THE BIBLE'S DEFINITION OF CHURCH
PART VI

THE TEMPLE OF GOD

Another way that Paul describes, or defines the one true church, is that it is God's temple:

". . . ye are the temple of God . . ." (I Corinthians 3:16).

". . . your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost . . ." (I Corinthians
6:19).

". . . ye are temple of the living God . . . " (II Corinthians 6:16).

". . . a holy temple in the Lord. . ." (Ephesians 2:22).

In fact, this is the concept the etymology of our English word church. Sometimes you can learn a lot about a word from its etymology. Webster's 1828 gives the etymology of the word church as "a temple of God . . .pertaining to . . . our Lord Jesus Christ." Now, there is a wonderful definition! – hid away in the much overlooked etymology.

And that the church is the temple of the living God, is clearly borne out by Paul in the portions of Scripture referred to above.

We are the temple, we are God's sanctuary! Not a man-made building, but a God-made building, made up of people!

Notice how clearly Paul preached, contrasting the human and the divine in this regard.

"God . . . dwelleth not in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24).

Simple truth isn't it! God does not dwell in man-made places!

Now consider the common language of the average Christian:

"It is good to be in the Lord's House today."
"Please do not bring food or drinks into the sanctuary."
"It is nice to have God's House full today"

Do you ever talk this sort of religious jargon? Such talk denies the truth of the Scriptures that we have just considered!

Clyde Pilkington

Gladstone, VA

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