In the Old Testament, God dwelt in the Holy of Holies, first in the temporary Tabernacle and then in the permanent Temple in Jerusalem. But after the glory of God departed the Temple in the wake of Israel's exile (Ezekiel 10), God had no dwelling place on earth -- until Pentecost, A.D. 33.
Acts describes the coming of the gift promised by Jesus before He left this earth (John 14:16). From that time until now, and until the Spirit leaves the earth and the Tribulation begins (2 Thessalonians 2:7), God the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of individual Christians -- the "living stones" from which the "spiritual house" of God, the Church, is built (1 Peter 2:5).
Is that not the most unique, unconventional living arrangement you can imagine -- the holy God of the universe taking up residence in the life of sin-stained human beings? Yes, our scarlet sins have been made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). Yes, we have been declared righteous in God's sight, having been washed clean by the blood of Christ and kept clean by the purifying of the Word (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; Revelation 1:5). But still -- for the infinite, eternal God to willingly choose to make the body, soul, and spirit of man His dwelling place on earth.
Your Benefits Package by Dr David Jeremiah
Acts describes the coming of the gift promised by Jesus before He left this earth (John 14:16). From that time until now, and until the Spirit leaves the earth and the Tribulation begins (2 Thessalonians 2:7), God the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of individual Christians -- the "living stones" from which the "spiritual house" of God, the Church, is built (1 Peter 2:5).
Is that not the most unique, unconventional living arrangement you can imagine -- the holy God of the universe taking up residence in the life of sin-stained human beings? Yes, our scarlet sins have been made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). Yes, we have been declared righteous in God's sight, having been washed clean by the blood of Christ and kept clean by the purifying of the Word (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26; Revelation 1:5). But still -- for the infinite, eternal God to willingly choose to make the body, soul, and spirit of man His dwelling place on earth.
Your Benefits Package by Dr David Jeremiah
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