Which Temple Are You?

[Tommy061]

For the temple of God is Holy!
1 Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Co 3:17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

What is the temple of God Paul is referring to here? A mere building? Or the body of the true called out ones?

I think it is easy to see the Holy temple of God are the called out saints, who are walking in the spirit of truth daily, keeping themselves in the love of God, guarding their heart against the evil temptations and desires of the world, and being separate(Holy) as commanded by God.

But today its easy to see how these strong warnings are being ignored and the mass majority of professing Christians are still defiled, and not yet considered the temple of God, they are still in great bondage to sin and the lies, and their temple is impure and defiled, unable to house the spirit that will not abode in a carnal, double minded temple.

So which temple are you?
The temple that has been cleansed and purged by the blood of Christ, that can only come through real repentance and faith, or the temple still in great bondage to sin(willful rebellion) that has many excuses why they can walk in the darkness and the light at the same time?
Now if the spirit of God resided in you, then you are the Holy temple of God, not some building, that is made by the hands of man, but a holy and pure creation made by the hands of God, free from the bondages of sin, and a sweet smelling aroma to God housing His spirit in a cleansed and purged vessel of truth and holiness.

So the sin everyday in thought, word and deed crowd, is still empty of the spirit of God, their temples are still carnal sold under sin, will be destroyed unless they do this first:

Jas 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

It’s not too late!! Come to God on His terms, He is waiting patiently for all to come to Him in broken repentance, seeking His great mercy, but will not give His spirit to a defiled sinner, who refuses to come to Him on His terms!

Act 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord!

 

[brakelite]

There have of late been many threads, postings and very meaningful and heartfelt contributions to this forum on this subject. The need for holy living, a sanctified and Spirit filled life lived in the power of God's grace.
This I believe is no coincidence. This topic is not only prevalant on the forums of our nations, but also the subject of sermons and Bible messages in our churches. This is a needful thing. The church, (the worldwide body of Christ whether denominational or non), with exceptions, for far too long has been languishing in a laissez faire attitude of presumption and worldiness. Too many who profess to know Christ live in a fashion no different from those who have never known Him. And worse, these ones so often use Biblcal eisegesis as an excuse for their sin, and their lack of unwillingness to truly and fully repent of thier evil and wicked ways. They claim God has no power to change their lives for good, that He has no more power over sin than the devil has power over righteousness. In calling evil good and good evil, they confirm by their lips that though they profess to know Christ, their hearts are far from Him.
So why is this seeming worlwide awareness of this lack of hlolness and sanctity in God's people? Because it is God Himself who has chosen to awaken His children to their need. It is time that God's people urgently seek Him to mend their wayward ways, not presenting half-baked excuses for thier sin, but fully repenting and surrendering their lives to their Redeemer that He may pour out His latter rain Spirit upon His people that He may come again and take His purified church, without spot or blemish, home.

 

[papajim]

For me the greatest sign of the second coming of Christ is not what is going on in the world, but the message of God dwelling in us, so that through faith we become the righteousness of God in Christ, where by faith we become completely seperated from sin, so that it is Christ that dwells in us in all of His fullness. When the bride is ready for the marriage of the lamb, then Christ can come and recieve His bride. If we as the church will make Jesus our one and only, above self, putting Him first in all things, longing for the wedding day, being filled with the glory of God. When the bride and the Groom are evenly yoked and made one in righteousness, Jesus will recieve His bride. Why do we hold on to this sin sick world, with all of it's pain, misery and suffering, with it's greed and lust, with it's hatred and death. Why do we continue to wallow in doubt, being double minded. We have been made righteous and holy in Christ, let us recieve Him, all of Him by faith, so we can go home. Let us live to honour Him, who gave his life for us so that we can live in righteousness, for His righteousness is life and in Him sin and death is destroyed forever. Let us learn to live by faith, for the just shall live by faith, and whaterever is not of faith is sin. Let us put away our unbelief, let us build on our relationship with Jesus daily as He transforms us into His righteousness through faith, that we may go home. Only through faith, living, and continuous faith, we can honour, and please Him.

