As the story of Scripture moves on, we see that the Jerusalem temple is replaced or superseded by the living temple--the church. Whereas God lived in Jerusalem before, now His dwelling place is expanding to the ends of the earth. Even this concept of God dwelling with us is tied to the incarnation--Jesus tabernacled with us (John 1:14). The temple, where God dwelt with Israel, is different. God came and dwelt in the flesh. The temple is now His flesh. This provides a basis for how we understand the church to now be the temple of God (Ephesians 2:19-22). While the tabernacle, temple, the incarnation and the church are all examples of God living with us, the fullest realization of God dwelling with humanity is shown to us in Revelation 21-22.
Paul views the entire body of believers as the temple of God. He uses building imagery to help us see this. The apostles are the foundation. Christ is the cornerstone. We are living stones united to the cornerstone--the focal point around which the whole structure is united. Just like the tabernacle and temple, we are to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). In Ephesians 5:1-21, Paul gives list of sins that are counter to God's glory and he instructs us to know what the will of the Lord is, then includes the sin of drunkeness (where alcohol controls us). Then he tells us to be "filled with the Spirit" and then he shows what being filled with the Spirit looks like (living a life filled with God's glory). As the tabernacle and temple were filled with God's glory, we are to live in a way that shows that is consistent with God's glory dwelling in us.
The Corinthians were gentiles (non-Jewish). The Corinthian church likely had some Jewish converts but the church there was predominantly gentile. In 1 Corinthians 6:19 Paul told them that they are temple of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 told them that they were the temple of the living God and how this was foretold of in Scripture. Then Paul quotes from Leviticus 26:12 where God promised to live among Israel and Exodus 29:45. Paul is getting at the truth that while God promised to live amongst faithful believers in Israel, His plan always extended much further. Dwelling amongst God's people was never meant to be forever confined to one people group or one place. God no longer dwells in a sanctuary in Jerusalem. He dwells globally in His church-temple, in us.
There were to be no idols in prior sanctuaries just as there are to be no idols in the living temple of God. The assembled church is a divine dwelling place for God (1 Corinthians 14:23-25). Removing unrepentant sinners from God's temple (excommunication) keeps God's temple clean (1 Corinthians 5). Ephesians 4:7-16 uses both body and building language to show our connection to Christ. Each of us are to use our gifts to build up (edify) the body of Christ.
Likewise, 1 Peter 2:4-6 shows us that we are the temple of God. It even applies to us the status of priesthood. This isn't figurative language. It's what God means. Adam was put in the garden-temple to "work and keep" it. These two words are only used together in regard to priests. Humanity was created to be priests before God in this world. Sin revoked that status. Christ restores that status.
In the gospel of Luke we see quite of bit of mention of the physical temple building. But Luke records Jesus' words regarding its coming destruction (Luke 21:5-6) which happened in 70 A.D. He also mentions the temple veil being ripped in two (Luke 23:45) indicating access to God was for all people and that a physical temple was no longer need. Acts 2:1-13 records where God began to dwell on the day of Pentecost. The living temple was comprised of Jews first, then Samaritans (Acts 8:14-17), then Gentiles (Acts 10:44-47). Eventually, as Jesus foretold, God chose to destroy His former home and end the priesthood because Israel broke covenant with God. But this was done after God showed that He had moved residence. He now dwells in a living temple across the world where everyone in it is priests (faithful Jews and Gentiles).
The Old Testament shows God dwelling AMONG His people and IN the temple. The NT shows God dwelling IN His people--the temple. Remember that the INDWELLING presence of God is tied to the temple. And this indwelling shows greater intimacy with God than prior experience. Christ cleansed His temple so the Spirit would dwell in us.
Jesus referred to Himself as the temple and how the Jews would kill Him. Remember that the destruction of the OT Temple indicated God's judgment. Jesus bodily/temple "destruction" or death was to show that He was being judged for our sin. But He was raised to life. Christians are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). If Christ is God templing among us, living among us, then to be in Christ is to be incorporated into the living temple of God.
We are connected to Christ the true everlasting tent/temple. And we are in union with Him. We are also from a heavenly Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26). Remember that the earthly temple and priesthood were patterned after eternal realities in heaven. They are temporary realities to help us know the even greater eternal realities that are in Christ (Hebrew 8:1-6).
The author of Hebrews develops the idea of a divine city even further. He even explains that Abraham was looking beyond the physical land that God was going to give His descendants to a city that God was building (Hebrews 11:8-10). He knew the promised land and Jerusalem foreshadowed something much greater when it came to God dwelling with humanity in a city. This was a divinely constructed city. Abraham and Sarah died knowing that they were exiles on EARTH (Hebrews 11:13-16). Their eternal home was heavenly (not heaven).
Revelation 21-22 anticipates this reality they looked forward to. It's a new heaven coming down to earth. It's a place where God (heaven) dwells with humanity (earth). A New Jerusalem comes down from heaven. This is the bride of Christ--the church--the temple of God. This city is a perfect square like God's old home--the holy of holies. God is also called the temple. If God is the temple and so are we, then we see the unity of Scripture where it shows us that in Christ, the true everlasting temple, we are also the temple. This all speaks of our union with Christ on earth.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
(1). How is the incarnation related to the church being the temple of God?
(2). What link does "being filled with the Spirit" have to do with us being the temple of God?
(3). God told the Israelites that He'd live and walk among them. How do we know that God intended gentiles to be included in this promise?
(4). Why is church discipline necessary for our understanding of how the church is the temple of God?
(5). What does the tearing of the temple veil and the destruction of the temple in 70AD indicate to us?
(6). What's the difference between how God dwelt in the OT versus how God dwells in the NT?
(7). If Jesus' crucified body was the temple destroyed, what does His raised body indicate?
(8). How do the earthly temple and earthly Jerusalem help us understand eternal realities?
(9). Why is it important to understand that Abraham looked through earthly Jerusalem as a lens that pointed Him towards a heavenly Jerusalem?
(10). From what we've been learning, what truths might we assume of the New Jerusalem in Revelation?
No comments:
Post a Comment