NEW TESTAMENT GLORY- GOD’S PRESENCE IS THE GREATER WORKS

The New Testament's greater glory is the promise of God's presence in us by the indwelling Holy Spirit, rather than in a box behind the vail as it was in the Old Testament. 

Through eternal life from the birth of a spirit men never before possessed. The glory of the New Testament that far exceeds the glory of the Old Testament can now be ours because Jesus' death gave power to the New Testament.

This glory is what makes it possible for men to be personally led by God Himself. A leading that according to 1Cor.15:45,46 was not possible for them while under the law, or at any time prior to Jesus' coming, because men are not born spiritual, but natural. This is why Paul taught in 1Cor.2:14 that natural men can not perceive spiritual things.

Some have been deceived to believe that this natural man is a sin nature men inherit from Adam. A sin nature Adam received by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they say separated men from God. And that this is why the natural man can not perceive the things of the Spirit.

But, not only does the scripture prove that Adam was never separated from God after he ate the fruit. Shown when God speaks to him just as He did while in the garden. In Gen.3:22 God said what actually happened to Adam when he ate this fruit was that "the man has become as one of us to know good and evil".

So it is a huge mistake to believe that the Genesis account teaches that Adam became a sinner by nature from eating the fruit. Because you would have to believe God's knowledge of good and evil makes Him a sinner by nature to believe Adam received one.

Now having dispensed with any pagan sin nature nonsense, we will look at what is really the greater glory of the New Testament.

As we saw in our last study, God's Spirit in the Old Testament, His presence and glory, dwelled in the ark of the covenant, in a box. A glory that exuded great power. And a brilliance the likes for which "the children of Israel could not look steadfastly at the face of Moses".

God's glory housed in this box was kept behind the vail in the Holy of Holies. This vail that represented the Old Testament law that Paul says in Gal.3 kept them "shut up unto the faith" while it was their "schoolmaster". And in Rom.7 made men wretches still in need of deliverance when they tried to make it part of a relationship with Christ.

It was through Paul's teaching of "the mystery that was hidden from all ages past" that they would come to realize after Jesus' death and resurrection that the Holy of Holies was actually representative of their own body.

Because this is where the Holy Spirit's glory and presence would dwell when the Israelite is delivered from the condemnation of the Old Testament law by faith in Jesus as Rom.8:1,2 says. And when the Gentile would "turn from idols to serve the living and true God" as 1Thes.1:9 says.

This box held within it Aaron's rod that budded, the 10 commandments written on tablets of stone, and the golden pots of mana. Natural objects that were most sacred to a devout Israelite. So this is where God's power and presence was for Israel while they were under the Old Testament law.

But, Jeremiah said that the glory of God would some day be written in their hearts. In Jer.31:33,34 he wrote, "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."

And because it would be written in the hearts of believing Israelites Jeremiah continued saying, "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord".

This is what John was referring to when he told them in 1John2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

So it was the glory of God, which is His presence that would be in them to teach them and lead them into the truth. Just as Jesus said the Holy Spirit would do in John16:12,13. Showing that God's presence is His glory.

Which should help give the correct meaning to passages like Rom.3:23 that are so often used to say men fall short because they can't keep the law. Because in it we find that what men "fall short of" is God's presence. Not law keeping. Because God's glory is His presence.

So that the mark that all miss(sin) is His presence. And has nothing to do with works of the law. But, only with whether we know and believe in Jesus or not.

This is the glory of the New Testament of which Paul said, "For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory."

The point being that Israel is no longer in need of laws written on stones to guide them. Nor the ark of the covenant, the box built with the hands of men, in which it was housed. Because it's purpose had come and gone with Christ's resurrection. And now the glory of God dwells within everyone who believes in Jesus.

Something Paul taught specifically in Gal.3:24,25 saying, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

Now we need to be careful here not to misinterpret what Paul is saying. His statement that, "the law was our schoolmaster to bring them unto Christ", does not mean the law is to be used to show men it's condemnation to see their need for Jesus.

