Your Body: The Temple of God Part 2

Last time we discussed how the Bible describes our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

I think most Christian denominations believe that we receive the Holy Spirit once we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.  However as we read in the book of Acts, believers were asked if they had received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 19: 2)  Why would the disciples ask believers if they had received the Holy Spirit if they received Him after the new birth?

Luke 11: 13 says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.”

This scripture is addressed to believers who are the only ones that could address God as their Father.

If our bodies are the temple or dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, we need to pay attention to I Corinthians 3: 16 – 17 which says again, “Know ye not that you 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.”

The word, defile, means to corrupt, spoil, ruin, waste, destroy.  This is a warning against the practices that defile God’s intent for our body.

Even though Paul is referring to the church, it can also refer to the individual and their body.

I Corinthians 6 is a great chapter to read concerning this.  Without going into these scriptures, which you should do on your own, I will just simplify what they say.

We need to discipline the evil desires of our bodies.  We need to live in obedience to all that the Word of God says concerning what is right and what is wrong.

We obey the Word of God concerning how we live and what words come out of our mouths.  In doing so we are in reality, glorifying God.

We need to remember our lives were purchased with a great price.

I Corinthians 6: 20 “For ye are bought with a price: there glorify God in your body, and your spirit which are God’s.”

We are not only glorifying God, but our lives will serve as a witness to those who do not know the Lord.  If they ask why we live the way we do, we can tell them about our desire to serve a God who gave His life for our salvation.

- Pastor Jim