The Apostle Paul uses a question to teach a two-pronged truth to the Corinthian believers. He asks, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you” (I Corinthians 3:16)? In this passage he is speaking to the church as a body of believers. Collectively, they are the temple of God – a remarkable statement indeed. But, as if that were not enough, he then adds that the Spirit of God dwells in them – even more remarkable!
The temple in the Old Testament was the place where God would meet with his people. It was divided into two compartments – the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies – separated by a thick veil. God resided in the Holy of Holies behind the veil between the cherubim and above the mercy seat on ark of the covenant. Access to the Holy of Holies was prohibited to all but the High Priest and his access was only permitted once a year on the Day of Atonement when he made atonement for himself and the people.
While the temple spoke to God’s presence among the people, the veil and the Holy of Holies emphasized God’s holiness and resulting unapproachability. God is absolutely holy and utterly without sin! Man’s sin makes him unworthy to come before this holy God. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur on our calendars) reminded the worshippers of this great gulf every year.
It is against this backdrop that Paul’s testimony to the Corinthians takes on a far more remarkable character. The access to God, the holy One of Israel, has been opened by faith. The very veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was rent in two from top to bottom after Christ yielded up the ghost on the cross (Matthew 27:51). The way to God was now open. Every believer today has the Spirit of God in him and so his or her body is become the temple of God because God’s Spirit dwells there (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
How marvelous is the thought that I now can have unfettered fellowship with God, the Creator! The sin which separated me from God has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. He dwells with me and I with him. Guilt so great has been forgiven by love so infinite! The fellowship that God desired with his creation has been restored through faith in the redeeming work of his Son, the Lamb of God.
God has not set aside his holiness. The blood of Christ has made us fit vessels for the Spirit’s indwelling though sin remains present with us. How great is that blood’s power! Consequently, God’s presence within must spur us on to holiness in our own personal walk. Peter quoting from the Old Testament in his epistle testifies that God’s intentions for his people remain unchanged. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (way of life) because it is written, “Be ye holy for I am holy”” (I Peter 1:15-16). God saves us from our sin for himself so that we might enjoy him forever!
From the Chaplain 