Because the condemnation of the law only serves to reinforce a false belief in a salvation by works. Which is why so many Israelites came to believe the works of law keeping was their ticket to salvation. Rather than simply believing as Abraham. Rather than salvation by grace through faith not of works as Paul taught in Eph.2:8,9 now that the Old Testament has been abolished.

Rather, we must see that this means the law was their schoolmaster that would lead them unto the time when Christ would come. Or "unto Christ" as Paul wrote. Because the law was only to be a preservative to keep Israel as a separate people whose bloodline the Messiah would come through. Not a means for salvation.

But now, if they will believe in Jesus, they will have the anointing in themselves through the Holy Spirit indwelling them. This is God Himself living in our bodies that are the new Holy of Holies in a new temple not built with the hands of men. A temple where God's glory now resides in those who believe in Jesus. Teaching them all things and leading them in all truth as Jesus said in John16.

Significantly, Jeremiah goes on to say that God "will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." By this God showed them that by Jesus' final once for all sacrifice for sin He brought an end to the Old Testament where there was the imputation of sin. And when sin is not imputed no one is held accountable by God for it.

This was to make behavior/works irrelevant in God's eyes for entrance into heaven. Leaving only "the faith of Christ" the means for justification as Gal.2:16 plainly says.

And now without the need of any further sacrifice for sins because the Old Testament had served it's preservative purpose as salt and light, their conscience can be "purged" from those "dead works" of law keeping and sacrifices that were an integral part of the Old Testament. Now considered dead works as Heb.9:14 says because these could never give life. But, were given only to serve as a preservative to keep Israel a people separated to God until Christ would come.

This is why when Jesus told them in Mt.5:13-16 they were to be the salt and light of the world He was speaking solely to Israel under the law. Because the salt and light Jesus referred to was their being preserved as God's people whose bloodline God would bring the Messiah through. And light because God showed His power and love through them to the rest of the world.

A love that through Jesus, the final once for ALL sacrifice on behalf of sin, would come to all men. Because as John3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever will believe in Him should not perish. But have everlasting life".

This is the mystery that was hid from all ages past that Paul preached in Col.1:26. That the glory of God that was once housed in a box made with the hands of men would come to dwell not only within believing Israelites. But, also in Gentiles who would believe. 

For "now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace". Eph.2:13-15.

So the vail that once kept the people from God's glory was now torn from top to bottom. Taken out of the way by the shedding of blood that is the death of Christ. A vail that Paul says was made of "the law of commandments contained in ordinances".

This is why the law no longer separates Jew from Gentile. Because it has been abolished, torn down, so that both come to eternal life by believing in the same Jesus. Both now are joined as "one new man" by "the faith of Christ". A faith whose constant attitude is, "Nevertheless not my will but thy will be done". 

By this comes the glory of God that was kept in a box in the Old Testament that Jesus taught will be in you in this New Testament. This is what He meant when He said "Greater works than these shall you do". This is your inheritance if you are a child of God. This is the birthright that God made you for that is only available now in the New Testament.

Can you say to Jesus, nevertheless not my will but thy will be done? Because you must to have the greater work of eternal life done in you. Because His will for all men is that no one should perish. But, that all men will have eternal life.

If you will submit to His will today you can be assured of this eternal inheritance. An inheritance that Paul said comes only to those who have been made children of God by the spirit birth.

A spirit birth that in John3:4-6 Jesus said all men must have to see the kingdom of God. Because as spiritual beings we are no longer only flesh and blood. Which is a must because Paul taught in 1Cor.15:50 that "flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God".

So please pray confessing that Jesus is your Lord. And believe that He has raised from the dead. Because making Him Lord of your life submits your will to His will for justification. And believing that He has raised from the dead is recognition that He has conquered mortality on your behalf. So that His resurrection unto immortality is also your own resurrection unto immortality. 

Do this... and I will see you there or in the air!

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