1 Corinthians 3:16 - Experiencing God at Church.
1 Corinthians 3:16 - Experiencing God at Church.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of
God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 (TNIV) Don't you know that you yourselves are
God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT) Don't you realize that all of you
together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 (AMP) Do you not discern and understand that
you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary),
and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at
home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?
1 Corinthians 3:16 (CWR) Don't you know that as a congregation
you are the living temple of God because the Holy Spirit lives among
you?
The pronouns in 1 Co 3:16 are plural referring to the church,
not to an individual. [Disciple SB]
Paul does not mean here that each of his readers is a temple of
the Holy Spirit. He says, "You yourselves (plural) are God's temple
(singular)." In 6:19 he speaks of each Christian as a temple of the Holy
Spirit. [NIV SB]
Here the local church is viewed as a temple of God inhabited by
the Spirit; in 6:19 the individual is a temple of God. [Ryrie SB]
The temple here is the Church, the body of Christ, as
distinguished from the temple in 6:19, which is the physical body of the
individual Christian. [Scofield SB]
Paul is here speaking primarily of the church and is warning his
successors at Corinth against bringing injury to the church in any way (1
Cor. 3:17). It is true, of course, that the individual Christian is
also the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, but this thought is given
primary emphasis in ch. 6:19, 20. [SDA Bible Commentary]
The Presence of the Spirit within is not just an individual
experience. God inhabits the community in a way that requires individuals to
access Him there. He has faces we can't see unless we see them in each
other. The fellowship of believers is an essential part of knowing God.
Why doesn't God give us as individuals everything we need in
our relationship with Him? Because He absolutely refuses to put us
in a position of independence and self-sufficiency. He created us
not only to be dependent on Him but to be interdependent with
others. That's why He distributes spiritual gifts among His people
rather than equipping anyone person with all of them. The body of
Christ has many parts; He will not allow them to be in a position of
functioning separately.
If you want a full experience of the Presence of God, spend
plenty of time with other Christians. Benefit from their gifts. Listen
to their experiences. Search for His face in theirs. Each person
experiences His heart uniquely. The more we share in those experiences with
others, the broader our own experience with Him becomes. God is present
in a unique way in the collective body of His people.
Seek fellowship - at church services, in small groups, in
spiritual friendships - as a means to experience God. If you think you can
do without gatherings, think again. God attends our meetings. He is
present at our tables. He shows Himself in a variety of ways through a
variety of people, and only by encountering them can we encounter Him in
those ways.
Spirit, I want to see You in the faces of others. I want to
connect with You through their gifts and experiences. Please help me see
the ultimate treasure - You - in them. [The One Year Experiencing
God's Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php
Excellent Spiritual Resource Site:
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/
More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com