WE ARE GOD'S TEMPLE (Kent Smith 9/10/23)
THE CHURCH:
A TEMPLE OF GOD
1 Corinthians 3:9 - 17
Ephesians 2:11-21
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WE ARE GOD’S BUILDING
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Ephesians 2:10 For We are His workmanship
1 Corinthians 3:9 For WE are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
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WE ARE BUILDING WITH HIM
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1 Cor 3:10-15
We are His fellow workers / builders with God.
Verse 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
We are not empowered or equipped to modify the foundation!
Verse 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Everyone’s work will be evident.
Verses 12-13a Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident;
The quality of each person’s work will be revealed through testing, and rewarded as appropriate.
Verses 13b-15 for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
THE CHURCH REFLECTS THE COMBINED EFFORT AND LABOR OF EACH MEMBER AS WE WORK TOGETHER UNDER GOD’S MASTER PLAN BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST..
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YOU - WE
ARE A HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD
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1 Cor 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATELY
His Spirit dwells in you. (Individually and corporately)
We are responsible for our “temple” (Individually – our body // corporately – our church)
The temple of God is holy. (Individually & Corporately)
You / we have been ‘set apart’ for God. (Individually and Corporately)
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TEMPLE TRADEMARKS
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The greater Temple Complex had a court of the Gentiles on either side of the central temple complex.
There was a wall that separated the court of the Gentiles from the central temple complex.
There are 13 passageways through the wall,
At each passageway through the wall is a sign that says, “No foreigner is allowed past this point on penalty of death”.
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TEMPLE TRADEMARKS
NO BARRIERS
PEACE
UNITY
IDENTITY
ALIGNMENT
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Ephessians 2:15 Paul writes that God broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.
NO BARRIERS
v. 13-15 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances
Between God and man: God’s Law was satisfied through the sacrifice of Jesus
Between Jew and Gentile: The enmity was eliminated by eliminating the need for further ritual sacrifices.
PEACE
(16-17) thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;
Peace with God through the righteousness of Christ.
Peace with one another through our common faith in Christ.
UNITY
(v18) for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father
Same access to the Father
Same Spirit within us
IDENTITY
(V. 19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
Fellow citizens in His Kingdom
Members of the same household
ALIGNMENT
(V. 20-22) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Building on the same foundation – the teachings of the apostles and prophets / The Word – our common authority
Aligned with the cornerstone --Jesus Christ– our common Savior
Being fitted together – to become a holy temple – our common purpose
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