The scriptures relate to us that Christ is counted worthy of more glory than Mosses who was faithful in building the earthly tabernacle. Why is that? It is because Christ died in our place that God might again dwell in our earthly temple. We have now become partakers of that heavenly calling. Christ, is that faithful Son over His own house, whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
The Apostle Paul asks this question in his letter to the Corinthian church..."Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
(1 Cor.3:16)
This statement of fact was addressed to believers. The Holy Spirit cannot and does not dwell in an unbeliever's temple.
Jesus said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world (meaning unbelievers) cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
(John 14:16-17)
It is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father. Yes! "Whosoever will" may come and partake of the water of life freely. However! It is on the bases of coming by faith and by choice. Christ is the Gentleman from heaven. He will not force Himself on anyone.
Hear these wonderful words of life...
"For in him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:18-22)
"WE" are His Temple!
According to the scriptures, we are being re-created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
"WE" are His habitation!
"WE" are His house!
"WE" are His workmanship!
Peter speaks of this spiritual house in this manner...
"If so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:4-5)
Now that we have established this truth in our hearts, that "WE" are God's Building, let us consider what part "WE" have in this continuing life of faith.
(2Cor.6:1)
In the next chapter, he continues..."For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is in Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:9-10)
God has given to every believer the awesome responsibility of "building" our lives on the Foundation of Christ.
We are admonished to... "Take heed" how we build upon this Foundation. It is a serious business living the REAL Christian life.
Peter says it this way..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 pet.5:8)
Many "theologians" present what the Bible calls a, "damnable heresy" as they offer vulnerable people a one-time inoculation shot for heaven. The terminology they use is, "Eternal security." The Bible clearly teaches us that this is a "fight of faith" to the finish line. It is a "race to be run" and won. He that endureth to the END, the same shall be saved.
We are admonished to, "work out our own salvation in fear and trembling." God does not make robots out of us when we choose this life of faith, by that hope of His calling. This is a "Covenant" relationship that He has called us into. It takes two in order to have a covenant.
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be my people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest." (Heb.8:10-11)
God gave the ten commandments to Mosses as the, "Thou Shalt Nots" under the Old Covenant with the house of Israel. In the New Covenant house of Israel which is the church, He has written His law in the hearts of the born again children of God.
"After those days" in this scripture means after calvary, after Christ gave Himself as our sacrifice for sin. Now, God can return to His temples and dwell there once again. The precious Blood of Jesus has cleansed us from ALL sin so that our Holy God may come and abide within us.
Now, under the New Covenant... it is because "Ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." God has given to us a new heart, to do this very thing.
The word, "disciple" means discipline. The Christian life-style is a disciplined life. God's word always presents a stipulation with every promise. Jesus based our relationship with God on love, faith and obedience.
He said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Again Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."
Again He spoke, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."
Again He ask, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness."
God is a "Covenant God"
Do not be deceived with vain religious concepts! He expects us to keep our part of that covenant. He has provided the power for us to do all that He has commanded. These are only a few of His promises!
"Greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world."
"WE are more than conquerors through Christ."
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
God has written His laws on the fleshly tables of our hearts! A "Ten-Commandment" law no longer binds us. We are under the law of grace. By grace are ye saved. As New Covenant buildings, we have received the fulfillment of all those laws written in our hearts. We have the very Spirit of the Living God dwelling within us to fulfill that law by LOVE.
It is the love of Christ that constrains us to live for him who died in our stead.
* As true believers, we have risen with Christ and now seek those things which are above.
* As true believers, we have set our affections on things above not on things of the earth.
* As true believers, we count all things of this world as refuse that we may know Christ in all the power of His resurrection.
All of these attributes come with our New Covenant relationship with our God.
Now that we have laid the foundation through this basic understanding, let us now proceed into the meat of the Word. We will now undergird these concepts with specific doctrines. These doctrines will assure us of the abundant life God offers now and also of our eternal life with God.
"Be ye followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God as a sweet smelling saviour." (Eph. 5:1-2)
