First the Natural then the Spiritual

One of the most fascinating things about God is the mystery that surrounds him. And one of the great mysteries about God (at least its a mystery to me) is the way he tells stories. God is an amazing story teller. The Cosmic Story that he has been narrating since the beginning of time is filled with such intricate details and precision timing, that we could study for a lifetime all the meanings and still be at the edge of understanding. It blows the mind.

Many times when studying to compare and contrast the old and new covenants, we find that God will explain something of spiritual significance in the new covenant by first using something natural/physical in the old. Paul offers startling insight and revelation into Gods plans when he writes in 1 Corinthians 15:46 - The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. John 1:17 also reveals much about the nature of the two covenants. In other words, the old covenant and all its practices were serving as a foretaste or a blueprint for what was to come in the new. As outlined in scripture, each of the two covenants are made up of contrasting natures; Flesh and Spirit, Below and Above, Earthly and Heavenly, Works and Faith. In due time, the old covenant (the natural) would end, and the new covenant (the spiritual) would begin and last forever.

In my next few entries I would like to outline, compare and contrast the natural elements of the old covenant and where they found their spiritual fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the new covenant. My hope is that by more fully realizing the spiritual nature of the new covenant, we will begin to understand the work that God completely finished in establishing the eternal new covenant through Jesus Christ, and the present & continual work that God has for us now.