The Cleansing of the Temple

TEXT:  John 2:13-23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      COURT OF THE GENTILES - HOLY, PART OF THE TEMPLE.

          1.       Jews defiled it, filled with livestock, merchants, moneychangers.

          2.       Gentiles worshipped here.

          3.       Not peaceful and quiet expected in a place of worship.

B.      FILLED WITH ZEAL, JESUS DROVE OUT WHAT DIDN'T BELONG.

C.      DOES THE TEMPLE NEED CLEANSING TODAY?

I.      GOD'S TEMPLE, THE CHURCH( 1 Cor. 3:9, 16-17 ).

A.      BUILT ON A FOUNDATION( Eph. 2:20 ).

B.      MEMBERS HAVE A ROLE( vs. 21 ).

C.      GOD DWELLS IN US( vs. 21-22 ).

D.      EVERY HOUSE NEEDS SWEEPING OCCASIONALLY.

          1.       Division( 1 Cor. 1:10;  Phil. 1:27 ).

          2.       Arrogance( Eph. 4:1-3 ).

          3.       Complacence( Rev. 2:4;  3:1;  3:14-19 ).

          4.       Doctrinal error( Acts 20:28-31;  2 Tim. 4:2-4 ).

          5.       Unfaithful members( Gal. 6:1-2;  2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15 ).

E.      JESUS LEFT US A CLEAN HOUSE( Eph. 5:25-27 ).

II.     1 Cor. 6:19-20.  GOD'S TEMPLE, YOUR BODY.

A.      AN EXPRESSION OF DEEP INTIMATE FELLOWSHIP( John 17:20-21 ).

B.      EXPRESSION OF REPRESENTATION( John 14:6-10;  Phil. 2:12-13 ).

C.      IN US THEY SEE SOMETHING OF GOD( 1 Pet. 2:9, 11-12 ).

D.      DO WE NEED A BATH?

          1.       Impure thoughts( Phil. 4:8 ).

          2.       Sinful associations( 1 Cor. 15:33 ).

          3.       Rom. 12:1-2.  Sinful pattern.

          4.       Worldly purposes( 1 John 2:15 ).

          5.       Youthful lusts( 2 Tim. 2:22 ).

          6.       Stumbling blocks for others( Rom. 14:21;  Matt. 18:5-7 ).

          7.       Occasions for reviling( 1 Tim. 5:14;  Titus 2:7-8 ).

          8.       All defilement of flesh and spirit( 2 Cor. 7:1;  1 Thess. 5:22 ).

E.      Phil. 2:14-16.  ARE WE LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD?

III.    JESUS PROPHESIES HIS RESURRECTION( John 2:18-22 ).

A.      THE APOSTLES WERE EYE-WITNESSES( Acts 3:14-15 ).

B.      WE HAVE HOPE( 2 Cor. 4:13-14 ).

C.      THE RESURRECTION HAS CONSEQUENCES( John 5:28-29 ).

D.      ARE OUR TEMPLES CLEAN?( 1 John 1:6-7 ).

CONCLUSION:  1 Pet. 1:22;  Acts 2:38.  ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD?