Title: We Are the Temple of God
Contents
We are God's temple
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
If you look closely at the first and second Corinthians, there were some among the Corinthians who were condemned for ethical issues. At that time, there were people who were members of the church but could never be called church members because they were swept away by the corrupt ethical trend of Corinth.
Typical examples are these. First of all, there was a person who committed fornication with a stepmother (1 Corinthians 5:1). But what is more serious is that the members of the church were resting even after they knew about it. Next, among the church members, there were people who approached prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6:15). But what is more serious is that there were many such people in the church and they were active in public. Moreover, among the members of the church, there were those who went to idol temples and took part in the sacrifices.
These people believed in Jesus and became the holy people of God. After that, I still hang out with the world. Assimilated to them, they are living doing things that God's holy people cannot do. Rather than leading the unbelieving people to the Lord, they are assimilating with them and living.
There are so many people like this today. Believe in Jesus and become God's people. And yet, I still get along with the world. I enjoy drinking with them. They also commit infidelity with them. They go to lewd places with them. They even bow down to idols after them.
Today's text strongly exhorts these people. In particular, two figurative exhortations arise.
1. We must not be yokeed with unbelievers.
Verse 14 says this in a strong tone: “You shall not be yokeed with unbelievers” This is the first figurative expression. Believers are not to be yoked with unbelievers.
What does it mean to not be yoke together here? First, we need to consider the yoke.
A yoke is a curved rod placed over the neck of an ox or horse to pull a cart or plow.
So, this yoke symbolizes the work that one does not want to do but has to do.
It symbolizes the heavy burden of life that cannot but be carried.
In the New Testament, it usually means this yoke. For example, if you look at Matthew 11:29-30, it said this
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your hearts, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The part to pay attention to here is that the yoke spoken of in the Bible is a yoke that is worn together, and it refers to a yoke that two horses put on their necks and drag them together.
That is why He said that it is easy and light because we are yoke with the Lord.
So, what does it mean in the text to not be yoked with unbelievers?
Simply put, believers are not to bear the yoke of unbelievers together.
In other words, do not share a yoke of ungodliness with unbelievers.
Among the Buddhist practices, there is a practice called the three treasures. It is a meditation practice that takes three steps and bows once.
Originally, it meant to pay homage to the three treasures: the Buddha's treasure, the Beopbo's treasure, and the Seungcheol's treasure.
In other words, the first step is to return to the Buddha, the second step to the law (teaching and truth), and the third step to the monks.
This practice became widely known to the general public in 2003 when some monks used it to protest against the Saemangeum development project. However, at this time, some progressive pastors participated in the three treasures.
It is understandable to join the protests against the Saemangeum development.
However, it is incomprehensible to participate in the practice of the three treasures. It is saying that he is obedient to the bourgeoisie, the beopbo, and the seungbo, can the pastor do that? Of course, it is said that we pray when we bow down and bow.
Will God be pleased?
we shouldn't We must not be yokeed together with unbelievers.
However, there is one thing that should not be misunderstood. This does not mean that you should not associate with unbelievers unconditionally. I'm not saying you shouldn't date unbelievers, don't do business with them, or get married.
If it prevents us from bearing the godly yoke we carry with us when we associate with unbelievers, then we should cut it off. However, as long as it does not interfere with our religious life, such fellowship is possible.
Because we can preach the gospel in such fellowship.
I heard a sad story a while ago. A church elder's daughter was studying abroad in Canada.
I was worried because I couldn't get married because I was studying until I was in my late 30's.
Then one day, I got a call saying that I was getting married to a foreigner I was studying with.
But they told me to know that because I'm just getting married in Canada.
It took me to marry a foreigner, but I just thanked him for getting married before it's too late. I told him to do so, and I prepared the money and necessary coma and sent him away. Two years later, a surprise happened.
