LIVING STONES IN THE HOLY TEMPLE OF GOD
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Priceless Church
a) We focus on more of Paul’s “snapshots” of the church. These perspectives help us to understand the importance of the church, the blessings of membership in it, and why we should treasure the church, and ensure that not only do we gain membership in it, but that we hold on to it at all cost.
Ephesians 2:16, 19
"...in one body... and of God’s household."
2. Living Stones In The Holy Temple Of God
a) "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the entire building joins together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22).
b) The picture of the church in Ephesians 2 is that of "a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
c) Note some important things:
i) The holy temple is in the Lord, and the Lord is in his holy temple.
ii) Jesus himself is the corner stone of the foundation.
iii) The temple is not yet finished; it is still being built, and growing all the time.
d) This is a temple fitted together in a precise way. God has a pattern for it, and it won't be the true temple unless it is fitted together according to that pattern or blueprint.
e) In past ages the temple in Jerusalem was a beautiful and glorious building. Solomon's glory was reflected in the temple he built to the glory of God. But Solomon's temple was destroyed. In the time of Christ the brand new Temple built by Herod was very beautiful. It was destroyed about 40 years later.
f) The true temple of God is the church. "For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one. He entered heaven itself... a minister in the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, not man" (Hebrews 9:24, 8:1-2).
g) The tabernacle was the original ornate tent of meeting for worship under the law of Moses. It was used before the temple was built in Jerusalem.
h) Now and forever more, the temple of God is a spiritual and heavenly building, and "to him the glory in the church" is the only glory here below that's worth anything to God (Ephesians 3:21).
The End ...
1. The Priceless Churcha) We focus on more of Paul’s “snapshots” of the church. These perspectives help us to understand the importance of the church, the blessings of membership in it, and why we should treasure the church, and ensure that not only do we gain membership in it, but that we hold on to it at all cost.
Ephesians 2:16, 19
"...in one body... and of God’s household."
2. Living Stones In The Holy Temple Of God
a) "...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the entire building joins together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22).
b) The picture of the church in Ephesians 2 is that of "a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling of God in the Spirit."
c) Note some important things:
i) The holy temple is in the Lord, and the Lord is in his holy temple.
ii) Jesus himself is the corner stone of the foundation.
iii) The temple is not yet finished; it is still being built, and growing all the time.
d) This is a temple fitted together in a precise way. God has a pattern for it, and it won't be the true temple unless it is fitted together according to that pattern or blueprint.
e) In past ages the temple in Jerusalem was a beautiful and glorious building. Solomon's glory was reflected in the temple he built to the glory of God. But Solomon's temple was destroyed. In the time of Christ the brand new Temple built by Herod was very beautiful. It was destroyed about 40 years later.
f) The true temple of God is the church. "For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one. He entered heaven itself... a minister in the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, not man" (Hebrews 9:24, 8:1-2).
g) The tabernacle was the original ornate tent of meeting for worship under the law of Moses. It was used before the temple was built in Jerusalem.
h) Now and forever more, the temple of God is a spiritual and heavenly building, and "to him the glory in the church" is the only glory here below that's worth anything to God (Ephesians 3:21).
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