DECEPTION (part 3)

God has always desired a dwelling place on this planet where He could have fellowship with man. Before the fall it was in the Garden of Eden, where he had communion with Adam in the cool of the day. Then we see it was with Moses and His people in the “Tabernacle” in the wilderness. Then in the “Temple” that Solomon built in Jerusalem, although a temple built with hands was not His choice, He did dwell in the “Ark of the Covenant” in the Holy of Holies. Then we see His supreme effort to dwell with man by allowing His Son to be incarnated in human flesh here on planet earth, so that He could become “Immanuel”, or “God with us”. Jesus was His “Temple or Sanctuary” on earth for some 33 years. It was not until the age of 30, when He was baptized in the Jordon river by His cousin John, that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice was heard from heaven saying “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:10-11). From this time until He “gave up the Ghost” on the cross of Calvary, He was the very image of the invisible God, in whom dwelt “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9). Jesus was the “pattern Son” that the church, which He said He would build (Matt 16:18), and which was to be His body on earth after He ascended back to heaven, were to pattern themselves after.

The apostle Paul gives the best description of the church in his letter to the Ephesians. In (Eph 2:19-22) we see the church called a “household of God”, “a Holy temple in the Lord”, and a “dwelling place of God in the Spirit”. This is clearly God’s intention, to have a dwelling place here on planet earth, where He can commune with His “new creation” of adopted children. The church is to be the “companion” for His Son, not only now in this “present age”, but also in the “age to come”. The church is to be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:19), and be the vessel here on earth for the “abode” for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to dwell in. (John 14:23). This is the same Greek word used by John in (John 14:2) which is translated there as “mansions”. This is a clear reference to our bodies which Paul calls the “temple of the living God” in (2 Cor 6:16), and not some “mansion over yonder” as we have been told that Jesus has gone to prepare for us. At the present time Jesus is seated next to Father God on His throne making “intercession” for us. I imagine the theme of His intercession is that we, His children, will be strengthened by the indwelling Spirit, and learn how to function as mature “sons of God” in this dark, ungodly age in which we are called to be “salt and light”! We trust these articles on deception have cleared up some things for you.

Sincerely submitted.

Gramp