It turned out that the foreigner was a Saudi Arabian. After having a baby, my family of three took a family photo and sent it to me, but this daughter was wearing the Muslim hijab. He also enclosed a letter, but he wrote that he had converted to Islam and told him not to look for him anymore and not to contact him.
There were tears of deep pain in the elder's eyes.
A marriage like this is a yoke with an unbeliever. So this kind of marriage is not allowed.
This does not mean, however, that marriage with an unbeliever is unconditional. If my unbeliever spouse does not oppose my religious life and does not interfere in the future, I can get married.
In the meantime, you can evangelize that person.
Dear all! The part where we shouldn't be yoked with unbelievers is that we shouldn't join them as we embrace our faith.
You should not walk the path of life with them while yielding to your religious life, because you can become assimilated with them.
2. We must not forget that we are the temple of God.
In verse 16, it says: “We are the temple of the living God” is the second figurative expression. We must not forget that we are the temple of God.
Then, we need to look at what we mean by the word temple of God.
There are two references to the word temple in the New Testament. One is ιερον (ιερον) and the other is naos (ναοσ). The word Hieron refers to the entire temple.
This is a term used when talking about temples, mainly focusing on buildings.
On the other hand, the word naos is used to limit the sanctuary within the temple.
It is mainly used when referring to the temple, focusing on the fact that it is the dwelling place of God.
In today's text, when we speak of God's temple, we use the word Naos.
It means that we are the holy place where God dwells.
It is worth noting here that there is a central concept when the word temple is used in one Bible.
In Acts 7:49 we read, “The Lord said, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What house will you build for me, and where is my resting place?” Hab 2:20 says, “But the LORD is in his temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” God chose that temple to dwell there.
It is not that God dwells in the house because man built it well, but that God chooses it and dwells there.
After all, the word “temple of God” means that we are holy beings that God has chosen to dwell in.
In order for us to live in this world and not be assimilated by unbelievers, we must not forget that we are the temple of God. And we must live as God's temple.
The Forbidden City in Beijing, China is the palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in central Beijing.
It is by far the largest palace in the world in terms of scale. There are 800 buildings and 9999 rooms on a site of about 240,000 pyeong.
The imperial family, 9,000 maids, and 1,000 eunuchs lived there.
It is a huge imperial palace where 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties resided and ruled for about 500 years.
But now it has become the National Palace Museum. When the viewing time passed, the lights went out and everyone left, and it became an ugly building. There are no people living here and there, so it is dusty, old and covered with cobwebs.
This was because the emperor had left. The Forbidden City was magnificent when the emperor ruled with authority.
However, since the emperor no longer resides there, it has become a museum.
That's right. When God leaves our hearts, we too become like the Forbidden City of the present.
It will not be a temple of the living God, but a lonely ruin from which God has departed.
We must take good care of ourselves. We must keep ourselves well as the temple where God dwells. In that case, you will not be assimilated by unbelievers, but rather will exert a holy influence on them.
To do this, we need to keep in mind that we must first have spiritual fellowship with God.
In verse 16, “I will dwell among them, and I will go about, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
It means that God has spiritual fellowship with God's people.
As we deepen our spiritual communion with the Lord, we will go to God's temple more confidently.
Then, rather than assimilating with this world, the divine influence you will have on this world increases.
Next, you must live a holy life.
Verse 17 says, “Come out from among them, and be separate, and do not touch the unclean thing.” Come out of the midst of a world full of idols. It means to stand apart from the midst of a world full of sin.
And it is to completely abstain from what God hates.
That's right. There are things in the temple that you should never get close to. Idol. Idols must not be placed in the temple. It's a sin. After thorough repentance, you must enter the temple of God.
And it's a foreigner. A heart without faith cannot enter the temple.
We must thoroughly keep the temple holy. In that case, we are not assimilated into this world. Rather, you can exert a divine influence on the world.
Dear all! The world tries to assimilate us. We must fight back.
It should not be assimilated. Rather, we must change the world. Must exert a divine influence