Great Question!
Let’s explore what the bible says for us today. Read it here, think about it, then go read it in your bible for yourself!
Short Answer: No, not in the same way which you were made accustom.
- Please read this entire page before you begin to think against scripture. A fair read and a wise mind should be able to adjust. Repent = a change in mind
Background: We have all been indoctrinated to believe that we Go to a Church building. When we get there, the church houses a ‘Sanctuary’. We are taught that this is God’s house and that we can worship in his presence in the Sanctuary, a Holy room, where rules are more strict and the Pastor or Church Leader takes over our minds using powerful but familiar statements, which with this familiarity, causes us to obey like good little sheep of his flock. Foolishness!
- The term sanctuary was established in the book of Exodus and was TO Israel/Jews/Circumcision, only! (Exo_25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.) Today, the sanctuary is in his spirit, should it be in us. Read on..
- If you recall, the last standing Temple of the Jews was the 2nd of three, which Jesus himself foretold of its falling. Then, in 70 AD, Roman soldiers led by Titus attacked, destroyed the temple (Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.) The “Arch of Titus” still stands, today! People of Israel were scattered (globally in time) and it wasn’t until approximately 1948, which Israel received our support to be a provisional nation, once more (https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/us-israel).
- Foolishness: That ‘chuch building’ we have attended is led by someone living in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, by Apostle Peter (like Jews/Circumcision) and not like the Gospel of Grace, by Apostles Paul (to Gentiles 1st and to the Jews, that we have been combined in his Grace to salvation).
- There-in is a Pastor, calling himself the Shepherd taking care of his Sheep! *Umm, this ended when the Lamb of God was sacrafised!
- He expects you to honor his ceremonial worship led by a man, not our hearts.
- He expects that you bow to him during his ‘alter calls‘! wow! I bow to no man but only to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- This building or alleged sanctuary, is locked during non ceremonial hours. God is off limits unless this so-called shepherd lets us sin. He is NOT Moses!
- Sabbath is Gone, for Gentiles!
- Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
- Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
- We should serve the Lord, in the Body of Christ, in our daily walking-in-the-spirit! Not some ceremony from the past.
The above story marks the END of the Levitical Priesthood and more. After these times, the word of God was collected by the early Church Fathers and the Roman Catholic Church took over what was allegedly supposed to be ‘Christianity’. However, they have mixed up and conflicting scriptures from Apostle Peter (the unacceptable Gospel of the Kingdom) and from Apostle Paul (the Gospel of Grace, only salvation remaining), by which the remainder of the new testament was being taught (incorrectly so). One rebel of the Catholic church, a well-learned man named Erasmus, became a burden of the church. Eventually the Reformation took place by which protestants split from Roman Catholicism and is what makes up probably 99% of the terrible Christian churches via ‘denominations’.So
So, what is the problem? I will answer below. You will get the short answer first!
- We ARE: the ‘body of Christ’, we ARE the CHURCH, we ARE his Temple (collectively), as the Body of Christ! It is no longer a building made with hands (of man)! We are that very Temple in which His Spirit comes to reside. Got Tabernacle? Read more on this, below.
Apostle Paul brings us the only true salvation message today. It is the Gospel of Grace! We are saved by Faith (but only by having faith in the specific message Paul shares & it has nothing to do with the Jews Gospel in Matthew, Mark , Luke, and John!). Paul shares the great Mystery in Christ, the Body of Christ, Salvation as given by him from Jesus, and the Secrets of God, which by Him, he would have us know, today. The Jews Gospel has useful lessons for us but is Not written To us.
Body of Christ:
- Rom_7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
- 1Co_10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
- 1Co_12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
- Yes, ‘members’. Just as your eyes, your arms, legs, feet, etc. are members of your body. We are the body of Christ and we are all needed and all are members.
- Eph_4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Mystery:
- Rom_11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
- Rom_16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
- 1Co_2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
- Col_1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
- 1Ti_3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Temple:
- 1Co_3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
- 1Co_3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
- 1Co_6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
- 1Co_6:19 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?
- 2Co_6:16 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.
- Eph_2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Speaking in Tongues required? – No! During 2nd Temple, yes. Not so much for us today.
- 1Co_14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
- From this verse, you can see that it is generally, ill advised.
- 1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
- 1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
- 1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
- 1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
- 1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Church: This is a simple gathering together of the Body of Christ, where we should be Edifying (building up) one another and growing in His Spirit!
- 1Co_14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
- From this verse, again, we can see that we come together in one place, not one ‘church building’. Although, this building could shared for the Body of Christ. But we are not there to have ceremonial services. We are there to edify one another, be around other members of his body, and grow together, in His spirit.
- Rom_16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
- 1Co_16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
- Rom_14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
- 1Co_10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
- 1Th_5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
- 1Co_16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)