The Church as a House or Temple for God

 •  17 min. read  •  grade level: 11
 
IN order rightly to appreciate our corporate privileges and responsibilities, it is necessary to have clear thoughts as to our corporate relationships.
Much has been profitably said as to the distinction between the house and the body, as two aspects in which the church is viewed in Scripture. I do not intend in this paper to say anything more on this part of the subject. But there still exists confusion in the minds of many, in respect to what the word of God teaches concerning the church, as a building, house, or temple, for God, from not seeing that there are two distinct aspects in which the church is spoken of in these characters. For this reason I shall endeavor to set forth what I believe to be essential for the clear apprehension of the truth in this matter. My object will be to show, first, what the word of God teaches concerning the church as a building connected solely with the work of Christ as the Builder, as that which He is building, and which is growing up to be a holy temple when complete. Secondly, what is taught concerning the church as God's building, but connected with man's work and responsibility; that which is the present habitation of God by the Spirit.
Scripture uses the word church or assembly, first, to designate a company which is being called out from Jews and Gentiles, beginning at Pentecost, still going on, and only complete at the coming of the Lord for His saints. This company is never supposed to be a complete thing, at any given time, previous to the Lord's return, when it will be composed of all true believers in the Lord during this present dispensation.
Then, secondly, it is used to designate a company already called out, and considered to be a complete company at any given time, from its first inauguration at Pentecost until the Lord comes again. In this sense the church is always spoken of as a formed and complete company in present existence. What has been said applies to the church viewed either as the body of Christ or as the house of God.
Thus Eph. 1:2323Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23), and 4:16, speak of the body of Christ in the first sense; that is, as composed of all saints called during the present period, from Pentecost to the Lord's return. But Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4), 1 Cor. 12, and Rom. 12, speak of the body of Christ as that which already exists, always a complete thing, from the time when it was first formed until the Lord comes again, composed of all true believers who are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and living on the earth at any given time.
The same thing applies to the church when viewed in its other aspect as the house of God. And, to avoid confusion, when thinking of the church, it is necessary not only to distinguish between the body of Christ and the house of God, but also between the two aspects in which the word speaks of the church as a building. In the one case the church is looked at as in the process of being built, growing up, but not complete till the last saint is gathered in. In the other case, it is looked at as being already built at any given time (during the present period) a complete, present habitation of God by the Spirit. See these two things in Eph. 2:20-2220And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20‑22).
In the church thus viewed there never can be confusion or ruin; all is produced and sustained by the unfailing wisdom and power of the Builder, who, when He has completed the work, will present it to God as a holy temple for Him, in which He will eternally dwell, and in which, in the eternal state, He will come down to tabernacle with men, as we see in Rev. 21:33And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3), where, having spoken (ver. 2) of the church as the holy city coming down out of heaven, there follows at once the word, " Behold the tabernacle of God is with men." The church thus viewed is never in Scripture said to be the house of God now, never viewed as the present habitation of the Spirit; on the contrary, it is not yet a complete temple, but still being built or growing up to be such.
In Matt. 16;18, the Lord speaks of it prospectively, declaring that He was about to build it, which also He began to do on the day of Pentecost. In Eph. 2:20,2120And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:20‑21), it is spoken of as growing unto a holy temple; such it is to be, but it is not yet complete. In 1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5), living stones are spoken of as being built up ("New translation") a spiritual house, a house in building, not yet a complete habitation. Thus the work is being carried on by divine power, and will be until the last stone is brought in, and fitly set in its place, not one stone wanting or out of place, but the whole complete and perfect in all its parts to be the dwelling place of God.
It will be composed of the whole company of believers gathered out from Jews and Gentiles from Pentecost until the time when the Lord comes again to receive His people to Himself.
The building in this aspect is never spoken of in connection with the work or responsibility of men, nor is it the sphere of human administration; it is never the scene of failure, and never the subject of judgment, and never could be, because God cannot judge that which is entirely and only His own work. When we think of the church in this sense we think of its perfection and stability, as that of every one who forms a part of it: also of our future privilege as that company which will form the eternal dwelling-place of God.
One of the greatest elements of man's blessing is to have God near to him. Thus, in Eden, God would come down and walk with man, and hold intercourse with him in the place where He had put him. So, when Israel were redeemed out of Egypt, God's thought was to dwell among them; as He said, " I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God." (Ex. 29:4545And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. (Exodus 29:45).) For this purpose he directed them to build the tabernacle which was then His habitation. The desire of God to dwell among His people, though looking on to a future day, is expressed in Psa. 68:16-18;132:13,1416Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. 17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. 18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalm 68:16‑18)
13For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. (Psalm 132:13‑14). This great blessing is enjoyed now by the church as the habitation of God by the Spirit, as we shall see when we tome to consider it in this aspect. And the fact that she will be a holy temple in the Lord as we have already seen, is one of the greatest elements in her future heavenly blessedness.
