GOD’S PRESENCE RE-ESTABLISHED
In the New Testament, God re-established his presence, through the coming of the long promised New Covenant. “The presence of God in the Old Testament was a preparation for a greater manifestation of God’s presence, one that would finally consummate the goals initiated at creation and continued throughout his redemptive plan.”[1] God had been preparing for this un-dramatic entrance into the story. It is essential to understand the significance of God’s presence in the New Testament, for three movements occur: Jesus, Holy Spirit, and the New Heavens. These three movements, two of which have already happened, look towards the final movement, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s grand design throughout the Bible. This final end will happen after the last judgment and we will enjoy it for eternity.
In Jesus
In the New Testament, God becomes Immanuel, “God with Us” (Matt 1:23 ESV). God came, as a little baby, to live as an Israelite with his people. He came to a young virgin as a baby, conceived by the Holy Spirit, (Matt 1:20) and grew inside her womb. “The redemptive presence of God, once mediated by fire, cloud, and smoke, now stands face-to-face with his people in its clearest expression in the person of Jesus Christ. For it is in Christ that the presence of God is most fully manifest in history of redemption.”[2] This young peasant woman had God, growing inside of her. God was now present, in Israel, among his people. In such an intimate way, Jesus was born, and grew. God lived with his people. God was present. The young peasant woman did what Moses was unable to do: look in the eyes of the Creator of the universe. While redemption had not yet been accomplished, Jesus’ presence on earth was a massive movement forward in the fulfillment.[3]
However, a problem still remained: mankind was still sinful. All the sacrifices and rituals had still not saved mankind. They were still entrenched in sin. Eden had still not been restored. Jesus came to make the decisive difference. He came to be with his people, and he came to die for his people. In the place of the sheep that were slaughtered, Jesus came to be slaughtered. He came to take the sin of the world upon himself. “Through Christ and Christ alone, God will save humanity from the curse of the fall, thereby reconciling his people to Yahweh and restoring them to God’s eschatological presence.”[4]Jesus’ coming heralded the fact that God’s promise was being worked out. God’s presence had arrived and was in the process of being restored. However, his method was unexpected. Due to the fall, someone must absorb the penalty from God. Mankind, cursed for generations and unable to undo the curse or live righteously, was entirely unable to absorb the entirety of God’s presence. Therefore, “in order to bring people back to the divine presence lost in the fall, Jesus Christ, God manifest in the world, comes to suffer the curse for that fall on our behalf.”[5]In Jesus, God took the punishment for mankind. Jesus was punished, absorbing the entirety of the wrath of God in our place. Jesus died, was buried, and then rose from the dead. He later ascended to heaven.
[1] Lister, The Presence of God, 251.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid, 252.
[4] Lister, Presence of God, 257.
[5] Ibid, 258.
[6] Lister, Presence of God, 298.
[7] Ibid, 299.
[8] Ibid, 65
[9] Ibid, 66.
[10] C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle (New York: Collier Books, 1986), 173.
[11] Lister, The Presence of God, 64.
[12] Ibid, 65.
YAWPC 