Marginal Christianity

Divinity Returns in the Messiah In the second temple period, we find the theme which I have come, in recent years, to regard as the major clue to all the early Christian accounts of God’s action in Jesus. Ezekiel tells of the divine glory, riding on the throne-chariot, abandoning the temple to its fate because of the persistent idolatry of people and priests alike. But in the final dream-like sequence of the book the temple is rebuilt, and in chapter 43, the divine glory returns at last. This is the point, as well, of the whole poem of Isaiah 40–55: The watchmen will see the divine glory returning to Zion, though when they look closely what they will see is the figure of the Servant. The point is this: In two of the major so-called post-exilic books, Zechariah and Malachi, the Temple has been rebuilt, but the promise of YHWH’s glorious return remains unfulfilled. The prophets insist that the Spirit will return, but that it hasn’t happened. YHWH will indeed return, ...

21  But now God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the Law, which is confirmed by the Law and the Prophets. 22  God’s righteousness comes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who have faith in him. There’s no distinction. 23  All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, 24  but all are treated as righteous freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. 25  Through his faithfulness, God displayed Jesus as the place of sacrifice where mercy is found by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness in passing over sins that happened before, 26  during the time of God’s patient tolerance. He also did this to demonstrate that he is righteous in the present time, and to treat the one who has faith in Jesus as righteous. 27  What happens to our bragging? It’s thrown out. With which law? With what we have accomplished under the Law? 28  No, not at all, but through the law of faith...