“The Temple of His Body.”

 ^“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.” (John 2:19-20 ESV)

The Jews were always asking Jesus for a sign of His deity. With every sign came denial, demonic accusations, and condemnation. In John 2, Jesus responds to a request for a sign, but the Jews, unable to understand him because of hardened hearts, miss its significance.

Like Christ, our bodies are temples of the Lord. Not just because He created us, but because the Holy Spirit resides in us. The temple in Jerusalem was constructed so that God could dwell among His people. Like the Tabernacle, which moved along with Israel during the Exodus, we are a moving temple of the Lord when, as believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” In our salvation, we have passed from this world, no longer a spiritual part of it, although we dwell bodily in it. We are no longer who we were; we are not our own, but God’s. Paul also wrote in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

People reject God, saying, no one is going to tell me what to do with my body, or my life; no one has that right but me. Well, they are wrong. God created each and every one of us, unique in all ways. As our Creator, God has jurisdiction to say what is done with His creation. It is his right. God has a copyright on His creation.

The glory of indwelling is not known to the unbeliever. The Spirit's daily interaction with us brings comfort and confidence. It leads us, convicts us, and teaches us, unlocking the scriptures as we study the Word when He knows we are ready to understand more. The Spirit prays for us when we are unable to know what to pray. In distress, sadness, and weakness, the Holy Spirit groans prayers on our behalf. (Romans 8:6).

The unbeliever misses all of this. This glory, this spiritual uplifting, is unknown to them. They continue in sin because there is no conviction. It is the fantasy of control that Satan cultivates in every unbeliever—a fantasy of having control over one's life. Satan knows God is in control, that God knew the end of your life before the beginning. This is the spiritual battle of principalities occurring behind the hidden curtain of this world. Those blind to the truth of the gospel fall deeper and deeper into the hands of the enemy and their own self-destruction.

Our battle with sin is within ourselves; the fight for souls surrounds us. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Our struggle in this world is not with ourselves alone, but with the spiritual forces that seek to oppose us. Stand firm in faith and trust God's power to prevail.

It is time to put on the armor of God and take our stand against Satan and his demonic minions. (Ephesians 6:11) Do you know Christ as your Savior? Have you been handed your salvation along with your armor? Christ is the truth, the way, and the life; without Him, there is only destruction. Seek the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the rider of the white horse, he who is called Faithful and True. (Rev 19:11)

Seek life, Seek Christ.

Grace and peace.