◄ What Does 1 Corinthians 3:16 Mean? ►

It is an amazing privilege as well as a huge responsibility to realise that as Christians our frail, human body is a temple of God. One result of trusting in Jesus as Saviour is to have God's Holy Spirit come and take up permanent residence within our mortal frame.

In warning the carnal Christians in Corinth that they were seeking to build up the Church by means of their own might and wisdom rather than the wisdom and strength of the Lord, Paul makes a strong appeal to these worldly believers to remember the serious truth: "You are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you."

We can live our lives in our own strength rather than abiding in the power and strength of Christ, but the house we build will be of wood, hay, and stubble, which will finally be burned up. In this case, we would be eternally saved, but would have laid up no treasure in heaven, for in me there is no good thing. Or we can choose to submit to the Holy Spirit, die to self, and live to Christ so that it is God Who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. And out of the Refiner's fire will come gold, silver, and precious stones.

Like the Christians in Cornith, we live in a world where carnal pleasure, overindulgence, and amusement is all around us, and it is easy to be swept up in the pleasure of this world. But, as Solomon discovered, the pleasures of this world lead one to hopeless and despair in this life. But within every believer dwells the life-giving Holy Spirit, the true source of comfort, hope, and joy.

The constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all Church age believers, from the moment we are saved, is a blessing of such magnitude, it is hard to comprehend. Let us recognise the amazing privilege, huge responsibility, and serious truth that the Spirit of God has taken up permanent residence in our bodies and live our lives as unto the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, I am beginning to understand the incredible privilege and the serious consequences of having Your Spirit indwelling my body. I pray that I may live worthy of the calling to which I have been called. Help me live my life from this day forward, as unto the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.