living stones of God's temple

Hi all
I'm writing Christian meeting.

Christian congregation is called "the temple of God.

Jesus is called "a chief cornerstone."

Mt 21:42
42 Jesus said to them: "Did YOU never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone. From YHWH this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

The reality took over the shadow when the Messiah appeared, though Jews rejected the Jesus the reality.
The physical temple which belongs to the shadow lost it's justification for the existence by the appearance of the Messiah which is the reality. All the arrangement related to the visible temple became obsolete and vanished away.

Jesus told that he would build his congregation upon himself.
And the congregation is also called "the temple of God," and each Christian is likened to a living stone of the temple.

Mt 16:18
18 Also, I say to you, You are Peter, and on this rock-mass I will build my congregation, and the gates of Ha′des will not overpower it.

1Pe 2:4-6
4 Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected, it is true, by men, but chosen, precious, with God, 5 YOU yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it is contained in Scripture: "Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, a foundation cornerstone, precious; and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment."

Eph 2:20-22
20 and YOU have been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. 21 In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for YHWH. 22 In union with him YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit.

Each Christian who accepts Christ needs each other as a living stone which is built upon the foundation of the temple, and serves each other for the growth of the congregation.

How would each christian work for each others?

Since each Christian has each role in the congregation as a living stone of God's temple, the meeting of the Christian congregation is not like WTS' catechism provided by the select few top hierarchy.

The Christian meeting is an occasion to share each one's gift from God with each other and to enjoy Biblical reasoning and to show care for others. And order of the meeting is to be kept by each one's discretion.

1Co14:26-32
26 What is to be done, then, brothers? When YOU come together, one has a psalm, another has a teaching, another has a revelation, another has a tongue, another has an interpretation. Let all things take place for upbuilding. 27 And if someone speaks in a tongue, let it be limited to two or three at the most, and in turns; and let someone translate. 28 But if there be no translator, let him keep silent in the congregation and speak to himself and to God. 29 Further, let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern the meaning. 30 But if there is a revelation to another one while sitting there, let the first one keep silent. 31 For YOU can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be encouraged. 32 And [gifts of] the spirit of the prophets are to be controlled by the prophets.

The sons of the kingdom serve each other with the gift dispensed from God for the benefit of each other. They need each other as a living stone built upon the foundations (Christ, the apostles, and the prophets). So the congregation of Christ grows by the same care for each other although they are different in the type of ministry.

The assignments which impress privilege or authority like the WTS system are unnecessary.

There is neither male nor female among the sons of the kingdom.
It is said that they are all brothers under Christ's leadership.

It can't be approved by the Bible that the authority which enforces the rule of conducts for the entire Christian, and the system to provide the spiritual food for the entire Christian by the select few at the headquarter of the religious organization. Such a consolidated authority is different in 180 degree from the what is expected of the congregation of the sons of the kingdom, but is a way of the centralized organization in Satan's world.

Ga 3:26-29
26 YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham's seed, heirs with reference to a promise.

Ga 6:15-16
15 For neither is circumcision anything nor is uncircumcision, but a new creation [is something]. 16 And all those who will walk orderly by this rule of conduct, upon them be peace and mercy, even upon the Israel of God.

The rule of conduct for the sons of the kingdom is that there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female among themselves, and they are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus.

As to the standing of women in the congregation, see ➡ Women in Christianity.

It is the rule of conduct to build the relationship of mutual encouragement and mutual leaning from each other based on the brotherhood sharing the same faith, not on the authority and teaching descending from the higher hierarchy of centralized system. By this equal brotherhood system the Christian congregation can grow up into Christ.

Therefore, if you have companions in faith in your locality, you would go with them viewing them as a fellow worker in faith. This is the Christian brotherhood which can't be produced by the centralized business like religious organization like the WTS and other church system in the Christendom.

Mt 23:8
8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers.

Mt 12:48-50
48 As an answer he said to the one telling him: "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And extending his hand toward his disciples, he said: "Look! My mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

2Co 1:24
24 Not that we are the masters over YOUR faith, but we are fellow workers for YOUR joy, for it is by [YOUR] faith that YOU are standing.

