THE TEMPLE OF GOD
"God who made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and
breath, and all things." Acts 17:22-24
If we be a disciple of Christ, we are the Temple of God upon the earth. I am Charles Burke, a Minister in Sedona, Arizona.
Let me explain the Temple of God in matters of our own redemption of life so that we can learn more about the
greatness of our own immortality of life.
THE REASONS WHY WE ARE A TEMPLE OF GOD
I. In being a New Testament Christian, we are a temple of God because we have been born again in a Spiritual way. "There
was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi,
we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him. Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time unto his mother's womb, and be
born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (be immersed in water) and of the Spirit
(the teachings of the Holy Spirit), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:1-7
II. In being a New Testament Saint, we are a temple of God because God dwells in us. "Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness: and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the
living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'' 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
III. In being a new creature in Christ, we are a temple of God because we are glorifying God in our bodies and in our spirits.
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own? For ye are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians
6:19-20
THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BECOME A TEMPLE OF GOD
I. We should become a temple of God because God would dwell in us. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,
which temple ye are." 1 Corinthian 3:16-17
II. We need to become a temple of God because we could grow unto an holy temple in the Lord. "Now therefore ye are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
Ephesus 2:19-22
III. We must become a temple of God because we can become God's Eternal Temple in heaven. "Him that overcometh will I make
a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name." Revelation 3:12
THE BLESSINGS FOR BEING A TEMPLE OF GOD
I. If we would become a temple of God, we would be reconciled unto God. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us
to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the world of reconciliation. Now
then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to
God." 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
II. If we would become a temple of God, we would have Spiritual fellowship with God. "If any man love me, he will keep
my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and made our abode with him." John 14:23
III. If we would become a temple of God, we would be seeking the Spiritual Riches of Heaven. "If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set you affection on things above,
not on things on the earth. For ye are dead (to the old life of sin), and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ,
who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
THE CONCLUSION
I. If we be willing to become a New Testament Christian, God will dwell in us because we would be His temple.
II. We should be a temple of God while we sojourn upon the earth so that we can have Spiritual Fellowship with God.
THE BEING OF OUR LIFE #4
If you will analyze the following revelation of life, you will know the preciousness of your own being of life because you in being a New Testament Christian possess a created
and redeemed nature of life. For an example:
WE MUST KNOW GOD WHO IS OUR CREATOR
The Bible says, "God that made (created) the world and all things therein, seeing that
he is Lord (Ruler) of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Forasmuch then as we are the
offspring (the sons) of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven
by art and mans's device." Acts 17:24,29
I. Is God the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator?
A. God is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the
Holy Spirit in being our Creator because the one God of the Scriptures can be more than one Person providing that those Persons
are equal in power, rule and authority in matters of Their Own Individual Nature of life. This is why God said, "Let us (who
are the Persons that are called God) make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in his own image" (of life).
John said concerning those three Persons who equally are called God in being our Creator, "For there are three (Persons) that
bear record (of our creation) in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three (Persons) are one" (equal)
in power, rule authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only
God in reference to Their Own Individual Nature of life. Genesis 1:26-27, 1 John 5:7
B. Equality signifies that those three Persons who are called God in being the Father,
the Word and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, rule and authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers,
Nature and Attributes of the one and only God in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life. *Personage means possessing
a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit. *Powers signify being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. *Nature reveals
being eternal, impartial, perfect, spiritual and etc. *Attributes indicate being lovable, righteous, merciful, faithful and
etc.
II. Why should we learn that God is the being of three equal Persons who are called the
Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator?
Now, we should learn that God is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit
in being our Creator because we possess the Divine Characteristics of God who is the being
of three equal Persons that are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in matters of our own creation of life. This
makes us to be a god in matters of our own creation of life because we are the offspring of God. Our Lord said, "It is written
in your law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word
of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken." John 10:34-35 Therefore, since we are a god in matters of our own creation
of life, this greatly magnifies the whole being of our own created nature of life because in that world which is to come we
can become a Family Member of that God-Family who lives in heaven. Paul said concerning the Name of God, "Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Ephesians 3:15
WE MUST KNOW GOD WHO IS THE FATHER OF CHRIST AND
WE MUST KNOW CHRIST WHO IS THE SON OF GOD
The Bible says, "And the Word (God) was made flesh, and dwelt among us. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.
