Jottings

by John Millar | Category: Jottings | Dec 1968

We learn from 1 Corinthians 3.16,17, that each church of God was temple of God in character. Such a church which was planted by men could be destroyed by men. This shows the tremendous difference between the church of God in any place, such as in Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, and the Church which is Christ's Body. Many believers fail to see the difference between the churches of God and the Church (one only) which is Christ's Body, and they never see the truth of the temple and house of God. Sadder still, some who saw this truth in the past now reject it.

In 2 Corinthians 6.16-18 Paul is dealing with that which is temple of God. He asks:

"And what agreement hath (a) temple of God with idols? For we are (a) temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in (among) them, and walk in (among) them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to Me sons and daughters, saith the Lor4 Almighty."

Seeing that they were temple of God and that God was dwelling in (among) them (collectively), and walking in (among) them, separation was called for, and they were called to come out from among those with whom they could not do God's will, and God would receive them. In consequence of separation, God says, "I will receive you". This is not the reception of the believing sinner by the Lord, but is the reception of the separated saint by God. To such as obeyed the call to be separate, God would be a Father. He had been the Father of them when they were born again, but now He would play a Father's part to them, and they would be to Him sons and daughters.

At the beginning of the brethren movement there was failure to separate from sects and sectarianism, and this largely obtains among open brethren still. Exclusive brethren, in some cases, teach and practise a separation of husbands from wives, which means that they cease to live together, which is contrary to Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 7. Besides this they practise other disorders under the guise of their being "holy" people. They too know nothing of the teaching of the house and temple of God. In Ephesians 2.20,21, Paul writes:

"Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner Stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into (a) holy temple in the Lord."

Then in verse 22 he says to the church of God in Ephesus. "In whom (the Lord) ye also are builded together for (Greek eis, into) a habitation of God in the Spirit". The buildings (churches of God) were fitly framed together, and the saints in the church of God were builded together into God's habitation in the Spirit. This conception of the church of God being God's dwelling takes the mind back to I Corinthians 3, where the church of God is called temple of God, because the Spirit of God dwelt in (among) them (collectively). The temple of God is identical with the house of God, as it was in the past dispensation.

John Millar | Dec 1968
Jottings