1PE 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 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. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1PE 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him -- 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," 8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Ask almost any audience to suggest an image of the Lord's church, and the odds are it would be a building of some kind - a "church building" - and probably on the classical side with a front door and a steeple of some kind above it. Books, tracts, and most religious literature nearly always have a picture of a building. But is this the way the Holy Spirit would have had the inspired writers to illustrate the church that Jesus said he was going to build? I doubt it!
And, furthermore, if you asked them to illustrate the entire church on earth it would probably be a number of these buildings; a smaller number would be used to represent the Lord's church in an area, city, state, etc.; a larger number for a wider area. The inimitably Battsell Barrett Baxter used as an example an oil tank farm; oil stored in many smaller tanks, so, he said, if one tank failed the others would not be effected. But again, is this the way the Holy Spirit would have had the inspired writers to illustrate the church that Jesus said he was going to build? I doubt it!
A Dwelling Place For God
Does the idea, "A dwelling place for God" excite you?
It has been our purpose in this study to set forth the various Scripture illustrations that describe our unique fellowship with God and Christ. In this metaphor the idea of a dwelling place is obviously signified. As the Scriptures reveal this subject to us, it is apparent that there are three parties involved. They are the "foundation," the "building," and the "resident." As these three are brought together there is pictured the divine relationship between God and man. As each stone is placed upon a common foundation and fitted closely together, there is pictured the closeness and growth of the building. The fact that each stone shares a common bond to the foundation, they in turn, then, share a common bond with one another. Because of the sacred nature of the foundation, the building "groweth into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:21).
Religious people have always had temples and gods. These people of the world built their temples themselves and placed their gods within them. But, to the contrary the children of Israel did not have an idol of their God to place in their temple. The heathen would then inquire of them mockingly, "Where is now their God?" Listen to David's answer:
"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield" (Psalms 115:2-9).
Stephen
We learn more about this subject from Stephen, the first Christian martyr:
In Acts 7 we have the unsuccessful attempt of Stephen to defend himself before his Jewish brethren. He speaks of a dwelling place for God and says of David, that he "found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house" (Acts 7:46,47). But hear Stephen as he lays down a significant truth.
"Howbeit," Stephen says, "The Most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?" (vs. 48-50).
Now this is an almost verbatim quote from Isaiah 66:1. In it Isaiah did two things. First he plainly stated that men can not build a house of any kind and compel the God of Heaven to reside therein. Man simply cannot do it! Secondly, Isaiah states that God will have fellowship with His people. He says in the same context as mentioned above, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" (Is. 66:2).
Paul
Paul teaches the same exact truth. To the idolatrous Athenians Paul declares,
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;" (Acts 17:24,25).
Being God, He does not need anything of a physical or material nature that man has at his disposal. To the contrary He provides all things, for, as Paul says, "in him we live, and move, and have our being" (v. 28).
And so, while it is true that man cannot build a material habitation for God, it is equally true that God has made it possible for man to enjoy fellowship with Him -- His people with Him, and He with His people. Paul states to the Athenians that He "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times afore appointed and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:26,27). In Him we live and breath and have our being, and, we should seek the Lord for He is not far from every one of us.
FIRST, THE FOUNDATION
But now let us explore what the Scriptures say about the foundation of the building in which God will dwell.
In Isaiah 28:16,17, the prophet declares, "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste (or be moved)." In this Scripture the prophet speaks of God laying a foundation and of one believing upon him. The person who places his trust in the foundation is said not to be moved, but like a stone placed upon a sure foundation, shall stand firm. Peter tells us that the foundation stone is Christ. He exhorts his readers:
"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4,5).
Christ is the foundation of God's building, and we -- the saved people of God -- are living stones placed upon it. We are a spiritual house for someone else to dwell in. Those who refuse to trust in Jesus Christ are spoken of as the builders who set at nought the stone, which was made the head of the corner. "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner" (Acts 4:11).
