Connect Exodus 29:43 with New Testament teachings on God's dwelling among believers. Promise of Meeting—Exodus 29:43 • “I will also meet with the Israelites there, and that place will be consecrated by My glory.” • The tabernacle was more than a structure; it was the assured location of divine encounter. • God Himself initiated this meeting, underscoring His desire for nearness with His people. Glory That Consecrates • God’s glory is not abstract; it tangibly changes a place and a people. • In Exodus, His glory set apart the altar, priests, and nation for holy service. • Holiness flows from His presence, never merely from human effort. Jesus, the True Tabernacle • John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…” • Matthew 1:23: “They shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” • Jesus housed the fullness of God’s glory in human flesh (Colossians 2:9). • On the Mount of Transfiguration His divine glory briefly shone through (Matthew 17:1-5). • Where the tabernacle once localized God’s presence, Jesus universalizes it, walking among the people He came to redeem. The Indwelling Spirit in Every Believer • John 14:17: “…you know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.” • 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” • Romans 8:11: “He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” • God’s presence is no longer limited by geography; He moves in permanently, consecrating the believer as living sanctuary. Built Together as God’s House • Ephesians 2:21-22: “In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.” • 1 Peter 2:5: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…” • Each believer is a temple; together we form a greater corporate temple where God’s glory resides and is displayed to the world. Walking in the Reality of His Presence • Confidence—Hebrews 4:16 affirms free access to the throne because God has chosen to dwell with us. • Purity—2 Corinthians 6:16-18 urges separation from sin, since we carry His holy presence. • Worship—Hebrews 13:15 describes continual sacrifice of praise, the fitting response of consecrated people. • Mission—Matthew 28:20 closes with the promise, “I am with you always,” empowering gospel proclamation. The journey from Exodus 29:43 to the New Testament reveals a single, unfolding story: the God who met Israel at the altar now abides in every believer through Christ and the Spirit, making our lives the ongoing meeting place of His transforming glory. |
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