From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:
In Old Testament times, the house of God was a literal building made of stones and timber, and overlaid with gold (1 Kings 5-6). But today in Christianity, “the house of God, which is the Church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15) is a "spiritual house" composed of believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, who are viewed as “living stones” in its construction (1 Cor. 3:9b; Eph. 2:20-21; Heb. 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5).
Christians often (mistakenly) refer to their church building or hall as God’s house. A case in point comes to mind of a brother who was unhappy about the children who were running and playing in the hall after one of the Bible meetings. He said, “The children shouldn’t be running around in here; this is the house of God!” But this remark is really thinking of God’s house along the lines of what it was in the Old Testament, in Judaism. As mentioned, the house of God in this Christian dispensation is not a physical building made with men’s hands, but a spiritual building. Out of this misunderstanding comes the idea that at certain prescribed times Christians go to God’s house to worship—i.e. 10 o’clock on Sunday morning. This confusion comes from the false ideas propounded in Catholicism and Reformed (Covenant) Theology. The truth is that we “are” the house of God (Heb. 3:6) and are “in” the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15) at all times—24 hours a day, seven days week—not just when we are assembled with other Christians in Bible meetings. (Nor should we confuse “the house of God” with the “Father’s house” – John 14:2-3. God’s house is something on earth, whereas the Father’s house is something in heaven.)
The Church, viewed as the house of God, is God’s vessel of testimony on earth. It is to show forth the true character of God before the world. The Apostle Peter indicates this in his first epistle. After stating that believers are God's “spiritual house,” he goes on to say that as such, we are responsible to “show forth the excellencies of Him" who has called us "out of darkness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:5-9). Thus, just as we can learn certain things about the occupant of a house by looking at the house, so men should be able to look at God’s house and know God’s character. If the garden is unkempt, there is trash around, the house needs paint, etc., it gives us insight as to the kind of person that lives there. Conversely, we can look at a well-kept home (from what meets our eye) and conclude that the owner is probably an orderly person. Thus, God intends that His character should be seen in the order of His house. Since we are God’s house, the world should be able to look at our conduct and ways and know the true character of God.
This line of truth is a much-neglected side of things. Many Christians have the idea that God is not concerned about what they are outwardly; to them what's on the inside is the only thing that matters. First Samuel 16:7 is sometimes used to support this—“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” But this very verse only enforces the point that we need to pay attention to our outward testimony. Since men cannot see what is in our hearts—only God can see that—they have to look on what is outward. Certainly the most important thing is to have a relationship with God inwardly by faith, but it is not the only thing that Christians need to be concerned about. We have a responsibility regarding how we appear before the world, because our personal testimony reflects on God.
The two main characteristics of God which Christians, as the house of God, are to manifest before the world are:
• God the Saviour—As such, God’s disposition in grace toward all men is to sound out from His house to the world through “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:11; 2:3-6). Thus, the favour of God in seeking the good and blessing of men should be manifested before the world through those who compose the house.
• God the Creator—As such, God’s moral standards and moral order in the roles of men and women, which He established from the beginning of the creation, are to be demonstrated by those who comprise the house (1 Tim. 2:8-15, etc.).
The house of God today in Christianity is viewed in Scripture in two ways:
The first aspect views the house as consisting of true believers only (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:9b; Eph. 2:20-21; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5). Since the gospel is still going forth and gathering in the material (“living stones”), this aspect of the house is seen as being under construction and will not be complete until the last believer is saved and put into the structure (Eph. 2:20-21)—whereupon the Lord will come and take the Church home to heaven at the Rapture. Christ is the Master Builder (Matt. 16:18) and “the Corner-stone” of the house (Eph. 2:20); He is also “Son over His (God’s) house” (Heb. 3:6).
The second aspect views the house as having a mixture of real believers and merely professing believers in it (1 Cor. 3:9-17; Eph. 2:22; 2 Tim. 2:20; 1 Peter 4:17). Men are seen as having a part in the work of constructing the house, but sadly, not all are good builders; some are building with good material and some with bad material (1 Cor. 3:9-17). With God having committed this responsibility to men in the time of the Lord's absence (Matt. 24:45), many of the builders have shown a disregard for the order of His house and have introduced an order of their own making. Consequently, all kinds of things have been brought into the house that really have no place there, and much disorder and ruin have been the result. The house of God, in this aspect, is now like a “a great house,” full of confusion (2 Tim. 2:20). In fact, today, there is so much disorder in God's house that there is very little left that is according to the pattern of His house in His Word. God is not indifferent to it; He judges those in His house in a governmental way today (1 Cor. 3:17; 11:30-32; 1 Peter 4:17).
In this second aspect, the house is viewed as "the habitation of God" on earth. That is, He is dwelling in it through the presence of “the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). Since the Holy Spirit is in the house (1 Cor. 3:16), those in it who are merely professing Christians are “partakers of the Holy Spirit” in an outward way, without actually being indwelt by the Spirit (Heb. 6:4). This second aspect embraces the whole Christian profession on earth. Thus, no local assembly is ever called the house of God in Scripture.
The house of God in the Old Testament had two buildings adjoining each other—the house of the LORD (1 Kings 5-6) and King Solomon’s own residence (1 Kings 7). These two buildings are a type of the two aspects of the house of God today. The house of the LORD (the temple) was open to all who came to God to worship Him—even having a court for Gentiles. However, not all of those who went into the temple precincts necessarily had real faith. It is a picture of the second aspect of the house of God today where there is a mixture of real believers and mere professors. Solomon’s own house was a series of inter-connected rooms that were closed to all but himself and his family. Gentiles who visited the land, and others in Israel, did not have access there. It is a type of the first aspect of the house which is composed of true believers only. (See Synopsis of the Books of the Bible, by J. N. Darby on 1 Kings 5-7.)
Some Outstanding Differences Between These Two Aspects Are:
• In the first aspect, the house of God is viewed from the side of God’s sovereignty (Eph. 2:20-21); in the second aspect, it is viewed from the side of man’s responsibility (1 Peter 4:17).
• In the first aspect, people become part of the house by believing the gospel; in the second aspect, people come into the house by making a profession of faith in Christ (2 Tim. 2:19), or by being baptized (which is the formal means of entering it).
• In the first aspect, believers “are” the house (Heb. 3:6; 1 Peter 2:5); in the second aspect, believers (and falsely professing believers) are “in” the house (2 Tim. 2:20).
• In the first aspect of the house, the Spirit of God dwells “in” believers (John 14:17; Acts 2:4); in the second aspect, the Spirit of God dwells both “in” and “with” [or among] believers (John 14:17; Acts 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:16-17).
• The first aspect is sometimes called “the house of reality;” whereas the second aspect is sometimes called “the house of profession.”