In the new "Easy To Read" version (translated for the deaf) we have this truth of Jesus being the foundation and we being the living stones making up God's spiritual house stated very beautifully:
"The Lord Jesus is the stone that lives. The people of the world decided they did not want that stone (Jesus). But He was the stone that God chose. To God He was worth more. So come to Him. You also are like living stones. Let yourself be used to build a spiritual temple -- to be holy priests who give spiritual sacrifices to God that He will accept. You give those sacrifices through Jesus Christ."
The Living Bible also states this truth beautifully:
"Come to Christ, who is the living foundation of rock upon which God builds; though men have spurned Him, He is very precious to God who has chosen Him above all others. And now you have become living building stones for God's use in building His house. What's more, you are His holy priest; so come to Him (you who are acceptable to Him because of Jesus Christ) -- and offer to God those things that please Him."
THE BUILDING
Is the building separate from the stones? No! It would do great violence to this figure to speak in terms of a building separate from the stones which compose it. Yet this is what is often done. Most Bible students find little difficulty in understanding and applying the "foundation." The mix-up comes when the "building" is applied. Here is where the great shift in concepts occurs. What is the building? Many have taught that God has laid a foundation and erected a building. Then as each person is saved God brings him into this building; adds him to those in this building. Now what is this building? To these this building is "the church" -- an institutional building -- "established" on Pentecost, and the saved after being saved, are added to "it."
But do the Scriptures speak about this kind of "adding?" God does indeed save people and adds them to the foundation which is Christ, and these that are saved become another stone of the building but not in the sense of adding saved people to a finished building. This concept of being "added to the church" is false and should be uniformly rejected.
Saved people are not the residents of this building. People are the building, Christ is the foundation, and God is the Divine Resident. When these three parties are brought together and pictured in this imagery, there is illustrated for us the Divine fellowship and relationship between God and man in Christ. It is a picture of God dwelling among His saved people.
We will examine some of the Scriptures where this figure is used and see if this is not true.
I. Hebrews 3:1-6.
The writer here is showing the superiority of Christ over Moses. Both were faithful to God in all the work that God appointed them. Christ is worthy of more glory than Moses just as one who builds a house is worthy of more honor than a servant. Christ is not a servant in God's house, but a Son set over the house of God.
"But Christ as a Son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (v. 6).
The writer could not have been more explicit as to who the house is. We are that house! We who? We who have been set apart to Christ. (v. 1.) We who "have become sharers in Christ, if we keep firm to the end the faith we had at first" (v. 14).
Paul wrote to Timothy, teaching and exhorting about many things, stating, "These things write I unto thee, . . . that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:14,15). Peter wrote to saints who were being persecuted, saying, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, . . . 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 4:12,17). The "house of God" obviously was "us," and the "them" was, obviously, those "that obey not the gospel of God."
The "house of God" mentioned here is not a dwelling place for people, but a dwelling place for God. He comes and dwells among His people. They are His place of residence and habitation.
II. 1 Corinthians 3:10-17.
Paul, just previously, had spoken of the saints there under the figure of a field to be tilled. Paul planted and Apollos had watered, but it was God who kept everything growing. He "giveth the increase." These two men were fellow-workers of God and said:
"For we (Paul and Apollos) are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building" (v. 9).
We belong to God as his fellow-workers; you belong to God as His field to be tilled, as His building to be built.
With the introduction of a building he continues the thought by saying, "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" (v.10,11).
Paul laid the foundation at Corinth when he came preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified. He said his language and message were not adorned with pleasing words of worldly wisdom, but in God's power.
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2:1-5).
Worldly wisdom is what I understand Paul to mean when he warns against building upon the foundation with "wood, hay, and stubble." Persons who would glory in this type of wisdom are inferior as to quality as is the teaching. In times of persecution neither would be able to stand. Paul says he didn't preach in that manner "that your faith might not stand in men's wisdom, but God's power. So let every builder (teacher) take heed how he builds thereon. To preach Jesus Christ and him crucified (which is God's wisdom) has the qualities in them that causes one to hear and believe.
