The Temple of God by U. S. Lawton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 2, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 14.

The Temple of God

By U. S. Lawton

No. 290. The Temple of God.

I WOULD be pleased to have the SIGNS OF THE TIMES explain 1 Cor. 3:14-17.

In order to an understanding of verses 14, 15 it will be necessary to read farther back. The apostle is speaking of his work and that of other apostles in their work in God's vineyard or temple. They were simply servants, who planted or watered; God gave the increase. They were simply workmen in building God's spiritual house; God furnished the foundation, the material, the life. The foundation, the only one, is Christ Jesus. Verse 11. If a man build on that Rock that which will stand—in other words, if the minister of Christ gathers in, by the grace of God, well-instructed, converted souls in Christ—his work will stand. Such converts are likened to precious stones, gold, and silver—materials which will endure the fire (see Isa. 33:14, 15)—while, on the other hand, if his converts are not converted to Christ, they are likened to wood, hay, and stubble, consumable by fire. The minister may thus lose his work, yet he himself will be saved as by fire. If his converts are to Christ and are genuine, he will receive a reward; if his converts are not genuine, he will suffer loss, even tho he may be saved. This is the teaching regarding the minister. But the apostle desires the church to realize their part, and so he continues:—

"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."

Those who hear and heed the words of the minister of Christ are the temple, or building, of God. God designs to dwell in them. If they will let him, he will make them gold, silver, precious stones, which will endure the fire. If they will not yield to him the whole heart, if they defile themselves by unholy thoughts and practices, they will be destroyed with the sins they love. God will not divide the heart temple with any one or anything.