Blessed be the God and Father (Originator) of our Lord Jesus Christ. What think ye of Christ whose Son (Offspring) is he?"
John 1:1-3,14, Matthew 1:18-24, Ephesians 1:3, Matthew 22:42
I. What is the meaning of the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between God
and Christ?
Now, the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between God and Christ is the being of a Father-head Figure and an
Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons because the Word God (a God-Person) was born Jesus Christ (a God-Man)
upon the earth so that He could do the Divine Work of human redemption. This enabled those three God-Persons, who are called
the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, to equally make Themselves
to work in the Name of Christ in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our Redeemer.
This was achieved because "The Lord (God) said unto my Lord (Christ), sit thou on my right hand, until I make the foes thy
footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that the Lord God (who was the being of the Father and the
Holy Spirit in heaven) hath made that same Jesus (who was the Incarnated Word upon the earth), whom ye have crucified, both
Lord and Christ." Jesus (who was made both Lord and Christ in being our Redeemer) said concerning those three Persons who
equally would be called Christ in matters of our own redemption of life, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:34-36, Matthew 28:18-20 Therefore, the Father and the Son Relationship
which exist between God and Christ is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being
two Persons because the Nature of God brought the Nature of Christ into being upon the earth so that sinful man could be redeemed.
II. Why should we learn that the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between
God and Christ is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons?
Now, we should learn that the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between God and Christ is the being of a Father-head
Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons because God and Christ are the
two Divine Names in which three Persons who equally are working in matters of our own creation and redemption of
life. Therefore, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit are the three Persons who equally are called God in being our Creator;
whereas those same three Persons are equally made to work in the Name of Christ in being called the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit so that that They can be our Redeemer. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. For there are three (Persons) that bear record (of our creation) in heaven, the Father,
the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three (Persons) are one" (equal) in power, rule and authority. "Go teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Colossians 3:1, 1 John 5:7, Matthew 28:18-20
WE MUST KNOW CHRIST WHO IS OUR REDEEMER
The Bible says, "The Lord (God) said unto my Lord (Christ), Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that the Lord God (who was the being of the Father and the Holy Spirit
in heaven) hath made that same Jesus (who was the Incarnated Word upon the earth), whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Jesus (who was made both Lord and Christ in being our Redeemer) said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called
Christ in matters of our own redemption of life, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Paul said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creatures: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Acts 2:34-36, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17
I. Is Christ the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer?
A. Christ is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because Christ in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit redeemed our own divine
nature of life from the guilt of sin. This is why we in being an alien sinner must be baptized into Christ for the remission
of our sins by being baptized in the name (the authority) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit so that we
can become a New Testament Christian. Our Lord said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ in being
our Redeemer, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Paul
said, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Matthew 28:18-20, Galatians 3:27
B. Equality signifies that those three Persons who are called Christ in being the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, rule and authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers,
Nature and Attributes of the one and only Christ in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life. *Personage means possessing
a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit. *Powers signify being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. *Nature reveals
being eternal, impartial, perfect, spiritual and etc. *Attributes indicate being lovable, righteous, merciful, faithful and
etc.
II. Why should we learn that Christ is the being of three equal Persons who are called
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer?
Now, we should learn that Christ is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
in being our Redeemer because we possess the Divine Characteristics of Christ who is the
being of three equal Persons that are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in matters of our own redemption of life.
This makes us to be a divine person in matters of our own redemption of life because we can become a partaker of the Divine
Nature of God in our Heavenly Home. Peter said, "God hath given unto us many exceeding great and precious promises; that by
these (promises) ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption
(the pollution) that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4 Therefore, since we are a divine person in matters of our
own redemption of life, this highly amplifies the total sum of our own divine nature of life because in that world which is
to come we will be called by the Name of God. Our Lord said, "Him that overcometh (the forces of evil) will I make a pillar
in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of
my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will
write upon him my new name." Revelations 3:12
THE CONCLUSION
I. God is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy
Spirit in being our Creator because God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit created
our own divine nature of life from the guilt of sin.
II. The Father and the Son Relationship which exist between God and Christ is the being ofa Father-head
Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Person because those three God-Persons, who are called the
Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, equally made
Themselves to work in the Name of Christ in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our
Redeemer.
III. Christ is the being of three equal Persons who are called the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because Christ in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
redeemed our own divine nature of life from the guilt of sin.