There can be no mistake in defining the metaphor: Christ is the foundation (v. 11) and "Ye are God's building" (v. 9). Here again the building is people, that is, people under the metaphor of a building. Not a building for people to get into, but a habitation for God. This is merely another illustration of our relationship and fellowship with God.
In verses 16,17 the figure intensifies. Notice the gradation of terms and consequences, from a simple building to God's temple; from a bad case of building thereon, to destroying God's temple; from simply suffering loss to "God will destroy them." There were, no doubt, inferior workmen at Corinth; but it is also evident that there were "sham apostles, dishonest workmen" (2 Cor. 11:13) who were wrecking the very structure erected by Paul and Apollos. "Are you not conscious that you are God's temple, and that the Spirit of God has His permanent home in you. If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is sacred to Him, and you are that temple." The saints of God at Corinth were God's sanctuary; His dwelling place through the Spirit. The saints there did not dwell in the temple of God, they were the temple of God.
III. 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1.
This passage, more than any other, clearly illustrates our relationship to God under a figure of a building or temple. Paul is emphasizing that they need to cleanse themselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit and perfect holiness in the fear of God. Why must we do this? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (vs. 16,17).
If we were to strip this passage of its metaphor we would simply have people in fellowship and relationship with God. They must be holy people. This relationship is illustrated to be like a building erected for the dwelling place of an inhabitant. The One who inhabits this building is holy, therefore the building must be holy also. The reconciliation of man to God was accomplished through the mediation of Jesus Christ, who is pictured in this figure of speech as the foundation. What makes these people a fit place for God to dwell among? The fact that they are built upon a Holy Foundation, Jesus Christ. This becomes apparent as we notice the next reference.
IV. Ephesians 2:20-22.
God instructed Moses in the wilderness saying, "Speak unto the children of Israel, . . . and let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Ex. 25:1,8). Later when the temple was erected God dwelt there, until the idolatry of the people drove Him away. (Eze. 8:28). This temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, but it was later rebuilt by Zerubbabel. Even though the glory of the first did not return, nor the ark, God accepted this new house. "Build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord. . . . For I am with you saith Jehovah of hosts" (Hag. 1:8; 2:4).
Jesus refers to the temple as "My Father's house" at the time of His cleansing it (John 2:16), but at the close of His work when the Jews had refused to believe on Him, He says, "Your house is left unto you desolate" (Matt. 23:38; Luke 13:35) and went out of the Temple.
The Gentiles had their own graven images. They were not worshipers of the true and living God, nor did God dwell among them. But when they came to a knowledge of the truth concerning God and His Son, Jesus Christ, they were made to understand that upon their conversion their relationship had changed
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 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 a holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19-22).
Could the matter be stated more clearly than this? No where in the Word of God, where the metaphor of the house of God is found, is there the slightest indication that it ever refers to a building for people to dwell in! But to the contrary, in every instance it is the illustration of our fellowship and union with God in Christ. The fellowship is pictured as a building made up of saints, placed upon a foundation which is Christ, fit for a holy resident, who is God, coming to live there.
