Building up believers and the New Testament church

The New Covenant

Life

The importance of what happened on the Day of Pentecost cannot be overemphasized. God had been moving toward this day from the beginning of time. For the first time in the history of mankind, man could now partake of life. Ever since Adam turned away from God and chose to move separately from God in his own ability, the way to the tree of life was closed (Genesis 3:24). But because of the work Christ did as Redeemer, paying the price of sin for the whole Adamic race, the way to life was open. No man had ever partaken of the life of God before Pentecost. This was a completely new working, never before experienced.

There may be a question in our minds about what the Old Testament saints experienced. We are told that they pleased God by faith, but that they did not receive the Promise (Hebrews 11:39). The distinction here is very important to us. God communicated His Word to them in many ways (Hebrews 1:1), and those that heard and obeyed the Lord pleased Him. They served God in their generation, and God was glorified. The Holy Spirit came upon men at different times, moving on and through them to accomplish His purposes. But as good as all this was, they still had to stand outside the veil behind which God dwelt. The door to unhindered fellowship was not open, because the price of sin had not been paid and the Holy Spirit was not yet given (John 7:39). If one man could have partaken of the life of God on his own merit, then the possibility was there for any man, and the sacrifice of Christ would not have been necessary.

Although we may know these truths, we must let the reality and implications of them grip our hearts and expand our revelation. Men before Calvary did not partake of God's life. The whole working of God now is based on the fact that Jesus is now glorified, the way is open, and the Holy Spirit is given!