"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The Christian journey is more than profession, it is the sacred work of transformation. As believers, we are not only called to accept Christ but to be built up as living stones of His temple, and the blueprint of this temple is the character of Christ.
Ellen White writes, “‘Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.’ Verse 9. This figure represents human character, which is to be wrought upon, point by point. Each day God works with His building [our character], stroke upon stroke, to perfect the structure [character], that it [the character] may become a holy temple for Him." 8T 173.1. This divine architecture begins at the heart level, as each believer is hewn and polished to become a living stone in God’s spiritual house (see 1Peter 2:5).
Yet no stone becomes "living" on its own. Many seek to refine themselves through personal effort, but unless joined to Christ—the Living Stone and the Chief Cornerstone—their building will not stand. (See Matthew 21:42; DA 599.4). Without the life of Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of temptation.
This change is not wrought by man. “I will put my spirit within you,” God promises, “and cause you to walk in my statutes.” Ezekiel 36:27. The enmity toward sin, the new heart, and the clean walk all come from above. As Ellen White affirms: “Man does not build himself into a habitation for the Spirit... All the power is of God... yet all the responsibility rests with the human agent.” Ellen White, RH October 25, 1892, par. 4.
Partaking of the Divine Nature
To become a temple for God, we must become partakers of the divine nature. “To be partakers of this nature means more than many of us realize,” Ellen White wrote. “It means giving up one’s own way and following the path that Christ has marked out.” Ellen White, 20LtMs, Ms 58, 1905, par.17.
This partaking is made possible by the promises of God (see 2Peter 1:4), the indwelling Holy Spirit, and our faithful cooperation. As we yield, divine power transforms our thoughts, desires, and habits. “Jesus Christ, His Spirit, His character, colors everything... We reflect His image to all around us.” Ellen White, SpTA09 77.1.
The Temple is the Character
The temple that God is building is not made with hands but with hearts. The New Covenant promise is that God will write His law in our hearts. Jeremiah 31:33. This law is not engraved on stone but written “in fleshy tables of the heart” by the Spirit of the living God. 2 Corinthians 3:3. When Christ is formed within, we become the habitation of God through the Spirit.
In Summary:
God is building His temple in us through character transformation.
- Christ is the foundation, and we must be joined to Him to become living stones.
- The divine nature is imparted through the promises of God and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
- Christ's righteousness is not imputed only, but imparted in a living, active experience.
Let us heed the call to cooperate with our Heavenly Architect. “The true Christian keeps the windows of the soul open heavenward... His highest desire is to become more and more Christlike” (Ellen White, RH May 16, 1907, par. 2). This is how we are hewn as living stones, and built up as the temple of the living God.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 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, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 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. (1Peter 2:1-6)
Let every soul resolve: I will be a temple for His Spirit.