God’s Tabernacle, Lev. 26:11f; Jn. 1:14; Rev. 21:1-8

God always desired fellowship with mankind, to dwell with them.  Always!

n  Gen 1:26-28: Man created in God’s image; God spoke directly with man.

n  Gen 3:8: Man sinned and hid when God came looking for him.

n  Exo 19:12-13: Man’s relationship with God required life-and-death boundaries of separation.

n  Lev 26:11-12: Nevertheless God planned for fellowship through the tabernacle.

n  1 Kings 8:27: Even though everyone knew no building could contain God.

n  Exodus 40:3: The tabernacle/temple required a strong boundary of separation, the veil.

n  Ezekiel 37:26-28: God promised an eternal sanctuary for fellowship.

n  Isaiah 57:15: God, who dwelt in heaven, promised to dwell with the humble.

n  Psalm 120-134: The Pilgrim Psalms showed Old Testament believers seeking fellowship with God.

n  John 1:14: Christ “tabernacled” among us, was “Immanuel, God with us.”

n  Matt 27:51: At Jesus’ death the veil was split.

n  John 14:23: For those who love God the Trinity will make their home in them.

n  2 Cor 6:16: In Christ men themselves became “the temple of God”.

n  Eph 2:18,22: God made His home in the Church, giving all believers access by the Spirit.

n  1 Peter 1:8: Believers rejoice in their relationship with God, but yearn for more, to see Him.

n  Job 19:25-27: For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

All this brings us to the New Jerusalem, the Paradise of God, the City of God, WHERE GOD DWELLS WITH MEN FOREVER!

n  -4Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Jesus death, burial and resurrection has made it possible for us to enjoy a relationship with God, now and forever.  Our sins separated us from God (Isa. 59:2).  But Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24).  We can be justified before God through faith in Jesus (Romans 4:5).  That is why Jesus came to earth as a baby born of a virgin, that we might know our God!