After thinking about the acts of God from the creation of Adam to the coming down of the new Jerusalem, it appears to us that the Scriptures are not as much a record of man seeking God as they are a record of God, out of His own desire and wisdom, building a temple and setting up a kingdom.

As we meditate on the lives of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, we can see that the burden of the action was on God. The men were not perfect, as we usually think of perfection, and made many mistakes. But God revealed Himself through them for His own glory. In keeping with this observation we must realize the Temple of God is God-centered rather than man-centered.

The concept of Christ dwelling in the members of His Church is one of the major ideas of the New Testament writings. The forming of Christ in His Body has been the plan of God from the beginning. But it was not until after Jesus' death and resurrection, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, that the mysterious purpose of God became understandable to people.

Most Christians know of the hope of the Jewish people that Christ will come and deliver them from their troubles, and restore the glory of the kingdoms of David and Solomon.

What the Christian Church needs to understand is that Christ, the Anointed Deliverer from God who will glorify Israel and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth, consists not only of the all-powerful Head, Christ, but also of a righteous, holy, sternly obedient body that now is being formed from each member of the Christian Church who will follow Christ in faithful discipleship.

We say a righteous, holy, sternly obedient body, not because of any spirit of exaltation but because the Body of Christ is part of and being fashioned from the Divine Substance of the Head, Christ. It is not that we are anything at all but that He is working in us (Hebrews 2:11).

The mystery of the Gospel is that Christ is in us. He will appear to the world as the visible Christ of the Divine throne of Glory. Every eye will see Him.

While the members of the Church certainly will behold Him on the throne of glory, the relationship of Christ to His Church is of a much different nature than is true of His relationship to the world. Christ is being created in us. As He is being created in us, the Father and the Son can come through the Holy Spirit and dwell in us forever.

We are not in darkness as the world is but even now are experiencing victory as the Lord Jesus Christ brings every enemy in us under His feet. The light of the Day of the Lord is rising in us so we are not in darkness but are aware of the Presence and purposes of God in Christ.

We are not confusing our personal reign with Christ and personal day of the Lord, now being experienced by the victorious saint, with the historical Kingdom Age and historical Day of the Lord that yet are ahead of us.

To be continued.