The Church The Church, the Body of Christ The Church, the Bride of Christ The Church, the Temple of God Over recent weeks, we have been looking at different ways that the Bible talks about the Church These different descriptions are not talking about different things – it’s a bit like trying to find ways of talking about something that is beautiful, complex and too extraordinary for words. Think of the Biblical names for God in the Bible – Jehovah Jirah; Jehovah Nisi; Jehovah - they all carry a particular meaning, none of them encompass everything that God is – he’s too big for words! We’ve talked about the church in that way – not this church, little “c”, but the whole Church, big “C”. Very big “C”, as we will – er – see! We have talked about the Church as the Body of Christ, and as the Bride of Christ. Today, I want to talk about another picture of the Church – as the Temple of God.

This is a model of … ? Yes, the Temple. Which one? It’s the second Temple in Jerusalem. A magnificent building. On my Alpha course, back in 199n, I remember reading a Bible passage where God lays out His plans for how the first temple should be built – very detailed instructions – God is a God of purpose, He knows exactly what He wants. And he communicated His will. God set out His plans for the Temple which, when it was completed, would be where He would inhabit, to meet with His people.

Instructions for building a Temple 1 Kings 5 - 9 11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. 13 He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.14 

He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service: 15 the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand; 16 the weight of gold for each table for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables;17 the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish; 18 and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the Lord’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”

The main points about the Temple? God is a God of detail God makes detailed plans, God demands the best. The temple is impressive, magnificent, opulent The temple is beautiful The temple reflects the glory of God in His creation The temple is to be a dwelling place for God among His people The temple is where God’s people gather to worship their God The temple is sacred ground

“You yourselves are God’s temple …” 1 Cor 3:16 Who is you? Plural – we are, collectively, Gods temple Individuals – treasure in jars of clay Is a church just a collection of individuals? Is the universal Church a bunch of churches? “Just as We are one” The Church is not just here on earth Enchiridion There is no temple in the New Jerusalem!

God’s People as His Temple Paul’s word refers to the actual sanctuary, where God makes His dwelling God is present with His people by His presence Paul – Corinth had many temples; one more – a living temple! Not only what we do, but being here, visibly Foretaste of Rev 21, the City of God

The New Jerusalem 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.