In this article we will discover the answer to two important questions.

What is the House of God?

Where is the House of God?

A sign outside a ‘church’ read “If you come to my house, I will come to yours”

While this simple statement may appear good it isn’t scriptural or doctrinally correct at all. It paints a picture that is incorrect. I will explain later.

Some have criticized me saying I am ‘picky’ or ‘playing on words’. Many excuses for not dealing with the idol have been made saying things like “does it really matter” or, “they don’t really mean what they say”. (when I use examples of statements people say).

Maybe the individual, incorrect statement in itself may seem insignificant (like “If you come to my house, I will come to yours”) The problem is the number of small incorrect statements combined paint a huge picture that people see, and that is how the idol seeps into our thinking, little by little. It then takes revelation to break through that mindset.

2 Cor 10:3-5 states how to do this.

You see a power (idol) manifests through strongholds, arguments, speculations, imaginations, every high thing that exults itself above the knowledge of God, even thoughts that are not taken captive to the obedience of Christ.

A thought – A series of thoughts is an idea.
A series of ideas put together you have a concept.
Several concepts, now you have an argument (something you can have an argument about). Arguments together you have a stronghold or an ideology or a culture, a worldview. You may not have a visible idol but you have ideology or culture & so spiritual powers manifest through ideas that keep people from truth.

The powers manifest through man – through ideas, culture, a way to see things, a way to do things.

This statement (“If you come to my house, I will come to yours”) as well as others bandied about by well-meaning people are influenced by the idol to enforce its effect in people’s lives. The idol seeks to enslave people to serve it, rather than serve Christ.

Example: how often do you hear statements like:-

“Welcome to the house of God today”

“We are building the house of God”

“We are taking up an offering to build the house”

“God is in the house this morning”

I have heard whole series of sermons on “We are sons of the house” and “We are to serve the house”

I hear these statements and actually cringe. Why?

Well first what is the house of God?

In the Old Testament both the temple in the wilderness and Solomon's temple were filled with the Spirit of God, to the extent that the priests could not even stand to minister.

In the Old Testament God actually dwelled in the temples made by men.

There are countless scriptures that talk about God dwelling in man-made structures. This was very important for people of that era as a temple was far more than an expensive and beautiful place to worship: a temple was the place where the God they worshiped lived.

The first mention of the house of God in scripture is where Jacob experienced the manifest presence of God and thus said “this is none other than the house of God” Gen 28:17. The house of God literally became where God’s presence was.

Right from the beginning God wanted to dwell with His people. After the fall God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle for His presence to dwell. Exo 25:8

It was an incredible thing; the people of God seeing God descend into the tabernacle.
Ex 33:8-11 where Moses spoke with God face to face. Where Joshua ministered to the Lord.

Worship was given because God was there.

The writer of Hebrews, in chapter 9, describes the Old Testament temple; its appearance and the activities of the Levite priests (vs. 1-8). He then compares it to the temple of Christ as follows:

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle [or sacred tent] not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building (Hebrews 9:11).

In the New Testament, under the new covenant instituted by Christ,

God no longer dwells in a physical temple.

Acts 7:47-50 But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?

Again Paul said in

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

A building is not the habitation of God anymore.

There are only 3 references to the term ‘house of God’ in some translations of the NT. (Other translations translate the Greek word oikos ‘houshold’ All three of them referring to the spiritual household of God which is the assembly. We must view these scriptures in light of all other NT scriptures which refer to the body as the house of God (1 Pet 2:5) Not a building or organization.

1 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 10:21 & 1 Peter 4:17

Paul never refers to the Ekklesia (assembly) as a physical structure but as a dedicated group of disciples; a new race redeemed by the blood of Christ (Mounce's Expository Dictionary).

"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice [chosen, elect] and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices 1 Peter 2:4-5

All sources agree that ‘ekklesia’ denotes not a physical structure but a living, eternal spiritual dwelling place.

Paul said:
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints [holy ones] and are of God's household,

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple [sanctuary] in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22).

The true assembly of believers of God is not of this world but is a spiritual dwelling place for God.

So the church building is no longer inhabited by God – it is not the house of God anymore, it is not sacred, it is not holy, it is not sanctified.

But the body of Christ is now being built up as a dwelling place of God, the body of Christ is now the temple, and individuals are of the household of God.

His house will be (is) within His believers. We of the Body of Christ are His dwelling place forever.

