Spiritual versus Earthly

by Terry Wane Benton

Have you noticed that everything in Christ is spiritual or heavenly as opposed to earthly?

• The old system had an earthly place for Israel (land of Canaan), now we have "the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6).
• Moses was at an earthly mountain (Sinai) receiving the stone tablets, but we have come to a "mountain that cannot be touched," to heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:18,22).
• We have His law written in our hearts (II Corinthians 3).
• They had an earthly temple; we have a spiritual house or temple (Ephesians 2:19-22).
• They had animal and other earthly sacrifices. We have Christ and our following Him as "an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 5:2).
• They had the earthly altar, and we have a spiritual altar in Christ (Hebrews 13:10).
• They had the Levitical priesthood, which included singers and instrument players; we have a spiritual priesthood, and all are singers and players of the heartstrings (I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 5:18- 19).
• They had earthly incense; we have spiritual incense (Revelation 5:8).
• They had an earthly army to protect the country and citizens; we have a spiritual army, and the weapons are not carnal or earthly (Ephesians 6:10-18; II Corinthians 10:5).
• They had the earthly sabbath (seventh day of physical rest), and we have spiritual rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4; Colossians 2:13-16).
• Their priests had physical garments designed for symbolism; we wear the righteousness of Christ.

The early church truly shows us that the "time of reformation" from earthly to spiritual had arrived (Hebrews 9:10). We are under Christ's greater spiritual system. Christ is now the king over His spiritual kingdom.

They entered their nation through birth, but we enter Christ's spiritual kingdom through a spiritual rebirth (John 3:1-6). Have you entered His kingdom?

Are you enjoying all the spiritual blessings in Christ?