The scholar Patrick Fairbairn comments beautifully on this relationship:
"But even in Old Testament times the more enlightened believers understood that the temple was an emblem of God's fellowship with His people, who were then, as they are now, the only proper dwelling place of God on earth; hence such passages as Num. 12:7,8; Isa. 66:1,2; and those in which habitual communion with God is identified with dwelling in His house, Psa. 23:6; 27:4; or having God himself for a sanctuary and dwelling place, Psa. 90:1; Eze. 11:16. There was a mutual indwelling - they in God, and God in them. Thus in Ephesians 2:20-22, the church, as composed of believing Jews and Gentiles, is represented as a glorious building, raised on Christ as the foundation, a holy temple in the Lord, or habitation of God through the Spirit. A quite similar representation is given in 1 Peter 2:5; 4:17, and again in Hebrews 3:6. In these passages, the house, temple, or habitation of God is plainly associated with individuals, the individuals addressed by the apostle, contemplated as in living union with Christ; and in the strict sense it can only be predicted of such that they are God's house; for in their case alone is there the real link that connects the human with the divine; the spiritual habitation with the Glorious Inhabitant. It is the church, the ekklesia of God, His elect, whom He has called out of the world and gathered into His fold, that He may sustain and keep unto life eternal" (Patrick Fairbairn, Pastoral Epistles, pp. 154,155).
V. Matthew 16:15-18.
It is important that we study one more passage, and, contrary to general opinion, it does seem to fit the metaphor as described above.
"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. and I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:15-18).
How often have we all seen the chart on the board with a picture of a foundation, and a "church building," and people who hear, believe, repent, confess, and are baptized entering into it. This is the building, they say, that Isaiah said would be built and people would "flow into it" (Isa. 2:2). This "church building" represents what is called the "blood bought institution" that Jesus said he was going to build. But is this representation accurate? Did Jesus say that he was going to build a spiritual institution; something for people to "get into?"
On the day of Pentecost when 3000 souls were immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of their sins, and there was added unto them, or together (Acts 2:41), it would seem that building a spiritual institution into which these would go was far from the mind of the apostles. It is significant that the word "institution" is never used in the New Testament. What then did Jesus mean when He said that He was going to build His church. Did He not mean a collection or spiritual assembly of saints, called out of the world back to God into Himself? From sin into holiness of living? When did this building (this assembly, or collection of these called out ones) begin? On the day of Pentecost when men and women were called by the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:6,7; 1 Cor. 1:2; etc.) into fellowship with Jesus Christ Himself, it began. They were "assembled" or figuratively brought together into Christ, their Saviour and Lord. There was no institution "established" on that day. But, a great ingathering of lost people into Christ did begin, and those lost people who were gathered out of the world unto Christ are represented as the "assembly" or "congregation" of Christ, the ekklesia of God and of Christ. As each person today, even as then, obeys the gospel of the Son of God he is gathered into Christ and thus becomes a part of the great assembly of the Lord. Yes, this assembly is the "house of God," but, not a house for people to dwell in. It is a dwelling place for God to dwell in through the Spirit. (Eph. 2:22.)
The assembling of lost people had not yet begun when Jesus promised to build His assembly. He said in effect: "By virtue of the fact that I am the Christ, the Son of God, I will build my assembly of called-out ones, my collection of the saved, my ekklesia, and the powers of Hades (death) shall not prevail against my doing it."
All of those passages that speak of the house or temple of God refer to a dwelling place for God. These are always associated with individuals in vital fellowship and relationship with Christ. This figure, the "house of God" is simply a metaphor to illustrate our fellowship with God.
The apostle Peter refers to the elect as "living stones" who "are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). Of this verse William Barclay comments:
"It is hardly possible that Peter could speak and think in terms of Jesus as the cornerstone and of Christians as being built into a spiritual house, united in Him, without thinking of Jesus" own words to Himself. When Peter made his great confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said to him, 'Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church' (Matt.16:18). It is on the faith of the loyal believer that the church is built; the believer is like a brick in the edifice of the church, built by faith into Jesus Christ. . . . The Christian is likened to a living stone, and the church is likened unto a living edifice into which he is built. Clearly that means that Christianity is community. The individual Christian only finds his true place when he is built into the edifice of the church. . . ."
Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).
Think of it! Face to face fellowship with Him. The saved of God a very special dwelling place for the Father and the Son. It seems to be that this very fellowship mentioned here is illustrated by means of the metaphor of the building resting upon the sure Foundation, built up for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
-- Hank Tankersley