We have, secondly, to consider the other aspect in which the church is spoken of as a house or building for God now.
In Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22), it is viewed in this phase as distinguished from that spoken of in the previous verses. Here the whole company of God's people living on the earth at that time, or at any time since, are spoken of as those who " are built together for an habitation of God in the Spirit." It is a complete habitation, so that God can, and does, dwell in it at the present time by the Spirit.
In 1 Cor. 3, it is spoken of as being characteristically the temple of God even now (not as growing up to be one another day).
In 1 Tim. 3, it is spoken of as being the present house of God, (not as being built up, but as already formed) in which Timothy is instructed as to how he should behave, and as to the proper order of it.
The church was constituted the present habitation of God on the earth, when, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down and filled the house where the company of disciples were gathered together. Thus these one hundred and twenty disciples became the house of God, by the Holy Spirit taking up His abode among them.
Before this they were simply the godly Jewish remnant; now they became the house of God, the church of the living God. Such is the new character in which the assembly of those who belong to God on the earth is now viewed. At that time and ever since God has had a house on earth in which He has dwelt, into the outward privileges of which house are admitted all those who have been baptized unto Christ, who are thus publicly owned of God as outwardly connected with Him, in contradistinction to Jews and Gentiles, who, as such, are now both alike outside the sphere owned of God, as being at least in outward relationship with Him.
In the Acts we get the history of the way in which God added to this assembly so constituted in the beginning. All persons who professed to accept the testimony concerning Christ were baptized and thus admitted within this circle of blessing and privilege, the place where God dwelt, where the Holy Spirit wrought, and where shone the full light of God's present revelation to man. Outside of this all was destitution and darkness. We see therefore that the house in this sense was connected with human administration; men, those already inside, admitted by water baptism those who sought this privilege, on the ground of their profession. This gave room for failure. Men might admit such as should not be received, evil men being thus allowed to come in; yet the admission of any who were not real, did not alter the reality of that into which they were admitted.
In John 20:2323Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:23), this authority of administration was conferred upon the disciples when the Lord breathed upon them and said, " Whose so-ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; whose soever sins ye retain they are retained." In Acts 2, Peter, in answer to the cry of the people, " What shall we do?" exhorted them to " repent and be baptized for the remission of sins," and in baptizing them thus, the apostles did sacramentally remit their sins, and received them into the place of external relationship with God.
We have another illustration of this in the case of Paul, when Ananias said to him, " Arise and get baptized and have thy sins washed away, calling on his name." (Acts 22:1616And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16).) It is plain that there is an outward visible system into which persons are sacramentally admitted, which is owned of God, and stands in outward relationship with Him, in which those who belong to it enjoy certain privileges, apart from the question of life, and vital, inward, and eternal relationship with God by a new nature and the Holy Spirit; in which persons are accepted according to their profession, and held responsible to act according to the light and privileges into the presence of which they have been brought.
In 1 Cor. 3:99For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:9), the assembly is spoken of as being " God's building," and men are regarded as the builders. Paul says he had laid the foundation, and spoke of others building thereon, warning them as to how they built. They might build upon the true foundation good material, such as gold, silver, precious stones; or they might build on this foundation bad material, such as wood, hay, stubble. It is not here the Lord building living stones, fitly framed together, but men who are the builders, and this again gives room for failure on their part. Nevertheless the building is owned of God. As a whole it belongs to Him. In verses 16, 17, it is characterized as His temple; that is its highest and holiest character, what it will be finally without alloy; but now it is seen exposed to the evil work of evil men, and therefore in danger of being marred.
Note in this passage, as in 1 Cor. 6:1919What? 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? (1 Corinthians 6:19), there is a peculiarity in the way the temple is spoken of. In the Greek there is no article before the word used for " temple." It reads, " Do ye not know that ye are temple of God?" The effect of this is, that it states what they were characteristically, rather than saying that they were actually the temple of God now, though such the church will be; meantime it should have the character of what it will be finally.
According to 2 Tim. 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20), that which was spoken of in the first epistle, as in its normal character being the house of God, the assembly of the living God, had become like a great house containing vessels to honor and vessels to dishonor. Those who were responsible for keeping the house of God in order had failed; they had allowed it to fall into terrible disorder, and to become the scene of iniquitous confusion; and such is the present state of the house of God-Yet God still owns the church as being His house, and holds every person in it responsible for that which becomes His house, and in the end will judge them if found unfaithful to this position in which they have stood in relation to Him.
