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1 Corinthians 3:16 - Experiencing God at Church.

1 Corinthians 3:16 - Experiencing God at Church.

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of 
God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  

1 Corinthians 3:16 (TNIV) Don't you know that you yourselves are 
God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?  

1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT) Don't you realize that all of you 
together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?  

1 Corinthians 3:16 (AMP) Do you not discern and understand that 
you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), 
and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at 
home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?  

1 Corinthians 3:16 (CWR) Don't you know that as a congregation 
you are the living temple of God because the Holy Spirit lives among 
you?  

The pronouns in 1 Co 3:16 are plural referring to the church, 
not to an individual. [Disciple SB] 

Paul does not mean here that each of his readers is a temple of 
the Holy Spirit. He says, "You yourselves (plural) are God's temple 
(singular)." In 6:19 he speaks of each Christian as a temple of the Holy 
Spirit. [NIV SB] 

Here the local church is viewed as a temple of God inhabited by 
the Spirit; in 6:19 the individual is a temple of God. [Ryrie SB] 

The temple here is the Church, the body of Christ, as 
distinguished from the temple in 6:19, which is the physical body of the 
individual Christian. [Scofield SB] 

Paul is here speaking primarily of the church and is warning his 
successors at Corinth against bringing injury to the church in any way (1 
Cor. 3:17). It is true, of course, that the individual Christian is 
also the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, but this thought is given 
primary emphasis in ch. 6:19, 20. [SDA Bible Commentary] 

   The Presence of the Spirit within is not just an individual 
experience. God inhabits the community in a way that requires individuals to 
access Him there. He has faces we can't see unless we see them in each 
other. The fellowship of believers is an essential part of knowing God. 
 
   Why doesn't God give us as individuals everything we need in 
our relationship with Him? Because He absolutely refuses to put us 
in a position of independence and self-sufficiency. He created us 
not only to be dependent on Him but to be interdependent with 
others. That's why He distributes spiritual gifts among His people 
rather than equipping anyone person with all of them. The body of 
Christ has many parts; He will not allow them to be in a position of 
functioning separately.  
   If you want a full experience of the Presence of God, spend 
plenty of time with other Christians. Benefit from their gifts. Listen 
to their experiences. Search for His face in theirs. Each person 
experiences His heart uniquely. The more we share in those experiences with 
others, the broader our own experience with Him becomes. God is present 
in a unique way in the collective body of His people.  
   Seek fellowship - at church services, in small groups, in 
spiritual friendships - as a means to experience God. If you think you can 
do without gatherings, think again. God attends our meetings. He is 
present at our tables. He shows Himself in a variety of ways through a 
variety of people, and only by encountering them can we encounter Him in 
those ways.  
   Spirit, I want to see You in the faces of others. I want to 
connect with You through their gifts and experiences. Please help me see 
the ultimate treasure - You - in them. [The One Year Experiencing 
God's Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site: 
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/   

More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com