Where in the Temple do you live?

“Don’t you know that you are the temple and God’s Spirit live in you”1Co3:16

For centuries, the Jewish Temple was central to the Jewish faith. Known as “the House of God” the temple was even spoken of in scripture almost 1,000 years before its actual construction. When first constructed in the ninth century B.C., it was known as Solomon’s Temple. After its destruction almost 500 years later, it was rebuilt, this time being recognized as Zerubbabel’s Temple. After another 500 years, King Herod again destroyed what remained of the Temple to construct a new Temple what would be remembered as Herod’s Temple.  From Solomon until Jesus Christ, the Temple was the heart of Jewish religious life.         

When Jesus Christ came to earth, He revealed that all the details and designations assigned to the Temple had a much more eternal and personal purpose than a temporal building. He told His disciples that if they would love and obey His Words, that they themselves would become the “House of God” because He would then live in them (Jn 14:23).  All the symbolism and specifications given for the building of the physical Temple were a “type” of the building of the “House of God” that would characterize every believer who by faith believed in Jesus Christ as Lord.  Speaking to believers, Paul the apostle said “Don’t you know you are the Temple of God” (1 Co.2:16).                       

This was God’s intent from the beginning, that He would live within the very being of His children, thus making them His holy Temple. Nevertheless, the Temple itself served and serves as an example of what Peter called the “spiritual house” that believers are to become (1Pe.2:3). Just as Israel was given strict instructions and dimensions to build a Temple to honor God, so believers are called to follow those same directions if their spiritual houses are to experience the presence of the living God.

The Temple was built into three very distinct “sections” or “courts”.  There was the “Outer Court” also known as the “Court of Women” and the “Court of the Gentiles”.  This was a general place of meeting where All were invited to attend. Scripture says “all have sinned”, thus assigning all humanity to the same situation. That same “All humanity” are welcome to attend to the Word of God that goes out from the Temple. As the Psalmist recognized, “your Word goes out into All the world” (Ps19). The entire world is invited to acknowledge God just as the Outer Court was designed for all mankind to attend. This is the beginning of our spiritual house, when a soul first opens his or her heart to the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The second area of the Temple is the “Inner Court”, also known as the “Court of Isreal” and the “Court of the Priests”.  This court was for the faithful believing men of Israel. They would come in and witness the sacrifices and purifications that the priests would perform. It symbolizes the church, those who have come in from the “Outer Courts” and have begun a life of faithful service to the Lord. It is in the church that the biblical practices of worship, prayer, and the Word, are performed for the faithful to experience.

The third area of the Temple is known as “the Holy Place”.  It was entered daily by the priests (Levites) to perform their sacred rites. It symbolizes the spiritual life offered to those who like the priests have consecrated themselves to God. This does not mean only those who are in ministry, but all those who hunger for and desire true spiritual life.  Jesus said, “let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the church”. In this "holy place", beleivers hear and experience the Spirit of God. All other areas of the Temple were designed to prepare the believer for this spiritual experience in the "holy place".

The writer of Hebrews declares “Therefore…, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (He.10:19). Jesus came to make a way into this “Holy Place” to allow our growing faith to become a “spiritual house” where fellowship and intimacy with the Holy Spirit are the daily experience.

Jesus warned that especially in the last days many will be content to remain in the “Outer Courts”. There they are saying “Lord Lord” as they are satisfied with their religious activities, or as Jesus called them “their traditions of men”.

Nevertheless, He continues to call to us, to plead with us, to press into that Holy place where fellowship and intimacy with God are the standard. In the last chapter of His Bible, He emphasizes that welcoming plea by saying “the Spirit and the Bride say come”.  It is into this “Holy Place” that He beckons us to come. Jesus continues today with this same plea inviting us to enter into the Most Holy Place where there is the daily reality of fellowship and intimacy with God.