Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The Shekinah Glory or the manifestation of Christ within us.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The glory refers to the Shekinah Glory or the manifestation of TLJC.
“Shekinah” - Shakan = to dwell; Jesus Christ indwelt certain sacred buildings in Israel.
It was used to express the “invisible presence” of God with Israel.
“Shekinah” - Shakan = dwell; Jesus Christ indwelt certain sacred buildings in Israel.
Glory - Kabodh = the visible manifestations of Jesus Christ as a theophany.
Shekinah itself represents the invisibility of Christ, the God of Israel, actually indwelling three sacred buildings during the age of Israel.
He indwelt the Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, and Zerubbabel’s Temple.
Glory represents the visible manifestation in Theophanic form.
A theophany is a manifestation of the person and work of Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate state. This is a theological category for the appearances of Jesus Christ before the First Advent.
1. As the Angel of the Lord, the primary Theophany.
2. As a man, Gen 18.
3. In relationship to clouds.
4. Pillar of fire.
Theophanies = TLJC appeared throughout the Old Testament in visible forms such as the angel of Jehovah or the angel of the Lord.
If you cannot see the Shekinah Glory or the manifestation of TLJC in fallen man, you will never be able to see God at all.
Not only did our Lord appear as an angel, and usually always for the purpose of teaching and communicating doctrine, but sometimes He appeared as a man.
He wrestled with Jacob and permanently injured Jacob, GEN 32:24.
The Lord also appeared to Abraham in his tent as a man, accompanied by two other men and He announced that Sarah, who was past the menopause, was going to become pregnant, Gen 18.
There are also inanimate theophanies of our Lord such as the cloud over the tent or the tabernacle, which was the visible sign that Jesus Christ was dwelling inside of the holy of holies as the Shekinah glory, or the burning bush, or the pillar of fire at night.
Once in history during the dispensation of Israel, TLJC actually dwelt inside of sacred buildings.
Dwelt - skenoo - Hebrew shachan - Shekinah = to dwell or tabernacle within us.
The Church-age believers would live in the same power system with the same divine assets as the humanity of Christ.
“Come to know” - fut-mid-ind - ginosko = “You shall come to know”
In His humanity, TLJC is seated at the right hand of the Father, but His deity is omnipresent.
To be aware of the fact that you are indwelt by the Shekinah Glory or the manifestation of TLJC should make some dynamic changes in your life.
TLJC in His hypostatic union, undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever.
His deity was invisible to the crowd who heard this prophecy, but His humanity was very visible.
ROM 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory
In the Old Testament, they saw the visible manifestation of TLJC on the outside in the realm of such things like the tabernacle; however, invisible to the outside was TLJC who dwelt in the holy of holies.
They could see the cloud, that was visible to all.
They could see the walls of the tent and later on the temple.
The people who heard this magnificent prophecy could see the man, the humanity of Christ, but they could not see the glory, His deity.
Jesus Christ as God dwelt with His people Israel in a unique way, invisible; they did not see Him. However, they saw the sign of His presence.
In the Old Testament, they saw a theophany, and an inanimate theophany, the cloud said He was there, the pillar of fire said He was there.
Today, people cannot see the humanity of Christ in you, but they can see the glory of God being revealed through you.
Such glory like confidence, courage, strength, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; etc.
Today TLJC is at the right hand of the Father where we can’t see Him until we go to heaven, but in the meantime He also indwells our bodies, invisibly.
Just like the Jews could not see the Shekinah glory in the Old Testament but could see a manifestation of His presence, so we can reveal the Shekinah glory or the indwelling of Christ to the world and to each other through our body, the temple of the living God.
COL 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the confidence of the glory.
Reciprocal union = we are in Him, He’s in us, the ultimate oneness.
Not by the Shekinah glory in the temple built with hands of men, but in lives redeemed and freed and cleansed as they walk about in this dark world with Christ living in them. Today, people cannot see the Shekinah glory in you but they can see the glory of God being revealed through you