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1065.1 1067.1 1068.1 1069.1 1070.1 1071.1 1072.1 1074.1 1075.1 1076.1 1078.1 1079.1 1080.1 1080.2 1080.3 1080.4 1081.1 1081.2 1081.3 1081.4 1081.5 1081.6 1082.1 1083.1 1084.1 1085.1 1086.1 1087.1 1088.1 1089.1 1090.1 1091.1 1092.1 1093.1 1094.1 1095.1 1095.2 1096.1 1097.1 1098.1 1099.1 1100.1 1101.1 1102.1 1103.1 1104.1 1105.1 1106.1 1107.1 1108.1 1109.1 1110.1 1111.1 1112.1 1113.1 1114.1 1115.1 1116.1 1117.1 1117.2 1117.3 1117.4 1117.5 1117.6 1117.7 1117.8 1118.1 1119.1 1120.1 1121.1 1121.2 1121.3 1121.4 1122.1 1122.2 1122.3 1122.4 1122.5 1122.6 1123.1 1123.2 1123.3 1123.4 1123.5 1124.1 1124.2 1124.3 1124.4 1124.5 1124.6 1125.1 1125.2 1125.3 1125.4 1125.5 1125.6 1125.7 1125.8 1126.1 1126.2 1126.3 1126.4 1127.1 1127.2 1127.3 1127.4 1127.5 1127.6 1128.1 1128.2 1128.3 1128.4 1128.5 1128.6 1129.1 1129.2 1129.3 1129.4 1129.5 1129.6 1129.7 1129.8 1129.9 1129.10 1129.11 1130.1 1130.2 1130.3 1130.4 1130.5 1130.6 1130.7 1130.8 1131.1 1131.2 1131.3 1131.4 1131.5 1131.6 1131.7 1131.8 1132.1 1132.2 1132.3 1132.4 1132.5 1132.6 1132.7 1133.1 1134.1 1134.2 1135.1 1135.2 1135.3 1135.4 1135.5 1136.1 1136.2 1136.3 1136.4 1136.5 1136.6 1136.7 1136.8 1136.9 1136.10 1137.1 1137.2 1137.3 1137.4 1137.5 1137.6 1138.1 1138.2 1138.3 1138.4 1138.5 1138.6 1138.7 1139.1 1139.2 1139.3 1139.4 1139.5 1139.6 1140.1 1141.1 1142.1 1142.2 1143.1 1144.1 1144.2 1144.3 1144.4 1144.5 1144.6 1145.1 1145.2 1145.3 1145.4 1145.5 1145.6 1146.1 1146.2 1146.3 1147.1 1148.1 1149.1 1150.1 1150.2 1151.1 1152.1 1153.1 1154.1 1154.2 1155.1 1156.1 1157.1 1158.1 1159.1 1160.1 1161.1 1162.1 1163.1 1164.1 1165.1 1166.1 1167.1 1168.1 1169.1 1169.2 1169.3 1169.4 1169.5 1169.6 1170.1 1171.1 1172.1 1173.1 1173.2 1173.3 1173.4 1173.5 1173.6 1174.1 1175.1 1175.2 1176.1 1176.2 1176.3 1177.1 1177.2 1178.1 1179.1 1179.2 1180.1 1180.2 1181.1 1182.1 1183.1 1183.2 1184.1 1185.1 1186.1 1186.2 1187.1 1187.2 1188.1 1189.1 1190.1 1191.1 1192.1 1193.1 1194.1 1195.1 1195.2 1196.1 1197.1 1198.1 1198.2 1198.3 1198.4 1198.5 1198.6 1198.7 1199.1 1200.1 1201.1 1202.1 1203.1 1204.1 1205.1 1206.1 1207.1 1208.1 1209.1 1210.1 1211.1 1212.1 1213.1 1214.1 1215.1 1216.1 1217.1 1218.1 1219.1 1220.1 1221.1 1222.1 1223.1 1224.1 1225.1 1226.1 1227.1 1228.1 1229.1 1230.1 1231.1 1232.1 1233.1 1234.1 1235.1 1236.1 1237.1 1238.1 1239.1 1240.1 1241.1 1242.1 1243.1 1244.1 1245.1 1246.1 1247.1 1248.1 1249.1 1250.1 1251.1 1252.1 1253.1 1254.1 1255.1 1256.1 1257.1 1258.1 1259.1 1260.1 1261.1 1262.1 1263.1 1264.1 1265.1 1266.1 1267.1 1268.1 1269.1 1270.1 1271.1 1272.1 1273.1 1274.1 1275.1 1276.1 1277.1 1278.1 1279.1 1280.1 1281.1 1282.1 1283.1 1284.1 1285.1 1286.1 1287.1 1288.1 1289.1 1290.1 1291.1 1292.1 1293.1 1294.1 1295.1 1296.1 1297.1 1298.1 1299.1 1300.1 1301.1 1302.1 1303.1 1304.1 1305.1 1306.1 1307.1 1308.1 1309.1 1310.1 1311.1 1312.1 1313.1 1314.1 1315.1 1316.1 1317.1 1318.1 1319.1 1320.1 1321.1 1322.1 1323.1 1324.1 1325.1 1326.1 1327.1 1328.1 1329.1 1330.1 1331.1 1332.1 1333.1 1334.1 1335.1 1336.1 1337.1 1338.1 1339.1 1340.1 1341.1 1342.1 1343.1 1344.1 1345.1 1346.1 1347.1 1348.1 1349.1 1350.1 1351.1 1352.1 1353.1 1354.1 1355.1 1356.1 1357.1 1358.1 1359.1 1360.1 1361.1 1362.1 1363.1 1364.1 1365.1 1366.1 1367.1 1368.1 1369.1 1370.1 1371.1 1372.1 1373.1 1374.1 1375.1 1376.1 1377.1 1378.1 1379.1 1380.1 1381.1 1382.1 1383.1 1384.1 1385.1 1386.1 1387.1 1388.1 1389.1 1390.1 1391.1 1392.1 1393.1 1394.1 1395.1 1396.1 1397.1 1398.1 1399.1 1400.1 1401.1 1402.1 1403.1 1404.1 1405.1 1405.2 1405.3 1406.1 1407.1 1408.1 1409.1 1409.2 1410.1 1410.2 1411.1 1412.1 1413.1 1413.2 1414.1 1415.1 1416.1 1416.2 1416.3 1416.4 1416.5 1416.6 1417.1 1417.2 1417.3 1417.4 1417.5 1417.6 1417.7 1417.8 1417.9 1417.10 1418.1 1419.1 1420.1 1421.1 1422.1 1423.1 1424.1 1425.1 1426.1 1427.1 1428.1 1429.1 1430.1 1431.1 1431.2 1431.3 1431.4 1431.5 1431.6 1431.7 1431.8 1431.9 1432.1 1433.1 1434.1 1435.1 1435.2 1436.1 1436.2 1436.3 1437.1 1438.1 1439.1 1439.2 1440.1 1440.2 1441.1 1441.2 1442.1 1442.2 1443.1 1444.1 1445.1 1445.2 1445.3 1446.1 1446.2 1447.1 1448.1 1448.2 1449.1 1449.2 1450.1 1451.1 1452.1 1452.2 1453.1 1454.1 1454.2 1455.1 1456.1 1456.2 1457.1 1458.1 1459.1 1460.1 1460.2 1461.1 1462.1 1462.2 1463.1 1463.2 1464.1 1465.1 1465.2 1466.1 1466.2 1466.3 1466.4 1467.1 1467.2 1467.3 1468.1 1469.1 1470.1 1470.2 1471.1 1472.1 1472.2 1472.3 1472.4 1472.5 1472.6 1472.7 1473.1 1473.2 1473.3 1473.4 1474.1 1474.2 1475.1 1475.2 1476.1 1477.1 1478.1 1479.1 1479.2 1479.3 1479.4 1479.5 1479.6 1480.1 1480.2 1480.3 1480.4 1480.5 1481.1 1481.2 1481.3 1481.4 1481.5 1481.6 1481.7 1482.1 1482.2 1483.1 1484.1 1485.1 1487.1 1488.1 1489.1 1490.1 1491.1 1492.1 1493.1 1494.1 1495.1 1496.1 1497.1 1498.1 1498.2 1499.1 1500.1 1501.1 1502.1 1503.1 1504.1 1505.1 1506.1 1507.1 1508.1 1509.1 1510.1 1510.2 1510.3 1511.1 1511.2 1511.3 1511.4 1511.5 1511.6 1512.1 1512.2 1512.3 1512.4 1512.5 1512.6 1513.1 1513.2 1513.3 1513.4 1513.5 1513.6 1513.7 1513.8 1513.9 1513.10 1514.1 1514.2 1514.3 1514.4 1514.5 1514.6 1514.7 1514.8 1514.9 1514.10 1515.1 1515.2 1515.3 1515.4 1515.5 1515.6 1515.7 1515.8 1516.1 1516.2 1516.3 1516.4 1516.5 1516.6 1516.7 1517.1 1518.1 1519.1 1520.1 1521.1 1522.1 1523.1 1524.1 1525.1 1526.1 1527.1 1528.1 1529.1 1530.1 1531.1 1532.1 1533.1 1534.1 1535.1 1536.1 1537.1 1538.1 1539.1 1540.1 1541.1 1542.1 1544.1 1545.1 1546.1 1547.1 1548.1 1548.2 1548.3 1548.4 1548.5 1549.1 1550.1 1550.2 1551.1 1552.1 1552.2 1553.1 1554.1 1554.2 1554.3 1554.4 1554.5 1554.6 1554.7 1554.8 1555.1 1555.2 1555.3 1555.4 1555.5 1555.6 1555.7 1555.8 1556.1 1556.2 1556.3 1556.4 1556.5 1556.6 1557.1
This starts to make a little bit of sense when we start to realize why Jesus Christ referred to himself as "the bread of life." Food must be eaten, digested, and assimilated to become part of our life that will give strength to our physical bodies. It is written that man shall not live by bread alone. Part of the reason this was written is because the Word of God is food for our spiritual life, and it operates along the same principle as our physical body that needs bread to sustain growth. The nourishment from food is a substance that does not come from within ourselves, but from without, because like the natural realm, the spiritual realm also needs a point of contact outside of the individual. We cannot live on our own feelings, experiences, or upon the sweetest words that come from within, which may excite, warm, or interest us, but cannot support, feed, or sustain our true spiritual growth. In the new covenant, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, who entered into heaven itself to appear in the holy of holies, the sacred chamber of the heart of God's glorious presence for us. Jesus Christ is the promised seed and faithful High Priest, who fulfilled all the law, and is set between God and us because he is connected to both sides, and thereby he is able to work with God and with us. My mind boggles over God's heart of love, His compassion, and the tenderness to have Jesus Christ, who is the greatest food of all time, the bread of life, to establish a true and vital spiritual relationship between God and us. What others have said about this book called Stephen full of faith and power "I read your book in one sitting and it was awesome. Really, it was awesome." Ron - Rochester, NY "I found the principles to be biblically accurate and solid. I felt you expounded in a simple easy-to-read format that most readers will find enjoyable as well as thought provoking." Gary - Marietta, GA "I'm enjoying your book, finding it interesting and learning from it too. I'm surprised at not only your wit, but how well it's worded." Bill - Brookings, SD Stephen was written for those who have wondered how a guy like Stephen was able to get to the place in his life where it could be said of him that he was full of faith and power. Acts 6:8, declares "Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." The apex of all Christian living is walking with God, who is the creator and sustainer of life, the all-powerful, all-loving, ever-present force in a way that will produce power from on high in our lives. To be able to plug into the communication line with Jesus Christ, living in sync with life as God intended, is our greatest creative adventure. Yes, it's true we will have a spiritual body that Christ gives at his return that will be like his resurrected body that is unlimited in scope and activity. Talk about the limitlessness of life! It's almost breathtaking as we look at the limitless possibilities of that new life. What a fantastic, thrilling, and exciting life this will be. The spiritual body is a body belonging to the spiritual realm that will be influenced by or proceeding from what is spiritual. How glorious and awesome that is! How magnificent and unlimited in scope and activity that new body will be. We shall be LIKE HIM with a body that will be spirit eternal, vivacious, and remarkable. Just think how incredible our physical senses will be at that time, unaffected by a contaminated bloodstream, and completely laced with and based upon a life-quickening spirit. The most valued treasure of God is found in "earthen vessels" meaning our physical bodies. Our calling is that of Ephesians, the one body, God's habitation, the purpose of the ages, as we walk in the reservoir of Christ in us... we walk "in his stead" as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. We have this fantastic treasure of the excellency of His power in our physical bodies. Isn't that beautiful? I believe I can show you God will absolutely bring to pass the signs, miracles, and wonders in the lives of Christians today. This is so astonishing, so remarkable, and so marvelous to understand the overwhelming desire welling up from the very heart of Christ within. I can show you how to tap the reservoir of this supernatural love, which is the capacity to love with His love, and touch people with the touch of the Master's hand. The scripture used throughout this book are quoted from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Copyright 2000 - All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America Power Renewed Mind Chapter Two: Breathtaking Possibilities ........... 35 He Is Risen Seven Administrations Chapter Three: Some Attributes ........................ 55 Authority, Lord & Christ Life, Faith & Grace Chapter Four: More Characteristics .................. 73 Love, Glorify & Justify Righteousness, Redemption & Sanctification Ordained, Anoint & High Priest Mediator, Advocate & Intercessor Chapter Six: The Father's Representative ....... 109 Name, Highly Exalt & Purposed Peace & Acts Salvation Red Thread Chapter One The Secret I could see the vast expanse of the cold water stretching into the sky as I looked out into that thin horizon line and was overwhelmed at the sight of what appeared to be a bright red ball rising up out of the water. As I stood on the pier with my senses charmed by the smell of the green algae, the wind at my back, the touch of her body wrapped in front of me, and the sound of the birds above my head was when the thought came to me. I not only wondered why the wind was brisk and steady as it blew the clouds across the sea to catch those first rays of early morning sun, but I also wondered why hardly anyone in my lifetime has ever known about the great secret in the Bible. I never heard a minister from any denomination ever speak a word about it, or a word uttered from any school, or college, or from any of the many churches I visit often. A deeper meaning, a new richness to life, a higher intensity—mysterious, magical, yet when it happens there is nothing that could be more complete, natural, or right. It will demand my soul, my life, my all-in-all, my utmost and yet I never heard one word from my friends, family, or business acquaintances concerning this great secret. Why is it very few people on the planet know about God’s secret, the one from the beginning of the world that He did not make known to anyone including His own prophets concerning what would become of Jesus Christ? I wonder why we do not teach about the fellowship of the mystery according to the eternal purpose that He purposed in Christ Jesus. The word “mystery” in the Bible does not mean something that cannot be understood, and therefore our current understanding of the word “mystery” is different from the biblical usage. The Greek definition of the word “mystery” meant a “secret” that could be perfectly understood when it was made known. Part of this secret that the Bible calls a “mystery” deals with not only the Jews, but also everyone else who is able to become members of the Church that belongs to the body of Christ. The other part of this great secret deals with the characteristics of Christ, and it's those attributes concerning him that are revealed by the church epistles specially addressed to the Church of God. In the epistles we read what God has made Christ to be, and what He has made us to be in Christ. After Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, he continued with his disciples for forty days and spoke to them about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and not about the Church of God, which was still being kept a secret by God. The original twelve apostles did not have a clue about any part of the great secret, which was later made known by special revelation from God to the apostle Paul. And that is why they only asked him when the kingdom would be restored, and not about the Church of God. The mystery was “kept secret since the world began” (Romans 16:25), “in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men” (Ephesians 3:5), “from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Ephesians 3:9), “which hath been hid from ages and from generations” (Colossians 1:26). He has used various mouths to speak and various pens to write, but it's the same God who has spoken, and that means there is only one author to all parts of the Bible, which was mostly penned by prophets who wrote what God told them to write. Prophets are those who have God’s spirit, and therefore they are able to speak for God, because He makes Himself known to them. The world never looks upon prophets as being successful or popular among the public, and therefore they are never invited to compete with others to endeavor to become the most outstanding citizens of the community. They are usually reproached and hardly ever swim with the stream, the current of the times, and that is why their path is seldom smooth or easy. The measure of a prophet’s success is the measure of faithfulness before God as God’s spokesperson, and never measured by the degree their testimony, witnessing, or speaking of God’s Word is received by others. Because they reverence and respect God’s Word, they do not shrink in the face of danger, nor do they fear people or seek the praise of others. But from deep within their hearts, they seek the praise of God and His blessing. The prophets of the Old Testament were able to speak for God to make known the coming of Jesus Christ (who would be the only begotten Son of God) through the written Word they received from God. To understand the biblical way the word “prophet” is used in the Scriptures, it's always best to look at the first occurrence of the word, which is in Genesis and is used by God to tell the king to leave the man’s wife alone. “Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet” (Genesis 20:7). This first occurrence of the word “prophet” shows us that it was used in a different way from the way we use it today, which is mostly used in our current English to indicate when one is to foretell future events. But in the Bible, it's used in connection with Abraham, who not only had a very pretty wife, but also never foretold anything in his life. In Exodus the same God calls Aaron Moses’s prophet, which takes us a step further and leads us to the question of how one could be another man’s prophet? The answer is found in Exodus, where God, who is referring to the same subject, tells Moses that Aaron “shall be thy spokesman” (Exodus 4:16). Therefore, the essential interpretation of the word “prophet” is a spokesperson who speaks for God, either by way of exhortation, instruction, reproof, warning, correction, reprobation, or judgment. Foretelling was only a very small part of their duties. John the Baptist was born with the spirit from God right from his mother’s womb, and that is why Jesus Christ said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28). John was known to preach in the wilderness, dress in camel hair, and eat locusts with wild honey for dinner. Perhaps John did not have a beautiful wife like Abraham, but he did have one thing that was the same as Abraham—he also never foretold anything in his life. John the Baptist was God’s spokesman who was equipped and sent forth by God to prepare the way for the Messiah for Israel. Prophets were essentially God’s spokespersons, and their sole mission was to speak only those words that were given to them to speak. They were totally meek and humble, as we see so many times from the obedience of such statements as, “The word of the Lord came unto Samuel, saying” or “And the Lord commanded Moses.” A very meek and humble prophet known as Jesus Christ makes what looks like his first official public statement when he stood up to read in the Temple from the book of Isaiah. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. He stopped right in the middle of a verse and closed the book when he came to the place where it said, “To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” That period at the end of the verse in Luke 4:19, is a comma in Isaiah 61:2, and Jesus Christ stopped right on that comma, in the middle of a sentence and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; The reason Jesus Christ did not read the words “and the day of vengeance of our God” is because those words belong to the future. The “acceptable year of the Lord” had come with the coming of Jesus Christ, but “the day of vengeance of our God” will not come until after the appearing of Jesus Christ, which is still future. The Lord divided these two time periods by closing the book and announcing what part of the verse was fulfilled that day. Jesus Christ stopped reading when he did because he knew there was a space of time between the two parts of that verse where the book of Isaiah has a comma. The first part of the sentence that said “the acceptable year of the Lord” had come to pass with the coming of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and therefore Christ could have said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” But he could not have said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears” if he had read the next part of the sentence which was, “and the day of vengeance of our God.” The whole time period of the Church of God that belongs to the body of Christ is between the two parts of that one sentence found in the book of Isaiah. In the Old Testament we can only see the king and the kingdom in promise and prophecy, but in the four gospels we have the king and the kingdom presented and proclaimed by John the Baptist, and by Jesus Christ himself. The kingdom did not end when the children of Israel rejected the kingdom and killed the king. Instead, it was placed in abeyance and will continue at some time in the future. In the epistles we have the king exalted, made the head over all things to the church, until the appearing of Christ when the kingdom will be taken out of abeyance. At that time the kingdom will function with Christ as the King in judgment, enthroned in power and glory, which will complete the promise and end the prophecy given to Israel. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. This secret concerning the body of Christ was hidden in God, and this is why the prophets who spoke and wrote God’s Word had to search diligently to find out the length of time that was between “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory.” They could not find anything to tell them if the glory would follow the sufferings immediately, or if there would be a period of time between them. The prophets revealed “the sufferings” and saw the glory that followed, but they did not know “what” it was or the length of time between “the sufferings” and the appearing of Christ, and that is what those prophets searched diligently to find. Those prophets searched diligently, with every ounce of expended strength used to track carefully, with precision and detail, which means they had the wheels of their mind grinding slowly and extremely fine. When they could not find what God hid, they did not guess or make up an answer to please people, but were pleased to know there was no answer to be found. They were able to prophecies about the glory of Christ that would be coming, but they did not know how much time would exist between the sufferings of Christ and the glory that followed. It was their life; and it was all consuming to them to know God and His Word, but God did not tell them what was going to happen in between the sufferings and the glory. This statement in 1 Peter 1:12 “which things the angels desire to look into” tells us the angels also were curious about this great secret that God did not make known to anyone. I can guarantee you when God keeps a secret—there will not be one person on the face of the planet who will ever know about it until He makes it known. In this case it was not made known until it was first revealed to the apostle Paul, who only knew what it was, but did not know the time period from Pentecost to the gathering together. The prophets inquired and searched diligently, and God revealed Himself and His ways to them concerning everything that could have been revealed at that time. These prophets were faithful stewards of the mysteries of God and did not speak presumptuously or make things up, but spoke what God wanted them to speak. The only way they could speak for God was because of their desire and discipline to feed on the words of God, which gave them the spiritual strength and ability to speak for Him. In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is told by God to go down to the potter’s house and watch the clay being shaped from the potter’s wheel, which is a horizontal disk revolving on a vertical spindle and carrying the clay being shaped by the potter. At that particular time when the prophet was in the man’s house, the clay the potter was shaping had become marred in his hands. The potter, who was in absolute control of the clay, took it upon himself to not fix what he initially was trying to design, but with the same clay he made a different piece. God sent the prophet to the potter’s house to teach him He would never mend what we ruptured, but would let it end and make something new in its place. God did not mend the nation of Israel when they became marred, but He will make a new nation for Israel. This is why He did not mend the covenant that Israel broke, but will make a new covenant with them. This earth came under the curse and is bruised, but God will not mend the earth, but will make a new heaven and a new earth. We have become disabled because of the fall that alienated us from the life of God; and yet He did not mend or reform us, but He designed a new spiritual nature, which is a new life for those who belong to the body of Christ. I would like to point out that when I use the word “church” I am using it the way it's used in the Bible, and I am not referring to any religion, denomination, or building. The word “church” comes from the Greek word “ecclesia” and it means assembly, or a congregation of called out ones, such as Israel who was an “ecclesia” or an assembly of people called out from among the rest of the world. The word is also used of a smaller company of Israelites, called out from among an assembly of Israel, which was the tribal council of Simeen and Levi. Later in the same time period we find it used for another kind of an assembly, referring to those who were called-out from all of Israel as worshippers assembling themselves together before the Temple. In the time period covered by the gospels, the called out ones are “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The word “church” in the epistles acquires a meaning it never had before, which started when the disciples were separated away from the unbelief of Israel, and that caused the word “ecclesia” to acquire a more restricted meaning because it was then used for “The Church of God.” The Church of God is an assembly composed of not only the Jews, but also anyone able to be born into the family of God and become a member of the body of Christ. This special usage of the word “ecclesia” deals with an assembling of people, who were not known until they were first revealed to the apostle Paul as part of the secret that was “hid in God” and was “kept secret since the world began.” This great secret is concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church of God, and the end will be when the members of that assembly, the Church of God that belongs to the body of Christ, is received up in glory. Because so many Christians have a hard time understanding the way the “ecclesia” is used in the Bible is why we have a very hard time understanding the great tribulation that we all believe will happen sometime in the future. The people who have lived in the time period that the body of Christ belongs to, who were born into the family of God, are the people who will be received into the air as members of his body before the tribulation period begins. The Bible tells us the tribulation is something that only concerns Israel and will not overtake us as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4). We the members of the spiritual body of Christ are already seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus and will not stand before the throne of judgement. The Bible talks about how Israel will be redeemed “from the earth” and “from among men” and will stand “before the throne of judgement.” The body of Christ will not be amputated or be a part of any such deformity that would cause the absence of any of its members to stand before the throne of judgement. The tribulation is either distinctly stated or specially indicated as being connected with Israel, and not the church that belongs to the body of Christ, which will be presented perfect, complete, and faultless in glory. The description of the tribulation is describing not only the end, but also what will immediately follow after the end, which deals with Christ’s dominion on the earth. It contemplates Israel as the family on the earth, in their own land, observing their own Sabbath laws, and it only concerns them who were under the Mosaic Law. The book of Ephesians informs us that the risen Christ is the head over all things to the church, which will take its place in the heavens, and Christ will be the center of all things in heaven and on the earth, both to the church and to Israel. The Bible is not about hell, fire, and brimstone, nor is it about destruction, suffering, disappointment, and confusion. