Temple of the Comforter

by Rex Conklin with Frank Klin

Come now let us reason together. We are challenged to be Bereans so test the spirits
and search the Scriptures to see if these things are so. Study with a friend and pray for
discernment because we are promised that wherever two or three are gathered in Jesus’
Name, He is there. Encourage each other. Pray with and for each other. May you be
richly blessed as you study His Word.

“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members
of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye
are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and
in your spirit, which are God's.” - (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 KJV)

If our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, Who is it that we want dwelling in the
temple? Jesus identified Himself as the Truth and the Holy Spirit as “another Comforter”
the Spirit of Truth. Who was it that dwelt in Christ’s body temple? Scripture will tell us.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Christ’s Spirit). -
(Romans 8:9)

Dwell means cohabit.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit
that dwelleth in you.” - (Romans 8:10-11)

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father.” - (Galatians 4:6)

“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; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.” - (Ephesians 2:18-22)

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.” - (John 15:1)

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have
laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he
buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ. - (1 Corinthians 3:9-11)

Solomon had this to say about wisdom, which represents Christ, the vine and chief
corner stone, “The Lord (Father) possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His

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works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains
abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought
forth: while as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the
dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass
upon the face of the depth: when He established the clouds above: when He
strengthened the fountains of the deep: when He gave to the sea His decree, that the
waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the
earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight,
rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and My delights
were with the sons of men.” - (Proverbs 8:22-31)

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - (John 1:14)

“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and
given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven, and in earth, and things under the earth; and every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -
(Philippians 2:8-11)

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the
whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the
riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may
be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled
with all the fulness of God.” - (Ephesians 3:14-19)

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell (cohabit)
in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Christ’s Spirit).
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell (cohabit)
in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by
His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” - (Romans 8:9-11)

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and
High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to Him (the Father) that
appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house (dwelling, body, tabernacle).
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath
builded the house (dwelling, body, tabernacle) hath more honour than the house
(dwelling, body, tabernacle). For every house (dwelling, body, tabernacle) is builded by
some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his
house (dwelling, body, tabernacle), as a servant, for a testimony of those things which
were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over His own house (dwelling, body,
tabernacle); whose house (dwelling, body, tabernacle) are we, if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” - (Hebrews 3:1-6)

“For we know that if our earthly house (body) of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have
a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we

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groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so
be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do
groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that
mortality might be swallowed up of life. - (2 Corinthians 5:1-4)

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go
to prepare a place for you.” - (John 14:2)

Mansions is interpreted: to remain, dwell, habitation, make one’s abode, of God and
Christ by their power and spirit exerting a most blessed influence on the souls of
believers. From the root word that means to stay, abide, dwell, remain, continue.
(Zodhiates Lexical Aids of the New Testament, Thayer’s Lexicon, Strong’s
Concordance)

Understand the significance of the word “mansions” as it relates to the following verse.
Abode here is the same word as mansions. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a
man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come
unto him, and make Our abode with him.” - (John 14:23)

Now let’s visit the baptism of Jesus and notice again the word “abode.”

“And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and
it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the
same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on
Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record
that this is the Son of God.” - (John 1:32-34)

See our study, “And He Shall Baptize You With The Holy Ghost.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33334097/And-He-Shall-Baptize-You-With-the-Holy-Ghost

Jesus, the Son of God, baptizes us with the same Spirit of His Father that abode upon or
dwelt in Him. This is important to know as we return to John chapter 14.

“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak
unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. -
(John 14:10)

Dwelleth comes from the same root word as “mansions”, to stay, abide, dwell, remain,
continue. This would make the Father the Comforter of Christ because Jesus said it is,
“the Father that dwelleth in Me.”

Now let’s look at another Comforter, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you
another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know
him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will
come to you. (John 14:14-16)

Would it be incorrect to state that “another Comforter” is none other than Christ Himself?
You may be asking, “How can that be?”

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Let Jesus continue to share with us through His disciples. “Yet a little while, and the
world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye
shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. He that hath My
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall
be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” - (John
14:19-21)

Now look at the next chapter in the book of John and see how carefully and clearly
Jesus uses the word “abide” to add to our picture.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye
abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide
not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast
them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. If ye keep My commandments,
ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide
in His love.” - (John 15:1, 4-7, 10)

For further reading and study, John Chapter 17 enlarges the picture.

Jesus exclaimed, “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come
to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this
world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” - (John 14:29-30)

There is nothing of Satan, the prince of this world in Jesus. The spirit of the evil one has
no “mansion” or dwelling place in our Saviour. Christ wants the same for us.

See our study, “Spiritually Minded vs the Flesh.” http://www.scribd.com/doc/35445981/Spiritually-Minded-vs-the-Flesh

“Hereby know we that we dwell in Him (Jesus), and He in us, because He hath given us
of His Spirit…[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - (1 John 4:13;
Galatians 5:22-23)

“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have
confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. Let that therefore abide in
you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the
beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And
this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life. - (1 John 2:28, 24-25)

See our study, “Live Out Thy Life Within Me.” http://www.scribd.com/doc/40935473/Live-Out-Thy-Life-Within-Me

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle (abiding place)
of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God
Himself shall be with them, and be their God.” - (Revelation 21:3)

“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy
might be full.” - (John 15:11)