Spirituality and Spiritual Gifts

OCTOBER 26, 2022 STUDY NOTES SERMON SERIES: “SPIRITUALITY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS” SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-23 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES INTRODUCTION Notice that in the next few verses we find Paul giving three warnings: 1. Do not defile the temple of God (vs. 16-17) 2. Do not exalt self through human or worldly wisdom (vs. 18-20) 3. Let no man glory in men (vs. 21-23) The Corinthian Christians should have been aware of everything Paul warned them about In-order to overcome the danger of the first warning, Paul gave them three truths: 1. You are the temple of God 2. Because the Spirit of God dwells within you 3. Because the Spirit of God dwells within you, you are “holy” Since the “Day of Pentecost” God has been building the NT church just as Jesus promised, Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. God is using those in-Christ to build His church through the gifts of the Spirit And Satan has been using his people in an-attempt to destroy the church There is a strong warning in these verses to those who have a part in Satan’s destructive work But the NT Church is powerful because it is “Where God Dwells” WHERE GOD DWELLS--1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? “Know you not” or literally, “Don’t you know,” which is found 10 times in 1 Corinthians (1 Cor 3:16; 5:6; 6:2-3, 9, 15-16, 19; 9:13, 24) Paul expects a positive answer each time It is Paul’s way of saying, “I am talking to you about what you should already know” There should have been no need for Paul to rebuke the Corinthians so many times “Know ye not” implies that they should have known without Paul’s rebuke It should have been common knowledge among them because of what Paul had already taught Paul’s point is so simple, what should they have known? One truth they should know is “that ye are the temple of God” The temple in Jerusalem was a sacred place with a long history The history of the temple will help us to understand what Paul is now telling us Solomon built the temple in about 1000 B.C. The temple was destroyed a little more than 500 years later by Nebuchadnezzar Then about 50 years later Herod the Great determined to rebuild the temple That project took Herod and his successors 46 years to rebuild, Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? The Jerusalem temple was the center of Jewish religious life But the temple became a worldly place and Jesus called it a “den of thieves,” Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. According to God the temple was to be a “house of prayer” The Person and Work of Jesus represented all that the temple symbolized We learn that truth from the prediction of Jesus concerning the temple The Jews had a question for Jesus after He had cleansed the temple They wanted to know what right he had to cleanse the temple They said prove to us that you have the authority to do what you have done, Joh 2:18 Then Page 1 of 6 answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Their questions, who are you? Who gave you such authority? Give proof of who you really are Jesus gave them an answer, Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Jesus was not talking about Herod’s temple, Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body. Jesus was talking about Himself, referring to His own body as the temple of God There is more truth to what Jesus said than the prediction of His resurrection Jesus presented Himself as the fulfillment of all that was symbolized in the temple The same truth is found in, Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. All that God has for us is represented in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ Jesus had previously told the Pharisees, Mat 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. After His resurrection the disciples understood all that Jesus had said about the temple, Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. So, the history of the temple and the words of Jesus help us to understand 1 Co. 3:16 How meaningful and how powerful the words should be to us, “you are the temple of God” Which is even more meaningful to us when we learn of Paul’s choice of words There are two different Greek words used to describe the temple in Jerusalem One word referred to the entire area of the temple, the total temple area The word that Paul uses here refers to the most sacred part of the temple The word that refers to the inner sanctuary of God’s presence The word which was used to describe the Holy of Holies where God was dwelling Christian of today, did you hear that? Do you understand what Paul said? You are now the “Holy of Holies,” where the presence of God now dwells The question of this verse is whether Paul speaks of the church or the individual “You are” is plural and therefore interpreted to mean the church by some Bible scholars Teaching that “you are” speaks of the people as a congregation of people But it really doesn’t matter because the local group united is made up of spiritual individuals The true local NT church is not a material building built by the hands of man The true local church is the uniting of individual believers, uniting them into the Body of Christ, Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. So, we must look at it both ways, the truth is the same Individual Christians and Christians united as the NT church are now the “Holy of Holies” Individual Christians are united-together in Christ to make up the body of Christ, the Church So, Paul said that the church is the innermost dwelling place of God upon the earth A local NT church is a united body of individual believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit The title “universal church” refers to the entire church made up of all believers, 1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The NT Church is the “House of the Living God,” He dwells within the Church The NT church had its beginning on the day of Pentecost and will remain until Christ returns Every true believer within the “Church Age” is a member of the universal or true church Only true believers are a member of the “True Church,” the “Body of Christ” Which is also known as the “household of God,” Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and Page 2 of 6 foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Jesus is the foundation and the corner stone of the church, Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Believers are united in Christ into a spiritual structure known as a “holy temple” Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: Believers united-together through the Spirit are the “dwelling place” of God, Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. The “Local NT Church” is to be made up of God’s people united-together in a local area Within the membership of a local church there can be those who are saved and some who are lost It is possible that all members on the local church roll are not saved and not true believers Paul speaks of a local church as “the temple of the living God” in, 2Co 6:16 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. A local church should represent the character of Christ because we are the “temple of God” The church should be identified as individual believers who live holy, righteous, and Godly lives The church should be known as the place where God’s people gather to worship God Where God’s people gather to learn more about God’s Word and God’s will for their life The local church is the place where God wants his people to gather and learn to live spiritually We should be faithful to the church, Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. God’s people must meet for companionship, fellowship, and to strengthen our Godly relationship And then go out and be a blessing to those in need of God, our world needs a Godly witness Now Paul presents the second truth, another truth that they should know, one that we must know “And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you,” is “you” the church or the