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1 Peter 2:5
5 Ye [autos] also [kai], as [hos] lively [zao] stones [lithos], are built up [oikodomeo] a spiritual [pneumatikos] house [oikos], an holy [hagios] priesthood [hierateuma], to offer up [anaphero] spiritual [pneumatikos] sacrifices [thusia], acceptable [euprosdektos] to God [theos] by [dia] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos]. KJV-Interlinear
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. NASB
In these last few verses, Peter has been referring to buildings of worship, buildings that are made with actual stone and wood and various building materials that we are all familiar with, and he has been comparing those structures with a very real but different kind of structure, which resides within your soul.
Peter was familiar with the Temple of Solomon, the rebuilt temple, and the later restored and expanded temple of Herod. But the one Peter is referring to in his comparison is the original temple of Solomon, because in that temple, the building materials were of the best quality, the temple was constructed with attention to minute detail, and the temple was completed thoroughly. And, when finished, the temple became the residence of God.
We all know that the Old Testament was a shadow of the realities of heaven. We all should know that all of this worldly environment that we live in, is a shadow of that which is true.
We have studied shadows before and you know that the shadow has no texture, no color, no aroma, nothing that gives it life. And since we are mere shadows in this world, even with all of the many details that exist in this world, then how phenomenal can the realities, that none of us have ever seen, be?
The temple of Solomon was magnificent in its day. However, God had created in us, within our individual souls, temples, such that we may function completely within our individual spiritual lives, lacking nothing.
A temple is a place of worship, of learning, of sacrifices, of interaction with God. And as the shadows of the Old Testament have given us examples of the functions of the temple, so to, Peter teaches us that, there is no need for the temples, or any kind of building, of old.
Our temple is within us. It is a living temple, made of living material. Our material is Bible doctrine, and as such is the best of the best of building materials. And as Jesus is the living Word of God, and as Jesus is called the living stone, then so too, with doctrine within us, we become little chips of stone, from the bigger stone, which is Christ.
In order to find God we need only look inside of ourselves. But before we look inside, we need to understand that our temple has to be constructed first, otherwise when you look inside of yourself, you will find nothing, and certainly not God.
Thus spiritual growth, which begins with your spiritual birth, which accompanied your initial belief in Christ.
You were only born once into this world, and you can be born only once into the spiritual life. None of us go through multiple birth experiences. We need only one, and that should be obvious.
Just as the temple of Solomon was constructed with the placement of one stone upon another, then the temple was finished, then the temple was furnished and decorated, so too, in your soul, you need to begin with the construction of your inner temple, which can also be called your spiritual fortress.
The building material is Bible doctrine. You build your temple by learning doctrine. You finish your temple by understanding it. You furnish and decorate your temple by applying (production) doctrine to your life. And you then have a completed and functional temple within your soul as your wisdom grows and grows.
The finish work never ends. The decorations, the landscaping, the furnishings continue and continue as your spiritual estate expands. If you own or rent a home, and have ever come into some extra money, and if you are married, then you understand this principle. ‘Honey, move the chair over there. Honey, move the chair back again. Hang the picture there, and now somewhere else. The color isn’t right. Time to paint. Move the chair again. Need new furniture.’ And so it goes.
In this world we do not have unlimited moneybags. Probably a blessing to husbands. But then we too have our shops, and barns, cool tools, and toys for guys. So we all would constantly be upgrading, improving, getting new things, doing things, if given unlimited resources.
In the spiritual realm, there is no limit to the doctrine that you can take into your soul. Therefore, your temple can be fully loaded and beautiful, and under constant construction, under constant improvement, for all of your life.
And when you finally do get to heaven, your spiritual muscle, or curves, would embarrass all of the beach hunks and babes.
You are a priest. As a believer in Christ, you have the right to direct access to God, but only through Christ. That is Gods number one rule – through Christ.
You need not go through any other intermediary, not a priest, not a preacher, no other earthly person.
While you are in fellowship, then your life is a constant offering of sacrifices. Your every thought, your every activity make up the content of your worship, because your are in effect, obedient to Gods will. And His will is, that you be perfect (fellowship), and worship God (the function of your spiritual life in fellowship).
Do you remember Genesis 17:1?
And we can add to this, be powerful (spiritual muscle through growth), and be complete (the construction, decoration, furnishing, etc., of a magnificent temple within your soul).
The only thing you will be lacking in this life, will be the blessings that you as a mature believer will receive in eternity. That will be your ultimate completion, which will never be complete, but will continue getting better and better, forever.
