1 Corinthians 3:16 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Corinthians 3:16

Comments

Paul gives a solemn warning to any who would define the church. So precious is it that if we go wrong, we must be brought to book. It is a most serious thing to hurt to church, for God has chosen to be in it. It is God’s chief unit. He has chosen the worship of God’s people to be his chief means of blessing lost sinners. The Old Testament tabernacle, and the temple after it, were also built for the habitation of God. God said to Moses, ‘And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them’ (Exodus 25:8). When the first tabernacle was dedicated, ‘a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle’ (Exodus 40:34), and similarly when Solomon’s temple was finished, ‘the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD’ (1 Kings 8:10-11). But while the Shekinah glory was the visible presence by which the temple was filled, God dwells in the church by his Spirit. How careful we must be not to offend the Lord who is among us.We might think of Ananias and Saphira. God destroyed them because they had polluted the church with their lies. He made an example of them right at the beginning of the church age to reinforce the standard that applies in the church.

Application

‘Know ye not?’ – it is a mild reproof. Maybe some of us don’t see the point. Paul speaks to the church. We know that our individual bodies are the temple of the Spirit, but so also is the church, the body of Christ; God also chooses to deal with us as a family. If a Christian is not involved in a local church, then much blessing is lost. This is not just a convenient collection of people, but it is the temple of God. Yes, if we are isolated by necessity, then surely God will make up any blessing we might have lost, but given the opportunity we must identify with the people of God and belong to a local church. God dwells in every true church. He is here, and he searches our hearts. He loves you as an individual child of God, but he also loves the church as a whole. Many of his purposes are brought about through the church. He meets with us in special ways as a church. He lifts our hearts together. We receive light as individuals in our private devotions, but especially through our collective worship together. He is training us to be a family, a company, and he instructs us as a unit. Through mutual love and respect, what power flows to us!

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1 Corinthians 3:16 Commentary and Bible Study