MAN, A TOMB OR A TEMPLE

MATTHEW 23:3

A. "YE ARE LIKE UNTO WHITED SEPULCHERS." "YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD."
  1. Both these utterances are addressed to men:
    1. That reveals two possibilities in our lives -
      1. We can be a tomb
      2. Or a temple
  2. We have the capacity of virtue or of vice, of joy and of sorrow:
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
  1. A Tomb:
    1. It is dark, no light penetrates it.
    2. It is lifeless.
    3. There are no activities outside of the worms that feed upon the bodies of the dead.
    4. There is corruption and decay.
    5. It is full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
  2. The Tomb is a representation of the condition of those who are dead in trespass and sin:
    1. Darkness fills body, soul, and Spirit - 2 Cor. 6:14; John 3:19; Rom. 13:12
    2. They are dead in trespass and sin - Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13
    3. Heart and soul are defiled and full of moral corruption - Matt. 15:19-21; Eph. 4:22; 1 Tim. 6:5; Rom. 3:10-18
  3. There is strong evidence of the presence of Satan:
    1. Think of the demon possessed beings - Mark 5:1-10
    2. Consider the bloodthirsty spirit of the scribes and Pharisees who paraded in sheep's clothing - Matt. 23:29-35
C. A TEMPLE
  1. The dwelling place of the Holy Spirit:
    1. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17
    2. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20
  2. Lighted up with the word of truth: Ps. 119:105, 130
  3. Full of the life of the Holy Spirit:
    1. Experience of the believers on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-17
    2. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will fill the soul- temple with life and light - Gal. 5:22, 23
D. THE GREAT DIFFERENCE
  1. A tomb houses the dead:
  2. A temple houses God's Holy Spirit:
  3. You and I have it in our power to be:
    1. A tomb
    2. Or a temple.
  4. If we allow Satan to control our lives, we shall be a tomb:
  5. But if we let Christ come into our hearts, we shall be the temple of the living God. Which shall we be?
  6. There is a prayer in my heart that as you weigh the decision you and every other person must make:
    1. You will realize the importance of your life, body, soul, and spirit, bought with an infinite price - 1 Cor. 6:20
    2. You will see the wisdom of Paul's admonition to the Romans, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Rom. 12:1
    3. There is a difference in the final outcome of what our lives have been, a temple or a tomb -
      1. Think of Judas - Matt. 27:1-5
      2. Or of Paul - Acts 9:15
      3. What is your life?


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