Living in Grace - Let God In 2: God’s Presence

Sin is separation (or estrangement) from God.

“sins” are actions that separate us from Him.

45% of the time, hamartia, the greek word for sin, means “estrangement from God.”

That means, it is possible to be separated from God.

What separates us from God?

Not being able to meet His standard.

What is His standard?

Perfectly following the law.

So what connects us with God?

The requirement has to be met. The law has to be perfectly fulfilled.

Romans 8:4 NKJV

4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

What does it mean to walk according to the Spirit?

Romans 8:1 NKJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Walking according to the Spirit means Jesus is who makes you righteous. Walking according to the flesh means your flesh, or your works, is what makes you righteous.

SO, There is only one way to remove the separation. To be reconnected with God, so that you are not separated from Him, you must BELIEVE you are righteous because of Jesus.

This is the MOST IMPORTANT thing that happens when you are righteous. Yes, you have confidence. Yes you have blessings and other benefits. But the entire reason Jesus came and died was so that nothing would ever have to separate us from Him again.

As long as the law is still required, you cannot remove the separation.

Galatians 3:10 NKJV

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

What puts us under the curse? Not our sins. But being of works.

Here’s how the NCV puts that same verse:

Galatians 3:10 NCV

10 But those who depend on following the law to make them right are under a curse, because the Scriptures say, “Anyone will be cursed who does not always obey what is written in the Book of the Law.”

Here’s another very important verse that tells us what our relationship needs to be with works:

Romans 4:3–5 NKJV

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

You see, it’s not enough to believe. You must give up trying to earn your status with God through works. You have to give that up AND believe.

Here’s what all of this means, everyone on earth is under the curse still, except one small group of people. Only those who believe they are righteous because of Jesus are not under the curse.

Why? Because everyone on earth is separated from God! Only one group on earth is not separated from God: only those who believe they are righteous because of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

What is it like to not be separated from God? Eden.

We see this all throughout the Bible!

In the old testament, there was a veil in the temple that separated the most holy place, from the outside world. The most holy place is where the ark of the covenant was kept.

If anyone walked into the most holy place, without going through the proper rituals, they’d die! Only the high priest could do it.

You know what that means? No one could experience God’s presence except the high priest!

The ark is where God’s presence dwelt.

That veil ripped in two when Jesus rose!

Matthew 27:51 NKJV

51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

obed edom

1 Chronicles 13:6–14 NKJV

6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed. 7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11 And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?” 13 So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

1 Chronicles 15:11–13 NKJV

11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

God telling Moses He won’t go with them.

God being with people in the Old Testament: David, Joseph, Moses, etc…

The priests carrying the ark into the jordan.

Joshua 3:14–17 NKJV

14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.

In the Old Testament, God was called, the One Who Dwells between the Cherubim.

Think about it for a moment: if God’s presence is always everywhere, what would be special about the Ark? Why would obed edom’s house be blessed? Why would people die when they went into the most holy place? How was it that God wouldn’t go with Moses?

God sees everything, He’s omniscient so He knows everything, but He has a special presence that is not available to everyone. Only to those who have met the requirement.

What happens when God’s presence is there:

miracles

blessing

things being worked out

protection

healing/health (for example: i don’t get sick)

Who has heard the question: how could God allow suffering or evil?

The answer is: God’s presence isn’t there. If His presence were there, it would solve the evil and suffering.

What about this one: If everyone is under the curse, that means they aren’t experiencing God’s presence. So when you’re walking around righteous, you’re filled with His presence! So when you go somewhere without others there who are righteous because of Jesus, you are bringing God’s presence somewhere it isn’t! Those people are literally experiencing God’s presence because you’re there.

The last thing about God’s presence is how it changes you, which we’ll talk about next week.

Next Steps:

Write down anything miraculous, or blessed, that happens each day this week.