 

[james1523]

In the bible the "temple" has a number of meetings. It is the believer's body, soul, and spirit, as the individual dwelling place of God. It is also the corporate body of believer's, as a corporate dwelling place of God.
Temple is also Christ's body which although was torn down it was raised up again and is now a resurrected glorified spiritual body of flesh. Temple can also refer to the physical building, the temple, where God dwelt on Earth under the old covenant.

Reading 1 Cor 3:16-17 alone we get the impression it is referring to personal holiness, and many use it to speak against smoking, alcohol, or getting tattoos.
But if we read the whole chapter, even from 1 Cor 3:4 , it becomes clearer that the temple Paul is referring to is the corporate temple.
The context of 1 Cor 3 is not so much personal holiness.

Some translations say "Spirit of God in your midst", which means the corporate temple.
In the corporate temple the Spirit is in our midst, and in the individual temple the Spirit is within us.

In 1 Cor 3:4 and onwards Paul explains that divisions, sects and parties are not in the will of God.
Anyone "destroying the temple" is those who cause division in the body of Christ, those who break off into parties following a particular leader, and including false teachers who introduce wrong doctrines etc. The main cause of defilement in the corporate temple is division. The next cause of defilement in the temple is then lack of personal holiness or great immorality such as fornication or idolatry, "spots in the love feast" (Jude 1:12), and so on. I would like to point out that we cannot have an undefiled individual temple and a defiled corporate temple. If the corporate temple is defiled then so is the individual one. If the individual one is defiled then so is the corporate one. A motivation for personal holiness should be so that we don't defile the corporate temple. Not only is our individual temple defiled, but we become a blemish defiling the corporate temple.

Prov 6:16-19 provides a list of the 6 or 7 things that defile the temple, things that God hates:
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

This list can be summarized as
Pride/arrogance/loftiness, lying, murder (or hate), a wicked heart, lack of self denial/control, or desire for evil over good, a false witness, a divisive person.

 

[spirit1st]

Mat_15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat_15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Mar_7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mar_7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Our Flesh is NOT GOD temple and it never will be !
He dwells in our Spirit! That where He never leaves or forsakes!

All flesh dies because it sin filled ! We our Spirit once Born of GOD perfecr seed cannot die Ever !

Eph_2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Col_3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:


Rom_6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
2Co_5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph_4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Col_3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

The old man is our old spirit !
The New man or new creature is our new Spirit !

Eze_11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Eze_18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Eze_36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
That part of what takes place at salvation ! Born -Again is just what it says ! A brand new Birth !

Heb_5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
1Pe_2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:


We are All Babies in our Spirit man at salvation ! It a true Birth like any birth ! We are a baby at salvation !

This is the seed we are born from !
1Pe_1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

only GOD seed is perfect and uncorruptible ! That why our New Spirit being cannot sin ! It made from the same seed as our LORD JESUS!
That Why He not ashamed to call us brother and why He shares His throne with us !

Heb_2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

1Jn_3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.


Rev_3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

1Jn_4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
That Why He has declared us Overcomers and more than conquerors at our New birth !

1Co_2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.


1Co_15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.


Gal_4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

f sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

We get His type Perfect mind and nature at our New Birth !

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
That mind is our new spirits mind , but as a baby !

2Pe_1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

GOd wanted a Family made just like His only begooten son to share His vast Kingdom with 1 The few willing to accept the GOSPEL or Jesus Christ and HIm as LORD from there heart [Spirit] are born again into a new creature made like our LORD JESUS!

This is talking about our spirits mind !
Rom_8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

He knows what is in HIS Spirits mind !
It only our Spirit that goes to New Jerusalem or Hell !

Rom_8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
That means our flesh body is dead to God spiritual ! It has No relationship with GOD! Our Spirit once Born of God has a perfect relationship with HIm forever more!

Rom_6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

It our Spirit man that free of sin ! Our flesh can sin and does if we allow it ? Sin brings death ! That why many die before there time ! But even if we sin we can be forgiven or healed if need be ?

Because our Spirit is greater than our Flesh and it has a Perfect One on One Relationship with Our Father God though Jesus Christ Forever more !

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Paul is talking here about His weak sin filled flesh ! He tries hard to keep it in check ! But knows it will sin ! that why He said ? He dies daily too it ! Our flesh has a sin nature and loves to sin 1 Our Spirit after Salvation only wants to please our Lord Perfectly ! It will not accept sin or evil ! It only accepts Truth !
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Rom_8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Our Spirit cannot die!
death is no relationship with God as Father and Friend ! Life is a Relationship with Him that cannot ever end !