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a God who sends sickness, chaos, frustration, or terrible afflictions. The God of the Bible did not give us His Word so we could be full of fear, worry, turmoil, pain, and tribulation. But He sent His Word as food, and this is why Luke 4:4, tells us “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” The Word of God is food for our spiritual life, and it operates along the same principle as our physical body that needs food to sustain growth. The nourishment is a substance that does not come from within ourselves, but from without, because like the natural realm, the spiritual realm also needs a point of contact outside of the individual. We cannot live on our own feelings, experiences, or upon the sweetest words that come from within us—which may excite, warm, or interest us, but cannot support, feed, or sustain our true spiritual growth. This starts to make a little bit of sense when we start to realize why Jesus Christ referred to himself as “the bread of life.” Food must be eaten, digested, and assimilated to become part of our life that will give strength to our physical bodies. One could not only have physical food, but also spiritual food prepared in various forms—served in already made dishes, carved up, and even put it in our mouth as we do with children, but the servers cannot eat, digest, or assimilate it for us. The Bible must be understood from within the light of its own accuracy and not from what initiates from outside the understanding of the Scriptures. When we let the Bible speak for itself, it will speak more loudly and more effectively for itself than anyone can speak on its behalf. I accept the Scriptures as the Word of God because the Bible claims to be the written Word of God, and it contains all we can ever know about Him. His Word that He gave is sufficient to give us an understanding of the light that shined out of darkness, which made it available for us to understand the light that is able to shine in our hearts and give us the knowledge of the glory of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible as we know it today has come to us from the Old Testament, which was mostly written originally in Hebrew, and from the New Testament, which was mostly written originally in Greek. The term “old covenant” was used even in the second century by the Greeks to describe the Hebrew Bible that we in English have called the “Old Testament.” The Greek part was naturally spoken of as the “New Testament.” The books of the New Testament are found in manuscript form and are listed as the Gospels, the Acts, the general Epistles, and Paul’s Epistles. The order of the books varies in different manuscripts, but the epistles of Paul that are addressed to the church, are always in the same order as we have them in our English Bible today. From out of the hundreds of Greek manuscripts, there is not one church epistle to be found out of the order from Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. It's surprising when we really think about how much of what we already believe about the Bible was received by the tradition from others, and how little we have actually learned from our own direct personal study from the Word of God itself. Because many people believe the information they receive from outside the understanding of the Scriptures, and not from within the Bible itself is why they often find the Bible difficult when it does not fit their outside source of thinking. The way to understand the Bible is to study the Word of Truth direct from the Scriptures, not from outside the understanding of the Scriptures, and then one will find their outside source of thinking to be difficult when it does not fit the understanding of the Bible. The Word of God is perfectly pure in order, truth, and structure and therefore those who seek His truth through a telescope or a microscope will find extraordinary treasures, perfection, and beauty. We can use whatever human intellect we have to learn we are limited by our own human sight and cannot exhaust those wonders of the Scriptures nor the beauty and perfection of His creation. However, I knew as a child that spiritual perfection was always visible even on the surface to anyone who will carefully read the Bible. We find the Bible difficult when we receive the truth of God’s Word and try to hold on to our old way of thinking at the same time. The Bible becomes easy the moment we let our old way of thinking go by the wayside and are able to understand it's not the simple truth that is difficult, but what is in the absence of the simple truth that makes our understanding of the Bible difficult. The one great subject that runs through the whole Word of God is Christ, the promised seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15, which marks the fall; and it becomes the foundation for the rest of the Bible. All hope of restoration for human creation is centered in Christ, who in due time was born into the world, suffered, died, and in the resurrection, he became the head of a new creation. Christ the King, and the kingdom that he would eventually set up, became the one great subject that occupies the whole Word of God concerning Israel. The counsels and purposes of God are all centered in Christ, who is the key to the divine revelation in the Word, and therefore the contents of the Bible must be understood in reference to him. When the Christian cannot understand who Christ Jesus has become, they often find themselves dying of loneliness, feeling anxious and unfulfilled, as if they were standing in a cave of self-pity and despair, screaming at him, shaking their fist in frustration, crying buckets of tears, and offering their bargains. I know a believer’s finest hour, their greatest fulfillment of themselves, and all they hope to become is in that moment when they know that the life of Jesus Christ is not a once in a while action. It's in that moment when everything they hold to be true from God’s wonderful matchless Word declares without a shadow of doubt that their high and holy privilege to fellowship with Jesus Christ is a minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day lifestyle. The outstanding football coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi, once made the following speech on what it takes to be number one in football, which he titled “You’ve got to pay the price.” Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all-the-time thing. You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place. There is a second-place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do and to win and to win and to win. Every time a football player goes out to play his trade, he's got to play from the ground up... from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's okay, you've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more important, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second. Running a football team is no different from running any other kind of organization... an army, a political party, a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win. Football is a pastime, a sport, and if such dedication and commitment for success are required in a pastime sport, what about the requirements for a far greater game, the game of life? Anyone who masters a skill or becomes proficient in any area must have dedication. An Olympic athlete, in order to win a gold medal in the one-hundred-meter run, will practice sprints hour after hour, day after day. They will put themselves under the strictest discipline and most rigorously regimented lifestyle in order to qualify for a single athletic event. A surgeon will laboriously study surgical techniques for years to learn how to practice tying a knot in the slimmest suture with three fingers from one hand. Why? Because of the dedication to become an expert in their field. Like commitment, dedication is an act of the will. A person by the freedom of their will chooses to set aside two hours a day to play tennis, practice the piano, paint landscapes, or study the Scriptures in order to become adept in that area. Those who become highly skilled or an expert in any field do so because of discipline and dedication to excel. I would like to know how a guy like Stephen was able to get to the place in his life where it could be said of him that he was full of faith and power? Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. The Greek word for “full” is the word “pleres” meaning to be full of, or to be filled to capacity with the ability to be complete and sufficient. The Greek word for “faith” is the word “pistis” meaning a firm persuasion, the conviction that is based upon hearing, and not upon sight or knowledge. It's a firm confidence in what we hear from God in His Word. The Greek word for “power” is the word “dunamis” meaning inherent power that is capable of performing anything. It's a power that is not only capable of action, but a power in action. How did Stephen get full of faith and power? God is willing and able to perform anything that is based on His nature when one comes to the place in their life that they can walk with a filled up, completely firm conviction of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And this is why Acts 6:8, declares Stephen “did great wonders and miracles among the people.” There is no doubt that Stephen did great wonders and miracles because he was full of faith and power. I have diligently searched the Scriptures for forty-five years so that I might understand a little about God’s power. It's very important for the Christian to understand that when it comes to biblical manuscripts, we are talking about God’s power, and not the power we could call our own. This power of God may be inherent power within us, or it may be power in action when we are involved in some act of God, but it's still God’s power. Even God’s only begotten Son, when he was here on the earth, said, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). Do you remember the record from Acts 3:12, where it tells us that Peter stood up and said, “why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” The apex of all Christian living is walking with God, who is the creator and sustainer of life, the all powerful, all loving, ever present-force—in a way that will produce power from on high in our lives. It's very interesting to note that many believe God is no longer a God of miracles for this our twenty-first century—that for some odd and mysteries reason unknown to the Christian community, our God has withheld His power from us. In the days of the early Christian Church, there were many mighty signs, miracles, and wonders done by not only the apostles, but by other simple disciples, who we today would call your everyday Christian. If there were miracles done in the early days of Christian life, then what has happened to cause our heavenly Father to stop being a God of miracles in this our day and time? God has not changed His ability or His desire. It's God’s heart, God’s mind, and God’s desire for our lives to be in sync with a communication line from Jesus Christ. If signs, miracles, and wonders have ceased in the twenty-first century, then it's not because the Almighty has changed, but because many believers are denying what they received when they believed, and therefore they are critically limiting the ability of God’s power in their lives. God’s indescribable power is available to all believers because He never favors one Christian over another, and what He promises in His Word, He is not only willing but also able to perform. The first-century church had tremendous power, because the first-century Christian believed when they were saved, they received the ability to have the power of God work in their lives. The most valued treasure of God is found in “earthen vessels” meaning our physical bodies. Our calling is that of Ephesians, the one body, God’s habitation, the purpose of the ages, as we walk in the reservoir of Christ in us—we walk “in his stead” as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. We have this fantastic treasure of the excellency of His power in our physical bodies. Isn’t that beautiful? I believe I can show you God will absolutely bring to pass the signs, miracles, and wonders in the lives of Christians today. I can do this because God’s deliverance is real to the twenty-first-century Christian just as it was to the first-century Christian. It's not how to get God to perform miracles for us, but how to allow His power to work inside of our life. 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. We can access the power that comes from the kingdom of God because He has made it available for us to do so. If you have the spirit from God in you, get in touch with the child inside yourself. That little kid is playful, creative, curious, trusting, and imaginative. As we search the Scriptures, we will learn what God has placed in Christ and how we can now have access to the power that comes from the kingdom of God. The Bible is our only primary source for truth. All other sources, such as human imagination, tradition, theology, denominationalism, philosophy, and scientific theory, are secondary. In a court of law, an eyewitness account is considered to be a primary source. For instance, if you saw an automobile accident and were called to testify in court, you would be a primary witness, and your testimony would be an eyewitness account. However, if someone other than you saw, and you were called to testify, you would be considered a secondary witness, and your evidence would be based upon secondhand information. There are seven books in the Bible that were written to the Christian, addressed to the Church of God, and therefore they are called the church epistles: Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. They start with Romans, the basic doctrinal position of the one body, and close out with Thessalonians, which reveals the gathering together. It's these seven church epistles that teach us how to be filled with all the power that comes from God, living in sync with life as God intended. To fully realize the beauty and simplicity of our completeness in Christ, that is mathematically exact and scientifically precise, we cannot use any other source for truth other than the Bible. In the Scriptures, He has told us about our value, and His actions have demonstrated our worth—to the end that our purpose is best defined as belonging to Him. The fact is the world’s standard of worth has become so much a part of our thinking, we have trouble hearing and understanding what God is saying to us about our value in His sight. The world that we live in is totally dominated by human intention and creation—to the end that we understand only our own human concepts, and therefore it almost becomes impossible for us to know the things that are freely given to us from above. We perceive the world we live in through our own creations because of the technology of our environment. The way we gather our information from the television, radio, and computers, just to name a few, is how our environment becomes the concept of the thoughts of other humans. We live out our life thinking we understand the world when actually our understanding is confined to entirely human thinking. Our world has been thought up because we live within artificial, reconstructed environments that are strictly the products of human conception. As we continue to go deeper into the thoughts of human reason, we think such depth is greater knowledge, and with it we will be able to answer the question most of us search for within ourselves. God is a whole lot bigger than our understanding of Him, and this is why it is written that our human thinking considers the things of God to be foolish. Therefore, whenever anyone tells me the Bible is foolish is how I know they are trying to understand God through their own human reason, and in doing so, have limited their ability to understand the things of God. To understand God and the major cause for the lack of freedom we have in Christ, the feeling of worthlessness so common in today’s world, and to understand what God has done in redeeming us will be expanded on throughout this book. Justification is a legal act, and that means we are declared righteous by God. It's not something that results from what we do, but something that is done to us. It's what we are. Most people do not want to believe the Bible at face value because they always think they have some rational reason for why it cannot be true. God takes pride in His workmanship and His attention to detail, and commitment to quality stands behind His Word with His quality guarantee. The greatest commitment that was ever made by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ was when He committed Himself to His Word. God has always been committed, totally committed. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Ephesians 1:19-20 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, We see here from God’s Word that we may know what is the exceeding greatness of His power. That is a lot of power, and the direction of that power is toward us who believe, and therefore it's not available to those who do not believe. This is really something when we understand it's the force of His superior strength, what exceeds or goes beyond what we know of as greatness is the power that He wants us to know. What is important is not the type of person we are or the circumstances in our life, but the validity of the living resurrected Jesus Christ, who has connected us to some tremendous power in the newness of this life that is within every born-again believer. God raised Christ “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named,” and on the day of Pentecost, people for the first time received holy spirit, Christ in them, the power base to plug into the communication line with Jesus Christ. When we know our position in Christ Jesus, we can look down on any adverse situation that may arise, knowing we have unlimited power at our disposal adequate for any situation. This salvation is God’s workmanship, meaning He produced it with design and prepared it to be created in Christ Jesus. If we were able to earn our own salvation, we would be the product of our own workmanship and not the product of God’s workmanship. It's God who created the work of a masterpiece for the lives of Christian people, and therefore we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. People always try to copy, but are incapable because as children of God, our standing before Him is perfect. People can never immortalize themselves no matter how many great works of art they form or how great a name they make for themselves. Because we are His workmanship (masterpiece), there is nothing we can do by tradition or by ordinances that will yield us a better standing. God has done a perfect inside job. Now that we are His workmanship, we are not strangers and foreigners any longer, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). A citizen of a country has many rights and privileges that a foreigner does not have. As a citizen of the household of God, we also have many rights and privileges that a person who is not in the household does not have. We have a Father who will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We have a Father who has promised He will supply our every need (Philippians 4:19). We have a Father who is so wealthy, it's a pleasure for Him to give to us as we believe and receive. God is a God of abundance! He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). God’s power is able to work within our physical bodies because of the gift of God that is born within every Christian believer. It's this gift of God that is called “holy spirit,” also known as the “Christ in you,” that we need to learn how to regulate in our lives. God has made available all that we need, and His supply is unlimited! We cannot earn this gift from God, but we can receive it by His grace; and therefore, we can become the children of God. To do so would put us into the category to be blessed by His divine presence and to know we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ. We can know the “exceeding greatness” of the power of God because we have within us the ability to understand spiritual matters, making us capable of renewing our minds, to think the way God would have us to think. God does not do for us what He has asked us to do for ourselves, and therefore as we walk, we learn to become “strong in the Lord.” No Christian can learn to walk as God would have them walk until they first know what God has done for them and made available to them. Although the term “renewed mind” is mentioned several times in the epistles, it's a subject that is heard very little about in Christian circles. It's a subject of great importance to the Word of God and to the life of the believer. People who are governed by their five senses, who walk only by what they can see, taste, touch, smell, and hear, have learned to depend upon these senses for so long that hardly anyone has really been able to walk by the spirit from God. Doubt and skepticism are such an innate part of our human nature that it almost becomes impossible for us to unleash the spiritual power resident within Jesus Christ. Because we are living in this world, we have built up walls and attitudes over the years that need to be replaced by the renewing of our minds. I believe this is why the Scripture exhorts us to be as children, meaning to have a naturally trusting heart. As born-again children of God, we have within us the spirit from God that makes it possible for us to understand spiritual matters, which one cannot understand who is not a child of God, and therefore does not have the spirit from God born within. