1. 1 Corinthians 3:9 - 17

2. What is the Temple of God?
Ephesians 2:19-22 “dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
“House of God” – 1 Timothy 3:15
Different Names used to Designate:
CHURCH – called out – Matthew 16:18
KINGDOM – government – Colossians 1:13
TEMPLE – worship – 1 Corinthians 3:17

3. What is the Temple of God?
Different Names used to Designate:
CHURCH – called out – Matthew 16:18
KINGDOM – government – Colossians 1:13
TEMPLE – worship – 1 Corinthians 3:17
BODY OF CHRIST- fellowship – 1 Corinthians 12:20-22
VINEYARD – work – Matthew 20:1-16
SPIRITUAL HOUSE – family – Ephesians 2:19

4. A Serious Warning!
1 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

5. What is Meant by Defiling The Temple?
Tabernacle & Solomon’s Temple a Type of the Spiritual Temple
Hebrews Chapters 8-10
Hebrews 8:5 – old example of heavenly
Hebrews 9:1-7 – describes the old
Hebrews 9:8,9 – old prefigured the new
Hebrews 9:23 – old was a pattern of the new and better

6. What is Meant by Defiling The Temple?
Examples of Israel Defiling Old Temple
2 Chronicles 26:16-21 – Uzziah attempted to burn incense in the Temple – Turned Leprous & remained that way the rest of his life!
Jeremiah 7:30 “set abominations in the house which is called by My name, to pollute it.”
2 Chronicles 33:7 “set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God”

7. What is Meant by Defiling The Temple?
Temple of God when Jesus walked on earth
Matthew 21:12-13 “you have made it a ‘den of thieves’”
Promise of a New Temple- 2 Samuel 7:12,13 – “He shall build a house (temple) for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.”
Zechariah 6:12 “the BRANCH…He shall build the temple of the Lord;”

8. Ruler & Priest Temple of God when Jesus walked on earth
Christ is the ONLY ONE Who rules & serves at the same time.
Hebrews 9:11 “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater & more perfect tabernacle not made with hands…”
Hebrews 7:1,17 “Melchizedek, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God” Christ is “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

9. Temple, House, Church of God
1 Timothy 3:15 House of God = Church of God
1 Corinthians 3:17 Temple = “God’s building”
Christ is the Foundation of it – 1 Corinthians 3:10
Paul said to church at Corinth, “You are the temple of God” -1 Corinthians 3:16 ; Ephesians 2:19-22
The Temple is Holy – 1 Corinthians 3:17
Temple, House of God, Church of Christ is HOLY!
How Dare Anyone Tamper With it?

10. How Can Anyone Defile the Temple Today?
Defile – “to corrupt, destroy.” (Thayer)
Corinthians defiling by Division – 1 Corinthians 3:3-17
How can we Avoid division?
Speaking the same thing – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
Walking by the Same Rule – Philippians 3;16
Speaking as Oracles of God – 1 Peter 4:11
Worship in Spirit & Truth – John 4:23,24
Doing ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus – Colossians 3:17
Always ask, “BY WHAT AUTHORITY?”

11. Some Ways the Church of God Can Be Defiled
False Doctrine -
Romans 16:17,18 “note those who cause divisions & offenses, contrary to the doctrine”
1 Timothy 1:3 “teach no other doctrine”
1 Timothy 6:3-5 “wholesome words… doctrine that accords with godliness”
2 Timothy 4:3 “will not endure sound doctrine”
2 John 9-11 “abide in the doctrine of Christ”
Galatians 1:8,9 preach no other gospel
2 Timothy 2:18 overthrows faith of some
Matthew 15:9 makes worship vain

12. Some Ways the Church of God Can Be Defiled
Recent History Examples:
Premillenialism – R. H. Boll
Development of “soft” preachers and churches – “PMA” Dale Carnegie preaching
“One Cup – No Class” & “no located preacher” issues – Carl Ketcherside
False Practices & Organizations:
Acts 20:28-31 “from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples”

13. Some Ways the Church of God Can Be Defiled
Recent History Examples:
Binding or Losing where God has Not – Romans 14:17,20,22
False Worship – John 4:23,24
Vain Worshipers & Vain Worship – Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:22,23
TRUE Worship is Outlines for us in the Scriptures!
WHY would anyone want to worship any other way that what God has ordained?

14. Why Do Men Defile That Which is Holy?
Dissatisfaction with God’s ways -
Israel dissatisfied with God as King – 1 Samuel 8:5,7,20
Hosea 13:11 – given in anger, taken away in wrath!
TODAY – Dissatisfaction with God’s way of Evangelization: United Christian Missionary Society, 1849
“Social Gospel” – bus ministry, entertain
“Out Reach” programs; campus ministries

15. Why Do Men Defile That Which is Holy?
Dissatisfaction with God’s Method of Benevolence - “Brotherhood” Orphan Homes, Centralized control of church finances and work
Lack of Knowledge in God’s Ways:
Holy Spirit Controversy began by Dwain Evans, Pat Boone, etc. Tongue speaking
“Crossroads Church” Gainesville, FL started by Chuck Lucas – moved to Boston, now call themselves “International Church of Christ”
“New Hermeneutics” Rubel Shelley, etc.

16. Men Have Defiled & Continue to Defile God’s Temple
You can defend it by a study of God’s Word & a Commitment to the Lord

17. Are You Built Upon The Foundation of Christ & Are You Building On It?