God had a house in Israel. It was the temple.
Important places in the house only priests could enter. The most important place in the house only the high priest could enter on one day of the year.
David sang songs about dwelling in God’s house, and how he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to be anywhere else. Perhaps you recognize them.
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” – Psalm 84:10
Worship leaders all over Churchianity express the same desire while waving their hands to the ceiling of a building they call “God’s house”. All of this is ignorant of something far better.
Better Than God’s House
The mystery of Christ is far better than simply being in God’s house.
The mystery of Christ is how sinners can be saved by grace to become members of the body of Christ.
“[Christ made] in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” – Ephesians 2:15
“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,…” – Ephesians 3:6
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones… This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:30-32
God has made every man in Christ a new creature, making us members of his body (2 Cor 5:17). By virtue of our membership in His body, we have the privilege of being in the household of God already.
So, why would you cry out to be in God’s house, if you are in Christ’s body?
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” – 1 Cor 3:16
Being merely the doorkeeper would be twelve steps down from where Christ has put you in himself today.
Access to God’s Household Through Christ
We are of the household of God today not because God accepted our resume or because we are worthy to at least sit in the corner, but because we are accepted in the Beloved One whose name is on the mailbox (Eph 1:6; Eph 3:15). We don’t go through the front door, but through Christ.
“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” – Ephesians 2:18-19
In time past, men desired to be in God’s house, which was only opened to his chosen people, who were given special covenants, and obeyed his laws.
The great mystery revealed to Paul is how there is no longer a need to climb the steps of the law, go through the front door of the covenants, or be born into God’s people to get into the house.
You get into the household today by being put into the body of Christ, and that by trusting the gospel (Eph 1:13; 1 Cor 12:13).
Instead of waiting to be in God’s house one day in the distant future, you are in His body now if you believe the gospel. What’s more, you are in His Body not for one day only, but for every day from now through eternity.
Forget sitting in the corner or standing in line! A day in God’s house is not worth an eternity in His body!
David did not know the mystery of Christ. There was no body of Christ at that time, and he was not in it. It was still hid in God while he was alive (Eph 3:9).
Many in churches today sing songs directly quoting David’s Psalms longing to be in God’s house. What is their excuse?
Article Index Published: September 9, 2017
Last Modified: September 27, 2019