believer? “Both” The reason the Holy Spirit dwells within the local church is because he dwells in the believer Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would dwell within the believer, Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; The “Spirit of God” dwells within the individual Christian, 1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? The Holy Spirit comes to abide within or to live within every believer, Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (If you are saved the Spirit dwells within you) The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and not just a select few as some teach There are those who teach that the receiving of the Spirit is a “second blessing” experience It is the Holy Spirit within us at the time of our salvation that confirms our salvation, Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: In the OT God dwelt “with” His people, in the NT God dwells “in” His people Individually we are God’s dwelling place, united we are God’s dwelling place Because of the indwelling presence of the Spirit every believer can learn to live for God Every believer can be taught how to live for God (Spirituality) Through the Spirit believers have been given the power to live for God, Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, United together as the church we are to be God’s present powerful ministry unto the world The church is to be the center of divine activity and the place of divine manifestation God is to be manifested through the local church In-order to do that God must be manifested through the individual Christian The Holy Spirit dwells within the church as believers are united to make up the church The true NT church is the home of God upon this earth Page 3 of 6 It is understandable that Satan wants to destroy the local church Satan has been successful in destroying the testimony of some local churches Which is why Paul warns us, 1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. “If” should get our immediate attention, what Paul says can really happen Christians living an unfaithful, selfish, and fruitless life will face a present judgment “If any man defile the temple of God,” such as causing division within the church The word “defile” means to corrupt or destroy, to waste, to damage, or to deprave The meaning can also mean to bring about a worse state of being Meaning to injure or dishonor and cause corruption or destruction All of which will destroy the local church, but not the true church because Jesus promised, Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Memorize this verse) According to Jude, false teachers and false prophets are within the local church, Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. False teachers have found their way into every denomination and into many churches today They are found in Bible colleges teaching and training those who are going to lead churches Their teaching is according to what sinful man wants to hear which is called “itching ears,” 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (Ears that hear what pleases self) Today many churchgoers want to live in sin and be religious at the same time There are many religious programs they can listen to and worldly churches that they can attend Satan will use any scheme he can to divide the church and destroy their witness for Christ One reason the Corinthian church was being destroyed was because of division, 1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Destruction within the church comes when God is not honored, God must be honored, 1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Paul is warning against anything that will divide the church Fusing, fighting, arguing, and quarreling among members will always divide the church If you are guilty of dividing the church, you are guilty of destroying the church Spiritual weakness among a church congregation can destroy the testimony of a church, 1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. Keep in mind that the true church of God will not be destroyed, Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Quote this verse to Satan) The local congregation can be harmed, injured, corrupted, and even break apart But nothing will ever destroy the true NT Church of God The true church will be alive when Jesus returns and will dwell with Christ forever Because we are “the temple of God,” the church or the believer? “Both” The “temple of God” represents God’s work upon the earth at-this time That explains why the “temple of God” must be cared for and protected daily That explains why destruction of the “temple of God” is of such great concern That explains why destruction of the “temple of God” brings forth such strong judgment “Him shall God destroy” Who does Paul have in mind, those who are lost, unsaved, false teachers, or believers? Page 4 of 6 The truth that Paul presents applies to all, those who are lost or those who are saved Certainly, the saved are not exempt because Paul says, “you are the temple of God” There will be punishment bestowed upon anyone who brings about destruction of the temple And the punishment will be according to the manner of the offence The degree of punishment will be according to the degree of the division “Destroy” is the same word translated “defile” in 1 Corinthians 3:17 The meaning is to destroy by corrupting The reading is, “If any man destroys the temple of God, him shall God destroy” If anyone brings about ruin to God’s temple, God will bring ruin upon him The destruction will be in the sense of present ruin or corruption Which must refer to a present bodily experience and not annihilation of the soul Paul does not mean a destruction of the soul of a believer, the destruction cannot be spiritual God is not going to destroy the soul of a believer to the eternal lake of fire The destruction of a believer will be physical, which could be a premature physical death, 1Jn 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (There is a sin unto death) Paul gives us an example of the sin unto death, 1Co 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (“Sleep” refers to physical death) Paul’s point is strong, “him shall God destroy,” those who are destroying the church witness Paul’s point is very simple, “If you harm the place of God’s dwelling, God will harm you” A Biblical truth that is rarely shared today, but scripture reveals the discipline of believers, Luk 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Christians are to care for one another like parents care for their children, protecting them Children represent their family, to harm the child is to bring harm upon the family Christians represent Christ, to harm a Christian is an attack upon Christ The emphasis of the local church is not that it is a very important “place” But that the local church is a very important “people” You are the “temple of God,” which is “holy” God looks upon damage to the church or church family as something serious Paul now presents the third truth, the Spirit of God dwells within you, you are “holy” “For the temple of God is holy,” the church or the believer? “Both” “Holy” means to be set apart unto God for God’s purpose and for God’s use The church is a sanctified place because it is made up of sanctified people God’s sanctified people, separated people, set aside people, set aside by God and for God People that God has separated from a life of sin and set apart to serve God God’s people must be committed to maintaining that status of holiness “Which temple ye are,” there is no greater truth for the NT believer than this As a child of God, you are “the temple of God” The privilege of verse 16 requires the responsibility of verse 17 CONCLUSION Christian, do you know who you are? “Know you not?” Do you know what you are supposed to be doing for God? Do you know that God has a purpose for your daily life? God has planned your day, your tomorrow, and your eternity God has plans to bless you today and to eternally reward you Page 5 of 6 God does not want to discipline you or to punish you today So don’t destroy His temple Page 6 of 6