A Habitation of God Through the Spirit

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As soon as we have a people redeemed in the Old Testament, we have the thought of God dwelling in the midst of His people. In Exodus chapter 15 we have the Song of Redemption. The children of Israel are on the other side of the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his chariots are in the midst of it. God could not dwell with them in Egypt, a land of idolatry; He must separate them from such a scene for Himself. Pharaoh on the other hand, sought to persuade Moses not to be too separate: “And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me” (Exodus 8:2828And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me. (Exodus 8:28)).
“The Lord [is] my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He [is] my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:22The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15:2)).
“Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people [which] Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided [them] in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation” (Exodus 15:1313Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. (Exodus 15:13)).
We have a fulfillment in the tabernacle: “And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:88And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8)). But such a building must be built according to God’s specification: “And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount” (Exodus 25:4040And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount. (Exodus 25:40)).
Again we see it with the temple: “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place], that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10-1110And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. (1 Kings 8:10‑11)).
When Israel joined herself unto the idolatry of the nations, the glory of the Lord departed from the temple. We read of this reluctant departure in Ezekiel:
“And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house” (Ezekiel 9:33And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; (Ezekiel 9:3)). “Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, [and stood] over the threshold of the house” (Ezekiel 10:44Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory. (Ezekiel 10:4)). “Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims” (Ezekiel 10:1818Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. (Ezekiel 10:18)). “And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above” (Ezekiel 10:1919And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. (Ezekiel 10:19)). “Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which [is] on the east side of the city” (Ezekiel 11:22-2322Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 23And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. (Ezekiel 11:22‑23)).
We next see God among men in the Person of the Lord Jesus, though His glory was hid.
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:2323Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23)).
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him” (Acts 10:3838How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)).
By this time the temple, now Herod’s temple, had become a house of merchandise: “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise” (John 2:1616And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16)).
God still dwells on earth today, only now it is not Jesus that is upon earth, but His people collectively, who by the Spirit are His temple.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:1616Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)).
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-2220And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20‑22)).
It is also said of the individual: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-2019What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20)). But this is not the same as that referred to above. All believers on earth are united in one spiritual building as the temple of God that man does not see. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)).
In Ephesians, God is the builder; it is a building fitly framed together. The apostles and prophets are the foundations, Jesus Christ the chief corner stone. Scripture, however, gives us another view of the church, this time with respect to man’s responsibility.
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:10-1110According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10‑11)).
Paul was the wise master builder; he laid the foundation upon which others have built (1 Corinthians 3:1010According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:10)). Every man’s work will be made manifest. It is possible for a man’s work to be burned, even though he is saved. It is also possible for a man, even one claiming to be a teacher or minister, to be lost and his work also. The church has not remained true to her foundation. The church has utterly failed in her responsibility. Most solemnly, where there is responsibility there must also be judgment.
“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:12-1712Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑17)).
“For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)).
There is a behavior suited to the house of God.
“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-1514These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:14‑15)).
The assembly is the pillar, a support, for the truth. She does not do this through teaching, for teaching is the domain of the servant of God. The church is to be a testimony to the truth. She maintains the truth on earth. When the church is removed, apostate Christendom will believe a lie: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-1211And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11‑12)).
In Second Timothy Christendom is likened to a great house: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour” (2 Timothy 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20)). How is one to behave in such a house?
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)).