Christ Built A Spiritual Temple And Kingdom

The New Covenant that Jesus Christ came to establish is a spiritual covenant. It is not like the physical or fleshly covenant given to the Israelites in the Old Testament period of time.

Being a true Jew, according to the New Covenant, is not based on the flesh and whether or not someone can trace their lineage back to Abraham. According to Paul, the true Jew is a Christian. “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:28-29) By the “letter” in means the Old Testament law.

Some Christians in the first century were trying to make Christianity just another Jewish sect. Paul argues against making it such. “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3) Paul argues again that Christians were the true Jews and their worship is in spirit (John 4:23-24), not the fleshly commandments of the law like the Sabbath, new moons, or yearly feasts. Some things the physical Jews put confidence in were being an Israelite, their particular tribe, and what sect of the Jews they were. In becoming a Christian, Paul gave up all of this. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…” (Philippians 3:7-8)

Paul gave an illustration of the difference in the two covenants and how the literal Jews of Moses’ covenant persecuted Christians under Christ’s covenant. (Galatians 4:21-31) The Old Covenant of Moses is illustrated by Hagar’s son, Ishmael, and also by Mount Sinai where that covenant was received. The New Covenant is illustrated by Sarah’s son Isaac, the child of promise, and also by Jerusalem that is above. This is not physical Jerusalem, but the heavenly, spiritual, Jerusalem. “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” (Galatians 4:26) Sarah is the spiritual mother of all Christians just as Abraham is the spiritual father of all Christians. (cf. Galatians 3:6-9, 29)

Those Jews in the first century who clung to the Old Covenant were cast out along with the law and would not be heirs with Sarah’s spiritually free children of promise. “Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” (Galatians 4:30) Paul concludes about those who were Christians, “So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.” (Galatians 4:31) “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7) Note that these children of Abraham were baptized into Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)

If religious people understood the spiritual nature of Christ’s covenant, it would rid the religious world of much confusion and false teaching regarding a future kingdom. Christ’s kingdom is spiritual in nature and is His church, which is also His spiritual temple. (Zechariah 6:12-13) To be continued.