The Day of New Beginnings
Out of the Shadows
Ephesians 1: 9-10.
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10* That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Another translation (NAS) reads, “…with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.”
Many point to various occurrences here in the natural realm as proof that we are living in the “end times”. But the real fulfillment of everything God has spoken is taking place within the realm of spirit. We are now living in that “dispensation of the fulness of times”. How do we do this? Because of what God is doing in the realm of spirit. The moving of God must be interpreted by what He is doing in the spirit realm, not the natural. The natural is but a shadow of the reality of the spirit realm. We do not want to interpret Biblical prophecy or try to figure out what God is doing by studying shadows.
What exactly is this “summing up of all things in Christ?” At the present time God is bringing His people out of the land of shadows and symbols, and manifesting to them the reality that is behind them. And what is discovered is that behind every symbol, every type, is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:1-14.
1 ¶ For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.
2* Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?
3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.
4* For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5* Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;
6* IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.
7* ¶ "THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'"
8 After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law),
9* then He said, "BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.
10* By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11* Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;
12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
13* waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.
14* For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Verse one of the text states that the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of things. It also states that it can never make the believer perfect. Verses two through four reiterate this premise. Verses 5-10 reveal Christ’s purpose in coming into the world. That purpose was to do away with the shadows and types, and manifest the real thing. Verse 9 states, “’BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.’” Verses 10 through 14 reveal just exactly what the will of the Father is: The perfection of the saints.
It must be understood that although the provision of perfection was established through the cross, it has never been fully manifested. Christianity as a whole has continued to live under the shadow of the law until the present time. Now, while it’s true that Christianity doesn’t emphasize following the law of Moses, and does indeed preach the grace of God in order to be saved, there is still a shadow cast upon it. This is because of the very realm it lives in. Christianity for the past 2,000 years has related to the Lord primarily on the plane of soul. The realm of soul is the realm of our emotions, our intellect, and our consciences. This is the realm that the law has jurisdiction over. Paul makes references to this in his epistles to the Galatians and Colossians. But God is spirit, and the spiritual realm is the reality of which all earthly types and shadows are based. In order to experience the full provision of Christ, we must live and abide in that realm where it is manifested.
Hebrews 8.
1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
2* a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
3* For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
4* Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;
5* who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."
6* ¶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
7* For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
8* For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
9* NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
10* "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
11* "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
12* "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."
13* When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
Verses one and two speak of how Christ has taken His seat at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the true tabernacle that God pitched, not man. Verse four states that if He were on earth He could not be a priest at all. This is because there is one ministry that embraces the earthly which is of the law, and another ministry of the Spirit, which is by grace. Verse five states that those who serve the law serve but a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. Verse six proclaims that Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry and become the mediator of a better covenant (grace). Remember that back in Hebrews 10:9 it says God takes away the first type of ministry in order to establish the second. We are beginning to see the fulfillment of that provision. The realities of the heavenly realm are opening to those who are breaking through to walk in the realm of spirit. God is taking away one level of ministering and relating to Him, and establishing the second. What will the final conclusion be? Let’s examine verses 8–13 closely.
Verses 8–9 speak of how God found fault with the first covenant (the law). He found fault because the law at the most can only regulate behavior, not reach the depths of the heart. In verse 10 God says that He will put His laws into our minds, and write them upon our hearts. In other words, the Lord will incorporate Himself into the very essence of His people. His nature is to be manifested in our lives. In verse 11 we find a fantastic promise: “And they shall not teach everyone His fellow citizen, and everyone his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.” Ministry as we have known it is fading. We are being brought into a realm where He reveals Himself to us by revelation. This only occurs in the realm of our spirits, not the soul realm. It is because we have lived primarily in the soul realm that we have been limited. We have had to have others teach us the ways of the Lord. This process is being eliminated. Verse 13 states, “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.