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Because our minds are so accustomed to depending upon our five senses, our thinking has become negative toward spiritual matters, and this is why we must go through this process called “the renewing of the mind.” The dictionary defines the word “renew” as “to make or become new, fresh or strong again.” This is why we are told in Colossians 3:10, “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge.” As we know the Scriptures, we can renew our minds to act upon this knowledge. If we did not know there was such a thing as an automobile available to us, perhaps we would have to walk to our place of employment. Once we know there is such a thing as an automobile available, we can then purchase one if we wish, and in doing so, use it as it was designed to be used. To think the way God wants us to think, we must first know how God wants us to think, and we receive this knowledge through the reading of His Word. The spirit within is what makes a person great, and not their flesh, which is the vessel for God’s treasure. The key to a victorious walk with the Father is acquiring an in-depth spiritual perception and awareness of this heavenly treasure by practicing the presence of God as we renew our minds. One renews the mind by putting in it the knowledge of what God created in Christ. It's a mind in coordination and harmony with the truth of God’s wonderful matchless Word, and this is a deliberate process that the Christian can do by the freedom of the will. A Christian does not need to be poor, weak, and sickly to manifest humility. The third Epistle of John, verse two, states emphatically, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” It is written in first Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” We do not need to live in fear, which is the believer’s greatest enemy because God clearly tells us in second Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” God placed this power in the living resurrected Jesus Christ when He raised him from the dead. The verses I am going to list from Romans and Ephesians, are very clear in telling us that God has appointed the Christ to be the head over all things to the church, who is sitting on the right hand of God, with all rule, authority, and power. To understand our legal rights that we have as children of God, belonging to the family of God, we will need to understand the power that Jesus Christ has in the church. What a wonderful day it will be in our lives when we accept the accomplished work of Christ Jesus and understand our relationship as joint heirs with him. This God-given ability to understand our relationship as joint heirs with Christ belongs to us because God has given us a new realm to live in through the reality of the Christ within us. The power is in the living resurrected Jesus Christ because God established the identity of His Son, and God wants us to know the greatness of His power and to understand He has made us completely complete in His Christ. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Christ because God has given this position to him when He raised him out from among the dead into the glorious position he now has. We as Christians are to function within his name, the name of Jesus Christ, within his authority, his reign, and his concerns. We must understand this is the gospel of Christ, and we need to function within his reign as Christians. It's his gospel, his church, and he is the head, the boss. Look at the following verses very carefully. “Paul a servant” of who? How do “I thank my God”? “through” who? “the spirit of life in” who? And of course, my all time favorite “the love of God which is in” who? Jesus Christ is listed like this all throughout the epistles, but just to save time and space I have only listed a few from the book of Romans and Ephesians. Romans: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ 1:6.... ye also the called of Jesus Christ I thank my God through Jesus Christ I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son 1:16... gospel of Christ God shall judge by Jesus Christ 3:24... redemption that is in Christ Jesus 5:1.... peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ 5:11... joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ 6:11... alive unto God through Jesus Christ 6:23... eternal life through Jesus Christ I thank God through Jesus Christ 8:1.... no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus 8:2.... law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus 8:39... love of God, which is in Christ Jesus Ephesians: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ 1:5.... adoption of children by Jesus Christ 2:7.... toward us through Christ Jesus 2:10... created in Christ Jesus But now in Christ Jesus I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ 3:11... which he purposed in Christ Jesus 3:21... glory in the church by Christ Jesus 4:12... body of Christ 5:5..... kingdom of Christ When we look at those little words “through, of, by, and in” we will see that the power of God is in the Christ because that is where God put it. We are going to have to build and maintain a relationship with the Son if we are looking to have signs, miracles, and wonders work in our lives. As the called out of God, we must realize who we are in Christ, and that the life we have in Christ means more than mere existence; it means life in all of its manifestations. Let’s enjoy that walk of deliverance, that walk of the beauty of the divine presence of God. A distinction must be made between the various usages and combinations of his name: Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, and Lord Jesus Christ. Failing to make these distinctions and assuming that they are all used interchangeably clouds certain essential insights that are critical for christological accuracy. Basically, the usage of these terms is indicative of two distinctions. One is about his person, his humility when he was here upon the earth. The other is about his exaltation. Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says the word “Christ” appears “when there is reference to the work or redemption” (1). This term emphasizes not so much the person of Christ as the job he was sent to do. This becomes very important when we understand Christ Jesus as he functions today with the power of God that has been placed within him. The word "Christ" means "anointed" which leads to the obvious question, with what? Acts 10:38, says "with the holy spirit and with power." The holy spirit was upon men by measure in the Old Testament (2 Kings 2:9), Jesus received it without measure (John 3:34). So his messianic works were accomplished by the power of the holy spirit upon him, and it is those works in which he is presently engaged that is the referent of the word "Christ" in biblical usage. "Christ in you" (Colossians 1:27), refers not to a person but to the same enablement of the holy spirit without measure that Jesus received to become the "Christ." "Jesus" refers to his earthly life and mission prior to being risen from the dead. "Jesus Christ" refers to the person who is the Son of God seated at the right hand of God. It is he with whom we have fellowship (1John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 1:9). Though he is the exalted Christ seated at the right hand of God, he is personally acquainted with every member of his body, his brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:11). "Christ Jesus" emphasizes his exalted position at the right hand of God, and the legal rights and privileges that have resulted from his accomplishments. This compound form of his name is most often used with "in" and "by" emphasizing not his person but his works. God has highly exalted the Christ, and gave him a name, which is above every name. Thus, "Christ" became the name of his changed position; after he was raised from the dead, and exalted in glory. "Christ" in the Epistles denotes our position, blessing, and standing before God. In Christ, never in Jesus, marks him as the now glorified one who was once humbled. The combination with "Lord" marks his authority and power. "God hath made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). The written Word of God is made to shine with the glory of the divine presence of God through His wonderful Son Jesus Christ, because the one great subject of the whole Word of God is Jesus Christ. The Son of the living God is the master key to understand God’s heart of love, the written Word of God, the Christian walk, and those Scriptures that pertain to power. 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power (dunamis) of God. 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (dunamis) Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis) to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (kratos) [The Greek word "kratos" means the force of superior strength.] Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might (dunamis) by his spirit in the inner man; Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that worketh in us, Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power (kratos) of his might. Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, (dunamis) according to his glorious power, (kratos) 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, (dunamis) and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (dunamis) thereof: from such turn away. I would like to point out that the word “might” in Ephesians 3:16, and in Colossians 1:11, is the Greek word “dunamis” which means inherent power that is capable of performing anything. The word “kratos” is also translated into English as the word “power” meaning the force of superior strength. We do not have this power because we are so wonderful, but because Christ is so wonderful, who now lives at the right hand of God. The power is in Christ because the Creator of the heavens and the earth has made His Son to be the Lord and the Christ with power. Since God gave Jesus Christ this new life when He raised him out from among the dead is why we are able to receive it through His Christ. We can enter into that glorious limitless life, with the light and beauty of the divine presence of God, because it's God in Christ in us, and that is why we can radiate the beauty of the presence of our Master, Jesus Christ. Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Chapter Two Breathtaking Possibilities The enemy had an idea from the Old Testament prophecies that Jesus Christ could end up with some kind of a unique and powerful life within himself. The strategy used was to capture Jesus while he walked the earth, at the time before his resurrection from the dead, so that the enemy could throw everything they had at him to try to get him to break the fellowship he had with his heavenly Father. The dark side made sure their influence was felt more than ever before on the people who lived in that area of the world, with the view of trying to beat Jesus down physically, mentally, and spiritually. First, they arrested him with armed soldiers and religious leaders, who brought him to the court of the High Priest to appear before Annas (John 18:3,13). Many of us saw from the television movies how a Roman officer standing nearby struck Jesus with the palm of his hand because Jesus did not answer the Roman governor in the way they wanted him to. What the television movies have left out is how they first took him to Caiaphas to look for false witnesses to frame him (Matthew 26:59-61). The High Priest accused him of blasphemy, judged him guilty, and gave him the death penalty (Matthew 26:65-66). The High Priest, Chief Priest, Scribes, and Elders began to torture Jesus. Not only were those guys the most respected people in the community, but they were also the top religious leaders of their day. It's also interesting to note at that time in history, there was no separation between church and state, like we have in our government today in the United States. In the days when Jesus walked the earth, the government leaders were also the religious leaders. Now remember these guys are running the top government courts, and they are the top religious leaders of their day. The only reason they took Jesus Christ to the Roman government was because the Roman government ruled over Jerusalem, and it was the Roman government who did not allow the Jewish government to put anyone to death. The Romans who decided to get involved on behalf of the Jewish community were the only ones who could legally give the death penalty. This was no angry mob that was out of control getting ready to string a man up on a tree. These guys were the High Priest, Chief Priest, Scribes, and Elders who began to torture Jesus. It was what kind of Priest, who accused him, judged him guilty, and gave the death penalty? It is written very clearly that the High Priest, under the authority of the Jerusalem government gave the death penalty. The Roman government, functioning within the Jewish community who were under their authority, were very capable of beating, torturing, and killing for the Jewish government. Now remember the enemy knows it would be a disgrace to God and Jesus if they could break him down physically, mentally, and spiritually before they kill him. It would break any and all promises God had set up for the relationship between God and the Christ if the enemy could break the perfect fellowship Jesus had with his heavenly Father. They began by spiting in his face (Matthew 26:67), they blindfolded him and began beating him repeatedly in the face and body with their fists. They must have really pounded the H out of him because the Scripture declares he was beat beyond that of any other man. As he was still blindfolded, they asked him to prophesy who was hitting him, mocking him as a prophet by asking him to identify the unseen attackers (Luke 22:63-64). Around dawn he was interrogated again and then taken to the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate (Luke 22:63-71,23:1). Pilate sent him back to Herod, who along with his soldiers, mocked him and dressed him in royal clothes like if he were a king, and sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23:6-11). Pilate had Jesus scourged, meaning he was savagely whipped by Roman soldiers using whips with bone-like substance at the end of the thongs. A band of soldiers, meaning hundreds, gathered to mock and torture him (Matthew 27:27-31, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:1-3). When the Romans beat a man, they would strip his clothes off and tie him to a stake. The bare back would have the flesh literally torn from the ribs, which would produce large welts of flesh on the back with a lot of bleeding. As he was dressed in royal purple clothes, the soldiers beat him again, placed a crown of thorns on his head, and then they paraded him before the people as a fool’s king. Isaiah 52:14 prophesied his appearance would be marred more than any man. Bloody, humiliated, a public exhibit, Jesus Christ was beaten so badly that many scholars believe he was not recognizable as a man. Because of the evil that was in these men, they were having the time of their lives stripping his clothes on and off. I am sure each time his clothes were stripped off of him, there was dried blood and scabs being painfully ripped from him. As he was mockingly dressed in royal purple clothes, they beat into his scalp the crown of thorns on his head, which must have driven the thorns into his head with tormenting pain. They bowed before him, spit on him, put a reed in his hand as if he were a king, and then they would take the reed away from him and beat him over the head with it. All of the clothes they put on him must have been soaked with blood. His head had to be bleeding severely, making his hair matted in blood. Nobody knows if this mocking and torturing continued all night. In the morning the soldiers had to dress him again in his own clothes, which probably caused more pain and bleeding by the changing of the clothing. I think it would be safe to say that he was probably carried or dragged out of the judgment hall since it does not seem likely he could have walked, being completely battered, a bloody piece of beaten, torn flesh that may have not been recognizable as a man. He was beaten cruelly with whips, punched repeatedly with the force of a soldier's fist, slapped with palms, and frequently beat with his face covered, and then teased to name who was hitting him. He had thorns beat into his scalp, was physically tortured, and was accused and interrogated totally illegally. He was spit on frequently, dressed and undressed by men, and was paraded as the village idiot—as he was mocked by the torturing soldiers before a crowd seeking his death. From the time Jesus was arrested to the time he was put on the cross was at least thirty-three hours. During this time, he faced unspeakable mental and physical torture, was horrendously flogged, and became a lacerated mass of bleeding flesh, beaten as badly as a man could be without having a bone broken. And then after the preceding hours of beatings, harassment, and physical abuse, he still hung on the tree for six hours after he was nailed to it. I am sure the streets were crowded to see Jesus when the soldiers “led him out” as they fully displayed his accusation. This was a man who only loved people, healed people, and declared God’s Word. With all the pain, humiliation, and suffering, they then nailed him to a tree. When he died, our only hope lay in a tomb, with a large rock that sealed the door, with guards standing outside the tomb. Matthew 28:2-4 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. The angel’s appearance was brilliant. The situation was so shocking to the guards they stopped dead in their tracks. Those boys were scared. (In verse 6) the angle said, “HE IS RISEN.” Jesus did not break down mentally or spiritually. It is written in first Corinthians 2:8, “none of the princes [devil spirits] of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Death no longer had any more effect over Jesus once God raised him from the dead. Why? Because Jesus Christ had stripped off all adverse principalities and powers and was no longer subject to the natural realm when he was raised from the dead. Jesus Christ was made free from sin and death and became “the first born among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). This new life is in Christ because God gave Jesus Christ the victory over death when He raised him from the dead, and this is why Christ is the first to have this new spirit of life, the free gift. 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: This is really a remarkable thing when we really sit down and think about it. What is the one element that will end the life of our body? The answer is death. God came up with the idea of raising people from the dead. The natural body, the body a person has before the return of Christ, has its limitations, but the spiritual body that Christ gives at his return is like his resurrected body—unlimited in scope and activity. Talk about the limitlessness of life! It's almost breathtaking as we look at the limitless possibilities of that new life. This is life with a capital “L,” capital “I,” capital “F,” and a capital “E.” Why? Because it's God’s power that will raise us up, and keep us up and alive throughout all eternity. What a fantastic, thrilling, and exciting life this will be. 1 Corinthians 15:36-38 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. Is God able to make us alive together with another who He has already made alive, and therefore plug us into a life-giving force? Think about yourself for a minute as a seed for a wild olive tree. What kind of fruit do you have as a seed? Do you have a root, trunk, branches, or leaves of any kind? The answer is no because you are only a seed. Let’s say you as the seed get planted, even though there is life within the seed, the shell must first die before the life within could come out and start to grow. Ephesians 2:5, tells us God “hath quickened us together with Christ.” What would happen to you as a little seed if you were already planted in good ground? You, a little seed must first die before you could be changed into something different like a little plant. Now think of yourself as a little plant that has already been grafted into another bigger plant. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 1 Corinthians 15:39-41 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. The majority of people of our time are content with accepting life as it is, thinking their life is the way it was designed to be. While some even think they are doing pretty well, others believe they are going to come back as another human or some other kind of earthly creature. For most of us we just refuse to accept we are going to have our earthly existence really end, because we somehow know there is something beyond. People all throughout the ages have had a hard time understanding how the dead will be raised and with what kind of a body will it be. Perhaps this would not be so difficult to understand when we think about the different bodies that are already on the planet. Humans do not have the same kind of a body as fish. Neither fish nor humans have the same kind of a body as birds. The skin is not the same, the legs are not the same, the arms are not the same, the wings are not the same, and the fins are just not the same. Terrestrial bodies are for the earth. I do not need to spend a lot of time telling you about terrestrial bodies because you know what an earthly body is—you have one. Celestial bodies are for the heavens because they are heavenly bodies able to function within the heavenlies. 