Hebrews 3:6 but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are we, if indeed we hold fast the boldness and the boast of hope firm to the end.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Now, here is the clincher

2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

What agreement has a temple of God with idols? None. Repent and turn away from idols, repent and turn away from the idol called the church to Christ.

I am not saying turn away from assembling together as the assembly of believers in Christ, I am not even saying do away with buildings in which we meet but I am saying turn away from the idol called the church.

The glory doesn’t reside anymore in the building or organization.

Where God’s glory resides:-

From the temple (OT) to Christ & the body of Christ (NT)

We are told that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. Jesus is the Chief cornerstone of the spiritual building of God.

Matt. 16:15-18  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my assembly; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This passage has given rise to many different interpretations. Some have supposed that the word ROCK refers to Peter himself. This, I believe, is not correct because the assembly Christ is talking about building is not built upon a man but rather it is a spiritual building. We see the idol’s philosophy here - when man is made the centre of anything. (you could study the Catholic church’s doctrine of Peter being the rock & foundation of the church)

Jesus is the foundation and the rock – Not Peter

Others have supposed that the assembly will be built upon Peter’s confession; and that he meant to say, upon this rock-- this truth that thou hast confessed, that I am the Messiah--and upon confessions of this from all believers, I will build my assembly.

Others have thought that Jesus referred to himself.

Christ is called a rock, Isa 28:16; Eph 2:20

1 Peter 2:5-9 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed." For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone," and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

I believe the later to be what Jesus was referring to. He being the chief cornerstone and the ‘lively stones’ (believers) being built up as a spiritual house where the presence of God dwells.

This is the assembly that He is building. The word assembly could be understood like the assembling of a jigsaw puzzle rather than just a group of people meeting together. Another way of looking at the word is like a car assembly line where cars are being assembled.

Jesus said “I will build my assembly” the house of God is being assembled, (built, put together) with Christ being the cornerstone.

These other passages make clear that Jesus Himself is the foundation. The chief cornerstone was the foundational stone in ancient architecture, from which all measurements began, so every other stone was laid in relationship to the cornerstone. Clearly this position belongs to Jesus.

Jesus being the foundation stone, all other stones should be laid by Him & directly from Him.

In other words if you want to see what the assembly should look like, look at the cornerstone.

Look at Jesus the ‘fundamental beginning’ to see what He is building now. What did Jesus do, how did He do it. If what is being built is not the image of Christ then its probably not Christ.

Jesus said "I will build my assembly" & the book of Acts shows Him doing it.

J.B. Phillips wrote that the reader of the book of Acts "is seeing Christianity, the real thing, in action for the first time in human history .... as it was meant to be."

Many have been saying for years “we need to return to the Book of Acts Christianity.” (Christianity as portrayed by the early saints) Many have been saying “we need to build our ‘churches’ by the pattern of the Book of Acts.”

I agree, but we can’t do it while keeping the old. We cannot stay in the ‘system’ and try and change it. I have been in ministry around 30 years and I have never seen it done. People have said things like “well I am just staying and praying that things will change” – Experience shows - they don’t.

You cannot put new wine in old wineskins. You cannot patch old cloth with new cloth.

It is not developing a new ‘system’ within the ‘system’ to overcome the idol.

I believe it is all about looking to Jesus and seeing what He is assembling. Many are, I am amazed at what God is doing, there is a spiritual reformation going on. People are getting revelation, connections of parts of the body coming together in unique ways.

‘Churches’ are being transformed. I know a number that are transitioning well, some started but have slowed for various reasons and some started but have stopped because it’s too hard. Needless to say there is a shift going on.

One in particular in NZ has had an awesome transition from a church to an Assembly – they have forsook the idol and the old ways and simply sought Christ to live His way. It has sometimes been a hard road for them, many not understanding them, but they are flying high in Jesus, seeing people’s lives change by teaching them how to ‘be’ Christians and flow in the power of the Holy Spirit instead of being pew warmers and learning how to get a good life style. While some think they are ‘off the planet’ others think they have given up far too much. I believe their response is that what they have now as an assembly far outweighs any cost of transition.

We are looking at joining with and setting up something to help others on a similar journey, not a network as such but a group of likeminded people on the same page helping, resources, encouraging one another etc.

While this is in its infancy, If you are interested please email me and I can let you know more as things become clear.

In Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28