Joh_11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

We just leave this weak sin filled flesh bodies and Go home to New Jerusalem ! where He has perfect bodies for us to enter like HIS !

We see his eternal body in daniel and revelations ! Our will be like HIS ! those that are dead in the LORD [in New jerusalem ] Already have there new bodies!
They talk with him and each other and raise there hands and sing and worship HIM !

Rev_6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

they are given robes also ! So they must have there new bodies already !

This scripture means ? david body rotted away ! But i am Sure David in New jerusalem and has His new Body !



Act_13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
Personally I believe David is one of the 24 elders ! After all ? He was a man after God own heart !

But that just my thinking on david !

 

[brakelite]

Spirit1st, I agree with you in what you have presented above, apart from the David/spirit heaven bound bit, but beside that, the concept of our death in Christ is very true, and that walking in that belief is essential to overcoming the flesh and starving it of life that we may live out our present lives in the love and well-doing that God calls us to. That's the thing isn't it? We, though dead in Christ, are still flesh and blood creatures and we still need to relate to other flesh and blood creatures not only in the church, but in the world also. It is how that relationship develops that God is intensely interested in. Are we reflecting God's love to others? Are we walking in faith, expressing the joy of salvation, and thus demonstrating the assurance we have of our future eternal life in Christ? Are we walking in the righteousness of Christ that has been granted us through His grace? Are we forsaking the sin that in our past so dominated and controlled us? Are we taking hold of the promises that God has given through His holy prophets and apostles that by faith we can live holy righteous lives? Or are we walking in disbelief, doubting God's power to overcome sin in our lives, and living as the rest of the world lives?

James, hi. A couple of points. Agree with much of what you have said, with a word of caution. For 1200 or so years the Roman church saw unity as the b-all and end-all of Christian life. Forcing 'unity' upon believers and unbelievers alike she killed, made war, persecuted, and laid waste to countless millions of innocent men, women, and children. All for the sake of a misguided sense of 'unity'. Division, in the form of the Protestant reformation, was not only inevitable, but essential to the survival of God's people. The world that was under the sway and authority of the papal heirarchy and was languishing under a mountain of superstition, vice, and idolatry. The problem wasn't that the church divided, but rather that each division saw itself as the full revelation of truth for their time, and refused any new revelation. So the protestant churches also languished with only partial truth, each persecuting other protestants and at the same time still ate war with Rome. Division itself isn't the problem. The problem with today's church is the same problem that has plagued God's people since the 1st century. Cleaving to the truth. If we clung to the truth there would be no division, except to escape error.

One more thing as a point of interest, there is another temple in heaven where Jesus officiates as High Priest.

 

[DHC]

One more thing as a point of interest, there is another temple in heaven where Jesus officiates as High Priest.

Revelation 21:22
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

 

[papajim]

Revelation 21:22
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

You need to put this in context DHC, this text is speaking future.

 

[Puddleglum]

Spirit1st, I agree with you in what you have presented above, apart from the David/spirit heaven bound bit, but beside that, the concept of our death in Christ is very true, and that walking in that belief is essential to overcoming the flesh and starving it of life that we may live out our present lives in the love and well-doing that God calls us to. That's the thing isn't it? We, though dead in Christ, are still flesh and blood creatures and we still need to relate to other flesh and blood creatures not only in the church, but in the world also. It is how that relationship develops that God is intensely interested in. Are we reflecting God's love to others? Are we walking in faith, expressing the joy of salvation, and thus demonstrating the assurance we have of our future eternal life in Christ? Are we walking in the righteousness of Christ that has been granted us through His grace? Are we forsaking the sin that in our past so dominated and controlled us? Are we taking hold of the promises that God has given through His holy prophets and apostles that by faith we can live holy righteous lives? Or are we walking in disbelief, doubting God's power to overcome sin in our lives, and living as the rest of the world lives?

