And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; ~Matthew 27:51
The short time that Jesus spent on this earth changed absolutely everything. His life was the culmination of God's redemptive plan that had been put into motion the moment Adam bit into the fruit. That act of Adam's disobedience to God caused a vast separation between God and His most treasured creation, us. This was a separation that could only be overcome by God himself becoming the atoning sacrifice. This was His plan and His purpose from the beginning.
Philip Schaff writes in the History of the Christian Church:
Secular history, far from controlling sacred history, is controlled by it, must directly or indirectly subserve its ends, and can only be understood in the central light of Christian truth and the plan of salvation.
All of human history, both before and after Jesus, prepares for and points to His life and His work of redemption for all of humanity. History (as well as science, psychology, astronomy, etc.) can only begin to be properly and correctly understood when viewed through the lens of the truth of Christ's life and God's plan.
When Adam sinned, we were separated from God. Humanity was forced to live apart from His continual and personal presence (Romans 5:12). Before Christ appeared on earth as man, God chose to reveal Himself to humanity and to make Himself known to the world through a single people, the Israelites. Though the Israelites knew God they were still separated from His continual and personal presence. Only priests from the tribe of Levi were allowed to go through the veil and enter into the inner sanctuary of the temple, and then only one priest and only once per year.
The veil was a symbolic representation of the required separation from God due to our sin. When Christ died on the cross He paid the price for that sin and the veil was torn. That which separated us from the very presence of God was forever removed (2 Corinthians 3:16). When Christ ascended to heaven He defeated death forever and built a bridge across the mighty chasm that spanned between God and humanity. When He sent His Spirit to indwell and live with us forever, He gave us power over our sin and made us one body. Everyday He molds and changes us us to conform to His very image, bringing us closer to Himself.
We are no longer a people separated from God and unable to enter into His temple. Due to what Jesus accomplished, we have become the very temple itself and the Spirit of the living God lives in every person who accepts this free gift of ultimate love and sacrifice (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are free from the bondage and ultimate penalty of sin. The bridge to our Father and eternal life is built and it is open to all who would choose it. That which separated us from our Creator is forever gone. The veil is torn!
He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. ~John 19:30
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