GOD’S PURPOSE OF SALVATION PART I

I. God purposely saved us for the building of His house – the church. 1 Tim. 3:15; Acts 20:28

a. Any living person can never be at rest without finding a house to live. Our god is a living God and He too wants to have a dwelling place. The Bible tells us that our God who made the whole world and all things in it, does not dwell in temple made with human hands (Acts 17:24). Our living God does not want to live in a temple made of dead stones and wood. He wants to have a living dwelling place. God wants to live in humanity.

b. Due to the fall of man the entire human race is widely divided and scattered. Nation fights against nation, religion against religion, and even members of the same family fight against each other. In the fallen human race there is no building for God to dwell.

c. God has redeemed us out of the fall. We are God’s purchased materials paid with the highest price. He bought us not with silver nor with gold but with Christ’s precious blood (1 Pet. 1:18-19). God saved us to make us His materials for building the church, the house of the living God. All redeemed and regenerated believers are living stones (1 Pet. 2:5). Stones are building materials. A person who acquired building materials would never be happy to see the materials just scattered and left undone. Likewise, God would never be happy to see His redeemed ones whom He obtained with a very great price just scattered and not built up.

II. The church is the temple of God. Eph. 2:21-22

a. The building of the believers is the heart’s desire of God. God wants to display before Satan that in the midst of this evil and divided world there is a group of people gained by Him and being built up together into His dwelling place for His expression.

b. Paul told the believers in Corinth, that they who composed the church in Corinth are corporately speaking the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16). God today is doing a spiritual construction work. The fallen and natural man having been made out of dust could never be used for god’s building. But we, the believers through Christ redemption, regeneration and transformation, become living stones for God’s building. We are the materials for the building of God’s spiritual temple, which is the church. Therefore, we need to grow together and be fitted and built up together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.

III. To understand the things in the New Testament which are mysterious and spiritual God has given us a picture in the Old Testament regarding God’s purpose of salvation: To build the temple for God’s expression. 2 Chronicles 6:5-6; 5:14

a. God lost His expression in the Adamic race due to Adam’s fall. Thus, God called out Abraham out from the fallen race for the fulfillment of His purpose. However, His descendants, the Israelites fell into slavery in Egypt.

b. God saved the Israelites out of Egypt that they might build the temple in the land of promise. Then the cloud of glory descended upon the temple after it was built. The glory that filled the temple is God expressed through the temple.

c. The physical temple built by the saved Israelites is a type of the church. God saved us to build the church that through the church He may be expressed and glorified.

IV. In the New Testament age the rebuilding of the physical temple is a sign of the Lord’s second coming. 2 Thes. 2:1-4

a. The Lord prophesied concerning the destruction of the physical temple (Matt. 24:1-2). It was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when the Romans under Titus attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.

b. The rebuilding of the physical temple at Jerusalem in this age is the very sign of the Lord’s coming back and the time is already near because the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the rebuilding of the temple is almost at hand.

c. According to Time Magazine Oct. 16, 1989 issue, the Israelites are now willing to rebuild it. They are already preparing the materials, animals, offerings, and model of the temple; and Jewish priests are being trained to serve in the temple.

d. According to the latest news they already laid the cornerstone of the temple. Be watchful! Jesus is coming soon!

V. The history of Israel displays God’s sovereignty towards the fulfillment of the prophecy.

a. Israel rejected Christ. After that they were attacked and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Then, they became captives of the nations. For almost two thousand years they lost their country. According to historians it is impossible for a nation erased from the map within that length of time to be restored. But in God nothing is impossible and Israel was restored as a nation on May 14, 1948.

b. Later, four giant nations (Arab, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan) joined force to exterminate little Israel but they won the war in a matter of six days and was able to regain Jerusalem, on June 1967 the place chosen by God for the building of the temple. 2 Chronicles 6:5

c. Israel’s restoration is in preparation for the building of the physical temple. As all prophecies in the Scripture are being fulfilled one by one is a strong indication that God is living and His words are true. Therefore, we need to repent and consider our ways for Christ is coming to judge us according to our living and work.

VI. In the New Testament age the Lord has saved and chosen the believers to be built up into a corporate Body – His living temple which is the church. Eph. 2:21-22

a. We should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together so much the more as we see the day drawing near (Heb. 10:25). Only by coming together can we be built up into God’s temple for God’s corporate expression and glory. Christ is coming again to gain His church; be part of it! Be not scattered stones but rather be built up stones in God’s building.