Who Are We

Dear Brethren,

How would you answer if someone asked, “Who are you?” How do you define yourself? When we were young, we might have answered that we were someone’s child. “I’m the son of Mr. Jones.” When we grew to maturity, we were able to define ourselves by our profession. “I’m the plumber.” A woman may define herself by her spouse. “I’m the wife of Mr. Jones.” But, how do we define ourselves as Christians? Who Are We?

We are the people of God.  We are followers of Jesus Christ.  We are the true saints – just like the true Christians of the first century.  We are the family of God.  We are the called out ones.  We are the New Covenant people of God.  We are the Children of God.  We are the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. We are lively stones.  We are a holy priesthood.  We are the Body of Christ.  We are the household of God.  We are the temple of the living God.  The Bible provides many designations.

“You are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:19-22)

 “…You 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.”  (2 Corinthians 6:16)  We are the spiritual temple to whom Jesus Christ will soon return.

“Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells 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.”  (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Jesus Christ said, "I will build My Church." (Matthew 16:18)  He started His Church with the disciples and those believers who received His Spirit on Pentecost Day.  Jesus did not construct a cathedral, basilica, mosque, or any other kind of physical structure – but he began bringing together His saints – the Church brethren.  God had prophesied through the prophet Ezekiel:

“I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary [holy place] in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  (Ezekiel 37:26-27)

Who are we?  We are the people of God – the temple of the living God.

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Sermon:

"Who Are We"