Several incredible technological, environmental, and societal advancements are being touted as great things that are happening now in the world. On the other hand, Christians are often portrayed, or even made fun of, as drearily waiting for some kind of “pie-in-the sky” reward in the future. As Jesus candidly admitted, “in the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33 LSB). However, the Bible also itself tells us another side of the story. The New Testament tells us about the many “good things that are now already here” for Christians! How is this so, and what are some of these “good things that are now already here”? Are these “good things” possibly even better than what the world in general has to offer?

GOD OPERATES THROUGH COVENANTS

“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:15-16 NIV) The Israel of God is refers  to spiritual Israel, Christians. Christians, not fleshly Israel, are in the New Covenant.

“Christ came as a high priest of the good things that are now already here. . . he is the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 9:11,15 NIV). While some translations render the phrase as, “the good things to come”, “the good things that are now already come”, is a little more accurate. “The ‘good things’ refer to the blessings and promises of the new covenant, which include eternal redemption, a cleansed conscience, and direct access to God. These are contrasted with the temporary and imperfect benefits of the old covenant. The new covenant’s blessings are realized through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, fulfilling the promises of a new heart and spirit as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34” (Bible Hub Study Bible). Under the New Covenant that Christians are now in, Christ serves as high priest and mediator, and administers “good things that are now already here”, channeling them, as the high priest, from God to Christians. 

“Now these may be interpreted allegorically . . . the present Jerusalem . . . is in slavery . . . But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother” (Galatians 4:24-26 ESV). The Jerusalem for Christians is not the earthly Jerusalem, but “the Jerusalem above”. This point is further emphasized by the following:

“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem . . . and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God . . . and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV). The Jerusalem that matters to Christians is called “the heavenly Jerusalem”. But it is the same as “the Jerusalem above”. Both terms are to be “taken figuratively” (Galatians 4:24 NIV), not literally. “Instead, you have come to Mount Zion. This phrase emphasizes the transition from the old covenant of law to the new covenant of grace through Jesus Christ.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). The Jewish Christians that Hebrews was written to, back in the first century, had transitioned from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Christians in the New Covenant ‘have come (present tense) to Mount Zion, heavenly Jerusalem’..

What are some of the “good things” that Christ administers to Christians?

GOOD THINGS NOW HERE

Well, for starters, “we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God,” who can “empathize with our weaknesses . . . so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV). We have spiritual comfort now, and forgiveness of our sins, through our ‘great high priest, Jesus the Son of God’.

“Jesus Christ . . . has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us to be a kingdom, priests for his God and Father” (Revelation 1:5-6 NAB). We have been spiritually ‘freed from our sins, and “the Father . . . rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:12-13 LSB). Combining the scriptures here, we see that the Father operating through his Son, Jesus, transferred Christians from darkness into the spiritual kingdom.

“God . . . even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ . . . and raised us up with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6 LSB). Christians are spiritually resurrected now, no longer spiritually dead, but to God they are alive spiritually. 

“We know we have passed over from death to life, because we love the brothers” (1 John 3:14 LSB). Christians have spiritual life now, which will result in eternal life for those who ‘endure to the end  (Matthew 10:22;24:13).. 

“He who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47 LSB). “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him” (John 3:34 LSB). Christians have eternal life right now, present tense, in the sense that, as long as they continue in obedience, because, as Jesus said, “whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25 NAB), “and I will raise them up on the last day” (John 6:44 NIV). Even though a genuine Christian may physically die, they will be resurrected “on the last day”.

Now “we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and living way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him”(Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT). Wow, think about that! . . .  We Christians, through Jesus Christ, our mediator and high priest, can go right into the presence of God himself, the most important and powerful person in existence, via prayer!

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1,2 NIV). We have guaranteed “access by faith” to Almighty God himself “through our Lord Jesus Christ”! “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (Romans 5:11 NLT). What a wonderful and privileged relationship!

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away’” (Revelation 21:1-4 ESV). “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man: This statement fulfills the prophetic vision of God dwelling among His people, as seen in the Old Testament, particularly in Leviticus 26:11-12 and Ezekiel 37:27. The term “dwelling place” (Greek: “skēnē”) is reminiscent of the tabernacle, where God’s presence was with Israel during their wilderness journey. This signifies a return to the intimate relationship between God and humanity, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden before the fall.” (Bible Hub Study Bible). The fulfillment of Revelation 21:1-4 is definitely in a non-literal spiritual sense now, that is, for Christians who are in the New Covenant, but in the future, after all things are fulfilled, it will also be fulfilled to in a literal, physical way.

“The Spirit of Yahweh is upon Me, because he has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of Yahweh . . . Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21 LSB margin). All this is fulfilled in a spiritual sense for Christians now– ‘release from spiritual bondage and oppression’, the gaining of ‘spiritual sight’, spiritual freedom, etc.

CONCLUSION 

While the richest blessings for Christians are definitely to come in the future, there are many “good things that are now already here” for Christians. And if one really cherishes these “good thing” and “meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2 LSB), he/she will have very good reason to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4 LSB). 

For more information related to this subject, please see:

https://bibleauthenticity.com/new-covenant-goo…w-already-access