The Bible says that Christ gave gifts in men to his congregation.
Christ's rule comes directly from heaven through the gifts in men in each local congregation, not through the centralized governing body at the headquarter of any religious organization on earth.

If you can see this invisible reality, you can view your brothers and sisters in your locality as the members of the Christ's body, and the living stones of the God's temple. Then anybody can receive God's care through the brothers and sisters with whom you are associating in your locality.

The sons of the kingdom are also fed spiritually by each other among themselves, not by one writing department at the headquarter building of religious organization like the WTS system.

The WTS' system that the select few at the headquarter as the faithful discreet slave feeds the entire body of the Christ is not compatible with the Bible which shows that each sons of the kingdom is given a gift to build up the congregation as a living stone in God's temple.

Who is the faithful and discreet slave?

Each sons of the kingdom is expected to be faithful and to act discreetly to buildup the congregation where he is associating with. If the person is found doing so on the Christ's arrival, he will be rewarded for his faithful and discreet service for the congregation.

Mt 24:45-47
45 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings.

Lu 12:42-44
42 And the Lord said: "Who really is the faithful steward, the discreet one, whom his master will appoint over his body of attendants to keep giving them their measure of food supplies at the proper time? 43 Happy is that slave, if his master on arriving finds him doing so! 44 I tell YOU truthfully, He will appoint him over all his belongings.

1Co 4:1-2
1 Let a man so appraise us as being subordinates of Christ and stewards of sacred secrets of God. 2 Besides, in this case, what is looked for in stewards is for a man to be found faithful.

Lu 16:10
10 The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much.

Mt 16:27
27 For the Son of man is destined to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will recompense each one according to his behavior.

Each sons of the kingdom will act faithfully and discreetly in serving each other with the entrusted gift from God. By so doing, the congregation will be built up and be protected from the false teachings and the deceptions of any kind.

The living stones of God's temple which have gifts from God to buildup the congregation

We can see that the Christianity is not the centralized system in the world like the WTS or the church system in the Christendom, but it is the mutual sustaining system of the believers who have the different gifts from God.

1Co 12:4-31
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but there is the same spirit; 5 and there are varieties of ministries, and yet there is the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of operations, and yet it is the same God who performs all the operations in all persons. 7 But the manifestation of the spirit is given to each one for a beneficial purpose. 8 For example, to one there is given through the spirit speech of wisdom, to another speech of knowledge according to the same spirit, 9 to another faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healings by that one spirit, 10 to yet another operations of powerful works, to another prophesying, to another discernment of inspired utterances, to another different tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. 11 But all these operations the one and the same spirit performs, making a distribution to each one respectively just as it wills.

12 For just as the body is one but has many members, and all the members of that body, although being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. 13 For truly by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit.

14 For the body, indeed, is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot should say: "Because I am not a hand, I am no part of the body," it is not for this reason no part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say: "Because I am not an eye, I am no part of the body," it is not for this reason no part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the [sense of] hearing be? If it were all hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set the members in the body, each one of them, just as he pleased.

19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand: "I have no need of you"; or, again, the head [cannot say] to the feet: "I have no need of YOU." 22 But much rather is it the case that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary, 23 and the parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, these we surround with more abundant honor, and so our unseemly parts have the more abundant comeliness, 24 whereas our comely parts do not need anything. Nevertheless, God compounded the body, giving honor more abundant to the part which had a lack, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the other members suffer with it; or if a member is glorified, all the other members rejoice with it.

27 Now YOU are Christ's body, and members individually. 28 And God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then powerful works; then gifts of healings; helpful services, abilities to direct, different tongues. 29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform powerful works, do they? 30 Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all are translators, are they? 31 But keep zealously seeking the greater gifts. And yet I show YOU a surpassing way.

Then next, apostle Paul is stressing the importance of love in 1Corinthian cha.13 - cha.14.

1Co 13:1-13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a sounding [piece of] brass or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophesying and am acquainted with all the sacred secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body, that I may boast, but do not have love, I am not profited at all.

4 Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; 10 but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the [traits] of a babe. 12 For at present we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face to face. At present I know partially, but then I shall know accurately even as I am accurately known. 13 Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1Co 14:1-12
1 Pursue love, yet keep zealously seeking the spiritual gifts, but preferably that YOU may prophesy. 2 For he that speaks in a tongue speaks, not to men, but to God, for no one listens, but he speaks sacred secrets by the spirit. 3 However, he that prophesies upbuilds and encourages and consoles men by his speech. 4 He that speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself, but he that prophesies upbuilds a congregation. 5 Now I would like for all of YOU to speak in tongues, but I prefer that YOU prophesy. Indeed, he that prophesies is greater than he that speaks in tongues, unless, in fact, he translates, that the congregation may receive upbuilding. 6 But at this time, brothers, if I should come speaking to YOU in tongues, what good would I do YOU unless I spoke to YOU either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching?

7 As it is, the inanimate things give off sound, whether a flute or a harp; unless it makes an interval to the tones, how will it be known what is being played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For truly, if the trumpet sounds an indistinct call, who will get ready for battle? 9 In the same way also, unless YOU through the tongue utter speech easily understood, how will it be known what is being spoken? YOU will, in fact, be speaking into the air. 10 It may be that there are so many kinds of speech sounds in the world, and yet no [kind] is without meaning. 11 If, then, I do not understand the force of the speech sound, I shall be a foreigner to the one speaking, and the one speaking will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also YOU yourselves, since YOU are zealously desirous of [gifts of the] spirit, seek to abound in them for the upbuilding of the congregation.

Eph 4:7-16
7 Now to each one of us undeserved kindness was given according to how the Christ measured out the free gift. 8 Wherefore he says: "When he ascended on high he carried away captives; he gave gifts [in] men." 9 Now the expression "he ascended," what does it mean but that he also descended into the lower regions, that is, the earth? 10 The very one that descended is also the one that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might give fullness to all things.

11 And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, 12 with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ, 13 until we all attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ; 14 in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error. 15 But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ. 16 From him all the body, by being harmoniously joined together and being made to cooperate through every joint that gives what is needed, according to the functioning of each respective member in due measure, makes for the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Php 2:13-16
13 for God is the one that, for the sake of [his] good pleasure, is acting within YOU in order for YOU both to will and to act. 14 Keep doing all things free from murmurings and arguments, 15 that YOU may come to be blameless and innocent, children of God without a blemish in among a crooked and twisted generation, among whom YOU are shining as illuminators in the world, 16 keeping a tight grip on the word of life, that I may have cause for exultation in Christ's day, that I did not run in vain or work hard in vain.

The Christian congregation has been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. And the each member of the congregation is called the living stone for the temple where the living God is dwelling. And Christ gave the gifts in men to the congregation who have God's holy spirit for the building up God's temple. And God's holy spirit is operating in each sons of the kingdom for them to act voluntarily for the benefit of the congregation. So each member of the congregation appreciates the operation of the holy spirit acting through the any member of the congregation. The sons of the kingdom love their brothers and sisters who have the gifts from God, as Christ set the example.

This is the congregation of the sons of the kingdom which is likened to the temple of God where the living God is dwelling by spirit.

It is never a religious business system like the WTS.

Joh 13:34-35
34 I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another. 35 By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves."

Joh 15:12-16
12 This is my commandment, that YOU love one another just as I have loved YOU. 13 No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends. 14 YOU are my friends if YOU do what I am commanding YOU. 15 I no longer call YOU slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called YOU friends, because all the things I have heard from my Father I have made known to YOU. 16 YOU did not choose me, but I chose YOU, and I appointed YOU to go on and keep bearing fruit and that YOUR fruit should remain; in order that no matter what YOU ask the Father in my name he might give it to YOU.

The love as Christ demonstrated is not the one regulated by the WTS's needless rules.

They reject fellow believers who have different opinions, and shun such ones as a discipline out of love according to the WTS.

Is that really the love like that of Christ?

Their system is a totalitarian domination for their religious business, not the Christian brotherhood in the congregation of the sons of the kingdom.

It chokes the Christian freedom and the free flow of the holy spirit among the believers.

see ya