Houses and Mansions
 

Many, many, different songs are sung about us "Coming or going to the "house of the Lord". Is that biblically possible for us?

I very often hear phrases like "Welcome, to God's house", or "If you can just get to the house of God".
I generally hear them atleast 5-10 times per service.
I realize many would say 'Well, it's just figuratively speaking", we really mean the church people not the building. It wouldn't bother me to bad, if I heard it (house of God)used that way every great once in a while. I fall short finding any N.T. scripture for "the building being "the temple or house of God, though I may be just not seeing it?





In like manner, is John 14 speaking of "our mansions in heaven" we always sing about,(Which hardly lines up with why we will need a new earth, IMHO) or his house in us?

John 14 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house (abode) are many mansions
(mansions is used 1 time in new testament- greek lexicon=1) a staying, abiding, dwelling, abode 2) to make an (one's) abode 3) metaph. of the God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers

Was he not speaking of the coming Holy ghost to dwell in us, to have his mind and will. (searching all things, yeah, the deep things of God.) after all, according to new testament scripture, We are his house/abode, Our Father now dwells in us. (mansions for us in heaven?)

(ISV) John 14:26 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home(abode-KJV) within him.

1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, (O.T. Isaiah 64:4) Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared(sounds like John 14) for them that love him. :10 But (N.T. now after Acts 2) God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ( heavenly mansions?)


Are the terms "House of God" and "temple of God" biblical when being referred to a church building?
If not, Is it scripturally permissable to refer to the building we gather in as "the house of God?"
Just wanted to get some other thoughts and opinions on this subject.
(Sorry, but I can't read or reply to anything till after work 2nite. Thanks for your input)

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

Hi shag!
There is a literal house= built of wood, brick or stone.
There is the house of God= us, the Church or Bride.
There is the house of God= indiviuals = a walking temple where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Jesus said in Jn14:2-4-In my Father's house are many rooms/mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the WAY to the place where I am going.

Ps 122:1- I rejoice with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord".
Yes, IMO, it's ok to call a church(building)the house of God.

Ps 127:1- Unless the Lord builds the house, it's builders labor in vain.

We are here to help , lift and encourage each other.

Hope that helps.

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

Hey, where'd you get that picture of U2? I'd like to get one!

I think the whole "house of God' thing is way overused in church and tends to make the organized church the locus of God's presence and activity rather than the people that comprise the church, thus in some cases assisting people in relegating themselves to spectators instead of living members of an organic structure.

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

LOL Hey A PoMo, I have alot of different ones!! And thanks.


I was also thinking as I read your post shag, about the mansions in heaven. If we are the temples or the living house....we are being perfected daily here on earth....those mansions in heaven being built are us(?), being built while here...and we will put on immortality one day....

maybe we are those mansions??!! Just a thought.
...And I thought/think/hope LOL my mansion walls will be made of cheesecake!!!!!


ICor. 2:9-
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

Now that's a can of worms that people don't like!

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

Just a note, I would love to see someone come up with a New Testament scripture regarding a "church" being a building, and any example of the NT church having a building designated as such...........Hope this view doesn't get me banned HERE too!

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

Thanx a mil for givin me your thoughts American Angel.

Tied to what U said, could "WE" possibly be the new temple thats being built? in Jerusulem (in Daniel?) Each person being "a stone" in the temple? (Since we are the N.T. temple)

Rev. 21:2 I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See, the tabernacle of God is among humans! He will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. (sure sound a lot like John 14 to me, him abiding in us)

Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Eph. 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love

(still wonderin about any N.T. scripture for a church building being a "house or temple of God". Psalms is Old Testament, him speaking of the "Tabernacle of David" I assume.)

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

You won't get banned for this! Good point, I'm anxious to hear the responses.

Some on here think you can only get spiritual when you go to church.

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

Yeah, Stephen was the 1st martyr for this kinda talk. LOL

Acts 7: 46-49 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands.........What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?

and Paul opened a similiar can of worms in Athens, (though rest assured I am not saying that our house/temple thinking is of any comparison to him dealing with the gods of the Athenians. But are we a little over kill referring to the building as the house or temple of God(according to N.T. scripture), especially so often thru speech and song?)

Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Re: Houses and Mansions
 

I'm anxious as well. So far responses are from 4 people (90 views). LOL