A Three-Dimensional Church?
Every believer and every church, from Pentecost to now, is somewhere on this 3D image, moving forward or backwards as the Holy Spirit works in us.
Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles
These were the three feasts all male Jews were commanded to attend in Jerusalem (Deut 16v16). They were shadows of the reality now fulfilled in Christ and therefore in the church, the body of Christ.
A Passover church recognises that Jesus is the fulfilment of Passover. He is the Passover Lamb; all previous lambs were a shadow of the reality, which is Christ. An individual believer or a church that has grasped this revelation knows that they are forgiven and made righteous by faith.
A Pentecost church knows the above, but also that Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit and experiencing the power of the Spirit as He distributes gifts among them. This church knows what it is to be led by the Spirit.
A Tabernacles church rejoices in Passover and Pentecost but also knows that as ‘the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us and we beheld His glory’ John 1v14, so the church when it gathers together, the glory of Christ is revealed. When Jews celebrate Tabernacles, they gather in temporary booths, with loose branches acting as a roof but with holes, open to heaven; the presence of God inhabits the church.
The Three baptisms
God the Father baptises us into Christ Himself (Rom 6v3), Jesus baptises us with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1v5), and the Holy Spirit baptises us into the body (1Cor12v13). Note: none of these passages mentions water! Water baptism is a picture of all three of these, and, just as many experience a struggle over submitting to water baptism, there can be a struggle with these three baptisms. Each one is a step of faith away from any notion of attempting to live independently from God or one another.
Little Children, Young Man, Father
When we are born again, we are ‘babies’ in Christ (1Cor3v1). But the NT urges us to grow up (Heb 5v12-14; 6v1). John teaches us that our growth to spiritual maturity matches physical and emotional growth – from little children to young men, and from young men to fathers (1John 1v12-14).
The key to growth? It never changes…hunger. Without a longing for milk, babies don’t grow. Without a love of solid food, young men cannot become strong. And fathers know how to maintain a good diet to remain strong, AND to provide for others.