Essentials of Religion (ii)

"The LORD is in His holy temple" 

(Psalm 11: 4 nkjv)

"But the LORD is in his holy temple: 

let all the earth keep silence before him" 

(Hab. 2: 20 kjv)

In this chapter we will focus our attention on how a "temple" is an essential component of religion. The religion of the Jews is based upon the old testament (or covenant) as given first by God to Moses who in the Pentateuch (first five books of the bible) gave detailed instruction on all the essential elements of the religion of God as given to the nation of Israel. In the Pentateuch we find instruction on how God was to be worshiped, and we read of laws that governed all worship and service to God, information about a temple and its construction, use, and purpose, about holy days and religious feasts, about religious rites and ceremonies, etc., the things we listed in the previous introductory chapter. We will first focus on God's temple. 

A temple is also known as the house of God and a place of worship, where prayer and praise would be given to God, and where the worshipers could experience communion with God. The Temple that God commanded to be built for him was also designed by him, he being the grand architect. A temple then is a physical structure built as a house for the God who is worshiped. It was nearly always very elaborate and costly to build. After all, it would be an insult to God to build him a shack in which to dwell. 

AI gives us this summation on the importance of temples in religion:

"Temples hold significant importance in various religions as sacred spaces for worship, connection with the divine, and spiritual practice. They serve as centers for religious rituals, prayer, and meditation, offering devotees a place to connect with their faith and receive guidance. Temples also play a crucial role in community building and cultural preservation, often serving as landmarks and spaces for social gatherings and artistic expression." 

Nearly all of the primitive religions had temples, and in the scriptures we read about "the temple of idols" (I Cor. 8: 10) and of "the temple of Diana" (or "Artemis" - Acts 19: 27). Paul also when in Athens no doubt saw and perhaps entered into the glorious temple of Athena (Acts 17) on the mount there ("Parthenon"), the remnants of which still remain to this day and which I was privileged to see when I was in Athens many years ago. Paul gave a wonderful sermon there on the Areopagus ("Mars Hill"), a small hill northwest of the "acropolis." 

The Temple in Athens is a gigantic structure with ornate columns and sits high on the mount (or acropolis) in Athens and no building is allowed to be built so as to obscure the view of that Temple. I also got to travel to some of the Greek islands (of which there are many) and most of them had temples too. In fact, all around the world we see the remnants of ancient temples as connected with all the major religions. A temple to God (or the gods) is an essential element of religion.

The Jewish Temple, either as built first by Solomon (with David his father's input) or later by king Herod, was such a beautiful and magnificent structure. In fact, in the days of Christ we find the apostles, while walking around the temple, pointing out to Christ its illustrious beauty. (Matt. 24: 1) Speaking of Zion, the place of the Lord's temple, the psalmist said: "For Your servants take pleasure in her stones, And show favor to her dust." (Psa. 102: 14) This is what the apostles were doing. Notice how even the dust underneath the temple was praised. The whole site was "holy." It was so because it was "set apart" and made special, being consecrated for religious purpose. To see the importance of the Jerusalem temple in the old testament, let us notice some texts where the temple is held in the highest esteem.

"But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple." (Psa. 5: 7 nkjv)

This text shows that the temple was held in such high esteem that every Jew who was not in the temple or in Jerusalem nevertheless prayed facing Jerusalem from wherever they were. Also we see one of the many times where the temple is synonymous with "house of God." 

"One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple." (Psa. 27: 4 nkjv)

"And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”" (Psa. 29: 9 nkjv)

The temple was a place of prayer and praise, but also a place to meditate upon the word of God and often times to receive enlightenment, "to inquire" of the Lord. Notice also this further testimony from the inspired psalmist: "When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end." (Psa. 73: 16-17 nkjv) 

By "sanctuary" is meant a holy place, and often referred to the Temple, especially to the innermost room called "the holiest of all." So God instructed Moses, saying - "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." (Exo. 25: 8 kjv) It was such an enjoyable place to the psalmist that he wanted to never leave it, to "dwell" there always. Further, as we will see, there is a temple in heaven, and into that house David expected to enter at death and dwell there forever. So he said "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psa. 23: 6 kjv) It was a place of beauty and inspiration.

The Christian Temple

If a temple is an essential part of any religion, then where is the Christian temple? Mormons, who claim to be Christian, say that buildings such as the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah, is their chief temple. Many Christians call their local churches temples. Not only that, but semi religious organizations, like the Freemasons, put a lot of emphasis on building temples, each lodge being a representation of a temple. They also speak of each Mason building his own spiritual temple. Jews today, though they no longer have a singular temple building in Jerusalem, nevertheless Reformed Jews call their synagogues temples as in "Temple Beth Israel." 

