Then They Will Know…(Part 2)
In the final book of the Bible, we see a vision of the new heaven and new earth that will come after Christ returns. The author reports a loud voice from the throne saying, “‘Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God’” (21:3). The story of the covenants culminates in this final scene. Once more, we see God physically dwelling with humanity. The scene recalls the Garden of Eden, where God walked with Adam and Eve.
After the fall, Adam and Eve were exiled from the garden and God’s presence. However, God gave them hope with the promise of a Savior to come who would restore humanity and renew creation.
We see a partial fulfillment of God dwelling with humanity when His glory fills first the tabernacle and later the temple (Ex. 40:34; 2 Chr. 7:1). We see further fulfillment in the gospel of John when he says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us” (1:14). When Christ came, it would be the first time since the garden that God dwelt in person with humans.
As Jesus prepared His followers for His coming death, He told them, “‘It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you’” (John 16:7). After Christ ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us. In John’s gospel, Jesus says, “‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth…you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you’” (14:16-17). God would send His Holy Spirit to dwell within us permanently.
This is the purpose that all the covenants worked towar. God would restore humanity’s relationship with Himself. We would know Him. He would be our God, and we would be His people. The prophet Jeremiah records God saying, “‘[T]his is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days…I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people’” (31:33). This happens when we receive the Holy Spirit. He is with us, guides us, teaches us, comforts us, and strengthens us. We are sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). A seal is a symbol of protection and possession. We belong to God. We are His.
One of my all-time favorite Bible verses is in the book of Isaiah and says, “Now this is what the LORD says — the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel — ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine’” (43:1). Isaiah recorded these words for the exiled Israelites, but I still find so much truth in them for those of us on this side of the cross. God has chosen and redeemed us and called us His own (Eph. 1:4-7). We are His.
We find the covenant formula — “I will be their God, and they will be my people” — from Genesis to Revelation. One of the books where I found many variations of this verse was in Ezekiel. Similar phrases that often accompany the covenant formula are these words: “‘I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD’” (Ezek. 16:62). God wants us to know Him. He wants to cleanse us from our sins, to give us a new heart and spirit, to place His Spirit within us, and to save us (Ezek. 36:25-27). He further tells us, “‘My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. When my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel’” (37:27-28).
God has done all the work in initiating a relationship with us. He opens the door for us, welcomes us in, and all that He asks of us is that we turn to Him, ask for and receive His forgiveness, and align ourselves with Him. God makes everything possible, but it is up to us to choose Him in return. What choice will you make today?
Author’s Note:
Please realize that the resource list is a work in progress, and not all the sources listed are ones that I necessarily used or heavily considered in the development of this series. A variety of schools of thought may be represented. I am not intentionally promoting one theological system over another. I also recognize that there are multiple approaches to studying covenants, and I am not here to promote one over another. My goal is to present a basic understanding of the various covenants and how they progressively reveal God's overarching plan of salvation for humanity.
