The Greatest Treasure of Our Salvation
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
What is the greatest treasure of our salvation? It’s not merely a future hope of heaven, though that is glorious. It’s not an emotional experience or a fleeting moment of spiritual ecstasy. The greatest treasure is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the very glory of God, residing in us—frail, earthen vessels. This is the miracle of the New Covenant: the same glory that filled the tabernacle in Moses’ day (Exodus 40:34-38) now dwells within every believer through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The veil is torn, and God’s presence is no longer confined to a building, but lives in us, transforming us to reflect His light.
In his book Transforming Presence, Daniel Henderson highlights the profound shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant experience of God’s presence: “Jesus did not die to sanctify and fill buildings or ‘atmospheres.’ His work on the cross changed everything. He died to cleanse, fill, and empower our human hearts. His work is inside-out, not the previous ‘outside-in’ paradigm of the old covenant.”
Under the Old Covenant, God’s glory descended on the tabernacle or temple, an external manifestation that guided Israel through the wilderness. The people followed the cloud by day and the fire by night, but they could not enter the fullness of His presence. Today, some contemporary Christian songs reflect this Old Covenant longing, inviting the Holy Spirit to “come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.” While these songs stir our hearts, they can inadvertently point us to an outdated understanding of God’s presence.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t come to change the atmosphere or give us goosebumps through music and lights. He has already come at Pentecost—not to create a mood, like we do with music and candles for a romantic dinner, but to permanently reside in believers with His transformative power.
The New Covenant reality is far greater. As Paul writes, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). The Spirit’s presence is displayed through the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience—and the gifts of the Spirit, which build up the body of Christ. When we rely on Him through prayer, the Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, as revealed in His Word. This divine revelation ignites awe, joy, and conviction, stirring our hearts like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who said, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). This burning is no mere emotion; it’s a profound encounter with the truth that transforms us from the inside out.
Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean getting more of Him; it means allowing Him to have more of us. As Philippians 2:13 reminds us, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
This is the treasure we carry: the light of God’s glory shining through cracked, clay jars. It’s not about creating an atmosphere but about living as vessels of His presence, reflecting His character and power. When we walk in the Spirit, we don’t need to seek Him to “fall like rain.” He is already here, working inwardly to conform us to the image of Christ and shining outwardly to draw others to Him.
May the light of His presence in us shine through our cracked pots, so that others may see the surpassing power of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
What is the greatest treasure of our salvation? It’s not merely a future hope of heaven, though that is glorious. It’s not an emotional experience or a fleeting moment of spiritual ecstasy. The greatest treasure is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the very glory of God, residing in us—frail, earthen vessels. This is the miracle of the New Covenant: the same glory that filled the tabernacle in Moses’ day (Exodus 40:34-38) now dwells within every believer through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The veil is torn, and God’s presence is no longer confined to a building, but lives in us, transforming us to reflect His light.
In his book Transforming Presence, Daniel Henderson highlights the profound shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant experience of God’s presence: “Jesus did not die to sanctify and fill buildings or ‘atmospheres.’ His work on the cross changed everything. He died to cleanse, fill, and empower our human hearts. His work is inside-out, not the previous ‘outside-in’ paradigm of the old covenant.”
Under the Old Covenant, God’s glory descended on the tabernacle or temple, an external manifestation that guided Israel through the wilderness. The people followed the cloud by day and the fire by night, but they could not enter the fullness of His presence. Today, some contemporary Christian songs reflect this Old Covenant longing, inviting the Holy Spirit to “come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.” While these songs stir our hearts, they can inadvertently point us to an outdated understanding of God’s presence.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t come to change the atmosphere or give us goosebumps through music and lights. He has already come at Pentecost—not to create a mood, like we do with music and candles for a romantic dinner, but to permanently reside in believers with His transformative power.
The New Covenant reality is far greater. As Paul writes, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). The Spirit’s presence is displayed through the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience—and the gifts of the Spirit, which build up the body of Christ. When we rely on Him through prayer, the Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, as revealed in His Word. This divine revelation ignites awe, joy, and conviction, stirring our hearts like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, who said, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” (Luke 24:32). This burning is no mere emotion; it’s a profound encounter with the truth that transforms us from the inside out.
Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean getting more of Him; it means allowing Him to have more of us. As Philippians 2:13 reminds us, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
This is the treasure we carry: the light of God’s glory shining through cracked, clay jars. It’s not about creating an atmosphere but about living as vessels of His presence, reflecting His character and power. When we walk in the Spirit, we don’t need to seek Him to “fall like rain.” He is already here, working inwardly to conform us to the image of Christ and shining outwardly to draw others to Him.
May the light of His presence in us shine through our cracked pots, so that others may see the surpassing power of His glory in the face of Jesus Christ.