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The Temple You Live In

Ribbons of green and gold light flowing across a deep teal ground, carrying the Time Is At Hand name and address

God wishes us to prosper, to be in health, and to prosper in soul — and Scripture ties the three together. The body is not our own property to treat as we please, and its care is part of the work of restoration.

3 John 1:2 — Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

God expects all His people to excel in all three of these areas. He wants us to prosper in the material things of life, for us to be in good health, and for us to prosper spiritually.

The three things 3 John 1:2 wishes for us — that we may prosper in the material things of life, be in health in the body God owns, and prosper spiritually in the soul

One wish, in three partsJohn does not ask for one of these at the expense of another. The verse holds all three together.

There is always a direct and significant link between physical, spiritual and mental health.

The body is a temple

God expects our bodies to be temples for His Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 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?
1 Corinthians 6:19 — 'Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God?' — set over the Time Is At Hand emblem

Not your ownPaul settles the question of ownership before he says a word about conduct.

God owns our body temples both by creation and by redemption, at great personal cost to heaven. He cares deeply about how they are treated. As the "Owner", God has every right to decide how His personal property is treated. As a "caretaker", man has no right to do as he pleases with someone else's property. Our bodies are referred to as "this wonderful house the Lord has given us" (Letter 85, 1888; in 7MR 224).

1 Corinthians 6:20 — For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

We have a sacred duty to maintain these dwellings in optimum condition. Men and women are to honour and glorify God in their bodies. We must not, therefore, defile them. God will punish severely all who thus desecrate their body temples.

1 Corinthians 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.

Restoration to the original state

Man was originally created in the image of God. Subsequently, this image was marred for the entire human race because of Adam and Eve's sin. The goal of the Christian religion is redemption — restoration to the original state.

The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity. The honour of God, the honour of Christ, is involved in the perfection of the character of His people.

— The Desire of Ages, p. 671; Review and Herald, 19 November 1908, par. 6

The character of Christ must be fully reproduced and manifested in His people, and appetite has a great role to play in this restoration.

1 Corinthians 10:31 — Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 — 'Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God' — set on a plain dark panel

Eating and drinking are not exemptThe rule Paul gives is wide enough to reach the table, and it is given for God's glory rather than our own.

Missions of restoration

The ultimate objective is for God's glory to cover the earth as people worship Him. Worship is the central, most integral aspect of humanity and the final goal of God's mission. Those who are sick cannot render true, intense, quickened and inspired worship; and those who do not eat in accordance with God's will cannot give Him glory.

Practical living

God is on a mission to redeem a people from all nations who can truly reflect His character and image, which was damaged by sin. He is working to restore us to healthy eating habits, healthy lifestyles, and true spiritual worship.

More in this section: Ministry of Healing sets out what actually contributes to good health — cheerfulness, fresh air, exercise, diet, and the company we keep. The whole section is at Ministry of Healing.

If this study has raised something you would like to talk through, the team reads every message: ask a Bible question, or send a prayer request.

On the same verse and what it asks of body and mind together, Growing Stronger: The Second Dimension takes up 3 John 1:2 directly. For the condition behind so much of our sickness, Mental Health Failure turns to Isaiah 1:5. And on the restoration this article ends with, Getting to Know Jesus works through the law, sin and saving grace.

First published at https://timeisathandlive.org/ministry-of-healing/the-temple-you-live-in — Time Is At Hand Evangelistic Ministries. The rest of the Ministry of Healing section — health, healing and the whole person — is on the ministry's own site, along with the full library of Bible studies at timeisathandlive.org.

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