A holy and clean temple

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, April 26, 2026

 

Title: A holy and clean temple

 

2Co 6:16

2Co 7:1

 

As a reminder: Paul pleaded with the church at Corinth to be unrestrained in their love for him in the way he was unrestrained in his love toward them.

 

As a reminder: Remember, Paul directed folks not to be yoked with unbelievers. There’s no agreement between the two.

 

What you’ll hear today:

• What comprises God’s temple?
• What does it mean that God is a Father to us?
• How can we perfect holiness in the fear of God?

 

Paul writes that we believers are God’s temple (2Co 6:16). He dwells in us, and He is our God, and we are his people. We serve the one true God, and no idols.

 

Remember that God no longer dwells in a temple made with human hands. He’s in our hearts, and of course in heaven.

Act 5:27-33; Act 7:44-55

 

Paul made this point about we believers comprising the temple in a previous letter.

1Co 3:16-17, 6:19-20

 

Being called God’s people is a major deal (2Co 6:16). That’s a promise first given to the people of Israel.

Exo 29:42-45; Levi 26:3-12

 

Come out from among them (2Co 6:17) is a reference to separating from Corinthians who sought to serve idols. There’s no other god before our God.

 

What did God promise to do with the people of Israel who rejected idolatry?

Isa 52:9-12; Eze 20:31-38

 

We are children of God, and thus are distinct from the world and its many idols:

Phi 2:14-16, 1Jo 3:1, Gal 3:22-26

 

God promises to be the Father of those who reject idols + the things associated with them (2Co 6:18). Every believer is doing that, and every believer is His child.

 

Gentiles at one point could not claim to be the children of God, but that is no longer the case.

Hos 2:19-23; Isaiah 19:19-25; Rom 9:22-26

 

As God’s children, Paul writes that the Corinth readers (and us by extension) should cleanse ourselves from filthiness, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Co 7:1).

 

Our status as children of God necessitates that we be holy:

1Pe 1:14-16; Heb 10:11-14

 

You and I comprise the temple of God. That temple has no idols, and we should rejoice that the one true God serves as our Father. We must be holy with His promises in view.

 

The Son of God Jesus Christ Lord is the Holy One of God - you can’t be a child of God without him, and you can’t be holy without Him either. On your best day, or your worst, we need Him.

 

If you’ve ever been depressed, or down, or if you’ve felt lowly, the Lord can and will lift you up — we’ll discuss some of instances next week and why they matter.