2 Chronicles 3:1 KJV
1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
The Old Temple
During the second era of God’s master plan called the Old Covenant, God chose a small group of people (Hebrews/Israelites) to tell and teach the world about Him.
He also gave them specific ways and a specific place in which to worship Him. In order to keep our lesson short, we will skip the “Tabernacle” period and discuss the function of the Temple of God.
The temple was built to be the center of worship and sacrifice in ancient Judaism. It was at this temple that Jews worshipped and sacrificed to Yaweh.
It had an outer court where Gentiles could come and pay respect to the God of Israel. They could purchase animals to be used as sacrificial offerings. It was here that the “money changers” that Jesus called a den of thieves, were located.
There was a second court where only circumcised descendants of Abraham could enter. The lame, blind or outright known sinner could also not enter this area. Besides lineage, this area was forbidden to anyone who was considered “unclean” or “unholy.”
In this second court was where the Priests were located. They were located close to the Holy of Hollies area and only a Priest could enter and stand in this area, so close to God.
Finally, we come to the Holy of Holies (most sacred) which was the inner sanctuary of the Temple. This is where God was. Surrounding this holy place was a thick veil. The Jews considered this to be the place where God touched the earth.
Day of Atonement
The first official High Priest of the Hebrew people was Moses’ brother Aaron.
No one except the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and he only entered once a year for the Feast of Atonement or Day of Atonement.
Therefore, the High Priest was the Levite responsible for making the sacrifice for the people of Israel on the Day of Atonement.
The High Priest's unique privilege was to enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur to burn incense and sprinkle sacrificial animal blood to expiate his own sins and those of the people of Israel.
On this day, the High Priest offered sacrifices and approached God for the people, for the purpose of forgiveness, purification and cleansing of all sins. During this ritual, the priest sprinkled the blood from the sacrifice on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.
Thus, the Day of Atonement.
That was all “then.” Now we come to the new temple.
The New Temple
2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 3:17 KJV
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
When Christ died on the cross, the third and final era of God’s master plan began, which we call the New Covenant.
When Christ died on the cross, the veil surrounding the Holy of Holies was pierced or torn, signifying that access to God was free to all.
We can approach the throne of grace ourselves with no need for a High Priest or anyone else to intercede for us.
Christ is now our mediator, and we receive atonement and forgiveness of sin, when we believe and accept Jesus as Lord, asking for forgiveness of those sins.
Again, the High Priest is out of a job, and we thank and praise God for that.
We can simply bow our heads and ask God to forgive us through our mediator and Savior Jesus Christ. We can then access Him whenever we want. Not once a year, but anytime and anyplace.
Then, after we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, God indwells us.
Think about that. God lives within His children in the form of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, our body then becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The old covenant temple structure is obsolete and no longer needed.
It Is Finished
When Jesus cried “it is finished” as he hung on the cross, He ushered in a new age and a new way for us to be reconciled to God and forgiven of our sins.
He ushered in the new way which allows us to worship God in every place and at any time we choose. Any time! Any place!
Why?
Because as children of God, we are now the new temple where God dwells.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
RVH