We are called a chosen generation, God’s royal priesthood and HIS holy nation. What are the notable characteristics that distinguish and separate God's people from the rest of this world? Do we exhibit distinguishing character traits in our daily lives? What is it that makes us different? Take a look at 1Peter 2:5: “Ye also, as lively stones, [The New International version reads “living stones”] are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”

For The Temple Of God Is Holy, Which Temple Ye Are

When you call to mind the Temple Of God at Jerusalem in the days when it was yet standing, though you were not there to see that magnificent edifice, read the scriptures, read the history as to this incredible structure. You will learn of it's beauty, of it's greatness and splendor. Yet, in all it’s riches and breathtaking beauty and splendor, consider how much more transcendently God speaks of us. That temple, the beautiful edifice that was built by Solomon and destroyed, and again the second temple being built, it too, destroyed, they both were built of inanimate material wherein God placed HIS name and said HE dwelt. But now, God has something wonderful to take its place, transcending the glory of the former temple. Listen! No longer a temple of inanimate material, God Has Built HIS Temple Anew! Made Of LIVING BEINGS! We are called that very temple of God, wherein the Eternal, HE lives!

1Corinthians 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”.

You, I and all who have been converted, are called the Temple Of God. We are those living stones, that building built up as a spiritual house referred to in 1Peter 2:5. We are God’s Temple, and in us, HE dwells. We are members of God’s Royal Priesthood offering the kind of sacrifices described by David in Psalms 141:2-4: “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties”.

As Priests, This Is Who We Are, This Is What We Do

God expects us to conduct ourselves today as kings and priests, understanding and knowing full well, we are His temple, in us is His dwelling. We are called by the apostle Peter, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. In the Psalms, David, shows an acceptable prayer and sacrifice he has offered to God. And in Hebrew, it expounds what manner of sacrifice we ought to offer for which God is well pleased:

Hebrew 13:15-16  “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”.

The apostle Paul describes the character traits of those called living stones, an holy priesthood who offer up spiritual sacrifices in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”.



And here in Corinthians the apostle is showing to us how these attributes will be employed by God:

1Corinthians 6:2-3 “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”

God has bestowed on us through Jesus Christ, incredible richest and mind-boggling promises of an exciting future world. We are going to be judges, priests and kings in that world soon coming. What an awesome and wonderful promise that awaits us in the world to come.

1Corinthians 2:9  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”



God has made known to each of us the boundlessness of His glory and of the riches each of us are to be endowed with, even His divine nature.

1John 3:1-2 “Behold, what matter of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”.

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

We have all been called of God through Christ Jesus; we dare not, therefore, take lightly, that in his mercy he has chosen us. For we are the temple of God, we are the house of HIS dwelling; David said “it is with our prayers offer up as incense and the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice”. So rejoice! Our prayers and sacrifices of praise are ascended unto God.

Revelation 8:3-4 “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer: and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.”