A Temple for Our God ?

court-yard-2   “What?  know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God . . . and ye are not your own?

     Therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit (mind), which are God’s . . . for you have been purchased from slavery to sin, at an infinite price . . . !” I Corinthians 6:15-20 and ref: I Peter 1:18-19*

     “When Moses was about to build the sanctuary as a dwelling place for God, he was directed to make all things according to the Pattern shown him in the mount . . . .

But Israel had chosen their own ways. They had not builded according to the Pattern; but Christ, the True temple for God’s indwelling, molded every detail of His earthly life in harmony with God’s ideal. He said, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8.

     So our characters are to be builded “for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22. And we are to “make all things according to the Pattern,” even Him Who “suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” Hebrews 8:5 & 1 Peter 2:21.     – Desire of Ages, p.209


     Moses was full of zeal to do God’s work; the most talented, skillful men were at hand to carry out his suggestions. Yet he was not to make a bell, a pomegranate, a tassel, a fringe, a curtain, or any vessel of the sanctuary, except according to the Pattern shown him.

     God called him into the mount, and revealed to him the heavenly things. The Lord covered him with His Own glory, that he might see the Pattern, and according to it all things were made. So to Israel, whom He desired to make His dwelling place, He had revealed His glorious ideal of character. The pattern was shown them in the mount when the law was given from Sinai (as a transcript of His character), and when the LORD passed by before Moses and proclaimed,The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”     Exodus 34:6-7 ref: Hosea 6:6 Matthew 9:13

     Israel had chosen their own ways. They had not builded according to the Pattern; but Christ, the True temple for God’s indwelling, molded every detail of His earthly life in harmony with God’s ideal. He said, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8.

     So our characters are to be builded “for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22. And we are to “make all things according to the Pattern,” even Him Who “suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” Hebrews 8:5 & 1 Peter 2:21.     – Desire of Ages, p.209

But this ideal they were, in themselves, powerless* to attain. The revelation at Sinai could only impress them with their need and helplessness. Another lesson the tabernacle, through its service of sacrifice, was to teach– the lesson of pardon of sin, and power* through the Saviour (the indwelling of Christ by faith) for obedience unto Life.

note:     “Our condition through sin is unnatural, and the power that restores us must be supernatural, else it has no value . . . There is but One power that can break the hold of evil from the hearts of men, and that is the power of God (Theos – Deity, divinity) in Jesus Christ. Only through the blood (Life) of the Crucified One is there cleansing from sin. His grace* (G5485) alone can enable us to resist and subdue the tendencies of our fallen nature . . . !”       – Ministry of Healing, p.428

     Through Christ was to be fulfilled the purpose of which the tabernacle was a symbol –that glorious building, its walls of glistening gold reflecting in rainbow hues the curtains inwrought with cherubim, the fragrance of ever-burning incense pervading all, the priests robed in spotless white, and in the deep mystery of the inner place, above the mercy seat, between the figures of the bowed, worshiping angels, the glory of the Holiest.

     In all, God desired His people to read His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit . . . “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 (Theos – Deity) destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” I Corinthians 3:16-17

For our God is a consuming Fire . . . !”   Deuteronomy 4:24 & Hebrews 12:29

     Great was the privilege and honor granted Israel in the preparation of the sanctuary; and great was also the responsibility. A structure of surpassing splendor, demanding for its construction the most costly material and the highest artistic skill, was to be erected in the wilderness, by a people just escaped from slavery. It seemed a stupendous task. But He Who had given the plan of the building stood pledged (covenanted, promised) to co-operate with the builders . . .”
– Education, p.35-36     

     “As Moses was admonished of (by) God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He . . . that thou make all things according to the Pattern shewed thee in the mount . . . !”
Hebrews 8:5 and Exodus 25:40

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