RQs: God's Goal, Christ as All in All by Manfred Haller
Chapter 1: New Testament Reality
The apostles did not arrive at their knowledge of God through human reasonings and study. (That is the way it is approached on every level today.) Rather, revelation broke over their lives. It so confounded and took hold of them that they were forced to decide between obeying the "heavenly vision" or sinking into inanity.
When we have comprehended spiritual truths purely by means of intellect, they are only a knowledge of reality. They are only concepts until they take hold of us, have power over us. Only then have we encounted them as reality.
Spiritual realities are not opinions which we form on various things and then identify ourselves with.
Of course, we can see a shimmer of the new covenant here and there, especially in John's gospel, which recounts the life and ministry of Jesus from a revelatory standpoint. It would be wrong, however, if in attempting to prove something concerning the church -- the new creation -- we argue from the gospels, because here the new was not yet a reality (except for the person of Jesus Christ).
The apostles did not arrive at their knowledge of God through human reasonings and study. (That is the way it is approached on every level today.) Rather, revelation broke over their lives. It so confounded and took hold of them that they were forced to decide between obeying the "heavenly vision" or sinking into inanity.
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When we have comprehended spiritual truths purely by means of intellect, they are only a knowledge of reality. They are only concepts until they take hold of us, have power over us. Only then have we encounted them as reality.
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Spiritual realities are not opinions which we form on various things and then identify ourselves with.
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Of course, we can see a shimmer of the new covenant here and there, especially in John's gospel, which recounts the life and ministry of Jesus from a revelatory standpoint. It would be wrong, however, if in attempting to prove something concerning the church -- the new creation -- we argue from the gospels, because here the new was not yet a reality (except for the person of Jesus Christ).
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Man himself was to become God's dwelling, His holy place. But not the individual in himself. The community, a new humanity, a new man in Christ (Ephesians 2:15).
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Pentecost is not first and foremost that which took place visibly. Pentecost is the breathtaking fact that in Christ the living God Himself came to reside in men through His Spirit. Pentecost is the indwelling of God, the Shekhina glory of God, in man -- the birth of a new creation, a new humanity, the unveiling of a new reality. What reality? Namely, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).
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God, the creator of the universe, to whom all things are possible, He to whom even the elements are subject, whom no one can see nor articulate, searches out a pitiable human being to live in! He comes not only for a visit. No -- He dwells in us. Christ in us, the hope of glory!
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She, the ecclesia, is the embodiment of Christ, the second man. She is His body. Each individual member is, therefore, in Christ. Christ is not only the head of the church in heaven; He is also the content of the church. He is her substance. If you will, He is her identity.
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This inner reality -- Christ in us -- and the outward reality -- we in Christ -- are the substance of the New Testament.
posted by GBT at
Saturday, September 10, 2005
