upon being “wise” in all that we do, and the common man will search for the wisdom of this world and “glory in” the men that seem to be “wise” in this world, and that teach this world’s system of things. However, the wisdom of this world that Paul refers to is not just referring to the common ungodly things of this world, but Paul warns the Corinthians about men misusing the word of truth by trying to apply their thinking to the word of God, instead of using God’s word the way He intended, which is applying the word of God to their thinking.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Our Father would have His sons to “wise unto that which is good,” and “simple” concerning this world and its gains, pleasures, and standards, He would have His sons to be edified with sound doctrine in the truth of His word. God has designed that His word would dwell within the saints being a “temple,” and He says through the Apostle Paul “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” And because God places such a high value upon “the temple of God” in this dispensation of Gentile grace today, He opposes Satan and man’s attempts to “defile” the members of His body with contrary doctrine.
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13 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.
But today man places an importance upon making their own mark within the church world, and ‘laying their own foundation,’ or ‘paving a way’ for others to follow in today’s church. Sadly enough the people are doctrinally affected by “man’s work” when his goal is to promote himself, his church, his standards, and his accomplishments, there is no ‘building up’ of the saints taking place, and the church as “God’s building” becomes hindered and left ‘abandoned’ without the word of God being established within His ‘temples.’ Furthermore, when referring to the edification of the saints notice how often the Apostle Paul uses the word “build,” or “building,” this is because the process by which the saint becomes a mature son is done by a doctrinal growth within the son, or a ‘building up’ by God’s word in truth.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Act 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
God our Father would have His temple to be ‘built up’ in “the word of His grace,” but instead men are more concerned with this world, and their desire to “draw away” the “simple” unto themselves. The Apostle Paul had spent three years, day and night ‘building’ the saints up, but as we can see later in his ministry the “grievous wolves” came in among the saints just as Paul said they would corrupt and ‘defiled the temple of God’ in Asia, whereas “all” the saints that Paul and the disciples established were affected by the bad doctrine that they gave themselves unto.
2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Paul as the “wise” masterbuilder has laid a God given foundation for the saints to follow as “God’s building,” and His “temple,” and it is this “foundation” that our sanctified position in Christ is to be built up upon, but the men of this world and their “word” will continue to deceive the “simple,” and “defile” God’s “buildings.” But we who are established within the doctrine that is “according to godliness” must “shun” the “word” and ways of the men of this world hold a desire into building their own foundation for men to follow, but these men face the wrath of God not only for their disobedience and denial of the righteousness of God, but because of their overall desire to work against God by ‘defiling’ His ‘temples’ with their “word,” ways, and standards, whether they wittingly or unwittingly know this or not.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Co 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 I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Rod Jones