Sermons of George Whitefield 7. Christians, Temples of the Living God - 2 Corinthians 6,16

Extract

Sermons of George Whitefield
7. Christians, Temples of the Living God “Ye are the Temple of the living God” 2 Corinthians 6:16. Isaiah, speaking of the glory of gospel days, said, “Men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Chapter 64:4. Could a world lying in the wicked one, be really convinced of this, they would need no other motive to induce them to renounce themselves, take up their cross, and follow Jesus Christ. And had believers this truth always deeply impressed upon their souls, they could not but abstain from every evil, be continually aspiring after every good; and in a word, use all diligence to walk worthy of Him who hath called them to his kingdom and glory. If I mistake not, that is the end purposed by the apostle Paul, in the words of the text, “Ye are the temple of the living God.” Words originally directed to the church of Corinth, but which equally belong to us, and to our children, and to as many as the Lord our God shall call. To give you the true meaning of, and then practically to improve them, shall be my endeavour in the following discourse.

First, I shall endeavour to give you the meaning of these words, “Ye are the temple of the living God.” The expression undoubtedly is metaphorical, or figurative: but under the metaphor, something real, and of infinite importance, is to be understood. And there seems to be a manifest allusion, not only to what we call temples or churches in general, but to the Jewish temple in particular. I trust, that but few, if any here, need be informed, that the preparations for this edifice were exceedingly grand, that it was modelled and built by a divine order, and when completed was separated from common uses, and dedicated to the service of the incomprehensible Jehovah, with the utmost solemnity.

It is thus that Christians are “the temple of the living God,” of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; they who once held a consultation to create, are all equally concerned in making preparations for, and …