Sep 25, 2008

True Temples


Whenever I look at old testament typology of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am always amazed at all of the ways He alludes that He is the Center of everything Spiritual.

Take for example the Temple. The Lord Jesus Christ seems to be demonstrated in the Temple. He is the location of our Worship in John 4. True Worship in Spirit and Truth is not located in an earthly Temple, or on a mountain, but it is found In Jesus Alone. Is Jesus alluding that the Temple is a Type of himself? Some may disagree, but I would say yes. When he states...
"destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up, but he was speaking of the Temple of His Body." (John 2:20-21) - I believe He is encouraging the Jew to recognize that He is the true location of Worship. His presence is more significant than the existence of the earthly, physical temple in Jerusalem. Just as the physical Temple was destroyed in AD 70, it was of no use when the true Temple and place of Worship Jesus the Christ had come.

Now the Body of Christ is considered as a holy temple in the Lord (Ephesians 2:21). We are to grow into a Temple that is fitted together. Worshiping Jesus collectively, in Spirit and in Truth, Growing in Unity unto our Head who is Christ.

And again, we are considered to be the "temple" of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16). WoW - so we can actually worship God because the Holy Spirit is within Us - Our Bodies house the person of the Holy Spirit and thus we don't need to be in a physical temple, but can worship God in Spirit and in Truth by the Spirit of God Himself.

I don't fully understand how all of these things can be. How I can be worshiping in the Temple as the Body of Christ, as a believer (The Temple of the Holy Spirit). I do know however that because Jesus has raised His own Temple, that we can have true worship. I look forward to Worshiping God in the heavenly Temple, not made with Hands. He is forever to be praised!

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