FROM THE TOMB TO THE WORLD

WHEN JESUS ENTERED INTO THE WORLD HE CAME AS THE LIGHT. SO JOHN BEGINS HIS GOSPEL WITH:

John 1:3–5 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

JESUS HIMSELF CLAIMED TO BE THE LIGHT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN JOHN 9 AS JESUS IS HEALING A MAN BORN BLIND HE DECLARES:

John 9:5 ESV

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

WHAT’S TRULY AMAZING ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS THAT JESUS THEN TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THEY ARE THE “LIGHT OF THE WORLD”.

Matthew 5:14 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

THIS REALITY EXISTS THROUGHOUT THE NT: JESUS IS THE LIGHT. SINCE JESUS HAS COME TO US WE ARE IN HIM WE ARE NOW THE LIGHT SO WE MUST WALK IN THE LIGHT AND AS THE LIGHT. SEE 1 JOHN 1, EPH 5:8, ROM 13:12, 2 COR. 4:6, PHIL 2:15.

JESUS IS THE TEMPLE. SINCE WE ARE IN JESUS WE BECOME THE NEW TEMPLE.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

The outward walls of the temple in those days were covered with so much gold that they were blinding in “fiery splendor” at sunrise (Josephus, Jewish War 5.222). Its beauty was so well known that “no one has seen a truly beautiful building unless he has seen the temple” (m. Sukkah 51:2). How could God’s people be identified with this beautiful architectural structure and temple? BEALE: GOD DWELLS AMONG US

THE CHURCH IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS GOD’S TEMPLE IN THE NT. CONSIDER:

1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A METAPHOR. AT PENTECOST THE CHURCH COMMENCED AS AN ACTUAL TEMPLE.

Acts 2:1–4 ESV

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

THINK OF THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN THE TABERNACLE AND THE TEMPLE. WHEN JESUS DIED THE VEIL WAS TORN. THE MERCY SEAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE TOMB WHEN JESUS ROSE. NOW GOD’S PRESENCE FILLS THE CHURCH.

JESUS IS THE UNIVERSAL TEMPLE

Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

THE TEMPLE OF JESUS THAT JESUS IS BUILDING IS UNIVERSAL: JEW AND GENTILE TOGETHER! THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN US INDIVIDUALLY BUT ALSO CORPORATELY!!!!

SO PAUL CAN WRITE TO THE GALATIANS:

Galatians 3:10–14 ESV

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:23–29 ESV

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

JESUS REUNITES HUMANITY. AT PENTECOST THE DIVISION OF BABEL IS REMOVED AND EVERYONE EVERYWHERE HAS ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH JESUS!

Ephesians 4:1–6 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

IN A WORLD OF INCREASING DIVISION, FEAR AND HATRED WE ARE CALLED TO A LIFE OF UNITY, FAITH AND LOVE.

1 Peter 3:8–12 ESV

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”