'We become a part of the Temple.'
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That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)
Christ is the "Zion" in whom the Father dwells forever (Psalms 68:15-18).
Christ went to prepare a place for us in Zion:
"In My Father’s House are many mansions."
The New Testament writings never once refer to a building as the house of God nor is Heaven ever referred to as the house of God. The concept of God and Christ coming to dwell in the saints is a major topic of the Apostle John and the Apostle Paul.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)
Here is the fulfillment under the new covenant of the old covenant feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-43).
The Greek noun translated abode , in John 14:23, is translated mansions, in John 14:2.
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23)
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. (II Corinthians 6:16)
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21,22)
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)
When the Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven He gave gifts of ministry to the saints. The purpose of the gifts is that we may be brought to the "measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," to the measure of the stature of the fullness of the eternal House of God (Ephesians 4:13).
The Divine purpose in building the Body of Christ is explained in Psalms 68:18
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. (Psalms 68:18)
Christ—Head and Body—is the "hill," Zion, in which God will dwell forever.
There are many dwelling places in the Father’s house.
"If it were not so, I would have told you."
If Christ were to remain as the only room in the Father’s house the dealings of God with the believer would not be nearly as intense and exhaustive as they are. Because we are being made rooms in the Father’s eternal Temple, God works, works, works with us continually. The seemingly endless training and testing are portrayed by the various measurements included in the vision of the Temple of God that was given to the Prophet Ezekiel.
When the Body of Christ has been built to the standard of perfection and unity that God requires for His dwelling place, the Head will return and raise His Body from the dead. The Divine standard of maturity and completion is expressed as "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. (Psalms 102:16)
"I go to prepare a place for you."
Where did Christ go? He went to the Father.
Before that, He went to Gethsemane and Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross in order to prepare a place for us in the Father. Then He rose from the dead and sprinkled His blood upon and before the Mercy Seat in Heaven. After that He poured out the Holy Spirit of God and gave gifts of ministry to the members of His Body. All of this was done in order to prepare a place for us in the eternal dwelling place of God.
It was not possible for any human being to become part of the House of God while Jesus was alive on the earth. In order to become part of the House of God we must become part of Christ. How can one person become part of another?
Christ Himself is the Way to the Father.
In order for any individual to become a part of Christ, a part of the eternal Temple of God, his sins must be forgiven. All relationships with Satan must be severed. The effects of sin must be healed. His personality must be transformed by being made one with the Personality of Christ.
In addition to this, Christ Himself had to be broken so the saint may be grafted on the Personality of Christ. The door into Christ was opened when the soldier pierced His side with the spear.
Christ was cut open, the believer is cut open, and wound is placed against wound. The "tape" of the Holy Spirit is wrapped around the two until healing occurs and the disciple becomes one with His Lord. The wounding and grafting occurs at a critical point in our Christian growth.
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