Thank you for the question about the Christian life, “Does God witness our renewed spirit in the Temple that is in us? Is our spirit connected to the perception/image we are using with God’s Temple? Is opening the door to Christ inviting Him into the Temple/perception as our Image of Knowledge?”
As I read the questions, it appears to me that one is asking about the “Temple” and the believer’s relationship to it.
If I may share a viewpoint to unravel the question with you.
A. Defining the usage of “Temple”.
The term “Temple” is used primarily in three ways: the physical temple that was in Jerusalem (Matt. 24:1–2), the believer’s body as being a temple for the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19–20), and the future millennial temple (Rev. 21).
In one’s question, I am presuming that one is referring to the believer’s body being a temple of the Holy Spirit.
B. The believer’s body becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit.
I realize that Christians have varying viewpoints on the Holy Spirit as when he comes upon or in the believer and his function within and through the believer. I share my understanding for one’s consideration.
The Holy Spirit is called the “Third Person of the Godhead” with the Creator God being the First Person of the Godhead and the Logos or Jesus Christ being the Second Person of the Godhead (Matt. 28:18–20).
- The Holy Spirit convicts the unbelievers and enables that person to come to faith in Jesus Christ. John 16 says this, “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and in judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father; where you can see me no longer, 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned” (NIV).
- The Holy Spirit regenerates or causes the person to be born again. The spirit that was dead in the person is quickened by the Spirit so that person is alive spiritual. Titus 3 says this, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (NIV). See also John 3.
- The Holy Indwells the believer at the moment of faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the seal or the guarantee that the believer is redeemed and part of God’s family. Eph. 1 says this, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (NIV). See also Eph. 4:30. The deposit guaranteeing our inheritance is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. Thus the believer becomes a body whereby the Holy Spirit indwells that person.
- The Holy Spirit desires to work in and through the believer to testify of God’s grace and power. Galatians 5 says this, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (NIV). Thus when the Heavenly Father looks at us, he sees the Christ and the Holy Spirit in the believer, not our own goodness or righteousness. He sees us as his children because of the Christ’s work on the cross and the Spirit’s presence in the believer’s life. The Spirit of God seeks to transform the believer into the image of Jesus Christ and work through him. See Romans 8, Acts 1:8.
SUMMARY: When God sees his child, he sees Christ in him and the Holy Spirit living and working in that believer to transform him/her into the image of Jesus Christ and to empower him/her to do the will of God on earth.
For more perspectives: