Let’s begin answering your excellent question by reading Genesis 28:17 which says, “And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than THE HOUSE OF GOD, and this is the gate of heaven!” (NKJV).  This is the first time the phrase “House of God” is used in the Bible.  I encourage you to read Genesis 28:10-22.  When you do, you will read of Jacob’s vision in a dream where there was “a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” (Verse 12).  Reading of this vision, it becomes obvious that this “House of God” does not apply to a building, but a vision the Lord gave to Jacob. 

1 Chronicles 6:48 says, “Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of THE HOUSE OF GOD.”  This time, the house of God refers to the Tabernacle that the Israelites built while in the wilderness on the way to Canaan.

2 Chronicles 3:3 tells us, “Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of THE HOUSE OF GOD. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.”  This time, the house of God refers to the Temple that Solomon built.  I encourage you to read this entire chapter to learn about the building of the Temple.

In Matthew 12:4, Mark 2:26, and Luke 6:4 when the HOUSE OF GOD is spoken of, it is the Lord speaking in reference to the Tabernacle when David and his men ate the shewbread.

Now let’s read 1 Timothy 3:15, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in THE HOUSE OF GOD, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”  This time, the church of God represents the entire church.  What does that mean?  What is the church of the living God?  We learn in Acts 2:47, “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (NKJV).  So, we see that the church is comprised of everyone who is saved…everyone who has put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior. (Read Romans 10:9).  So, the house of God is not a building, but it is comprised of all believers.  It has been said that the church is not an organization; it is an organism. 

In Hebrews 10:21-22 we read, “And having an high priest over THE HOUSE OF GOD; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”  This again speaks of the complete body of believers, the church, of which Christ is the High Priest.

Then, we read in 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at THE HOUSE OF GOD: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”  Again, this speaks of the church, the body of Christ…not a building made of man-made materials. 

Let’s read Acts 17:24 which says, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.  The house of God is not a building that we can gather to.  It is a place where, as believers, we constantly dwell.  1 Corinthians 3:16 says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”  Where the Lord dwelt in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple in the Old Testament, today He dwells in those who have been saved by His amazing grace.  The house of God IS NOT a church building.  Why do people refer to the church building as the house of God?  I can only believe it is because of a lack of knowledge of what the scriptures say about the house of God.  (CC)  (654.2)