James, hi. A couple of points. Agree with much of what you have said, with a word of caution. For 1200 or so years the Roman church saw unity as the b-all and end-all of Christian life. Forcing 'unity' upon believers and unbelievers alike she killed, made war, persecuted, and laid waste to countless millions of innocent men, women, and children. All for the sake of a misguided sense of 'unity'. Division, in the form of the Protestant reformation, was not only inevitable, but essential to the survival of God's people. The world that was under the sway and authority of the papal heirarchy and was languishing under a mountain of superstition, vice, and idolatry. The problem wasn't that the church divided, but rather that each division saw itself as the full revelation of truth for their time, and refused any new revelation. So the protestant churches also languished with only partial truth, each persecuting other protestants and at the same time still ate war with Rome. Division itself isn't the problem. The problem with today's church is the same problem that has plagued God's people since the 1st century. Cleaving to the truth. If we clung to the truth there would be no division, except to escape error.

One more thing as a point of interest, there is another temple in heaven where Jesus officiates as High Priest.

I don't see Protestant reformers as anything much at all, but just cunning liars with or under the influence of their own passions. they lead those who are of milk astray and it's the same for the roman catholic low life's, as history shows how evil so called christians can be.
One must strive to turn away from evil at all times. but as we live in the world, that's a hard call for any christian to be truthful. as we do not know right from wrong in depth, remember Jesus said why do you call me good ? our good may just be like filthy rags. are we seeking acknowledgement only from people, or God ? it's so easy to be lead astray. there are those that are willing but lack strength in all denominations.
Have a look at why do christians submit to evil of goverments today, you can not do this and that for fear of upseting some PC wind bag, is that the Christian way ? a true Christian should know the evil we face, and it is worse than even Hitler, we won the war but we are loseing the battle ?

 

[papajim]

I don't see Protestant reformers as anything much at all, but just cunning liars with or under the influence of their own passions. they lead those who are of milk astray and it's the same for the roman catholic low life's, as history shows how evil so called christians can be.
One must strive to turn away from evil at all times. but as we live in the world, that's a hard call for any christian to be truthful. as we do not know right from wrong in depth, remember Jesus said why do you call me good ? our good may just be like filthy rags. are we seeking acknowledgement only from people, or God ? it's so easy to be lead astray. there are those that are willing but lack strength in all denominations.
Have a look at why do christians submit to evil of goverments today, you can not do this and that for fear of upseting some PC wind bag, is that the Christian way ? a true Christian should know the evil we face, and it is worse than even Hitler, we won the war but we are loseing the battle ?

Hello Puddleglum, I may be wrong and I hope I am, but I detect some bitterness in you statement. Your right,in our righteousness is as filthy rags, but we live by faith in God's righteousness working in us,and that should never be called filthy rags. As christians we are dependent upon God to change us into His righteousness through the giving of faith. Jesus came in our sinful flesh and lived a sinless life not by works of His own, but through faith in God working in Him and this is how we are to live our lives, this is why Jesus came in our sinful flesh to show us the way. In death He crucified our sins and gave us His righteouseness so that we can live accordingly by faith. It was the reformers that discovered this through their studies in the scriptures. There was a lot of cruelty in the dark ages motivated by greed for power, selfishness, bitterness, hatred, and all such things and sometimes on both sides. God used the reformers to teach against superstitions of the paganism that the church had adopted from pagan Rome, that held the people in bondage to idolatry and self righteousness. It was also the reformers that translated the bible in many languages so that the common people could read the bible on their own at a great risk to themselves. God used these reformers to bring us out of the dark ages.

 

[james1523]

James, hi. A couple of points. Agree with much of what you have said, with a word of caution. For 1200 or so years the Roman church saw unity as the b-all and end-all of Christian life. Forcing 'unity' upon believers and unbelievers alike she killed, made war, persecuted, and laid waste to countless millions of innocent men, women, and children. All for the sake of a misguided sense of 'unity'. Division, in the form of the Protestant reformation, was not only inevitable, but essential to the survival of God's people. The world that was under the sway and authority of the papal heirarchy and was languishing under a mountain of superstition, vice, and idolatry. The problem wasn't that the church divided, but rather that each division saw itself as the full revelation of truth for their time, and refused any new revelation. So the protestant churches also languished with only partial truth, each persecuting other protestants and at the same time still ate war with Rome. Division itself isn't the problem. The problem with today's church is the same problem that has plagued God's people since the 1st century. Cleaving to the truth. If we clung to the truth there would be no division, except to escape error.

