Templum Dei | The temple of God

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? – 1 Corinthians 3:16

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God is not a distant God. He is with us, from the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). As the Israelites roamed in the desert, God wanted to dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8). His presence was the guide that instructed the Israelites when to stop and when to continue on their desert journey (Exodus 40:34–38).

During Israel's Old Testament history times, the temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God's presence. But in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes (167 BC), an idol was set up in the holy place. It was no longer a holy place of God's presence. When the Maccabees reclaimed the temple, removed the idol, and cleansed it, it could be restored to God's purposes and presence.

In the New Testament, God’s presence was revealed in a new way: through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. God lived among His people, His name is Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). Jesus Christ became the new earthly temple of God (John 2:19-21). The complete image of the invisible God is revealed in Jesus our Saviour (Colossians 1:15).

Today, the believers who gather in the name of Jesus Christ, make up the temple of God. As the apostle Paul says to the Corinthians: "know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" – 1 Corinthians 3:16. Also, our Saviour Jesus Christ said: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). Hence, it does not matter in what type of building we gather. It is the believers making up the temple of God. The Spirit of God dwell in the believers. However, we should be very careful what we let into our lives. For example, if we let idols into our life, the presence of God will be absent (1 John 2:15-26; 1 John 5:21).

Let’s remind each other that we are the temple of God and that we should be ready for the return of our Saviour Jesus Christ!

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 3:11-17 by Hanne

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