In Christianity there are several temples recognized, as we will see. The new testament teaches that the physical body of Jesus is a temple of God. Likewise his spiritual body, or the church (body of all believers in Christ) is a temple. Also, the physical body of each believer is declared to be a temple of God. There is also a belief in the heavenly temple, in the "third heaven." Finally, many Christians believe that there will be a magnificent temple built in the millennial age to come, but no such temple in the ages to follow. 

The Temple of Christ's Body

"Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."(John 2: 18-22 kjv)

The physical body of Christ was the superlative temple for "in him dwells all the fullness of the godhead bodily." (Col. 2: 9) In the preceding texts about the old testament temple we saw mention of the fact that the divine"glory," called the "shekinah," was present in it. Shekinah is the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning"dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the presence of God in a place. God was especially present in the Temple, dwelling even more particularly in that part of the temple called "the most holy place" and between the two cherubim upon what was called "the mercy seat." So we read where "the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God." (II Chron. 5: 14)

The "Cloud of Glory," often referred to as the Shekinah, represents the manifest presence of God dwelling among His people, particularly in the context of the Old Testament. This divine presence was most notably associated with the Mercy-Seat, the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, which resided in the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

Within the incarnate Son of God dwelled the shekinah glory, but it was veiled in human flesh. The beauty of Christ was not in his physical appearance but in his inner self. This glory was often unveiled so that his glory was revealed (unveiled) or manifested. This was true on the mount when Christ was transfigured in his outward appearance and appeared along with Moses and Elijah. At that time Peter, James, and John are said to have seen "his glory," as if the veil of his human flesh were removed. (Luke 9: 32) Every miracle Christ performed manifested this inner divine glory. So the apostle John writes: "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory." (John 2: 11 kjv)

Several times in the old testament we read where "the glory of God filled the temple" that Solomon built. (See II Chron. 5: 14; Eze. 43: 5; 44: 4; I Kings 8: 11) The glory in Christ, however exceeds all the glory of the old temple. It is an "excellent glory" (II Peter 1: 17; II Cor. 3: 8-11). 

The most excellent glory that existed in Christ is also seen in these words of the apostle John:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1: 1, 14 nkjv)

Many translations say "tabernacled among us" rather than "dwelt among us." But, we could as easily translate it as "templed among us." But, not only was the glory of God seen in the inner self of Christ, but his body was also glorious, though temporarily veiled. His body in its normal appearance was not beautiful, as the prophet said: "He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him." (Isa. 53: 2 kjv) But, when Christ was on the mount, and when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, his body was no longer without beauty, form, and comeliness. 

The body of Christ, as the true temple or tabernacle of God, was glorious for several reasons. First, because God specially built or made it via the supernatural virgin birth. So we read in Hebrews: "Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me." (Heb. 10: 5 nkjv) This body was both humble and glorious. Wrote Paul: "who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory" (Phil. 3: 21 esv). 

The same body that was lowly and without beauty is the same body that was beautiful and glorious. That "body of humiliation" was such because it was made "in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8: 3) and intended to be a veil over its true glory. It was not sinful flesh, but holy non sinful flesh. What it appeared to be was not what it really was.

As glorious as was Solomon's temple, much more is the body of Christ. As God dwelt in the temple and there revealed his will, and would there be worshiped, so God dwelled especially in his incarnate Son and through him and his being made flesh revealed mysteries to the worshipers of Jesus. As the shekinah glory filled the old testament temple so it does in Christ, for in him dwelt "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2: 9). How proper then is the idea of temple suit Christ! 

When a person believes in Christ and receives Christ (John 1: 12-13), he then becomes one with Christ, as in a marriage covenant. Christ says to believers as Adam said to his wife Eve, who was made from a rib bone of Adam - "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh" (Gen.2: 23). In this union a believer enters into Christ and Christ enters into the believer. In entering Christ one enters into God's true temple and there remains, abiding in that temple. When Christ enters into the believer, he makes the believer a temple. On that we will have more to say in the next chapter. All are called to enter into Christ by faith and there worship God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The temple at Jerusalem was every way a most illustrious type of Christ.

Christ, the Messiah, was prophesied by Isaiah to be God's temple or sanctuary. Wrote him: "He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem." (Isa. 8: 14 nkjv) This is why Christ said - "But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple." (Matt. 12: 6 kjv) That is, he is greater than any temple built of stones or by finite men. When Christians pray they pray with their faces, hearts, and thoughts focused towards Christ who is the greater temple.

In the next chapter we will continue to look at the temple of the Christian religion.