One more thing as a point of interest, there is another temple in heaven where Jesus officiates as High Priest.

Hi brakelite, thankyou for your reply. 1 Corinthians should be read in the context of Paul's and God's definition of church. Not our man made definition of an organizational structure named by creed or doctrine or history or founding member. To read Paul's words, and apply them to another denomination or our own denomination, would be quite wrong. Because it's trying to bring unity into a thing (denomination) which is already a disunity.

Let's consider Paul's words in the context of the true biblical unity. In the time of Paul the apostle, and to whom he addressed the letter, was the church in Corinth. That is, the Corinthian church. Let us go back to the biblical definition of church: a plurality of believers is called a church (whereas an individual believer is called a saint). The "Corinthian church" is not a label, or an organizational name, it is a fact. If believers meet together in Corinth, there is the Corinthian church.. or "the plurality of believers in the city of Corinth". Therefore this letter, and Paul's mind, would be against anything that prevents all and any believers within a given city, meeting and fellowshipping together. I hope we can see that this rules out all denominations, and all non-denominations, independent groups and house churches. The true church has no label and no name, because it is simply the believers in Christ meeting together. And if believers from one city move to another city.. the name of believers in that city does not change to the name of the former city.. the believers are identified by the name of that new city. For example in the denominational mindset: if the church of Rome (Roman Catholic church), moves to New York.. it is called the church of Rome in New York. But biblically speaking, if the church in Rome moves to New York, it should become the church in New York. And this is "in", not "of". The church is recognized by whatever city it is in, and the city name is never a label attached, or a thing that a group of believers takes with them wherever they go. The only 'label' a believer has, that they take with them wherever they go, is Christ.

So I hope we can see that division in Paul's mind, was anything that stopped believers within a given city meeting together. He had this view because he believed in the one body of Christ, one Lord one faith one Spirit one baptism etc. If we are one spiritually, then we should also be one practically. Now denominations are worse than that, they not only have stopped believers meeting together, they have a man-made organization structure which separates believers not only by doctrine, but location-wise, and also financially and legally. In other words, a denomination is not like a family argument where some stop talking to the other for a day or two, and then come back together... but a firmly grounded organizational human structure based upon human precepts. So talking about unity within or between denominations is in my view, anti-biblical according to the true definition of unity.

 

[DHC]

You need to put this in context DHC, this text is speaking future.

Thanks Papajim, very good point, context is crucial as usual.

 

[james1523]

Revelation 15:5 and 11:19 does state there is a temple in heaven, this seems to be a place. In this place in Heaven is where God's throne is, where he executes judgement (Rev 4:2-3) and does some other things. But in the New Jerusalem, the temple is God Himself. What happens to the 'temple in heaven' is a mystery. Some say the New Jerusalem is the temple, others say the temple in heaven is a separate place. Some say this temple is the (future) church glorified, as God indwells her.

 

[papajim]

Revelation 15:5 and 11:19 does state there is a temple in heaven, this seems to be a place. In this place in Heaven is where God's throne is, where he executes judgement (Rev 4:2-3) and does some other things. But in the New Jerusalem, the temple is God Himself. What happens to the 'temple in heaven' is a mystery. Some say the New Jerusalem is the temple, others say the temple in heaven is a separate place. Some say this temple is the (future) church glorified, as God indwells her.

In the old testament the Day of Atonement would take place once a year, in this process the High Priest would go from the Holy place to the most Holy place and there Isreal would be judged. Once Israel would was judged the sins in the sanctuary would be cleansed and the sins were placed on a goat which was led out into the wilderness to die. After the Day of Atonement the process would start over again year after year, but in the Heavenly Sanctuary once it is cleansed there is no more use for the Sanctuary, and at this point there is no longer a use for a High Priest, and the Sanctuary service is done away with. Israel is God's chosen people they by faith have been cleansed of all unrighteousness. What takes place in the Heavenly Sanctuary is judgement. Obviously there is much more to be said on this matter, this is just a brief sum up. The Sanctuary service should be studied as it tells us the work of our High Priest in Heaven and what it has to do with His people. You will find the Heavenly Sanctuary in the book of Revelation, and the book of Hebrews should be studied as well. In the old testament the Santuary service began with the slaying of a lamb for sins, in the new testament Jesus's ministry began with His sacrifice, then as High Priest He applied His blood to the sinner.

