# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1914_S12
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

12 Proceedings of the twenty-fifth convention

marvelous light. (1 Pet. 2:9.) Yes, light comes to the world out of this temple and through this temple in its darkness. Christians are the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14.) Veritable streams of blessing pour forth from this temple over curse-laden humanity.

Christians, however, should always bear in mind how highly they are honored by God, that he has made them his temples. They should strive to keep their hearts, as dwellings of God, always in such a condition that God can also feel at home in them, and should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. (Eph. 4:30.) Christians should take care not to defile the temple of God. "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, and that temple you are." (1 Cor. 3:16, 17.) — In this temple only one God has to determine what is to be taught and believed; only God has to order how one is to live. "But whoever teaches and lives otherwise than the Word of God teaches, profanes among us the name of God." Another god may not be tolerated in this temple. "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God says: I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the LORD, and touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you and be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the almighty LORD. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 6:16–7:1.) — God tolerates no other beside himself in his temple. He shares his honor with no idol. Therefore Christians should also by no means give the great idol Mammon any place in their hearts. "You cannot serve God and Mammon." (Matt. 6:24.)

God grant that we may always bear in mind that we are his temples!

12. Body of Christ.
(1 Cor. 12:27.)

"You are the body of Christ," says the Apostle in 1 Cor. 12:27. Who is this body of Christ? The congregation [Gemeinde; the church] is the body of Christ, it says in Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18. "We are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones." (Eph. 5:30.) "So we, being many, are one body in Christ; but individually we are members one of another." (Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 4:25.)

Who is the head of this body? Christ is the head of the body, namely of the congregation, "who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him