This epistle reminds us of Ezek. 8, where God took the prophet, and showed him the evils which were being done in His house, which eventually led God to give up that house, and to judge the evil done in it. (Matt. 21:12;2312And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (Matthew 21:12). 38.) So will it be with the present house of God; the evil allowed in it will eventually lead to God giving up the church as His habitation on the earth. Those in it who are really His own, will be taken to heaven when the Lord comes for us, while the rest of it will be left to become Babylon, the false church of the Revelation, and to be the first thing on which the direct judgment of God will fall to its final destruction_ Thus He will mark with His special displeasure that which is doubly evil because done in His house, and connected with the form of godliness.
Even now it is the sphere of the exercise of God's government on the earth, so that 1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17), speaks of the time being come when judgment must begin at the house of God; and in his second epistle he shows that the judgment which has already begun at the house of God, will eventually overtake evil wherever found.
Whatever has been intrusted by God to man's responsibility, has always been marked by man's failure and sin, and so become the object of God's judgment. We have seen that man's responsibility has been tested in connection with the church, the house of God. He has been tested as a builder, as an administrator, and as a keeper, and he has failed in each of these characters; he has built in bad material, admitted wrong persons, and, instead of keeping the house in order, has allowed it to become the scene of disorder and confusion. We have seen too how the church as Christ's building, the fruit of His wisdom and work, always fitly framed together, ends in perfection, in that which can be presented to God as a holy temple, fit vessel of His glorious presence. But in contrast to this, we have seen that the church, as the present house of God, connected with man's work, soon began to deteriorate, and, falling into confusion and ruin, ends in the judgment of God. This we also gather from the history of the church, as the vessel of testimony on the earth, given us in Rev. 2 and 3. It is finally spued out of Christ's mouth as that which He can own no longer.
Man's history wherever he has been proved, is one of failure from first to last, thus making way for Christ to come in as " The amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God."
When we consider the church as the present house of God upon the earth, we think of the immense privilege of a company having God dwelling among them by the Spirit, participating in all the blessings which accompany His presence; but we think also of the responsibility of the whole collective company, and of every one forming a part of it, standing in this relation to God, because it is said, " Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever"; and He will in His righteous government vindicate His holiness in those who are near to Him.
We may think of the church, then, as that which is connected with Christ's building, where all is fitly framed together, growing up to a perfect temple for God in the end; or we may think of it as connected with the building and responsibility of man, marked by the imperfection attaching to everything which man touches, ending in confusion and ruin, and falling by the judgment of God. We may think of it as composed only of those born of God, in vital relationship with Him by the Holy Spirit, each one enjoying individually by faith all the spiritual and eternal blessings of God's people; or we may think of it as composed of all those who have professedly accepted the truth, owning Christ, calling Him Lord, and who have been admitted by baptism to the outward participation in all the great and blessed privileges of God's house.
In speaking of God dwelling in His house, it is necessary to draw attention to what is often not clearly apprehended; namely, the difference between God dwelling by His Spirit in the assembly viewed in its corporate aspect, and His dwelling in the individual believer. Both these things are true, but they are entirely different in themselves, and distinct one from the other. In Acts it 2, 3, we see the distinction between these two actions of the Holy Spirit: first, He filled the house where the disciples were sitting, and likewise the spiritual house which they were collectively; secondly, He sat upon each one of them individually. In Acts 8:14-1614Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (Acts 8:14‑16), we see that souls were admitted into the house of God, before they had individually received the Holy Spirit; they had been baptized to the name of the Lord Jesus, but as yet the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any of them. In 1 Cor. 3:16,1716Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:16‑17), the assembly is spoken of as being characteristically God's temple; and in 1 Corinthians 6:1919What? 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? (1 Corinthians 6:19), the individual saint is spoken of in the same way as the temple of God.
Much more might be said, but my object has been to draw attention to the two different aspects in which Scripture views the church as a building or house for God, with the hope that God may use what has been written for edification, and for clearing away the confusion which still exists in the minds of many on this subject.
F. H. B.
The world which Christ has left must be to us a place of patience. We do not want the fleshpots of earth, if Christ have a place in our hearts. We are not only waiting for something; we are waiting for Himself. Our hopes and joys are all packed up and gone. I do not wait for events, though they will come; I wait for God's Christ, and I love Him, and He possesses my soul, until He who has emptied Himself for me, and has emptied my heart for Himself, shall come and take me to Himself.
(J. N. D.)