Transitioning from Shadows to the Reality of Christ

Today’s gathering focused on understanding the pivotal role of the apostles in God’s eternal plan, particularly as they navigated the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. This period, spanning roughly 40 years between the cross (Passover) and the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, was marked by significant overlap: the old rituals, temple sacrifices, and Levitical priesthood were still physically present, even as the new reality in Christ was being established. The apostles were entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the early church through this overlap, ensuring that believers did not remain entangled in the shadows of the old but embraced the substance found in Christ.

The writings of the apostles—what we now call the New Testament—were not arbitrary; they were crafted in the context of this transition. Their exhortations, warnings, and encouragements were deeply relevant to their generation, who were wrestling with issues of identity, syncretism, and the temptation to revert to old patterns. The apostles continually redirected faith from rituals and physical temples to the person of Christ and the indwelling of God’s Spirit. They revealed that the true temple is not a building but the people of God, and that Christ is the fulfillment of all the law and the prophets.

A key aspect of their ministry was warning of the impending judgment—the end of the old covenant age, not the end of the world. Jesus himself prophesied that within that generation, the temple would be destroyed, and the old would vanish away. The apostles prepared the church for this crisis, urging perseverance, maturity, and unity in the faith. Their struggles and teachings help us today to read Scripture with context, avoiding the confusion of mixing shadows with reality, and to rejoice in the finished work of Christ.

Now, we do not live in a time of transition. The foundation has been laid, the kingdom has come, and we are called to live in the fullness of the new covenant reality. The apostles’ work is complete; our task is to understand, celebrate, and walk in what Christ has accomplished, knowing that heaven is in our hearts and God dwells within us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Understanding the Transition: The apostles’ ministry was a bridge between the old and new covenants, guiding believers from the rituals and shadows of the law to the reality found in Christ. This transition was necessary because the old and new could not coexist; the apostles’ writings reflect the urgency and complexity of this overlap, helping the early church move from confusion to clarity. [15:24]
• 2. Identity and Audience Relevance: Early Jewish believers struggled with their identity, torn between the law of Moses and faith in Christ. The apostles addressed this by emphasizing that righteousness and belonging are found in Christ alone, not in heritage or ritual, teaching us to read Scripture with an awareness of its original audience and context. [19:13]
• 3. The True Temple and God’s Dwelling: The apostles revealed that God no longer dwells in temples made by hands but in His people. This profound shift calls us to recognize ourselves as the living temple, carrying God’s presence wherever we go, and to move beyond associating God’s nearness with physical spaces or religious activities. [40:18]
• 4. The End of the Old Covenant Age: The warnings of impending judgment in the New Testament were specific to the apostles’ generation, culminating in the destruction of the temple around AD 70. Understanding this historical context frees us from living in perpetual expectation of an “end” and anchors us in the reality that the kingdom has already come in Christ. [50:52]
• 5. Living in the Finished Work: The apostles’ struggles and teachings urge us not to mix the shadows of ritualism or legalism with the reality of Christ’s completed work. We are called to maturity, perseverance, and unity, rejoicing that we now dwell in the fullness of God’s presence, liberated from the burdens of the old and empowered to live as citizens of the kingdom. [78:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:35] - The Importance of Understanding the Basics
• [02:23] - God’s Timetable for Redemption
• [04:50] - Introducing the Shift from Old to New
• [05:40] - The Apostles’ Transition Work
• [10:23] - The Feasts: Passover to Tabernacles
• [11:40] - Hebrews 8: The Old Becoming Obsolete
• [15:24] - Why Transition Was Necessary
• [19:13] - Wrestling with Identity
• [25:51] - The Risk of Confusion and Syncretism
• [30:09] - Focusing on the Finished Work
• [36:33] - Christ as Fulfillment of the Law
• [40:18] - The True Temple Revealed
• [45:37] - Warnings of Impending Judgment
• [50:52] - The End of the Old Covenant Age
• [62:43] - Encouragement to Persevere and Mature
• [69:06] - Examples of Apostolic Transition
• [74:39] - Living in the Fullness of the New Covenant
• [78:23] - Avoiding Mixture: Shadows vs. Reality
• [82:39] - The Kingdom Has Come
• [84:20] - Heaven is in Our Hearts
• [85:06] - Conclusion and Blessing

Bible Reading

Hebrews 8:13 (ESV) — > In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

2. Acts 21:20-24 (ESV)
> And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.”

3. Matthew 24:1-2, 34 (ESV)
> Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” ... “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Hebrews 8:13, what does the writer say about the old covenant and its status at the time of writing? How does the phrase “ready to vanish away” help us understand the historical context? [[12:05]]
2. In Acts 21:20-24, what struggle did the early Jewish believers face regarding their identity and practices? How did the apostles respond to this tension? [[19:13]]
3. In Matthew 24:1-2, 34, what specific event does Jesus predict, and to whom does he say it will happen within their generation? [[49:29]]
4. According to the sermon, what was the main responsibility of the apostles during the 40-year transition period between the cross and the destruction of the temple? [[15:24]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why was it important for the apostles to guide believers away from the “shadows” of the old covenant and toward the “substance” found in Christ? What dangers did the early church face if this transition was not made? [[15:24]]
2. How does understanding the original audience and context of the apostles’ writings help us avoid confusion or misapplication of Scripture today? [[25:26]]
3. The sermon says the apostles warned of an “impending judgment” that was not the end of the world, but the end of the old covenant age. How does this distinction affect the way we read New Testament warnings and prophecies? [[50:52]]
4. What does it mean that God’s true temple is now his people, not a building? How might this change the way we think about God’s presence in our daily lives? [[40:18]]

Application Questions

1. The early believers struggled with mixing old rituals and new faith in Christ. Are there any “old patterns” or traditions in your own life that you find hard to let go of, even though you know Christ has fulfilled them? How can you move from “shadows” to “substance” in your walk with God? [[18:48]]
2. The apostles continually redirected faith from rituals and physical spaces to the person of Christ and the indwelling Spirit. Do you ever find yourself associating God’s presence more with certain places, events, or activities than with his presence in you? How can you remind yourself that you are God’s temple? [[40:18]]
3. The sermon emphasized reading Scripture with an awareness of its original audience and context. Have you ever misunderstood a Bible passage because you didn’t consider who it was written to or why? How can you develop a habit of reading the Bible “in context”? [[25:26]]
4. The apostles urged perseverance, maturity, and unity in the faith during a time of crisis and transition. What does perseverance look like for you right now? Is there an area where you need to “hold fast” or grow in maturity? [[01:03:32]]
5. The sermon said, “The foundation has been laid, the kingdom has come, and we are called to live in the fullness of the new covenant reality.” What does it mean for you personally to live in the “fullness” of what Christ has accomplished? Are there areas where you still live as if you are waiting for something more? [[01:14:39]]
6. The apostles’ struggles help us avoid mixing “shadows with reality.” Are there ways you see legalism or ritualism creeping into your faith or church experience? How can you help yourself and others focus on the finished work of Christ? [[01:18:23]]
7. The sermon concluded with the idea that “heaven is in our hearts” and God dwells within us. How does this truth affect your sense of purpose, confidence, or daily living? Is there a practical way you can remind yourself of this reality this week? [[01:24:20]]