God’s House, My Body: Living as the Temple of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8 is the Christian’s “Declaration of Freedom,” for in it Paul declares the Four Spiritual Freedoms we enjoy because of our union with Jesus Christ.

• Freedom from Judgment - No Condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4)
• Freedom from Defeat - No Obligation (Rom. 8:5–17) 
• Freedom from Discouragement - No Frustration (Rom. 8:18–30)
• Freedom from Fear - No Separation (Rom. 8:31–39)

In this section, Paul described life on three different levels; and he encourages us to live on the highest level.

1. You have not the Spirit (v. 5-8)
2. You have the Spirit (v. 9-11)
3. The Spirit has you (v. 12-17)

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV) “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the biblical doctrine that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the believer at the moment of salvation. This indwelling makes the believer’s body a temple—a sacred dwelling place of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV) Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God…

Romans 8:9 (NIV) ...if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

John 14:15-17 (NKJV) “…for He dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:15-17 (NKJV)  “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Application:

• Stop thinking of God as “far away.” He is within.
• Daily remind yourself: "I am a dwelling place of the Divine."

1 Peter 1:18–19 (NKJV) Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Application:

•  Make choices about health, relationships, purity, and habits through this lens: “Does this glorify the One who owns me?”

Romans 12:1 (NLT) “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.”
 
 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Conclusion:
You are not just a believer—you are a temple. God's Spirit lives in you. Every decision, every action, every use of your body should reflect that God lives here.

Ask yourself daily: “If God lives in me, how should I treat His home today?”