Lesson 4

God’s Dwelling Place

     Anyone taking up a study of prophecy will find her task not as easy as expected. One major reason for this is bound up in the truth that prophecy can be fulfilled in a clear manner as well as in a not so clear manner. For example, Matthew states (Matt 2:15) that our Lord’s departure from Egypt as a child was a fulfillment of Hosea 11:1, which states “Out of Egypt did I call My Son.” However, an examination of the context of Hosea seems to point to ‘Israel’ as the son called out of Egypt. One reading the passage without knowledge of Matthew’s use of it probably would not have guessed it dealt Christ’s exodus from Egypt.

     Another instance is found in Romans 9:25-26 where Paul says “even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. 25 ¶ As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'" 26 "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD." The amazing feature about this quotation is that while the Scripture Paul is quoting from deals specifically with the restoration of the Jewish nation, Paul states that it refers to the church which is made up of both Jews and non-Jews. It almost appears that Paul uses Hosea to include a group that Hosea seems to exclude.

     Should this be a cause of uneasiness? Does this repudiate our belief that Scripture is inspired by God? Only for the person who believes that prophecy must be fulfilled in an absolute ‘literal’ way. If we operate from the conviction that Hosea could not refer to anything else than what the immediate context points to, we would be forced to jettison Matthew’s and Paul’s take on these passages. Yet, as Bible believers we affirm the coherency of Scripture, therefore what are we to make of this conundrum? Simply put, Hosea is not only to be interpreted in light of the immediate context, but also in light of Scripture as a whole. If Matthew, who is inspired by God, says that Hosea 11:1 was fulfilled in the life of Christ, then we know that Hosea can be rendered in a figurative manner. Likewise, if Paul affirms on the basis of Hosea that Gentiles are included in God’s fold, then they are properly deemed Abraham’s seed in a spiritual manner. In short, the New Testament elucidates the Old. The dilemma is now dispensed with.

     One might be asking, “What does this have to do with God’s dwelling place?” Plenty. Throughout the Old Testament we have numerous prophecies that relate in joyous terms the restoration of Israel and her Temple. Minute details are given in unfolding this glorious theme. Anyone reading the Old Testament would extract from the immediate context that such prophecies must be fulfilled in an absolute ‘literal’ way. Understandable enough, many believers in our day share the same conviction. Yet, much like in the case of Matthew’s and Paul’s take on Hosea, we find an interesting fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament.

I. Temple Shadows to Temple Substance

Ezekiel 37:26-28, “And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 "And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."'

     Ezekiel gives the definitive prophecy concerning the restoration of Israel and the temple. This passage speaks of two events of which there will be no end: 1) A covenant. 2) The establishment of the sanctuary. These two events sound very eschatological. However, note the fulfillment:

     2 Cor. 6:16 “Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG  THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

     Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

    1Pet 2:4-10, “¶ And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a  spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

     In 2 Corinthians Paul quotes from Ezekiel 37 in support of the premise that the church is God’s sanctuary. In the categories set for us with the New Testament template, the rebuilt temple is not a what (i.e. a building), but a who (i.e. the church of Christ). What is the foundation of the New Testament temple? Concrete? The Temple Mount? Jerusalem’s soil? No. The foundation is a person - Christ. Will stones be carved out of mountain sides and set on top of one another until we have a towering structure in place? In the apostle’s minds, the stones are living and organic. The stones are believers who are fitted together in the rebuilding of God’s temple, the church. Will God command priests to engage in real animal sacrifices as he did in times past? In the apostle’s authoritative view, the believers in Jesus are priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices. To further substantiate this point, the covenant made in Ezekiel is clearly the new covenant which does not come into effect in the future, but in the past on Calvary (Hebrews 8 & 9).

     Does this mean there will be no literal temple rebuilt in Jerusalem? Not necessarily. Again, prophecy is difficult. The difficulty that attends this question is found in the fact that prophecies can be fulfilled in more than one way. Whether or not a physical rebuilding of the temple fits into this category is a matter of debate. I tend to adopt the ‘wait and see’ approach on this matter.

II. Temple Reflections

     Whole books have been dedicated to the subject of the temple and the myriad of facets which reflect truths about God, Christ, and the Church. I want to briefly highlight some of the important lessons that we can derive from the temple and their application to the Church.

a. The Temple Pointed to Christ: It seems that every facet of the temple has some reference to Christ’s deity, incarnation, and sacrifice. How much more should the New Testament temple, the church, be a beacon that points constantly to Christ’s deity, incarnation, and sacrifice?

 b. The Temple was a place of Consecration: Almost no one approached this complex without a sense of awe. God’s holiness demanded reverence and fear from priest and parishioner alike. Paul, using this theme, admonishes the believers in Corinth to live holy and consecrated lives because of the striking reality that they are God’s temple. Perhaps harkening back to the occasional mishaps of High Priests on the Day of Atonement, Paul warns that “If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (1Co 3:17).

c. The Temple was the Center of God’s Activities: In this place God revealed both his glory and grace to his people. The temple was the platform from which God dealt with sinful human beings; it was a place of restoration. As such, it was the center of God’s activities with people. In much the same way, the church is now the center of God’s activities. It is a place that reveals both his glory and grace. It is the vehicle that God uses to call sinful human beings to himself. The church stands as the salt and light of the world calling men to the mediator. As a local extension of God’s temple, may we be a place where God is on the move touching the lives of the lost.

Possible Discussion Questions:

1. In light of these passages that claim that the church is God’s restored Temple, will there be a future Temple in Jerusalem? If there is, will it be something God takes pleasure in?

2. What lessons do we learn about biblical interpretation in considering passages like Matthew 2:15, Romans 9:25&26, and 2 Cor 6:16?

3. What other facets of the Old Testament Temple do we find applications to the church?

4. Does God dwell in the Church as a whole or in individuals which make up the whole?  Or in both?

5. What does it mean for God to “dwell” in the church given that he is everywhere?