Christian Universe
Home | Christian Resources | Christian Links | Links | Site Map
The True Temple
September 25, 2016
In Old Testament scriptures we read of the tabernacle and, later, the temple of God. This was the place where the people petitioned God, offering thanksgiving for their bounty. Here the priests cleansed the temple and its accoutrements. Now, the individual Christians and the collective church are the spiritual temple of God. We Christians are priests of God. - Bernie Parsons
The True Temple
a sermon by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Globe church of Christ on 09-25-2016
Presented to the Load church of Christ on 10-02-2016
In our recent meeting, brother Aaron Keeton spoke of the old being the
shadow, or outline, of the new. In this study, I want to discuss the
temple of God.
The original temple was seven
years in the building.
1 Kings 6:38 "And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the
eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof,
and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in
building it."
It was destroyed, and rebuilt, but, the second temple was also to be
destroyed.
Mark 13:1 "And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith
unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings?
there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown
down."
Jesus was becoming the new temple, as it were.
John 2:19 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and
in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and sixyears was this temple in building,
and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body."
Revelation 21:22 "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are the temple of it."
In the original temple, the people were kept in an outer courtyard.
2 Chronicles 4:9 "Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the
great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them
with brass."
Ezekiel 44:19 And
when they go forth into the utter court, even
into the utter court to the people, they shall
put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy
chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not
sanctify the people with their garments.
In the original temple, the priests performed special duties in the
inner court.
Ezekiel 44:17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in
at the gates of the inner court, they shall be
clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles
they minister in the gates of the inner court,
and within.
In the spiritual temple, the people are also priests.
1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
Revelation 5:9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to
take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue,
and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign
on the earth."
In the original temple, the priests ate their sacrifices in the holy
court.
Leviticus 6:24 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin
offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin
offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place
shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation."
In the spiritual temple, we eat the spiritual sacrifice that is Christ.
John 6:53 "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have
no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and
I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I
in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he
that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers
did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for
ever."
1 Corinthians 11:23 "For I have received of the Lord that which also I
delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was
betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this
is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped,
saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as
ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
In the original temple, the high priest entered yearly to speak to God.
Hebrews 9:7 "But into the second went the high priest alone once every
year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the
errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way
into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first
tabernacle was yet standing:"
In the spiritual temple, Jesus, our high priest, speaks to God all of
the time.
Hebrews 4:14 "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our
profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 8:1 "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We
have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of
the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the
Lord pitched, and not man."
The first covenant was with a fleshly people, but the new one is with a
spiritual people.
Hebrews 8:9 "Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the
land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded
them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they
shall be to me a people:"
Romans 2:28 "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of
the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of
men, but of God."
John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh
such to worship him.