IV. God and Christ are the two Divine Names in which three Persons who equally are working in matters of our own creation
and redemption of life because we have been created and redeemed by three equal Persons who are called God and Christ in matters of our own creation and redemption of life so that in that
world which is to come we can become equal (having power, rule and authority) with Them.
A. We will become equal (having power,
rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called God and Christ in being our Creator and our Redeemer because
in heaven we will possess Their Spiritual Personage of life which will be a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit
in matters of Our Own Individual Nature of life. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is sown a nature body, it is
raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Who (our Lord) shall change our vile body
(our fleshly body), that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body (His Spiritual Body), according to the working whereby
he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. And as we have borne the image of the earthy (the earthy man who possesses
a physical body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (the Spiritual Person who
has a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit). 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 15:44, Philippians 3:21,1 Corinthians
15:49
B. We will become equal (having power,
rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called God and Christ in being our Creator and our Redeemer because
in heaven we will possess Their Divine Powers of life in reference to Our Own Individual Being of Life. "If we suffer, we
shall also reign (rule) with him (the Lord our God). If we deny him, he also will deny us. To him that overcometh (the forces
of evil) will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
And to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall
they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And they shall reign (rule) for ever and ever" (over the powers
of Satan). 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 22:5
C. We will become equal (having power,
rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called God and Christ in being our Creator and our Redeemer because
in heaven we will possess Their Divine Nature of life in matters of Our Own Individual Nature of life. "It is written in your
law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scriptures can not
be broken. God has given unto us many exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Him that overcometh (the powers of Satan) will I
make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the
name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him
my new name. Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." John 10:34-35, 2 Peter 1:4, Revelation 3:12, Ephesians
3:15
D. We will become equal (having power,
rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called God and Christ in being our Creator and our Redeemer because
in heaven we will possess Their Divine Attributes of life in reference to Our Own Individual Being of life. "Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Be ye also merciful, as your Father also is merciful. He that
overcometh (the powers of sin), the same shall be clothed in white raiment (having his Divine Attributes Perfected): and I
will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angles. For
there shall in no wise enter into it (the Heavenly City) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination,
or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36, Revelation 3:5, Revelation
21:27
E. We will become equal (having power,
rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called God and Christ in being our Creator and our Redeemer because
in heaven we will possess Their Immortality of life in matters of Our Own Individual Nature of life. "Which in his
times he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: Who only hath immortality
(the Lord in all of His Power and Glory only has immortality, but the Lord has promised to give unto us those same Spiritual
Blessings of Immortality), dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see: to whom
be honour and power everlasting. Amen. To them (the Christians) who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and
honour and immortality, eternal life." 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Romans 2:7
THE APPLICATION
I. We can't Scripturally make a centralized head (a ranked hierarchy) to rule in the
New Testament Church because we are all equal in matters of our own creation and redemption of life. This is why the clergy
and the laity class of people can not Scripturally exist in the New Testament Church because no one redeemed person can Scripturally
rule a congregation of the Lord's Church. Therefore, we should not call any redeemed person: Reverend or Father because those
are Divine Titles which belong unto the Lord our God (not redeemed man). "Holy and reverend is his name. Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in
heaven." Psalms 111:9, Matthew 23:9
II. We can't Scripturally make any created person to be any greater than we are in a
created way, nor can we Scripturally make any created person to be any less than we are in a created way because we are equal
in matters of our own creation of life. This is why no one race of people is any greater than another race of people because
we are all equal in reference to our own creation of life. Therefore, we should not respect any one person above another person
because God is no respecter of persons. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter
of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. If ye have respect to
persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend
in one point, he is guilt of all." Acts 10:34-35, James 2:9-10
III. We can't Scripturally make any redeemed person to be any greater than we are in
a redeemed way, nor can we Scripturally make any redeemed person to be any less than we are in a redeemed way because we are
all equal in matters of our own redemption of life. This means that no one priest, elder, or bishop has any more power, rule
and authority than another priest, elder or bishop because no one redeemed man can Scripturally rule a congregation of the
Lord's Church. Each congregation of the New Testament Church is autonomous (self-ruled) because of the equality of our own
creation and redemption of life. Therefore, Christ (not a redeemed man) is the head of the
Church. "Christ is the head (the ruler) of the church; and he is saviour of the body: the Church." Ephesians 5:23
|