Living as God's Temple: Embracing Our Holy Identity
Summary
The privilege of gathering together as God’s people is a reminder that our identity is not found in a building or a weekly event, but in the living presence of God within us. Reflecting on my recent visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, I was struck by the reality that, while many still pray for the coming of the Messiah, we who are in Christ know that the wall of separation has been torn down. The Holy of Holies is no longer a distant, restricted place—God’s Spirit now dwells in us. This is not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice. The presence of God is not confined to a location; it is our new identity as His people.
Understanding that we are the temple of God changes everything. It means that wherever we go, we are on holy ground—not because of the place, but because the Holy God lives in us. This truth is not just theological information; it is deeply practical. It transforms our marriages, our parenting, our work, and even the way we interact with strangers. When we practice the presence of God, we begin to see ourselves not as consumers of spiritual goods, but as co-laborers and living stones, each with a role in God’s mission.
Our culture often views church as a place to have our needs met, but the biblical vision is so much richer. We are not customers or spectators; we are a spiritual family, a living temple, called to bring glory to God and to serve one another. This calling comes with both privilege and responsibility. We are set apart—made holy by Christ’s sacrifice—and called to live differently, to be in the world but not of it. Holiness is not just for pastors or priests; it is the calling of every believer. We are a royal priesthood, offering our lives as living sacrifices.
This journey of holiness is not about legalism or condemnation, but about responding to the loving conviction of the Spirit. Sometimes, God gently points out areas where we have compromised or grown numb to the world’s influence. In those moments, we are invited to remember the privilege of His presence and to realign our lives with His purposes. The same God who dwelled in the tabernacle and temple now dwells in us, empowering us to live as His holy people.
Key Takeaways
- The presence of God is no longer confined to a temple or a sacred place; through Jesus, the veil has been torn, and God now dwells within every believer. This means that every moment and every place can be holy ground, not because of the location, but because of the indwelling Spirit. This truth should shape our sense of identity and purpose each day. [10:44]
- Our culture often treats church as a place to consume spiritual goods or have our needs met, but God’s design is for us to be co-laborers and living stones, each playing a vital role in His mission. The church is not a cruise ship for comfort, but an aircraft carrier equipping us for service and sending us out. This shift from consumer to contributor is essential for spiritual maturity and true community. [30:19]
- The story of the temple throughout Scripture—from Eden to the tabernacle, to Solomon’s temple, to Jesus’ sacrifice—reveals God’s relentless desire to dwell with His people. Every detail in the Old Testament points forward to Christ, who made a way for us to be restored to fellowship with God. Our faith is not just about information, but about entering into this restored relationship and living out its implications. [46:52]
- Holiness is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are made holy by Christ’s sacrifice, but we are also called to live set-apart lives, removing anything that defiles the sanctuary of our hearts. This is not about legalism or condemnation, but about responding to the Spirit’s gentle conviction and embracing the fullness of life God offers. [55:18]
- The journey of transformation is ongoing, and it often involves honest self-examination and repentance. Sometimes, God uses the gentle words of a loved one or the quiet conviction of the Spirit to reveal areas where we have compromised. In those moments, we are reminded that there is no condemnation in Christ—only an invitation to deeper fellowship and greater freedom as we practice His presence daily. [01:03:56]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Summer Reflections and Family Updates
[04:00] - Encountering the Western Wall
[09:26] - The Wall of Separation and the Holy of Holies
[10:44] - God’s Presence Now Dwells in Us
[14:09] - Misconceptions About Church
[17:40] - EBC’s Heart: Discipleship Over Consumerism
[20:57] - Church: Not a Place, But an Identity
[23:37] - Church Is for God’s Glory, Not Ours
[25:30] - From Spectators to Co-Laborers
[27:32] - The Danger of a Consumer Mentality
[30:19] - The Aircraft Carrier Analogy
[33:15] - Biblical Metaphors: Temple, Bride, Body, Family
[34:26] - The Temple: God’s Presence and Our Unity
[36:15] - Holiness in a Culture of Compromise
[39:57] - The Story of Separation and God’s Pursuit
[43:28] - The Tabernacle: God Dwelling Among Sinners
[45:14] - The Temple’s Pattern and Its Fulfillment in Christ
[46:52] - Jesus, the Final Sacrifice and the Torn Veil
[49:11] - The Urgency of Personal Faith
[50:15] - Living as God’s Temple
[53:10] - The Cloud of God’s Presence and Our Mental Health
[55:18] - The Call to Holiness and Responsibility
[57:08] - You Are Not Your Own: Living Sacrifices
[59:21] - Honest Confession and the Spirit’s Conviction
[01:03:56] - Responding to Conviction Without Condemnation
[01:04:51] - Invitation to Prayer and Closing Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV)
> Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
2. 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 (ESV)
> As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
3. Hebrews 10:10, 19-22 (ESV)
> And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all... Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, what does Paul say about the identity of believers and the presence of God?
2. In 1 Peter 2:4-5, what imagery does Peter use to describe the church, and what does it mean to be a “living stone”?
3. The sermon described the Western Wall and the longing for the Messiah. What did the pastor say is different for those who are in Christ compared to those still waiting? [[09:26]]
4. What does Hebrews 10 say about the difference between the old system of sacrifices and what Jesus accomplished?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for the church to be described as God’s temple, both individually and collectively? How does this shape the way believers see themselves and each other? [[10:44]]
2. The sermon contrasts a “consumer” mentality with being “co-laborers” and “living stones.” What are the dangers of seeing church as a place to have our needs met, and how does the biblical vision differ? [[30:19]]
3. The pastor shared that holiness is both a privilege and a responsibility. How does understanding that God’s Spirit dwells in us change the way we approach areas of compromise or sin in our lives? [[55:18]]
4. In the story about the Western Wall, the pastor reflected on the torn veil and God’s presence now dwelling in us. How does this truth affect the way we approach God and live out our faith? [[09:26]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “Everywhere that you and I go, do you realize we’re on holy ground? Not because of a building or a place, but because of the relationship with our God.” How might this truth change the way you approach your daily routines—at home, at work, or in public? [[10:44]]
2. The pastor described the church as an “aircraft carrier” where everyone has a role, not a “cruise ship” for comfort. What is one way you can move from being a consumer to a contributor in your church community? [[30:19]]
3. The sermon challenged us to see ourselves as “living stones” and “a royal priesthood.” What is one area of your life where you sense God calling you to live more “set apart” or holy? What would it look like to respond? [[55:18]]
4. The pastor shared a personal story about feeling convicted over what he was watching on TV, realizing that “Jesus is watching with me.” Is there an area in your life—media, relationships, habits—where you sense the Spirit gently convicting you? What step could you take this week to realign with God’s presence? [[01:01:19]]
5. The sermon said, “Holiness is not just for pastors or priests; it is the calling of every believer.” What is one practical way you can “remove what defiles the sanctuary” of your heart this week? [[55:18]]
6. The pastor mentioned that sometimes God uses the gentle words of a loved one or the quiet conviction of the Spirit to reveal areas where we have compromised. Can you recall a recent moment when this happened to you? How did you respond, and what did you learn? [[01:03:56]]
7. The message emphasized that there is “no condemnation in Christ—only an invitation to deeper fellowship and greater freedom.” How can you encourage someone else this week who may be struggling with guilt or shame, helping them experience God’s grace? [[01:03:56]]
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