 

[Puddleglum]

Hello Puddleglum, I may be wrong and I hope I am, but I detect some bitterness in you statement. Your right,in our righteousness is as filthy rags, but we live by faith in God's righteousness working in us,and that should never be called filthy rags. As christians we are dependent upon God to change us into His righteousness through the giving of faith. Jesus came in our sinful flesh and lived a sinless life not by works of His own, but through faith in God working in Him and this is how we are to live our lives, this is why Jesus came in our sinful flesh to show us the way. In death He crucified our sins and gave us His righteouseness so that we can live accordingly by faith. It was the reformers that discovered this through their studies in the scriptures. There was a lot of cruelty in the dark ages motivated by greed for power, selfishness, bitterness, hatred, and all such things and sometimes on both sides. God used the reformers to teach against superstitions of the paganism that the church had adopted from pagan Rome, that held the people in bondage to idolatry and self righteousness. It was also the reformers that translated the bible in many languages so that the common people could read the bible on their own at a great risk to themselves. God used these reformers to bring us out of the dark ages.

Rags ? are only our sinful works.
Cruelty greed for power selfishness bitterness hatred and all are still with us and the reformers did nothing at all but only carry on with a unreliable deceptive show that fools only the dilettante. it surprises me the lengths that prot's will go to undermine the RCC with total utter slandering rubbish. Satan is at work in all slander.
I was a prot and was so angered at the RCC that i looked deeper in to what the RCC are on about but my fellow prots did not want me to seek for myself and i found what they said about the RCC was just a lot of slandering gobbledygook.
I am not a RC and they and most Christians are so easy lead astray, just look around you Christianity is failing and some are so brain washed as to look to the Jews for salvation. by elevating a degenerate people who reject Christ as something to look up to when they are apposed to Christianity and Christ full on.

 

[brakelite]

James and DHC, a study of how the OT services of the temple prophetically relate to Christ's ministry both on earth and in the heavenly temple can be very rewarding and well worth the time invested. An understanding of these things will clarify much of what we alll debate so often on this forum.

Puddleglum, the RCC throughout her history is far far worse than any of us could possibly imagine, and certainly more so than any of the reformers realised. And she is going to get worse, while all the while appearing to get better. Such is the deceptive nature concerning the growth of the beast and Babylon the Great, mother of harlots.

 

[james1523]

Such is the deceptive nature concerning the growth of the beast and Babylon the Great, mother of harlots.

Thankyou for your suggestions brakelite. I am wondering if the RCC is the mother of harlots ,then who are the harlots?

 

[DHC]

James and DHC, a study of how the OT services of the temple prophetically relate to Christ's ministry both on earth and in the heavenly temple can be very rewarding and well worth the time invested. An understanding of these things will clarify much of what we alll debate so often on this forum.

Puddleglum, the RCC throughout her history is far far worse than any of us could possibly imagine, and certainly more so than any of the reformers realised. And she is going to get worse, while all the while appearing to get better. Such is the deceptive nature concerning the growth of the beast and Babylon the Great, mother of harlots.

Hello brakelite.

Do not disagree with the assessment of the RCC.
But where does Islam fit into the equation, it is the biggest religion in the World.
It sheds the blood of the saints like the RCC. Although the RCC no longer kills.
Islam believes it is the true faith, the true bride of God just as the RCC does.
It is absolutely opposed to Christianity lock, stock, and barrel.
It already has a temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem!
It is not related to Christianity except in the first five books of the O.T.
I sometimes wonder if the temple of Islam in Jerusalem is where the A.C is seated?

 

[james1523]

The anti-christ will be an anti-religion atheist dictator according to 2 Thess 2:4.

 

[papajim]

Thankyou for your suggestions brakelite. I am wondering if the RCC is the mother of harlots ,then who are the harlots?

Hello James, I think you can figure this one out. If the woman that sits on a scarlet colored beast represents the RCC, and the harlots are also women (churches) which churches came out of the RCC?