Chapter 5: Everything above is “not made with hands.” “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” How is it to be got rid of? Morally, it was judged at the Cross; physically, when we drop it and are changed.
Verse 14. The Holy Ghost goes to the rule of God’s action to produce the motive for my conduct. The Cross is first the close of man’s own history, by his forcing God into the place of judge, and God’s close of it under His judgment. The history of man in the flesh is over. If One Man has risen up from out of the judgment, all behind is left under it. “We know no man after the flesh,” because we know a Man in resurrection. The new Man in the new place judges all else as old. It only remained for God to reconcile His creatures.
We said that life, righteousness, and glory were the three characteristics of the ministry. We have had life; now, at the end of chapter 5, righteousness; and glory is in and out everywhere. The circle is complete.