QT 8 Mar 17, Eph 2:19-22, The body of Christ (the church) is to build up our body, the temple of God

Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV) —

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

NOTE: There are three structures, one is called a temple and it is indwelt by the HS, and two are called the body of Christ. There is the universal church, the body of all believers, which is the body of Christ in the world. There are local churches, a body of local believers, also called the body of Christ, and functioning in the same manner. In the latter two, the Holy Spirit dwells only by his indwelling within the believer. The last "structure" is our own body, which is called a temple of the HS. We are sealed with the promised (by Jesus) HS who is a guarantee of our inheritance. The passage tell us that the local church body builds us up (together) as a dwelling place of the HS. So one of the reasons we need the body, the church, is to build up our own temple. Yes, the Spirit already dwells there, but that does not mean it is worthy of his presence. Technically, we will never be worthy, but we can, out of thankfulness, beautify the temple of God, which is our body by making it holy.