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1 Corinthians 3:16-17
The Apostle Paul has been teaching the congregation of the church at Corinth about having proper behavior as Christians. He is doing this because he has received word that, “there are contentions among you” (1 Corinthians 1:11c, NKJV). Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” He has been building on the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-12) and of how we learn the things of God through His Holy Spirit. But Paul goes a step further and adds that we, as Christians, are the temple of God through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. However, as Paul is speaking to the church at Corinth, it is believed that he is not only addressing individuals but the church as a whole – “to those who are sanctified in Crist Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Paul is concerned that the contentions from within the church at Corinth will tear the church apart. He states in 1 Corinthians 3:17, “17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” Paul wants the people of the church at Corinth to know that they are the temple of God and in such are a holy people of God.
This is a promise that we become the temple of God when His Holy Spirit indwells us through our salvation in Christ Jesus.
We have contentions. We are constantly struggling to overcome the evil ways that the devil throws at us daily. But as Christians, we are the holy people of God. The Apostle Paul is teaching us that we should conduct ourselves as such. We are the example to all those around us who are not Christians, and we should always be aware that others are watching us to see if we will behave in a way that is reflective of Jesus. Don’t forget what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
Dear LORD,
Please open our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls to understand that through our salvation in Christ Jesus we are the temple of God – we are Your temple; Your Holy Spirit lives inside us and teaches us and guides us through life. Please help us to understand that we should conduct ourselves in this manner; not condescending to others but gently and humbly seeking Your will for our lives individually and as the whole body of the Church – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.