2 Corinthians 4:5
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord: and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.
1Corinthians 1:23
But we preach Christ Crucified.
1Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Know you not that you are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple you are.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing.
It seems quite apparent that God does not dwell in our flesh, according to Romans 7:18, in my flesh dwelleth no good thing (obviously we would have to conclude the Holy Spirit as being a good thing [I realize that many believe that Paul was speaking of a time before he was saved in this chapter. However, I do not believe that to be the case. Verses 15-16 say, For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that it is good.
This does not sound like a sinner, for a sinner does not hate what they do. Neither does the sinner do that which he does not want to do. If there is one thing which should be clear, it is that sin is a selfish thing. Sinners are selfish by nature simply because that is the way sin works. This chapter is really a picture of the struggle which new believers go through before understanding how to fight the good fight of faith which a Christian must fight]).
However, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, Know you not that you are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you.
This may at first seem to be a contradiction, but it really is not.
The reality is that the Holy Spirit does dwell in our spirit and that is the way in which He actually also occupies our flesh.
When the Lord, speaking through Apostle Paul said, “If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy,” he was primarily talking about when someone does something to our spirit, which, is defiling to it (There is evidence that, defiling the flesh can also be considered to be defiling the temple, but I believe the primary thing
Apostle Paul is talking about in these scriptures are things which are defiling of the Spirit).
WHAT DEFILES OUR SPIRIT
Because our spirit has been recreated in the image of Christ, (Ephe. 2:10, for we are His workmanship [the quality put into something in the process of making it], created in Christ Jesus to good works, and 2 Cor. 5:17, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature……) what is defiling to the Temple of God is; whatever is defiling to our spirit.
What does defile our spirit is primarily; anything which takes away from what Christ accomplished for us on the Cross. (which is what made it possible for our spirit to be created in Christ Jesus in the first place).
In other words: any preaching, teaching, thinking, or believing which attempts to give credit for our righteous stand with God to ANYTHING other than that which Jesus Christ has done for us at the Cross. (a referral to this very thought can be found by going back to verse 11 of chapter 3 in 1 Corinthians. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”)
This was so important to Apostle Paul that he states in several places throughout his Epistles that he preached Christ Crucified. 1 Cor. 1:23,
2 Cor. 4:5. In 1 Cor. 2:2 in fact he says he determined not to know ANYTHING among you, save Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
This means that every Christian (whether pastor, evangelist, teacher, or a helper in the ministering of the Gospel [I believe this would also have to include unredeemed people]), must not ever promote doctrine which will cause Christians to trust (have faith) in the things which they are doing, as a means of attaining Righteousness. The Christians faith must always remain in what Jesus Christ has done for them at the Cross.
If you or I or anyone else for that matter, attempts to dislodge the faith which a Believer has in Christ, that, I believe is who God says through this scripture 1Corinthians 3:16-17, Him shall God destroy.
WHAT SHALL WE DO
I believe it is extremely important to encourage trust in Christ alone for Redemption. The works which we encourage believers to do for the Lord must NEVER be interpreted as that which can in any way contribute to, “Righteousness” which was given to each believer at the moment they trusted in Christ for Redemption. The things we do for the Lord must be done because we love the Lord. (our reasonable service)
Whatsoever we do in word or deed; we do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus and do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men.
It is essential that Believers understand the accomplishing difference between what we do for the Lord and what He has done for us. Specifically, because what we do for the Lord can never accomplish what Christ has already accomplished for us. And if we believe we can, we are going to find ourselves, defiling the Temple of God.
May the Lord of all Blessings, Bless you always.
Dennis Lackie
www.geocities.com/itsallinchrist
