In light  of eternity

Christ as the True Temple and the Church as His Body

Introduction:

The Old Testament is replete with prophecies and imagery surrounding the temple, a central place of worship and God’s dwelling among His people. Yet, these prophecies find their ultimate fulfillment not in a physical structure, but in the person of Jesus Christ and the body of believers that make up the Church. This fulfillment is a central theme in understanding God’s plan of redemption and the role of believers in the world today, as explored by G. K. Beale in The Temple and the Church’s Mission.

Jesus as the New Temple

Jesus’ ministry was deeply intertwined with the temple. He taught there, healed there, and even cleansed it of those who had turned it into a marketplace. Yet, His actions also pointed beyond the physical structure to Himself as the true fulfillment of the temple’s purpose. Beale notes that Jesus’ identification with the temple is particularly apt because “he was the beginning of the new creation.” His resurrection was the first, great act of new creation, transforming Him into the living temple where God’s presence dwells in fullness.

In John 2:19-22, Jesus even predicts the destruction of the temple and its rebuilding in three days, a clear allusion to His own death and resurrection. This passage underscores the idea that Christ’s body becomes the new temple, a place where God’s glory is revealed and humanity can commune with Him.

The Church as the Body of Christ, the Temple

The fulfillment of temple prophecy extends beyond Christ’s individual person to encompass the Church, the body of believers. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each believer transforms them into living stones, built together into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Beale eloquently states, “Those who identify with Christ become… part of the true temple.”

This concept is beautifully illustrated in Ephesians 2:19-22, where Paul describes believers as being “built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Christ is the cornerstone of this new temple, and each believer is a vital part of its construction.

The Eschatological Temple

The ultimate fulfillment of the temple prophecy will be realized in the New Jerusalem, described in Revelation 21 as a city that is also a temple, where God dwells with His people forever. This vision provides a glimpse of the future glory that awaits believers and underscores the eternal significance of the temple theme in God’s redemptive plan. Beale connects this to Christ’s identification with the stone in Daniel 2, suggesting that “Christ identifies himself to be the true temple.”

Conclusion

The temple theme weaves a rich tapestry throughout the Scriptures, pointing to God’s desire to dwell among His people and reveal His glory. In Christ, this desire finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment. Jesus is not merely a successor to the Old Testament temple, but its very culmination. He is the new temple, the perfect embodiment of God’s presence, the ultimate sacrifice for sin, and the mediator who bridges the chasm between the divine and human realms.

The Old Testament prophecies and rituals, with their intricate symbolism and foreshadowing, find their ultimate meaning in Christ. His death and resurrection shatter the limitations of the physical temple, ushering in a new era of spiritual worship and direct access to God. The veil that once separated the Holy of Holies is torn in two, signifying the removal of all barriers between humanity and the divine presence.

This fulfillment extends to the Church, the body of believers united in Christ. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we become living stones, built together into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. Our worship is no longer confined to a specific place or time, but becomes a continuous offering of our lives in response to God’s grace.

The eschatological vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation confirms this ultimate fulfillment. It is a city that is also a temple, where God dwells with His people forever. This vision provides a glimpse of the glorious future that awaits believers, a future where the temple’s symbolism and purpose are fully realized. As we embrace our identity as living temples and participate in God’s redemptive work in the world, we anticipate the day when we will join in the eternal worship that surrounds the throne of God in the New Jerusalem.

Scriptures:

• John 2:19-22: Directly connects Jesus to the temple, foreshadowing His death and resurrection as the new and ultimate Temple.
• 1 Peter 2:5: Describes believers as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, aligning with the concept of the Church as the new Temple.
• Ephesians 2:19-22: Reinforces the idea of the Church as a dwelling place for God, built upon the foundation of Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 5:15, 17: Emphasizes the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection, connecting it to the idea of the new creation and the Church as the new Temple.
• Colossians 1:18: Declares Christ as the head of the Church, His body, further establishing the Church as His dwelling place.

WCF References:

• Chapter 7 (God’s Covenant with Man): Emphasizes the covenant of grace, fulfilled in Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.
• Chapter 8 (Christ the Mediator): Highlights His role in bridging the gap between God and humanity, making Him the perfect temple where God’s presence is accessible.
• Chapter 25 (The Church): Defines it as the body of Christ, continuing the temple’s function as a dwelling place for God.

Scripture passages like 2 Corinthians 5:15, 17 (“if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation”) and Colossians 1:18 (“Christ is the head of the body, the church”) reinforce the connection between Christ, the new creation, and the Church as the new temple.

Understanding the fulfillment of temple prophecy in Christ and the Church is essential for grasping the fullness of God’s redemptive plan and our role as believers in participating in that plan. It is a call to embrace our identity as living temples, reflecting God’s glory and extending His kingdom in the world.

Questions to Ponder:

1. How does Jesus’ identification as the “new temple” challenge and transform our understanding of the Old Testament temple? In what ways does He fulfill and surpass the temple’s symbolism and functions?
2. Beale emphasizes that believers, as the Church, are part of the “true temple.” How does this understanding impact our view of the Church’s role in the world and our individual roles as believers? What are the implications for our worship, service, and communal life?
3. What does the eschatological temple in Revelation teach us about the ultimate destiny of believers and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan? How does this vision of the New Jerusalem shape our hope and longing for the future?

Answers to Edify:

1. Jesus fulfills the Old Testament temple in a way that no physical structure ever could. He is the perfect dwelling place of God, the ultimate sacrifice for sin, and the mediator between God and humanity. His resurrection transforms Him into the living temple, accessible to all who believe.
2. As members of the Church, we are not just attending a religious institution; we are part of a living organism, the body of Christ. We are called to be living stones, each contributing to the building of this spiritual house. This understanding should shape our worship, service, and relationships within the body, as we strive to reflect Christ’s character and participate in His mission.
3. The eschatological temple in Revelation reveals that our ultimate destiny is not an earthly existence but a heavenly one, where we will dwell with God in perfect communion. This vision should fuel our hope and longing for the future, inspiring us to live as citizens of the New Jerusalem, seeking to bring its values and priorities into our present lives.

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