Why is understanding the church as God's temple significant?

The church is described in the Scriptures as the temple of the living God, as seen in 2 Corinthians 6:16, which states, 'For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.' This understanding signifies that God resides among His believers, making the church not just a building, but a community of His chosen people. The physical temple represented a foreshadowing of Christ, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells (Colossians 2:9). Recognizing the church as His spiritual temple calls attention to our roles as 'living stones' being built together for a holy habitation through the Spirit (1 Peter 2:4-5).