Here's the next installment of Kim Riddlebarger's "Amillennialism 101" audio series entitled "Christ: The True Temple". I don't plan on continuing to post on each subsequent installment, but this message goes so well with some of the posts I've made here in the pasts and comments I've made on other blogs that I couldn't resist adding this message to the collection. This is an hour long audio teaching, so give yourselves plenty of time to listen to it.
Just as Jesus is the true Israel, He is also the true Temple. And this is because, as I've suggested many times already, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the Scripture (Law, Prophets and Writings), as He Himself has said and as the NT writers agree. What we read in the OT about Israel, the Temple, the Passover, the Law, the Covenants, etc., is all prophetic; it all speaks to and about Christ--His Person and His work. He has come in fulfillment of all of it! The focal point of the OT ( and of all of Redemptive History) is Christ; and this audio message from Kim Riddlebarger continues to faithfully stress this important point. Enjoy!
10 comments:
AMEN, GGM! How nice to get to know another Jesus freak! :) It's ironic that the concept of a temple where God resides has been translated to church buildings, by many denominations. But a building is just a building. The focus needs to be on Jesus. We are His temples, and He is the foundation, as well as the adornment. Just like the original Temple was but an empty shell until the Lord filled it with His presence, we are empty shells without the filling of the Holy Spirit inside us.
Thanks Greg.
The understanding of Jesus as the True Temple really opens up for us the imagery of God dwelling with His people by the Spirit.
As Immanuel "God with us", Jesus is the fulfillment of "Eden" (the first "Temple") where God dwelt with His people, Adam and Eve. Every subsequent Temple (Tabernacle) was also a typological and prophetic "dwelling" place of God as it prophesied of (spoke of) Christ. The ultimate reality of God dwelling with His people is in and through "Immanuel".
Now, as "new creations" joined to Christ in the new birth, and having the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us, we are "temples" of God in Christ individually as well as corporately--we are His Body, the Church of the living God.
Of course, on the day of consummation when Christ returns, this spiritual reality will itself be fulfilled in the manifest presence of "God with us" in the physical New Heavens and New Earth with the redemption of the Cosmos.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!!
I view the temple and Old Covenant as obsolete as we now have Christ as/and the New Covenant (Hebrews 10: 24,9: 11-28).
This is also of use in debating LDS and their priesthood theory.
Russ:)
GGM,
I appreciate your desire to always point to the Lord in your blog messages.
I would say that Jesus is The Fulfillment of the Law. He is also the builder of the Temple. So, in a sense, I would say, yes, He is the true Temple. He is the origional builder as I state here in my Love One Another blog, Ch. 1:
"II Samuel 7:2 NIV)
As David sits in his palace in II Samuel 7:2 we can imagine by the text that follows, that David is contemplating bringing The Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and he is not sure of where it should be housed. He doesn’t feel good about it remaining in a tent as a tabernacle while he lives in a cedar palace. II Samuel 7:12 and 13 have God saying that an offspring or descendant of David will build a house for Yahweh. We’ve already discussed the significance of “house” as being “family”. However, I would like to point out that most people think in the physical, here and now. Solomon, David’s son did build the Temple that is known as Solomon’s Temple. But, the son referred to by God is The Messiah. Jesus is a descendant of David, a literal son in the Hebrew tradition. Today, as Christians, we speak of The House of God as being made of the many members of the Church. We also call ourselves, corporately, The Body of Christ. The thought continues in verse 16:
“ Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; Your throne will be established forever.”
(NIV)"
From Chapter One, Of Love One Another.
Thanks Russ and Jim (and Greg)!
I appreciate your contributions very much. I would tend to go a bit further in the Temple/Christ understanding (as I'm sure you've all guessed :-) as does Riddlebarger. If you have a chance to read G.K. Beale's "The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God", I would encourage you to do so. This is the most in-depth treatment of this subject that I've read (so far).
The more we understand WHO Jesus is and the fulness of WHAT He accomplished, the more we'll know Him and the better we will love Him...right? And I appreciate each of you for your ministries in helping me to continue to grow in my knowledge of and, therefore, my love for our Lord.
Thanks guys!
And Jim, nicely put...and I agree.
The "house" idea in the Davidic Covenant is typological and prophetic. Not only does David (in his son, Solomon) build God's house in an historical context, but the "Greater David" (who is also the Son of David) builds God's house in fulfillment as Jesus build His Church which is His Body and the dwelling place of God. And God builds Davids "house" in the "Greater David" by giving to Him (Christ) an everlasting heritage of "kings and priests" (1Pet. 2:4-10, etc.).
The Davidic Covenant is fulfilled IN FULL in Jesus of Nazareth. Those who are IN CHRIST are the true people of God and are sons and daughters of the Most High in Him. We certainly are God's "house" and we are "family".
GGM,
Nice!
"The "house" idea in the Davidic Covenant is typological and prophetic. Not only does David (in his son, Solomon) build God's house in an historical context, but the "Greater David" (who is also the Son of David) builds God's house in fulfillment as Jesus build His Church which is His Body and the dwelling place of God. And God builds Davids "house" in the "Greater David" by giving to Him (Christ) an everlasting heritage of "kings and priests" (1Pet. 2:4-10, etc.)."
I may have to borrow this as a comment from you. Reference the opening of the "Love One Another" Blog. I have stated that I am finished with writing the blog. However, I would like your suggestions in order to make the project a clearer representation of the core message of the Bible.
Certainly Christ is the centre-piece and culmination of the new covenant, and his people are with him in the covenant.
I just finished two new articles. One relates to this one slightly.
Russ:)
Hey Jason,
Visit this guy. lmouser and tell him I sent you. Ask if he wants to link up. He has added me to his blog. I added him to my blog and he does comment. However, he does not necessarily say he wants to link up.
GGM,
Here is a new link opportunity.
Her name is Jody of Jody Lynne.
Tell her I sent you. Her husband is a minister. So, she is serious.
Thanks,
Jim
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