1 Corinthians 15:42-45 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. A “corruption” body is a body that will lose valuable qualities as a result of slowly decaying, and thereby it will always be brought into a lower state, becoming corruptible, aging, breaking down, and thus, slowly dying. The incorruptible body will not lose valuable qualities as a result of decaying, because it's a body that is not brought into a lower state, nor will it age, break down, or die. Our “corruption” body is a disgrace, an insult, because it's a body of weakness that is lacking in strength, swayed by animalistic thinking and affections. There are many things involved in life and living that I do not understand. None of us know all the different ramifications of genetic disorders that produce malformations in life. I do not fully know how much of the hurt and suffering in life is due to the way our parents, grandparents, or we live. I do not know to what degree the food we eat, beverages we drink, newspapers we read, television that infiltrates our minds, or the hours we keep affect our physical bodies adversely. All I know is, even with the greatness of believing, I feel more and more that life even for one day is almost a miracle of existence. I would go to a dentist to have it filled or extracted if I had a decayed tooth. Perhaps if I had been put together better genetically, believed more, eaten better foods, drank better water, thought better thoughts, etc., I might not have had the decayed tooth. I will do my best to prevent a situation; but if it occurs, I will get it taken care of to the best of my ability. A spiritual body is a body belonging to the spiritual realm that will be influenced by or proceeding from what is spiritual. Christ in you is a down payment only, and how glorious and awesome that is! How magnificent and unlimited in scope and activity that new body will be. We shall be LIKE HIM! Just think how tremendous the living resurrected body of Jesus Christ performed. Do you remember when he was with the men on the road to Emmaus, and then in an instant he was gone, appearing later in a closed room? Then in another FORM he appeared unto two of them, at another time he appeared on the sea shore, and even before these appearances, he went and preached to the “spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19, Colossians 2:15). Where is that prison he went to and was able to preach? Wherever it is, Jesus Christ had to have some kind of a supercharged body to get there and show himself to that sector of the spirit realm. The life that is in our bodies is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11,14), and it is contaminated, finite, and corruptible (Psalms 51:5,14). But the life energy of the new body will be spirit eternal, vivacious, and remarkable. Just think how incredible our physical senses will be at that time, unaffected by a contaminated bloodstream and completely laced with and based upon a life-quickening spirit. Science tells us the closest planet to the Earth is about twenty-five million miles away from us. Our sun is about ninety-three million miles away from the planet Earth, which circles with other planets in space around the sun, making up our solar system. The idea of solar being the area the sun is reaching in gravity pull that goes beyond fifty billion miles. Our sun is only one of billions of stars in the universe that vary in size and energy with planets circling around them. The nearest star outside of our own solar system is over twenty-five trillion miles away from the Earth. Our sun and billions of other stars make up a giant galaxy that is believed to have about two hundred billion stars. One light-year is the distance of about six trillion miles and scientists believe most galaxies are about five thousand light-years long. Our galaxy, a spiral wheel of stars, is about a hundred thousand light-years long, and it rotates at a speed of about hundred and seventy miles per second. At this rate of speed, two hundred million years will be required for one rotation. One of our neighbor galaxies is believed to be two million light-years away from us. It's believed there are galaxies emitting a hundred thousand times more energy than our entire galaxy, known as the Milky Way. One must understand this whole thing is on, and it's in motion. Scientists believe there are thousands of galaxies making up what is called a cluster, reaching many billions of light-years throughout space, and it's also believed there are thousands of clusters, making up what scientists call a super cluster. No one knows what is beyond, but we know this thing is big and it's real. After reading books about the life of Albert Einstein, I started to think about what would happen outside of time if spirit moves at the speed of light or faster. Philippians 3:21, tells us we will have a new body that will be fashioned like the glorious body God gave Jesus Christ when He raised him from the dead. There is a terrestrial body and there is a celestial body, a natural body and a spiritual body, a body of dishonor and a body of glory, a body of corruption and a body of incorruption, a body of weakness and a body of power, a body for the Earth and a body for the Heaven. Will it be a solar body that will never wear out, or will we live outside of what we now know as time? I do not know. But one thing I do know—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be changed. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 1 Corinthians 15:2 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Before we are able to understand the meat of the greatness of God’s wonderful matchless Word, it is necessary for us to understand some very important biblical truths we must adhere to. I do not know why we have so many Christians who believe the entire Bible is written directly to them, the Church of God. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate such thinking, and I would like to add nothing could be further from the truth. It's true the Word of God was written for everyone for all time, and it's for our learning because it contains what everyone should know. That does not mean every part of it is addressed to everyone in this time, because the subject matter was written either to the Jews, to the Gentiles, or to the Church of God (1 Corinthians 10:32). To rightly understand the Word of God, one must understand what part is written to the Church of God and what part is written for the learning of the Church. Every word from Genesis 1:1, to Revelation 22:21, is written for our learning. However, not all of the words from Genesis 1:1, to Revelation 22:21, are addressed to us. We must learn to distinguish not only the various people, but also the different time periods God has spoken to if we want to understand the written Word of God. The time God spoke to the children of Israel is not the same time period He has spoken to us. The time He spoke to the prophets in the time of the Old Testament is not the same time period He spoke to His Son Jesus Christ in the time of the gospels. The different time periods in the Bible are called dispensations. The Greek word for “dispensation” is “oikonomia” meaning the act of administering. The word “o’kos” means house, and “nemo” means to dispense, to weigh or deal out, as a steward or housekeeper. Therefore, the word was used to manage or administrate a household. The word is used three times in Luke 16:2-4, where it's translated “stewardship.” In four other places it's translated “dispensation.” I like the word administration because it communicates very well with our current English language. We must understand these administrations have different time periods in the Bible and each have their own beginning and their own ending—with the exception of the last one. The first is called the Paradise administration. It was the time of innocence, the time before the fall that ends with Adam and Eve being expelled from the garden of the original paradise. The second is the Patriarchal administration. It was the time after the fall from the Garden of Eden, but before the Law was given. This second administration ended with the coming of the Law to Moses. The third is the Legal administration. It's suited only to Israel under the Law, and is sometimes called the Mosaic Law that terminated when Jesus Christ died. The fourth is the Christ administration that overlapped and functioned within the Law administration. Both the Law and the Christ administration officially ended with the coming of Pentecost. The fifth started on the day of Pentecost as recorded in the second chapter of the book of Acts. This is the present administration of Grace that is for the Church of God. It's the time period you and I now belong to because it's the Grace administration, without any distinction made between the Jew and the Gentile, which will end with the appearing of Jesus Christ. The sixth begins with the appearing of Jesus Christ, and the gathering together of the saints. Believe it or not, this administration ends with Satan destroyed, and the great white throne judgment. The seventh is the Glory or Paradise administration, which will not have an ending. Administrations must be adapted to the time periods in which they are carried out. The administration with Adam before the fall was different from the one with his immediate family after the fall. The administration with Israel “under the law” was carried out on different principles from the present administration of Grace. This present administration is different from the one that will characterize the return of Christ. The administration of Judgment will be different from the one that will belong to the administration of Glory, when all things shall be gathered together in one under the headship of Christ. We will never understand the truth of God’s Word if we neglect to rightly divide the subject matter. As far as we are concerned in this Grace administration, what happened to Israel in the Old Testament was written for our learning. If we do not rightly divide to whom it's addressed—the Jew, Gentile, or the Church of God, we will use one truth to contradict another truth, and we will use what is true for one group in contrast to what is also true for another group. These different administrations are suited to different times because God has spoken everything to its proper time and administration. We will never understand the truth of God’s Word if we read into one administration what God tells us belongs to another administration. If we believe what God said in one administration and carry it into another administration that was on a different principle, we will be taking what is true for one time, and using it to contradict what is also true for another time. When we mix them all together, by jumbling the whole Bible together: Law, Gospel, Grace, Judgment, Glory, Jew, Gentile, and the Church of God, we will be very confused in our understanding of the truth of God’s Word. What is written directly to the Jews, belongs to and is for the Jews. What is written directly to the Gentiles, belongs to and is for the Gentiles. What is written directly to the Church of God, belongs to and is for the Church of God. What does God mean when He tells us that the visions shown to Isaiah was concerning Judah and Jerusalem? It was not addressed to us or written concerning us, but it was addressed to and concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It would be dishonest for the Church of God to interpret to the Church of God what God said concerns Israel. The present administration of God is in the time period of the New Testament known as Grace. It deals with the new covenant, and it belongs to the time that is called the administration of the mystery. It's a period in time that was not made known to any one prior to this administration because God kept it a secret since the world began. From this our Grace administration, we learn God’s secret purpose that He had placed in Himself, according to the administration of Grace, which was first revealed to the apostle Paul. From the eighth chapter of the book of Romans, it's written to those who live in this present Grace administration, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” and “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” From the sixth chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, it was written to those who lived under the Law administration, “it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” However, from the third chapter of the book of Romans, it's written to those who live in this present Grace administration, “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” What was written to those who lived under the Law administration is the complete opposite of what is written to us who live under the Grace administration. We will always be in darkness and confusion regarding the truth of God’s Word if we do not understand the different administrations in the Bible. All hope for our redemption is in Jesus Christ, who was born into this world, died, and in the resurrection, he became the head of a new creation. The living resurrected Christ Jesus has become the one great subject that occupies the Word of God that the church belongs to. It's this Christ Jesus that is the key to the divine revelation in the Word of God for this our Grace administration. The contents of the New Testament must be understood in reference to Christ Jesus our Lord because the doctrine and nature of God for this our Grace administration are centered in His Christ. Jesus Christ had a humble beginning. “being found in fashion as a man” (Philippians 2:8), “made of a woman, made under the law” (Galatians 4:4), “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3), “in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus Christ dedicated himself to the fulfillment of the will of God at all costs to his temporary safety and well-being. Though in the “form of God” as His only begotten Son, “he thought that equality with God was nothing to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6—NIV). He never desired anything but to do the will of God (John 4:32), even when that will involved his own ignominious death. God highly exalted him and gave him a name that was above every name. Christ’s exaltation is thus the highest expression of God’s magnanimity, which He manifests in some form towards all them who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. The Christ Jesus today is not the same man, nor is he functioning today as he did in the last administration where he was a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. The Jesus of that time probably worked in a carpenter shop until he was about thirty. And then for a short period of time, he was an itinerant preacher—who never went to college, never had a family, never owned a home, never held an office, never wrote a book, and never traveled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular religious opinion turned against him—to the end that his friends ran away, denied him, betrayed him, and turned him over to his religious enemies. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his seamless robe that was probably the only piece of property he owned. I am far within the mark to say that of all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings who ever reigned, all the presidents who ever ruled, and all the men and women of power who ever lived, have not affected the life of people upon this earth as powerfully as that one solitary life, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the man of Galilee. It's a proven historical fact that twenty centuries have come and gone, yet he is still the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of all the columns of progress. This is not the same Jesus Christ who I speak of when I say he has won the victory for us. The Christ Jesus I speak of today is the one who God raised from the dead with POWER. It's the Lord Jesus Christ, who is functioning within this our Grace administration that we need to be concerned with. God first revealed His plan for a redeemer after the fall of Adam (Genesis 3:15). Until this redeemer came God preserved life on the earth, adopting Israel out of whom the redeemer would come. God performed both the functions of Creator and Lord throughout the Old Testament until his Son was made “Lord.” Jesus of Nazareth was the man who qualified for the job, becoming “Christ” once anointed with holy spirit at the baptism of John. He humbly subjected himself to the will of God in all matters, including the ignominious death of the cross. It was God, in loving response to his son’s meritorious service and proven commitment to His will, who highly exalted him to His right hand, giving him all authority as Lord. This arrangement will change once God and Christ have subdued all their enemies and the new heaven and earth are ushered in. God then reassumes His throne and enjoys eternal fellowship with His family, Jesus Christ being the first born of many brethren. Chapter Three Some Attributes The following are some of the characteristics that are in Christ. Please note very carefully that these attributes are those things God has made the living resurrected Christ Jesus to be. Authority: Permission to do anything. Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Hebrews 2:7-8 thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. When authority is given, it gives the receiver the absolute legal right to carry out the business of the giver. It's the power to perform acts on behalf of the one who gave the authority. With any authority given one must also be given the necessary ability to carry out the work that someone is now holding them responsible to achieve. For an example, let’s say you appoint Jack Jones to represent you in all matters relating to your apartment housing affairs. Jack can now do all things you would do if you were personally taking care of your apartment business affairs. Jack could collect the rent from your tenants, authorize all repairs to the apartments, and also draw money out of your bank account to pay the apartment bills if you gave him the authority in all matters. Jack could maybe collect the rent but not authorize repairs if you only gave him some authority. The Scripture tells us God put all in subjection under Christ, meaning nothing was left out that is not put under him. By what name or by what authority does our Lord function? By the name of Jesus Christ, because God gave him that name which is above every name when He made him both Lord and Christ. And this is why everything Jesus Christ does with this authority is done in the name of his Father, who made “him to be the head over all things to the church.” The Scripture declares “all authority” was given to him in heaven and on the earth (Matthew 28:18). He ascended to the right hand of God and assumed joint rulership of the cosmos as the Lord. First Corinthians 15:24-28 describes this present dynamic relationship. “Then cometh the end, when he [Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he [Christ] shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he [Christ] must reign, till he [God] hath put all enemies under his [Christ's] feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he [God] hath put all things under his [Christ's] feet. But when he [God] said all things are put under him, [Christ] it is manifest [obvious] that he [God] is excepted, [God is the only exception] which did put all things under him [Christ]. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, [Christ] then [not now, but at some future time] shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [God] that put all things under him, [Christ] that God may be all in all." All of this was set up a very long time ago and it will not change because of the solid principles it's based upon. The Scripture fits perfectly, reason is preserved, God is glorified, Christ is magnified, and the individual Christian can enjoy the benefits both now, and throughout all eternity. Lord: Mighty, principal ruler. He who assumes and exercises the power, while really possesses it as unlimited. Refers to Christ, and denotes his position of master in relation to his people, as he who has ownership and authority over them. Has the right and authority to institute, and command. Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The title "Lord" (Greek, Kurious) as Kittel's observes, means "one who has full authority." (7) In the Old Testament, God alone had "full authority" and filled both functions of Creator (Elohim) and Lord (Jehovah). Jehovah is used in connection with men with whom He has entered into some kind of covenant, starting with Adam in Genesis 2:7, and including Israel. Several redemptive characteristics and divine functions are associated with the sacred name Jehovah (Yahweh), including giving righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6), healing (Exodus 15:26), sanctification (Exodus 31:13), providing (Genesis 22:14), protection from enemies (Exodus 17:15), giving peace (Judges 6:24), and being continually present (Ezekiel 48:35). These functions can be assumed and/or delegated by persons having the authority. God has delegated many, if not all of these divine functions to Jesus Christ to share in as "Lord." Christ: Anointed, messiah, a term applied to everyone anointed with the holy oil, chiefly to the High Priest. The expected savior, as the redeemer. In the church epistles it often denotes Christ spiritual. Christ as the head of the one body. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. His actions give full and adequate expression to his nature that is found to be a firm, solid, reliable, permanent reality. Therefore, he can rightly be called a fortress, a refuge, or a solid rock to stand on. He proves to be the only unchanging reality, our only unshakable foundation that cannot be altered by changing circumstances. God, who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15), and whose vastness the heavens cannot contain (1 Kings 8:27), took up dwelling places among His people in the Old Testament. The tabernacle was a temporary dwelling place of His presence. Moses received detailed revelation specifying every aspect of this building (Exodus 25:1-9). Moses did not build it, but delegated the building to Bezaleel and Aholiab, who were two wise-hearted men (Exodus 31:1-6). The Temple was a more permanent dwelling place, the pattern of which was first revealed to David (1 Chronicles 28:1-13). David did not build the Temple, the responsibility for the building of it fell upon King Solomon who had Huram build it (2 Chronicles 3:1, 4:11). In Ephesians 2:20 22, it is revealed that God is constructing yet another habitation, not “buildings made with hands” (Acts 17:24), but a spiritual one for all eternity. Jesus Christ is the “chief corner” of this building and also the “head” of the body, which is the same reality as the “habitation of God." Following the same pattern established by the Old Testament physical precursors of the spiritual Temple, God has given the pattern for the building of this spiritual body to His Son Jesus Christ, the "head" and "Lord." He oversees the building according to this blueprint, delegating the actual building, the "legwork" so to speak, to the members of his body. To them has been committed the "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19), which they carry out, not by their own ideas, but by obedience to their Master who has the "Master Plan" supplied by God. Life: In all its manifestations, from the life of God down to the life of the lowest vegetable. It is necessarily active, it cannot be inert. In its essence or nature it is ever the same, and different only in its developments or manifestations. Each living person or thing has that portion of it which is needful for his or its designed position or purpose. Its one source is God, who is “the living One.” We live only in and by His life. He originates and sustains life in all by giving it out of Himself. In Him we live and move, and have our being. Life, must not be confounded with, or defined as “existence.” Existence applies to all created things. Life is the property of only some created things to which it has been communicated. Whatever has life has existence, but many things have existence which have no life. As used of the future life which we have now in Christ, is “The gift of God” (John 6:27,10:28), “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). Romans 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Colossians 3:3-4 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Did you catch that statement in Romans 8:2, about the law of the spirit of life in who? In Christ Jesus. The angels appear to have a spiritual life that far exceeds all the created life we have now. However, that is because our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). “it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). We are not going to get another body like the one we have now, with the idea of having the new body last forever because we are in a different area of the universe. This eternal life is a life that is a higher form from what we have now, and it's in His Son, our Lord Christ Jesus. It's a spiritual life that will be functioning in a spiritual way and in a spiritual realm. Life is spiritual, and we only have a small part of it for right now while we are on the earth. The life that God put in the living resurrected Christ Jesus is in its full measure. It's the life of God, meaning it comes from or proceeds out from the source of God, who is the one who originates and sustains life, and this is why it's written “in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts17:28). It's God in “Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27), throughout all eternity. It sends chills up and down my spine to think He chose me to be His son, to be a part of His purpose, His habitation, and to hang out with me forever. It's magnificent, dynamic, and beautiful when we realize our God is in Christ, and it's the life of Christ in us. I realize this information may take a couple of days to sink into the old gray matter. Please do not ask the unbelieving folks to explain any of this to you. Trust me on this one! There will be more on this spiritual understanding later, but for right now I want you to understand that the natural human being, who only lives by sense knowledge, are limited to their five senses. Those who do not have the spirit of God within, who live by what they can see, taste, touch, smell, and hear cannot understand spiritual matters. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Faith: A firm persuasion, the conviction which is based upon hearing, not upon sight, or knowledge, a firmly relying confidence in what we hear from God in His word. Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 Holding fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. To be able to trust God, one must be totally persuaded God can be trusted. Many people start to thank God and to request things from Him, but lose sight of His ability to supply their need and faint in the process. We need to get our eyes off of our believing as the supposed catalyst for results and look at God’s ability to perform in our lives. There were people who lived all throughout the centuries who have had this kind of trust with God, and they were able to come to Him and believe His Word to the end of receiving the desired results. Believing is not trying to believe, hoping the desired result will come to pass quickly so we do not need to be concerned about it. Believing occurs when we know in the depth of our heart that God is not only willing, but He is also able to deliver to the uttermost. We do not receive from God when we believe in our believing. If you believe you could get on an airplane, and the airplane held you from touching the ground. Then it would be the airplane that was holding you from touching the ground and not your believing. Now I realize you would not have gotten on the airplane if you did not believe the airplane could hold you up. It's not our believing that produces results, but it's God who is able to perform in our lives. By the way, I strongly suggest you get “in” the airplane if you plan on doing any traveling by way of the airlines. We will need to have the spirit of Christ born within us before we can trust God. The person walking by their five senses, with just body and soul, without the spirit of God within, will never be able to find or trust God. Pure reason that leads to the highest education, no matter how intellectual or how logical, will never put one into the state of finding, knowing, or trusting God. The problem does not necessarily occur because of a lack of knowledge on the subject matter, but because of the work effort involved in renewing one’s mind to stay faithful. Many believers find it difficult and consider it to be a monumental task to trust God even with all the biblical proof of Scripture that is available to prepare us to do so. Believers are lacking because they focus on their own ability to trust in themselves rather than God’s ability to perform in their lives. Part of the problem is the believer does not think they are good enough and often judge themselves by what they do or do not do, rather than who they are spiritually. One of the most significant causes for not trusting God is that many believers cannot focus their renewed mind towards God in life situations. For most of us, this is because we lack the commitment to stand long enough to see the desired results, and therefore we are limited in our endurance concerning how much God is willing and able to do for us. Have you ever felt like you were sitting on the bench while everyone else got to play? You were not big enough, fast enough, old enough, or just plain did not know how. Have you been talking yourself out of trying new things? Why not try replacing thoughts like “I cannot” or “someday when I have the time” with a simple “sure, why not?” Self-sacrifice, the giving of oneself completely is the passion of great people, most vividly exemplified in Jesus Christ. We can walk with power as a super-conqueror in the steps of Jesus Christ, because we have a treasure God has placed within us. I want to tell you the one driving force of our soul should be living within the faith of Jesus Christ with heart and intensity. We can walk in the brilliance and the greatness of his power and learn it's absolutely fascinating and a whole lot of fun to follow him around watching the impossible come to pass. We do not need to wait to walk out on our dreams because Jesus Christ is bigger than our understanding of him, and he would love to have us develop a heart-to-heart relationship with him. We will no longer need to put our trust in ourselves when we become totally persuaded in trusting God and are able to walk with Him to the end of manifesting power from on high. People find it hard to believe God because they do not believe He is able to function beyond their human concepts. It brings to my mind the following Scripture: Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. When and where we are committed to have the love of Christ in our life, we will no longer be at the mercy of the negative forces; and this is how light which is the reality pushes out darkness which is the absence of the light. In first John 4:18, we read “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” It is a proven fact there are only two great motivations in this life, love or fear—and we are all motivated by one or the other. General George S. Patton, once said: “A person who is afraid of failure will never win. Fear kills more people than death. A person who is always afraid will never really live because they will suffer a thousand deaths everyday.” Faith is incredible because it requires love and commitment to the people for whom we pray and not just a superficial running of someone or something through our mind. It's not a mere throwing up of a few words on someone’s behalf as we rush through the day. We are actually laying our hearts, lives, emotions, personalities, guts, and every fiber of our believing ability on the line for people when we pray for them. We know that the biblical word “faith” means a firm persuasion, the conviction that is based upon hearing, and not upon sight or knowledge. From the context in the Bible, this word “faith” means believing, a firm confidence, trustworthiness, and certainty. I am not trying to say such words do not define the word “faith” because they do. However, when it comes to the faith of Jesus Christ, we must understand the relationship Jesus Christ has with God to have this faith. It's beyond just trusting God because of the acceptance of the new established covenant that demands obedience to God’s testimony. Faith is not a leap in the dark, but a leap through the dark into the light. It's the intelligent acceptance of the report of a reliable witness that would persuade one to accept something as the truth in the reliability of the testimony. The faith of Jesus Christ is the relationship existing between God and Christ in the bond of the covenant between them. To recognize and acknowledge the relationship God has entered into with Christ, we must first understand that God is the originator of the covenant relationship, and God is the one who brings into being things that did not previously exist. This is His oath, His covenant, and He can be relied on to keep His part of the contract because He guarantees it, and this is His truth. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son who is expressing the acknowledgment of his Father’s promises and power. As I stated earlier, the faith of Jesus Christ is the relationship existing between God and Christ in the bond of the covenant between them. The faith Christ has is his faith because of his acknowledgment and acceptance of his Father’s new covenant. Thus, the “gospel of Christ” is born. This faith Jesus Christ has is solid because it's the trust Jesus Christ has with God, who brought him into this special relationship that created the bond of the new covenant between them. We can tap into this faith by our believing and walk and live within the power of the Scriptures because we are connected to the faith of Jesus Christ. It's not our believing that makes us righteous, but the faith of Jesus Christ, whereby we not only have our standing, but also have access to the high and holy privilege that comes with that spiritual standing. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. It's not how to get Christ to live within our natural realm, because the things of the spirit cannot enter the things of the flesh, and then be subject to the obedience of the natural realm. But to let Christ live within, by letting our spiritually renewed mind into his spiritual world, and letting his spiritual faith function within our natural world. The “Christ in you” is the ability to walk and talk with him, doing what he would have us do rather than walking by our senses or by the dictates of any human doctrine. We have the power within us of unlimited potential, and we can reach forth with the touch of the Master’s hand because he is in us—inside our being. And this is why wherever we are with God in Christ in us, we will have that same radiance, that same light, and that same life, which has magnified the Christ to shine. Not because of who we are, but because of what God made us to be when He created in Christ Jesus. God’s seed in us, also known as the gift of holy spirit, is our connection to God, who is the Holy Spirit. The gift of holy spirit is our power base because of our connection to Christ. When he was circumcised, we were circumcised with him. (Colossians 2:11) When he was baptized, we were baptized with him. (Romans 6:3) When he was crucified, we were crucified with him. (Galatians 2:20) When he died, we died with him. (Galatians 2:20) When he was buried, we were buried with him. (Colossians 2:12) When he arose, we arose with him. (Ephesians 2:6) When he ascended, we ascended with him. (Ephesians 2:6) When he sat down, we sat down with him. (Ephesians 2:6) We were called in him. We were made alive with him. (Colossians 2:13) We were baptized into him. (Romans 6:3) We were reconciled in him. We were redeemed by him. We were justified in him. We were made righteous in him. We were sanctified in him. (1 Corinthians 6:11) We were glorified in him. WE ARE CONNECTED MORE THAN WE REALIZE. “But before faith came, we were kept under the law” (Galatians 3:23). We were under the Law administration before God raised Jesus Christ out from among the dead and declared him to be the head of the body, with all of the necessary capabilities to carry out the job. This faith of Jesus Christ is powerful enough to give salvation to the entire body of Christ, which is the Church of God, enabling us to be justified, sanctified, and receive forgiveness of sins. Grace: God’s grace and favor manifested towards mankind or to any individual, which as a free act is no more hindered by sin. It's the grace of God, because it denotes the relation assumed and maintained by God towards sinful man. It's joined with Christ, because it's manifested in and through Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. We have access to the grace that is in Christ Jesus because God has made grace available through Christ, who is functioning within this time period. We need to understand that the Law given by Moses is very different from the Grace and truth that came into existence by the life of Jesus Christ. The works of the flesh, the works of the Old Testament Law, and good behavior does not make us acceptable with God. We have grace and are under the Grace administration because God has created it to be available only by the life of Jesus Christ. There is no other way under heaven we could have access, because grace is unearned favor, freely given through the limitless favor of God. It's not that everyone sins from time to time and needs to pray for the grace of God in assistance to perform some good thing. Grace is what Jesus Christ accomplished and made available through the new birth, and it's this triumphant grace of God that is in Christ Jesus, that has made the believer a part of the body of Christ. In Romans 5:21, it is written “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” There is a distinction between the natural realm and the realm of the supernatural. Human reason and logic can know the natural realm, but the realm of the supernatural, what is spiritual, can only be understood through the revelation of the truth of God’s Word. Grace supersedes our natural existence because grace belongs to the supernatural realm. Grace is permanent as recognized in the steadfast virtuous life of our Lord Christ Jesus. Grace deals with God, who has healed and brought us to the state of perfection, and made it possible for us to be free from the slavery of sin. This salvation and the spiritual capacities that grace entails are from the supernatural perfection that comes from God. Grace is the favor of God because He is freely choosing to create His free and unmerited favor that is the result from creating of Himself beyond the natural realm of existence. It's through the source of God’s favor that He has created something beyond, which are His gifts and supernatural order. Chapter Four More Characteristics Love: A word not found in the profane writers, nor in Philo and Josephus, nor in Acts, Mark, and James. It's unknown to writers outside of the New Testament. Chooses its object with decision of will, and devotes a self-denying, and compassionate devotion to it. Love in its fullest conceivable form. Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 Holding fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. What profit is there if we have all the faith and knowledge of the world, but do not have the love of God? This love of God is ours to function within because it was given to Christ Jesus, making it available for us to have access to it because we have access to our Lord Jesus Christ. This love of God that is also called the love of Christ is so wonderful, so astonishing, so remarkable, so marvelous that it's beyond our understanding; and thus, it is written when we live in it, we “may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Because of what God created in Christ to bring us to Him, we are forever the apple of His eye, His heart to the world, now and always, the focal point of a love beyond comprehension. When the King James Bible was being translated in the year sixteen hundred and eleven, the word “charity” meant the love of God. In its biblical usage it means God’s greatest love, manifested as the love of Christ, which is a spiritual emotion that is available to every Christian believer. It's an overwhelming desire welling up from the very heart of Christ within, and therefore it's a spiritual emotion not available to the person who does not have the spirit of God born within them. No believer can help but stand in utter amazement once they understand the heart, the tenderness, and the beauty of the fragrance of His great love. Because there are so many who continue to behave as though the love of God is not known, and since those of us with God’s love would give so freely to others was how the word “charity” has changed into our current English language to mean a hand out. Through our actions we think God’s love is a human give away program, a good will toward humanity, and thereby a way to help the poor. Make no mistake about the point I am making concerning God’s greatest love, which in its biblical usage means “the love of God” in its fullest conceivable form. We were born again to live in God’s love because He who is love has made our hearts able to love with His love. Because most of us never learn the love of God is why we find many dying of loneliness, feeling anxious, and unfulfilled. The limitless potential of the love of God is eager to be manifested and eager to be recognized because the need for love is the major drive and goal of a believer’s life. God never turns away from loving His people because God is steadfast and unchanging in His love, and this is why we have within us a reservoir of supernatural love that is the capacity to love with His love and touch people with the touch of the Master’s hand. There are only two great motivations in this life, love or fear—and we are all motivated by one or the other. Although it's true that people are to be loved and things are to be used, it's sad to note that many of us use people and love things. We need to take the barbed wire down from around our hearts and be strong in love as a standard, an attitude to live. To live in love is the joy of discovering a powerful life force of walking with God that opens up fantastic possibilities and wonders that are given to us. We are no longer at the mercy of other forces when we walk in the love of God because God’s love will become the most powerful force in our life. To live in God’s love is our greatest challenge that can be maintained in an in-depth relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. As I stated before, the prerequisite for the love of God [agape] is the new birth. A person must be born again of God’s spirit to receive the capacity to love with His love. Those who have the spirit of God within, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, can be filled with the true love they have longed for. He has called us to love and equipped us with the believing that unleashes the power of God because it's the love of God that energizes our believing. Love not only activates our believing, but it's greater than faith or hope, and this is why it is written in first Corinthians, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity [love of God], these three; but the greatest of these is charity” [the love of God]. It's not that we created God because we have a need to respond to love, but God who created us with the natural desire to respond to His great love. The fantastic greatness of God’s love is love in action because it's perfect love giving its all. It's a love that is active because it lives in the present and cannot be changed by place or time. This love is the only way for God’s people to live out their lives because our very nature demands we reach out beyond ourselves for the love of God—and come to know the God who so loved that He gave. The love of God is not jealous, conceited, or proud. It's not ill-mannered, selfish, or irritable. The love of God never keeps a record of the wrong in life. It's not happy with evil, nor does it even think evil. The love of God edifies; it's patient and kind; and it's always happy with the truth. The love of God never gives up, and it never fails. First Corinthians 14:1, tells us to “Follow after charity” [agape], which means to pursue, to be on a quest with an adventure that starts between our ears. We must so accelerate our thoughts upward (Colossians 3:2) that we are reaching to think and live God’s love in our daily endeavors. It's something to reach for, dig after, pursue, think, and do. Never quit reaching. In the Bible the word “love” is translated from a number of different Greek words, and we must understand these different variations to be able to understand love in the way it's used in the Scriptures. I believe the love we are always falling in and out of is what the Greeks call “phileo” meaning to kiss or to be in a friendship in an active manifestation; to hold, or embrace in a friendship kind of a way between people; the passionate side of making love when it's between a man and a woman. “Phileo” never means to cherish with reverence, nor is it ever used of human love to God; but it's known to be more of an emotion that springs naturally from the one we care about. It's not a proper feeling, and it's often used even when there is no reason for it. The word “phileo” is a passion for life that deals with an excessive amount of desire to keep it going. The Greek word “agapao” means more to regard, to esteem with an internal feeling of kindliness, and to cherish with reverence. This kind of love is dealing more with the ability that is in the free will, and it's interesting to note it's translated in other places as the word “beloved.” This word “agapao” never means to kiss, but it's used to make a big deal out of something, to admire for a good and sufficient reason. It's never used of an improper love, but it's always used of human love to God, and it's used of God’s love to us. To have this kind of love is to be able to love life with a real interest. The highest word the Greeks had for love at the time of the first century was the word “philanthropia”—that even in its best performance, it was only giving to one who was deserving of it. Let’s look first at the way the word “agapao” is used in the Scriptures. Things work together for good to them that love God. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. To love one another. God has prepared for them who love Him. God loves a cheerful giver. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me. God loved. Christ loved. Husbands love your wives. Christ loved the Church. Who love his appearing. Love yourself. Love Jesus Christ. Love not the world. Love righteousness. To love God. Love one another with a pure heart. Love the brotherhood. Love life. He that loved his brother is in the light. Whoever can love is born of God. If you do not love, you do not know God. The last word for love we are going to look at is very different from the other Greek words. E. W. Bullinger, defines the word “agape” to be a word that is not known in the profane writers, nor is it found in the book of Acts, Mark, or James. It is literally unknown to writers outside of the New Testament. It's a love that comes from admiration that chooses its object with the decision of the free will, and there is a great self-denying and compassionate devotion to it. It literally is love in its fullest conceivable form. Now let’s look at how “agape” is used in the Scriptures. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. God commendeth His love toward us. No one can separate us from the love of Christ. No one can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Love does not hurt anyone. Love is of God. Walk in love. God’s great love. The love of the Father. His love is perfected in us. Love of God is worth more than having the greatest gift of prophecy. Love is better than all of the understanding in all the great mysteries of life. Love is greater than the greatest believing that would be able to move mountains. Love is better than anything you could ever do, unless you do it in love. Love is not easily provoked. Love of God is greater than all the faith or hope. Love of God we should seek after. We should do all things with the love of God. Men could have this kind of love one toward another. In Jesus Christ, faith works by this love. Serve one another in love. Fruit of the spirit is love. That we should be holy and without blame before God in love. Being rooted and grounded in love. To know the love of Christ which is beyond our understanding. Love can allow us to be filled with all the fullness of God. This love can hold people up… hence to endure. Speak the truth in love so as to grow in knowledge and in judgment. The love that one has will allow you to walk by the Spirit of God. This love is the bond of perfectness. To live and work in this love. To praise someone in love. Our hearts can be in the love of God. This love is above the law and an end to it. Love which is in Christ Jesus. God gave us this love. We can be strong in love. Love Jesus Christ. Labor of love, God will remember. Above all things, have this love among ourselves. This love can cover a multitude of sins. The love of God can be perfected when we live through Jesus Christ. The love of God has bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of God. The love of God is what allowed Jesus to give up his life for us. The love that God has for us. God is love. We can dwell in love, and thus dwell in God and God in us. Our love is perfect because it is the love of Christ. There is no fear in love. Perfect love cast out fear. Do you get the idea that this “agape” is a different type of love? It is God’s LOVE. Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love [agape] wherewith he loved [agapao] us, Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, [agape] as Christ also hath loved [agapao] us, Love [agapao] not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love [agapao] the world, the love [agape] of the Father is not in him. Beloved, let us love [agapao] one another: for love [agape] is of God; and every one that loveth [agapao] is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth [agapao] not knoweth not God; for God is love. [agape] Herein is love, [agape] not that we loved [agapao] God, but that he loved [agapao] us, No man hath seen God at any time. If we love [agapao] one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love [agape] is perfected in us. Glorify: To think, be of opinion, to hold anyone for anything. In later Greek writers, to recognize, honor, praise. To invest with dignity, make anyone important, to cause him honor by putting him into an honorable position. Hence, the New Testament meanings are 1. To recognize, honor, praise. To bring to honor, make glorious; glorify, but strictly, to give anyone importance. (When predicated of Christ it means that his innate glory is made manifest and brought to light.) By bestowing honor, praise, or admiration. To elevate to great beauty, charm. To be better than the actual condition. This new position. The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; The Bible tells us that since Jesus Christ is glorified, and since we have the spirit of Christ born within is how that puts us into the category of being glorified by God. It is written in Romans 8:29-30, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans is telling us that by the knowledge of God, we were appointed to destiny by His divine decision to receive salvation. We will become similar to the image of His Son (who is the first to be risen out from among the dead) when Jesus Christ appears for the gathering together of the saints. Those who are the called of God, are the ones He invited into this extraordinary liberation from the slavery of sin nature, and therefore was able to transform us into a more excellent beauty. I would like to point out we can only be glorified because it's God’s superiority, and exalted light that has magnified the Christ to shine in such beauty as an image of light, with divine praise, honor and dignity. It's the Christ who blazed a trail to God’s heart of love, and therefore was the first who was transformed into a more splendid and excellent beauty. Justify: To set forth as righteous, to justify by a judicial act. By a judicial decision to free a man from his guilt (which stands in the way of his being right) and to represent him as righteous. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by ["by" is the Greek word "ek" meaning "from out of"] faith, we have peace with God through [through is the Greek word "dia" meaning "proceeding from"] our Lord Jesus Christ: Most of the New Testament deals with the new covenant in this our Grace administration that started on the day of Pentecost. God’s justification and how it cannot be earned is clearly written all throughout the New Testament. And yet most of us believe by way of our actions that we somehow need to find a way within our own thinking on how to justify ourselves. We put the emphasis on ourselves so we become centered, the subject, and God the object. We become the doer, the giver, and God becomes the one done for, or the receiver. For justification we believe in human nature, believing we are able by our own effort, by our own works, by our own ethical and moral achievements to please God, and attain righteousness. We then try to seek God, attempting to discover God by our unaided intellect. We need to understand the emphasis is on God, who is central, the subject, and we are the object because of what God made available to Jesus Christ, which allowed him to have the bond that created the relationship between him and God. God becomes the doer, the giver, and we are the one done for, the recipient. Truth is to not have faith in human nature because human nature is basically sinful and helpless to please God. Truth is God seeking us, and this is God’s revelation of Himself to anyone who will let Him be known to them. We are justified from out of faith, and we already have peace with God, proceeding from our Lord Jesus Christ. We have this justification freely because God’s justification cost Him His only begotten Son, and this is why we cannot earn it from our own achievements. We have it because of God’s grace and because of the redemption that is within the risen and living Christ. It's not what we do, it's what we have—it's who we are. Justification is the relationship between God and His people because it deals with the covenant of God and how He has taken what was broken by sin and made it right. The word “justify” means literally “to make just” or “to make right” just like if you have never sinned. To enter a covenant with another entailed obligations upon both of the parties. The ones who were faithful to the obligation and maintained the covenant were the ones who were justified. In the case of the covenant between God and His people is where we see God’s obligation is in the defense of His people. Our obligation is to obey the will of God as disclosed in the “gospel of Jesus Christ” that is written to the “body of Christ” in this time period of the Grace administration. To be justified is an act of God because He has made us justified, and His justification is shown by His saving acts. The results of the resurrection of Christ and God making the new Christ justified had resulted in Christians finding themselves in a right relationship with God, who has established this “new covenant.” Justification has not come about because of anything believers are capable of achieving on their own. The power and mercy of God alone has established this new relationship, and this is why the believer’s role is simply to believe and accept. Justification deals with the relationship between God and Christ in the bond of the covenant between them, which started when God raised Jesus Christ out from among the dead. Justification is made available to us because it's Christ Jesus, who has this covenant with God and thereby has complete liberation from the nature of sin. We have this changeover from the state of injustice to the state of justice, from being the accused to being declared innocent because of this personal relationship Jesus Christ has with God. Righteousness: The doing or being what is just and right. The character and acts of a man commanded by and approved of God, in virtue of which the man corresponds with Him and His will as His ideal and His standard. It signifies the sum total of all that God commands and approves. As such it's not only what God demands but also what He gives to man. Hence it's a state called forth by God’s act of justification, by judicial deliverance. Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: It's awesome to realize we are God’s glorious inheritance in the family of God, and we have an inheritance that will allow us to be seated in the heavenlies in God’s household. We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, who has made it available for us to be righteous, receive redemption, sanctification, and wisdom. We are reconciled and made members in the one body of Christ, making possible God’s plan for bridging the gap between the carnal and spirit world because of the work of His dear Son Jesus Christ. Righteousness is our God given ability to stand before God with Christ, who has given us the high and holy privilege of standing with him, without any sin, condemnation, frustration, or fear. God is almighty, all powerful, and all loving over all that is in heaven and on the earth, and this is why He is righteous in judgment over good and evil, beyond time, space, and change. It's totally impossible for people to immortalize themselves and attain the righteousness of God by participating in sacraments such as to pray, praise, and give thanks. It's not the hymns, chorales, chants, or the instrumental music. It's not the buildings for worship, the art, the architecture, the kneeling, dipping, dunking, chanting, counting, lighting, confessing our sins or moral and political behavior. Many Christians try to earn God’s righteousness by being a good person, a good member of their church, a good father or mother, or a good child. Some try by being a good worker, a good student, a wonderful husband or wife, and a good neighbor. Some try by singing more hymns, by running to the altar, by confessing their sins, and by being a law-abiding citizen. Others try by water baptism, the Old Testament Law, the rosary, fasting, giving to their church, and giving to the poor. These are all nice and wonderful dynamic moral commitments that, at best, are only the commandments of people. Jesus once told the religious leaders of his time they were teaching for the truth of God’s Word, “the commandments of men.” It appears we continue to do the same in our day and time. People can never win the right to stand before God’s righteousness through their own traditions and ordinances, which at best, are only the consequences of the commandments of people. The only begotten Son, who is in the Father’s love, comfort, and rest, has declared and unfolded the concealed things of God once and for all. The world so desperately needs the light of the gospel of Christ, who has shown us the Father’s heart, so we who hunger and thirst after righteousness can be filled. Redemption: The act of freeing or releasing on receipt of a ransom, redemption as the result of expiation, deliverance from guilt and punishment of sin, and applying to the whole being, deliverance of the soul from sin, and the body from the grave. Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Redemption is God buying us back, to liberate by releasing us from the blame, and to gain the title by payment that is necessary to convert us into something of value. It's not that we have the expiation of sin by the life, sufferings, and death of Jesus—because there is no sacrificial atonement in the death of Jesus for the sins of humanity. It's not that Jesus was intended to meet the demands of the law of God that would make such a moral impression upon humans in favor of God, that this would render our forgiveness from sin. And in the end, we would have divine justice that made the forgiveness of humanity possible. The deliverance is in the state of grace from God, who has chosen to deliver us from sin. We are therefore redeemed because Christ, who is the redeemer, paid the price to buy us back. How our heavenly Father’s heart must long to have His children come home and be freed from the spiritual chains of darkness that have gripped so many in the world. Sanctification: Essential purity, elsewhere holiness. To deliver from that state, put into a state corresponding to the nature of God. 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Jesus Christ stripped off all adverse principalities and powers and was no longer subject to the natural realm when he was raised from the dead. God has made Jesus Christ to be free from among the exercised or operative influence of sin. It's Jesus Christ who became the first to be set apart from sin, appointed to a new position of work, by way of a ceremonial cleansing and purification by his Father. Therefore, he was made free from the slavery of sin nature and death, and became the head of the body, the first born among many brethren. Chapter Five A Higher Court Ordained: To make or set a boundary. To bound, then to mark out definitely, determine. To arrange, put in order or ranks. In a military sense, to draw up soldiers array, to order anything to be done, to appoint. Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. Jesus Christ is the one who is established by the order and appointment of God to issue the necessary order of the new covenant, and to be the judge of those who are alive and who have died. Anoint: To touch the surface of a body slightly. This word denotes the official anointing as of a King or Priest. For of a truth against the holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Prophets, Priests, and Kings were anointed before they assumed office that signified royal competence. Anointing was a means of investing someone with power, such as the anointment of King Solomon to signify divine sanctification and approval. Aaron was the first to be anointed for the priesthood, and the High Priest was often called the anointed Priest. The prophet Elijah was anointed and received the command to anoint Elisha. The character of the anointment gave the King the privilege of becoming the Lord’s anointed, that signified he was to serve God and reign in God’s stead over the people. The right to anoint the King was executed by the Prophet, and then later in time, only the High Priest had the right to anoint the King. The title “the Lord’s anointed” was later shortened to “anointed.” The Hebrew, in the Aramaic form uses the word “messiah.” The Greeks translated “messiah” into the Greek as “Christ.” Jesus was anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King to signify the fulfillment of the promised messiah. Jesus was also anointed by God with the holy spirit and with power (Acts 10:38). As believers we are anointed by God because of the seed of Christ that is born within us. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God” (2 Corinthians 1:21). High Priest: Chief official in the Temple, the great Priest, the anointed Priest. The Old Testament mediator between God and the people of Israel who, in addition to performing sacrifices and rituals like other Priests, acted to expire the sins of the nation. Jesus Christ is the perfect High Priest who took upon himself the sins of the entire world, and is the mediator of the new covenant between God, and man. Hebrews 8:6-8 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: God said He would make an everlasting covenant with Israel and with Judah, and He would never be the one who would break the promises He made to them. He made it known to Israel and Judah there would be a new and better covenant that would be coming. This covenant God set up with Israel and Judah is called an everlasting covenant because it's God’s sworn promise, made binding by an oath that deals with the Paradise administration that will not have an ending. God’s sworn oath that was recognized by Israel and Judah created a relationship between God and them that was regulated by the terms of the covenant. It will be very shocking news to the unbelievers when they find out God’s sworn oath is in position and operational whether or not anyone believes it. As we recognize God’s oath, the new covenant, His promise that He made, it creates a covenant relationship between Him and us. It's God who has made the covenant and sworn the oath by giving His Word. The Old Testament was to the end of bringing His Son Jesus Christ, the redeemer into the world to make available God’s dream. God’s desire for people was that we would be His habitation, a collective body of individuals in whom He would dwell. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, said the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. In the old covenant that God made with Israel, at the time when they were under the Law administration—was when God told the people of Israel to make Him a sanctuary that would be used for Him to dwell among them. Holiness was taught to Israel by a series of comparisons, and purity pervaded all the ceremonies of the service in the Temple. The shewbread were loaves of bread arranged in such a way it expressed heavenly bread, that would be eaten to give life and nourishment, making it possible for God’s presence to be enjoyed. The Temple was designed with ten curtains of fine twined linen that were blue, purple, and scarlet, with cherubims of pure fine sheets of gold that were engineered with ingenious artistic design. They set a table on the other side of the veil, and placed the candlestick over against the table on the south side, and another table on the north side. The candlestick was designed with a shaft, branches, bowls, knobs, and flowers that were all made of pure fine metal sheets of thin gold. Thin plates or leaves of hammered silver were also used along with gold leaf to overlay the wooden core of an image. The tables were made of marble, silver and gold, and were used for the arrangement of the bread, the slaughtering of the sacrifices, and for the sacrifice instruments. Eight tables were used for the sacrifices, one of marble for parts of the offering, one of silver for the sacrificial instruments, one of marble for the new bread, one of gold for the old bread, and the golden table for the bread of the presence. The Temple was a temporary place where one would go for divine blessing in building form. Now it's in Christ, who is a permanent place, where one needs to go for divine blessing because of this new covenant God has with Christ. Hebrews 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; The veil was blue, purple, and scarlet, made of fine twined linen from a beautiful artistic pattern that was to hang at the entrance to the most holy place in the Temple. This was the inner room known as the holy of holies that symbolized the very heart of God’s glorious presence, where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept. In the beginning no one could enter through the veil except the Levitical Priests. Later in time only the High Priest could enter through the veil once a year—on the day of the atonement to be in the holiest part of the Temple. The veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom at the exact moment Jesus Christ was dead, exposing the most holy place to view—the meeting place of God’s glorious presence with man was now open to all. Hebrews 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had man’-na, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables [tablets] of the covenant; Moses told Aaron to take a jar of about two dry quarts of manna and place it before the Lord. To place it before the Lord would mean to place it in a certain part of the Temple, and that position may have been in front of the Ark of the Covenant, that would signify in front of, or in the presence of God. This was done so future generations could see the food that God had fed their forefathers with when they were in the wilderness. God had them make the Ark of the Covenant out of shittim wood, which was about three feet and nine inches long, about twenty-seven inches wide and about twenty-seven inches high. God told Moses to put Aaron’s rod in the Temple for a token against the rebels. This refers to the wonder-working rods of Moses and Aaron, that began as simple shepherd staffs, but were endowed by God with supernatural powers, and were used in the miracles in Egypt and in the wilderness. They were to put into the Ark of the Covenant the testimony God gave to them, which included the tablets containing the Ten Commandments that Moses broke. God wrote the Ten Commandments on tablets again, and they were to be kept in the Ark of the Covenant. Hebrews 9:5 And over it the cher’-u-bims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. The Lord told Moses to tell Aaron not to go on the other side of the veil, where the Mercy Seat is upon the Ark of the Covenant until it's time for the atonement. At the time of the atonement, God would appear in a cloud upon the Mercy Seat, in the holiest part of the Temple known as the inner room, that symbolized the very heart of God’s glorious presence. The Mercy Seat was a slab of specially refined gold on the top of the Ark of the Covenant. It was not a lid or covering to the Ark of the Covenant, but the support of two cherubims that formed one piece. Cherubims: The Godhead is presented at the same time with them, and uses them as the basis of His throne. They are never worshipped, but offer worship. Not the angels, there is no reason, evidence, or connection. They are distinguished from the angels in Revelation 5:8, 11, and 7:11. First they, and then the angels worship, and angels in Revelation 5 would scarcely be represented emblematically and literally in the same verse. They are never dismissed on any errand as angels are, but are ever attached to the throne. They are distinguished from the Church in Revelation 5:9, 10. Also distinguished in Revelation 7:9-11. Not in keeping with their presence in Eden, Tabernacle, and Temple. Not books, but living creatures giving worship. They are not symbols, but representatives. Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priest went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. The High Priest would say this is the offering made by fire that you shall offer to the Lord, two lambs of the first year without spot for a continual burnt offering. Another requirement for the sacrifice of human sin was that the animal used had to be without spot or blemish, and that meant an imperfect animal could not be used. Jesus Christ was such a sacrifice because he was without spot or blemish. Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: Throughout the Old Testament a temporary atonement for sins had been made available by way of the death of animals sacrificed annually by the High Priest. He was the only one allowed to enter into the holiest part of the Temple that symbolized the very heart of God’s presence. The High Priest would make the atonement with blood for the sin offering upon the horns that were on the altar in the most sacred chamber of the Temple. It was the holiest ceremony performed annually and carried out in service to the Lord. Hebrews 9:8-9 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; The offering of the animals under the Old Testament Law had only temporary effects, and thereby had to be offered year after year. In the new covenant, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, who entered into the holy of holies, the glorious presence of God’s heart once and for all. Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. The Priest would wash his clothes and bathe in water before he would come into the camp, and yet he would still be considered unclean until that evening, when he would sprinkle the blood of a bull with his finger eastward upon the Mercy Seat seven times. God wanted them to make true sacrifices that would come truly from their heart for the atonement and healing of their lives. God wanted them to pledge their loyalty to Him and their integrity to the meaning of the atonement involved in the sacrifice, and not just for practice or lip service. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Since Adam’s blood had become corrupt, and since the bloodline is determined from the father’s side. Then every child born since Adam would have the same blood. However, the bloodline of Jesus Christ was determined by the sperm God created in Mary’s womb, and therefore the characteristics of the genes God created would put Christ in the category of a man without spot or blemish. We are not redeemed with corruptible things, neither are we redeemed with the blood of animals, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, a lamb without blemish and without spot. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprikled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. Moses would take half of the blood and put it in basins and the other half of the blood he would sprinkle on the altar and on the people. Then he would say, behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words. The hyssop was a small bushy plant used with the scarlet wool that was dipped in blood, and then that blood would be used to sprinkle over the book and the people. The people would bring the High Priest cleansed birds that were still alive, with cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop to be used in the service of burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings to the Lord. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool were used in the purification rite and all burned in the end. With the blood from bulls, goats, and cattle they would smear the horns that were on the altar with their finger, and then pour the rest of the blood beside the bottom of the altar. Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It's the blood that was used on the altar to make the atonement for their souls because the life of the flesh is in the blood. And since the covenant with Israel was a covenant of blood that made the atonement for the soul, it put Israel into the category where God said He would protect them, and He would not be the one who would break the covenant of blood. There are certain universal immutable laws that were established by God for the legal requirement of the shedding of blood for redemption. Since human blood had become corrupt, it was necessary that blood be shed for remission of sin, and this is why it's a legal requirement set forth in God’s Word. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Righteousness could have come by the Old Testament Law if there had been a law given that would have given life. But the Bible clearly teaches that everyone was under sin, without God and without hope, until “the promise” that came by the faith of Jesus Christ was made available to us who believe. God never really had any pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, but there was just no other way at the time to cover up for the nature of human sin. But now in the new covenant, we are not just covered up, but we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, who entered into the holy of holies, the glorious presence of God’s heart once and for all. Jesus Christ in being the ultimate sacrificial lamb had only to fulfill God’s specifications for the Passover. The High Priest was the head of the priesthood, functioning as the head of the Temple, and the official representative between God and Israel. To carry out such a responsibility he was forbidden any impure contact that might defile him. Only he could enter once a year in the innermost part of the sanctuary of the Temple, known as the holy of holies where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept, to proclaim divine revelations, having the exclusive privilege of consulting God directly. Appeal to him could be made in any matter because he exercised supreme authority over the worship and the Temple, as the mediator between God and Israel. Jesus Christ is the perfect High Priest, who took upon himself the sins of the entire world, and is the mediator of the new covenant between God and us. The Temple was a temporary place where one would go for divine blessing in building form, but now it is in Christ, who is a permanent place, where one needs to go for divine blessing because of the new covenant God has with Christ. In the new covenant, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, who entered into heaven itself to appear in the holy of holies, the sacred chamber of the heart of God’s glorious presence for us. Jesus Christ is the promised seed and faithful High Priest, who fulfilled all the law, and is set between God and us—because he is connected to both sides, and thereby he is able to work with God and with us. My mind boggles over God’s heart of love, His compassion, and the tenderness to have Jesus Christ, who is the greatest food of all time, the bread of life, to establish a true and vital spiritual relationship between God and us. Mediator: One who intervenes between two parties. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, A mediator is the third party through whom agreement is reached between two parties previously in conflict with each other. Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, the one whose action makes the covenant possible, and who is the guarantor of its execution. Christ Jesus is the one functioning as a go between, in order to initiate a relationship with us because he is literally connected to both sides, and therefore he is set between God and us. It's our big brother Christ Jesus, who is the one who is acting as a guarantee—to secure something that otherwise would not be obtained. Christ is the better covenant, the new covenant, guaranteeing its terms for the Christian people before the almighty God. Christ Jesus is producing peace for the salvation of his Church and has made a promise of assurance that the new covenant will perform satisfactorily because he is the one who is set between God and us. Advocate: He who has been or may be called to help; a pleader who comes forward in favor of, and as the representative of another. 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Jesus Christ is the person who is professionally qualified legally to plead our case in the highest court. As a technical term, advocate was used mainly in the legal systems that was derived from the Roman law. Christ, and only Christ, has taken the position of an advocate for us with God, and therefore he must have some claim upon the divine benefaction and the legal right to stand with us and speak in our defense. What a wonderful day it will be in our community, in our lives, and in our hearts when we realize the breach of God’s laws have been completely paid for, and Jesus Christ is in the heavenly courtroom to plead our case. We who were dead in our sins, because we were without God and without hope for salvation, have been made alive by an attorney who paid the consequences for our shortcomings and has taken up residence at the right hand of the throne of God to defend us. Intercessor: Is one who intercedes on behalf of another. Romans 8:34 It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: The intercessor must have standing before God, just as defense attorneys must have standing before the court where they are pleading. Christ Jesus intercedes by placing his incorruptible life at the service of the Christian people to help in the form of a supporter. Christ has undertaken to see to it that this new covenant will not go unfulfilled since this function of the intercessor is related to the divine promise that is in the relation between God's sworn oath and us. Since God is one of the parties involved in the covenant and since there is no higher court that God could represent His covenant in relation to us; the only possible solution is to have Christ vouch for God’s oath to the new covenant. Since we are the other party involved in the covenant and since God has made His Son our brother and Lord, by way of the spirit of Christ within us; the only possible solution is to have Christ vouch for us in the relationship of this new covenant. Chapter Six The Father’s Representative Name: That by which one is known. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. A man’s name meant more than just a label of identification in the days when Jesus Christ walked the earth. The man’s name carried the characteristics that the name implied, such as authority, character, rank and power—everything the name covers as expressing his attributes. A man’s name not only revealed his character or authority on whose behalf one would act, but it also was the identity of how one was known, expressing the essential nature of its bearer, the personality and expression of the man’s innermost being. To be called by the name of a person would denote the standing in a peculiar relation to him, or being his property. To speak or act in a person’s name would be to act by his authority, and thereby to represent or participate in his revealed nature. Names in the Bible were considered to identify and describe the very being and function of their bearers because a man’s name represented him wholly. A person could exercise influence over a man by using his name because one would need to conform to his essential nature as expressed in his name. The Old Testament prophets spoke in the name of the Lord with all His authority and power. Jesus claimed to have come in his Father’s name, meaning as the Father’s representative. We have only one life to live and give our utmost for His Highest. Do we dare to live in the powerful and victorious name of our living Lord and savior Jesus Christ, calling upon his name to invoke him on the basis of his revealed nature and character? Highly Exalt: To make high above, raise high above, raise high. To highly exalt over all. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: God highly exalted the living Christ by raising him in rank, power, and character. The Father gave him a name that is above every other name when He made him both Lord and Christ, making it available for him to function as the head of the church that you and I now belong to. God, who is almighty in heaven and on the earth, has given Christ the absolute rule, authority, and power and has set him over the works of the Church of God, making him the head of the body of Christ that is functioning within this our Grace administration. Purposed: To make, a setting before or forth, a setting out; deliberate resolution. Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: God’s purpose is a deliberately conceived plan, proposed for action because only God’s purpose can triumph in the end, and only God’s purpose is certain and sure, since God’s existence cannot be separated from His purpose. People are able to have their own purpose and even pursue them in the short run. God’s purpose is His eternal will and plan, as it always was and always will be unchangeable on the earth or in heaven. Christ Jesus is the intended result for our design that God has set up as an end to be attained, and therefore Christ is probably the reason the planet is spinning, or for that matter was even created. It was not our idea to try to figure out a way to save ourselves via our own plan and purpose, but God who planned His purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord. God made Christ to be the genuine, authentic, exact, precise, accurate, legitimate, right way. God made Christ to be the proper fit, accurately shaped and placed in a sure and unfailing state. We now live as members of his body, with Christ as the head, because he ascended to the headship of the Church of God. This church of the one body forms the habitation of God, which makes it possible for our heavenly Father to take up residence in Christ in us. This is God’s greater purpose that He kept hidden from before the foundations of the world. Peace: Rest, in contrast with strife, and denoting the absence or end of strife. As influenced by the Hebrew. A state of health or well being, it denotes a state of untroubled, undisturbed well being. The peace which is the result of forgiveness enjoyed, must not be confounded with the peace Christ has “made” by the blood of his cross. The peace of God in Philippians 4:7 is the peace which God has, as being free from all anxiety and care. In proportion, therefore, as we “make our requests” unto Him, a measure of the peace which He has will “keep” us from being “careful” (full of care). Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: We already have peace with God because our Lord Jesus Christ is the prince of peace, the one who has made it available for us to be God’s habitation, belonging to the household of God, and to be joint heirs with Christ Jesus. It's his gospel, his church, and he is at peace with God, who made it available for us to be at peace with the spirit of Christ that is in us via the new birth. We already have peace with God because we are connected to the life of Christ Jesus via the spirit that is born within us at the time of our new birth. To understand the following verses, we will need to understand that those who follow after the flesh, the human carnal thinking that comes from our five senses, will always function according to the same information that comes to those carnal senses. But they that follow after the functions of the spirit from God will function according to the things that belong to the spirit of God. The carnal mind is not set up to understand, function, or to be subject to the things concerning the spirit of God. Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:7-9 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Like I said before, it's not how to get Christ to live within our natural, carnal, five senses thinking. The carnal mind cannot, it simply cannot, connect with Christ or please God. Have you ever noticed that so many of our churches have a very large list of different human carnal rules and regulations they try to get us to live by? Our churches today have far too many ways they keep trying to get us to redeem ourselves and obtain our own righteousness. It almost drives me insane to hear them say they are not doing the very thing they are doing—teaching for the truth of God’s Word, the commandments of people. What is spiritual is spiritual, and what is natural is natural, and this is why Christ cannot function within our natural realm. What is spiritual cannot enter the carnal realm and then be subject to the obedience of the natural realm. But we need to come to Christ and let him live within us, as we go into his realm via our spirit from God and walk within his faith, in his love, and in his power. To see some examples let’s look at the book of Acts, which is also known as the book of action. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. I wonder what the Christian mind thinks about when they read what Peter said, “such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.” What did Peter have? He had the love of Christ burning within his heart, and the faith of Jesus Christ that works by that love that made it possible for Jesus Christ to say to Peter—tell the guy to get up. Peter was speaking and acting by the authority of Jesus Christ, representing the very essence of the nature of Christ. Now remember a man’s name not only revealed his character and authority on whose behalf another acts, but also it was the identity of how one was known, the innermost being of the essential nature of its bearer. Jesus made known the Father’s love when he was here on the earth because that is the nature of God. Jesus not only walked by the love of God, but also was teaching, preaching, and demonstrating it through every word, act, and deed, including the healing of many more than was recorded (John 20:30, 21:35). Peter had this limitless potential of the love of God burning within him to give, and this is a very powerful force in one's life because it's the very nature of God. Peter was not trying to get the nature of God’s limitless love to come into his life, but Peter went into God’s love by way of the life of Christ. Peter loved with God’s love, moved with the faith of Jesus Christ, and functioned in the life that is in Christ. It's not how to get Christ to live within our natural realm, because what is spiritual cannot enter what is carnal, and then be subject to the obedience of the natural realm. The Christian walk is to let Christ live within us, as we enter into his world, his love, walking within his faith, and thereby expressing the very essential nature of the life that is in Christ Jesus. Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Peter took the guy by the hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankles received strength. Of course, the guy got up because the power of God is in abundance, and this is why God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think. I would like to point out we do not have the ability to heal or create anything on our own. We can sit in church for a hundred years dreaming and praying until we are blue in the face, but we will never be able to create or heal on our own. Supernatural performance comes from the power of God that is in Christ, and therefore it's God’s love and ability that produces the spiritual capabilities. It's the power from God, when He freely chooses to create by the life of Himself, beyond the natural realm of existence. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. Now it's interesting to note that this miracle was done in broad daylight, “for it was the ninth hour of prayer” and also at a public place—the guy was outside the doors of the Temple. And now the guy is in the Temple throwing a party with Peter and John, when all the people ran to the porch. What did it say the people did? They ran to the porch that was called “Solomon’s greatly wondering.” Now this is one of those porch names that make me wonder what the guy was wondering about when he named that porch. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? When Peter saw them running together at him, he said I did not do it, the power is not mine, I would not even know where to start anything that would require more ability than cleaning fish. What did he say? “why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Now I want you to pay real close attention because he is going to tell us how he did it. First Peter starts out by mentioning a NAME, then JESUS CHRIST, and then FAITH. Look at verse 16, “the faith which is by him [Jesus Christ] hath given him [the lame man] this perfect soundness.” And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Annas, High Priest, Caiaphas! Who the heck are these guys? They are the same religious brains that beat Jesus into a bloody piece of meat. What on earth could they possibly want to know? First question out of their little lying lips was “By what POWER, or by what NAME, have ye done this?” Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, Peter who was “filled with the Holy Ghost,” meaning he was walking by the spirit from God—to the end of receiving revelation from God. The words holy ghost in the Greek, are the words “pneuma hagion” and it means “holy spirit.” It's the “power from on high” that always refers to God’s gifts in operation. Peter was filled with the spirit from God in operation or in manifestation when he said to those religious brains, and government leaders “rulers of the people, and elders of Israel.” Acts 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; So you folks want to know how we did it “be examined of the good deed done.” I would be tickled pink to tell you “Be it known” the source of the power I used “by what means.” One must understand when we walk by the name of Jesus Christ, we walk as his representative and thereby we are able to function within his revealed nature. This Christian walk deals with his faith that has created this whole relationship in the first place—not to mention his belief system in his own ability and power. To walk by the “faith of Jesus Christ” is to believe in his faith. Understand? This whole Grace Administration is about his Faith, his Power, and his Love. He is the one who was Highly Exalted, made to be the Lord and Christ, and was Anointed and Ordained as the Mediator, Advocate, and Intercessor with all the Authority. Peter is being honest by telling them that this miracle in the book of Acts, and this entire Christian walk, has absolutely nothing to do with anything that is by the name of Peter. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him [Jesus Christ] doth this man stand here before you whole. Okay, close the book and let’s see if you can guess what Peter said. I hope and pray that Christ Jesus the Lord will become a living reality for people—to the end that we may all know that Peter said, “by the name of Jesus Christ.” What a marvelous privilege to be energized with the greatness of the love of God, as we look believingly at the risen Christ. How awesome, dynamic, and vibrant to have such a marvelous truth that we carry in our hearts wherever we may go, and whatever we may be doing, knowing we are powered by his ability. The Word of God never tells us we are in Jesus when we are born again. We are “in Christ.” We are servants of Jesus Christ, but as children of God, we are in Christ Jesus. Human works avail nothing in God’s sight when it comes to the power of God. The spirit inside of us known as our holy spirit, the Christ in us, is our power source to connect to the supernatural power that is in Christ Jesus—who is our Lord and God’s Son. It fits beautifully when we understand it's because of the perfection of Christ within that we get to have Jesus Christ as our big brother, and this is why we have been invited to have the same fellowship with God that Jesus Christ enjoys. What a precious life we have to be able to believe God to show us how big this really is. It's electrifying to know that God has given us a new realm to live in via the reality of Christ within us. We must stand in the freedom Christ has won for us in order to walk in the grace gift of God’s power, love, and the faith of Jesus Christ. Do we dare to live in the powerful and victorious name of our living Lord and savior, Jesus Christ? Let’s look at a few more. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. The greatest jewel in life is to understand spiritual matters, such as love, light, and life. Since light is not the opposite of darkness because light is the reality and darkness is what is left in the absence of light. Then what is left in the absence of God’s love? It's not hate. I think it's fear. Perhaps this is why it is written in first John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love [agape] casteth out fear.” In the third chapter of the book of Colossians, it tells us to set our thoughts, passions, and desires on the things that are above the earth. In the first chapter of Ephesians, we read it's God’s desire for us that our understanding will be enlightened so that we can know the riches of our calling. And in the third chapter of Ephesians, it tells us that God’s will for us is to be strengthened with might by His spirit that is born within us, and that it's available for us to be filled to capacity with the fullness of God. Our God’s indescribable power is available to all believers “for God is no respecter of persons.” He is willing and able to perform what He promises in His Word. We too can walk in the newness of this life and stand beside Jesus Christ as his representative, knowing we also can have a very personal relationship with the Father once we have the spirit from God born within us. I want to tell you it's quite a God we have who reached out with His great love and made us complete in His Christ, who is the head of all principalities and power. The Father gave it completely by grace because He was acting out of His love according to His own purpose. God’s heart desire for His children is that we are awesomely and wonderfully made so as to be able to have fellowship with Him and His wonderful Son Jesus Christ. How thrilling and exciting to know God’s power can deliver and that God’s power can make a way where there is no way, and therefore God’s power can save to the uttermost. Let us magnify His name and thank Him continually for such a complete and wonderful plan for our design. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, What kind of a great apostle did it say Ananias was? Ananias did not have his Bachelor of Theology degree or his Theological Seminary degree in biblical research. I do not think he was ordained by his minister, the church, or by any board members. I believe the guy was just a Christian believer, a simple certain disciple. To him Jesus Christ said, listen up Ananias, I want you to go down to Straight Street (well, that was the name of the Street. It was the Street that was called Straight) and go over to Judas’s house. I like the way Jesus Christ takes the time to mention to Ananias that he will find him praying “behold, he prayeth.” I would be praying too if I went through what that guy Saul went through. This is the guy who will become the apostle Paul, who was walking down the road one day with his soldiers killing Christians for a living. When lo and behold, the resurrected Jesus Christ met the guy along the road, and said to him audibly, hey Saul, why are you giving me a hard time? “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief prists to bind all that call on thy name. Ananias said to Jesus Christ, Lord I want to be honest with you, this guy Saul that you want me to go see is not a nice man “how much evil he hath done.” That is number one, and number two, he is working with the police to arrest Christians “hath authority from the chief.” But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: The Lord said to Ananias, on your feet and get going “Go thy way:” Ananias is going to speak and act in the “name of Jesus Christ” as his representative. Now watch what Ananias does next. First, he feels a draining weariness of a desperate struggle and begins to wonder if it's because he has not been suffering enough, or maybe it's because he needs to say the rosary, and then the sinner’s prayer. Or perhaps Ananias was wondering if he had been a good person, a good member of the Temple, a law-abiding citizen, and a good neighbor. Perhaps he thought this would be the best time to start singing more hymns, run to the altar, confess more sins, bathe in water, and do some fasting. No, a thousand times no. What did Ananias do? He went down to Straight Street, entered into the guy's house and said to Saul, Jesus Christ “sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight.” And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. Jesus Christ told Ananias to tell Saul that I SENT YOU. And immediately, Saul received his sight. Is anyone surprised? We have within us the spirit from God that makes it available for us to be connected to the life of Jesus Christ. And this is why we can understand spiritual matters when we stop trying to do it through our own carnal self-made religious systems. It's not how to get God to perform miracles for us, but how to allow His power to work inside of our life—because Christianity is using His power, His love, and walking within the faith of Jesus Christ. It will be a great day in our lives when Christians understand that there is no other way on this planet it could be done. Christianity is what God wrought in Christ when He raised him out from among the dead, making it available for us to be put into this new nature, that allows God to be our Father in the family of God. Jesus Christ has us locked into this new covenant because this is the oath God has sworn to, and it's the covenant Christ has bonded with. It's a covenant of love that allows us to dwell in God’s love, and thus dwell in God—and God in us. It's what we have, it's who we are, and it's the right relationship with God, who has established this “new covenant.” We are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, who has made us righteous, given us redemption, sanctification, and wisdom. Hey, it's better than cutting up goats, oxen, cattle, lambs, bulls, and birds so we can sprinkle the blood all over the bottom of the altar, the top of the altar, the floor, the Mercy Seat, the Ark of the Covenant, horns, books, tables, you and all the people. If we ever learn the identity of Jesus Christ, and come to know his love in action, we will be hearing from our big brother in a way that will make people say of us that we were “filled with the holy spirit” or “filled with faith and power.” And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. Now here is a guy who was born crippled and had never walked, who was listening to Paul teach the Word of God, and believed he could be healed from being crippled. What I want to know is how did Paul know the crippled man had believed God’s Word to be healed. Paul absolutely knew without any doubt in his heart because the Scripture declares that Paul was definitely “perceiving that he had faith to be healed.” Who told Paul about the crippled man’s faith? I will give you a hint that I think is very interesting if you will look at the words “who stedfastly beholding him” and also the words “fastening his eyes upon him with John” (Acts 3:4). I know if I was walking into a building, or teaching someone the Bible, or standing on my head in the park, and Jesus Christ told me that the person over there is ready to be healed—move on it. I would not be standing on my head very much longer or waiting until I finished teaching the Bible. If Jesus Christ said to me, do you see that person over there? I would be fastening my eyes on that person too—you can bet your bottom dollar I also would be stedfastly beholding them. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: Most of us have heard the statement of a damsel in distress. However, we do not hear very often what we have here in the book of Acts, known as a “damsel possessed.” The lady had a devil spirit playing with her brain cells in the field of divination. The woman had a job working for people who were running a business with this lady, and she was bringing in the bucks “brought her masters much gain.” The spirit of divination is the one who tries to tell us the future. It's the practice of foreseeing or foretelling future events. The word “soothsaying” means basically the same in that it deals with prediction or foretelling. This is nothing new. We have many of them today with their own one-nine-hundred numbers and their own television shows. They are looking to give information about our love life, the stock market, and who is going to win the next ball game. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. She or should I say it was being a pain in the neck to Paul by following him around and saying something like—hey everyone will you please look at the way these jerks dress, who tell us they are the servants of the most high God. It's okay to laugh at these bums because they will still let you join their little stupid religion. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, Paul said to the spirit inside of the woman that it had to come out by the authority that is in Jesus Christ, and he, the spirit, came out of the woman’s body the same hour and that means immediately. Now this is going to cause a big problem down at the one-nine-hundred center because the woman has lost her connection and will not be able to tell who might win the next horse race. That made those bookies so mad that they agreed together to capture Paul and company to bring them to the police to report that they were interfering with their place of business. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. The Word of Life gives light, making it possible for men and women to be born again of God’s spirit, to be filled with the holy spirit, and to walk in the greatness of God’s power as we shine as lights in this world. The excitement to see how God moves in the lives of human beings is electrifying. The Word of God heals the brokenhearted, delivers the captives, gives sight to the blind, and sets at liberty them that are bruised. Heart to heart fellowship with Jesus Christ will cause us to live with such effervescing radiance because we are to the praise of God’s glory. I want to tell you there is no one who has ever been so far out in left field, that the Lord Jesus Christ was not able to reach out with those everlasting arms and save them to the uttermost. The people from the first-century church did not just know the Word of God from the mouths of the apostles—they lived it and continued in that doctrine and fellowship. We are complete because of what God did in Christ Jesus when He blessed us with every spiritual blessing and made us complete in His Christ. God is in Christ, and Christ is in us, and that makes us complete, absolutely completely complete, in Christ who is the head over all principalities and power. How spiritually invigorating it is to realize we are the living reality of the presence of the power of God, and our joy and privilege is to walk in the present reality of God’s power, in response to our calling as ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapter Seven Royal Tapestry Salvation: Preservation from danger or destruction. In its full sense it is still future. For salvation will not be complete till we are redeemed by power, and glory from the grave. Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourself: it is the gift of god: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The power of salvation is in the resurrection because the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ raised His Son out from among the dead. He raised His Son in power and with incorruption that will make it possible for us to be raised and changed with a body that is also incorruptible. Salvation is the deliverance from the power and effects of sin, which God produced with design when He prepared this salvation to be created in Christ Jesus. His Christ is the act of His creation, and all He has made us to be is in Christ Jesus, and this is why we can be sure that even in our wildest dreams we cannot imagine what He has prepared for us. I would like to mention again that this is not something we could work for, or come into the creation of God by obeying the Ten Commandments required by the Old Testament Law, or by going to church and saying the sinner’s prayer. Only Christ can win us a relationship with God because God created in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, making it possible for us to be His crown and joy, the jewel of His masterpiece, and His priceless prize. I would like for you to remember that the words “holy ghost” in the Greek are “pneuma hagion” and it always means “holy spirit” that refers to God’s gifts and His operations. Jesus Christ said, “the promise of my Father” in Luke 24:49, and the “power from on high” in Acts 1:5, is the same “pneuma hagion.” This holy spirit “power from on high” is what God gives to the born-again Christian at the time of the new birth. “And they were all filled with pneuma hagion” (Acts 2:4). Science tells us that the central switchboard of the human brain has billions of nerve cells that are arranged in orderly patterns in the human cerebral cortex. These nerve cells draw electro-action current from microelectrode cells that are amplified within one millionth of a volt. Such a fine network can only be in existence to have fellowship with our heavenly Father, and His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Our fellowship with Jesus Christ and with the Father is based upon our knowledge of His Word. In Ephesians 1:19-20, we learn from the Word of God that we may know, not question, not doubt, but that we may know what is the exceeding greatness of God’s power (dunamis). And this power operates according to the working of His mighty power (kratos), [the force of superior strength] that He wrought in Christ when He raised him from the dead. It's God’s will that we should know the exceeding greatness of His power that operates according to the force of His mighty superior strength. God does not want us to be ignorant concerning the power that works in us as a result of our relationship with Christ in the household of God. He wants us to enjoy the benefits of His revelation in all of its perfection and beauty. God’s desire for us is to not only have a sense knowledge understanding, but a spiritual understanding, and to know the Father in a personal true and vital spiritual relationship. The Greek word “know” is “ginosko” and it means to know experientially, or in a personal and true relationship. We can know Him in a personal relationship because as children of God, we are members of His family, who need not merely perceive mentally, but can know in reality that we are His children in a personal and true relationship. We translate the word “mind” into English from different Greek words, which are vital in understanding the accuracy of the Scriptures. The Greek word “psuche” means soul life, the real individual as opposed to the physical body. The Greek word “nous” is the mind that is the innermost part of our being, considered to be a part of the soul, that collects data and through reasoning processes makes decisions. It's the organ of mental perception that is fed and influenced by the five senses. The Greek word “phronema” is used of the thoughts, feelings, and desires fed into and held by the “nous.” The verb form of “nous” is translated “understand” in Ephesians 3:4, because it's to know with our whole mind, and not just to apprehend the thoughts concerning the mystery of Christ. It's one thing to become aware of these thoughts, but another thing to comprehend with the whole mind. Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ God wants us to understand, to comprehend, to fully know those things “that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16), “Know ye not” (1 Corinthians 5:6), “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world” (1 Corinthians 6:2), “Know ye not that we shall judge angels” (verse 3), “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 9), “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ” (verse 15), “What? know ye not” (verse 16), “What? know ye not” (verse 19). Do you get the impression God wants us to know? We are to know, not question, not doubt, but to know. It's not blindly surrendering to God so He can take control of our lives and use us to do anything He wants with us. Christian living is not a feeling as if we are standing in a cave of self-pity and despair screaming at Him, shaking our fist in frustration, crying buckets of tears, and offering our bargains. He is not a God of chaos, confusion, despair, or pain. He is not a God of suffering, disappointment, frustration, or fear. It's not how many wonderful works we perform, or do not perform, nor is it how many times we meet our neighbors’ needs, help the oppressed, give to the poor, or fight for justice. Christian living is not a matter of emotions where God would send sickness or cause His saints to suffer terrible affliction. When we read in places like Ezekiel 6:7, “the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” That verse does not mean God kills our loved ones to make us feel a need to be closer to Him, because God does not use disasters to bring glory to Himself. Since God has opened the way is how we can emerge from our confining lifestyles into His glorious freedom, as a result of knowing what He has freely given to us by way of Christ Jesus. Bursting from the narrow tomb of self is how many can experience His power over physical restraints, power over depression, and power to rise above the crises of our lives. Since we want present strength to overcome present trials. Then we must tap the present source of that strength, and the source of our strength is Christ Jesus, who is functioning within this our present Grace administration. The Bible tells us our heavenly Father not only knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, but also knows how many hairs are on our head. Since we are worth more value than the birds is why we need a positive attitude to begin having fellowship with Jesus Christ, which is the greatest of creative adventures. We cannot be encumbered by past failures, and the Scripture reaffirms this by urging us to “put off” and “press on.” The Christian life involves claiming what is in Christ because God has poured out His great love into the heart of Christ. Do you remember Peter who walked out on the water and did fairly well until he began to look at the waves instead of his Lord? We get discouraged when we focus on our own imperfections, our own inability, and our own failures. We must act out of our own free will through our own discipline because God does not change one's essential character when we are born into the family of God. We must focus beyond ourselves so we are able to not only learn it, but we are living it to the end that we need not say, could He, would He, really do for me what He did for my spiritual ancestors? There is a spiritual thirst in our life that will never be satisfied apart from a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, because God created us in such a way that we would always seek him. Christians are those who have already been made alive, and have a new source of power rooted in the freedom that only Christ can provide. We must stand in the freedom Christ has won for us in order to walk in the grace gift of God’s salvation. We are not worthy, nor would we ever be, even if we walked perfectly for one hundred years. Very few people understand we are not under the Law administration anymore, and that our Lord Jesus Christ has made it available for us to be justified, and that means made right by God. Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. We can never win the right to stand before God unafraid, free from guilt, and condemnation through our own obedience. In Galatians, we see the believers were beginning to put themselves back under the Law with such things as circumcision. We need to enjoy the results of the freedom we have in Christ, rather than the consequences of the legalism of the commandments of people. Galatians 3:21-22 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. We will fall from the understanding of the grace that is in Christ, and succumb to the doctrines and theories that are dictated by human conception if we seek justification by our own works. The concision was from those who taught circumcision was necessary for salvation. Circumcision is a work of the flesh required by the Old Testament Law, and by the way so is water baptism, which is a carryover from part of the Levitical Law. There are many examples of people in the Old Testament who would wash themselves with water as a final step to being clean. Water baptism was an outward sign of washing, and then you would be clean to God. Baptism in water, and the need to be circumcised passed away with the coming of Pentecost, as did the other Levitical Laws. To be led by the spirit is to not be under the yoke of bondage with the extreme of legalism, seeking the works of the flesh from the old covenant concerning the past Law administration that was written to Israel. It's clear from the gospels that water baptism had to do with the kingdom, which was ministered by John who was known as the Baptizer, and not a minister for the Church of God. John who was a prophet functioning under the old covenant was appointed by God to prepare and confirm the promises made to Israel. His message was to tell those who lived under the old covenant that the king had come and “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He used water as a sign to baptize those who believed the promised Messiah would be coming in just a matter of months and to illustrate that he would be the Christ, who would baptize them not with material water, but with holy spirit, which is “power from on high.” From the habit of tradition, and only for a short period of time, a small handful of people were baptized with water into the New Testament, but never again afterwards. In the epistles written just a little bit past the beginning of the New Testament is where we read the only time water baptism is mentioned is to note there is no more need for it, and that we are now to be baptized with holy spirit. And this is why in Acts 2:38, Peter commands “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” In Acts 8:16, Peter and John “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In Acts 10:48, Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” In Romans 6:3, it declares “that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ.” There is not one exception to this practice where we see water baptism, which belonged to the time period when Christ walked the earth, being used once the Church of God had become established. To suggest water baptism has anything to do with the only begotten resurrected Son of God, who is functioning within the New Testament as the head of the body of Christ, has led to nothing but confusion and has provided a bomb that has blown the local churches into pieces. Compassion is one of the characteristics of a Christian walk, but that does not mean to be Christian is to be compassionate. Over and over again from the gospels, we see compassion was a primary characteristic of the life of Jesus Christ. He was a person of compassion who was always reaching out to touch people by way of his teaching, preaching, and healing. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them by the way he took children in his arms and blessed them, touched the eyes of the blind, and healed the body of lepers. He also looked people straight in the face and said to them, you sir are a liar, like your father who was a liar from the beginning, and who is the father of lies. He took a stand when it was time to take a stand because his love and compassion did not make him God’s Son. He had compassion when it was time for compassion because he was God’s Son who had love and compassion for people. We must know in the depth of our soul that we are accepted and forgiven by God if we are to have the necessary freedom in our Christian walk and to know the joy of salvation. It's not a painful grind, a desperate struggle, or an energy draining weariness. It's a quality of life not dependent upon any such circumstances such as to be weary, tired, hardworking, suffering, or poverty bound. To be born again is the work of God, who made it available for the Christian to receive a new life, a second life, and a spiritual life that is the hope of enjoying the glories of heaven. The new birth is not a religion, it's not morality, and it's not reformation. It's a reality one cannot explain away. Jesus said “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). We cannot really understand where the wind is coming from, or explain which way the wind is going, nor can we understand or explain the new birth. The wind is a reality no person can explain away, and therefore only fools would say they do not believe in the wind. Would you say that as far as you were concerned there is no such thing as the wind because you never saw the wind nor understood it? The spiritual life begins the same way the physical life begins—by birth. Because we must be born into the family of God is why we cannot receive Christ within by joining a church and becoming religious. We had to be born into our own earthly family, and this is why we could not join a group of people by acting friendly, because a birth is a new life that comes into being, which has the nature of its parents. Therefore, when we were born the first time, we were made a partaker of the nature of our natural parents, but when we are born again, we become a partaker of the divine nature. We do not have this new divine nature because of who we are, but because of what God did in Christ when He raised him out from among the dead. The spirit of God is born within us when we accept and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that God raised him from the dead. Have you ever been born again? If the answer is no, then go to Romans 10:9-10, and do what it says, then come back and enjoy the rest of this article. The spirit of God is born within us when we accept and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that God raised him from the dead. This is how the spiritually dead are called into the way, the truth, and the light. It's how the spiritually blind receive their sight, the captives are set free from their prisons, the spiritually broken hearted are given new hearts, and how the destitute rise to stand in the light. That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. In Acts 1:4, Jesus Christ instructed the apostles present to receive “the promise of the Father” and in Luke 24:49, he instructed the same apostles to “be endued [clothed] with power from on high.” It's recorded in the second chapter of the book of Acts, that this power which was His promise, the power from on high, known as the gift of holy spirit, came on the day of Pentecost. When we receive, we are saved, converted, born again, call it whatever you want—it's the key to heaven, the seed of Christ born in us, and it's spirit life. This is eternal life. Through the science of proper conduct, we seek to make the earth a better world to live in, to help people live morally by stimulating emotion, and working off imagination, human urges, and instincts. We teach for Christianity ways to enrich and elevate human life, and then we fashion our conscience through our own environment that we use to determine the direction of our character. Our conscience is nothing more than our own habit patterns we have fashioned through previous teachings. By such emotion as art, music, and athletic fame, we mistake pastimes for life’s richest game. The proper conduct of our life is not in human behavior responding to individuals or to groups. The Lord Jesus Christ is our proper conduct because our real natural environment, the one we have after the spirit of God is born within us, is to live in the riches of God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. "The Father and His family are two of the mightiest truths in His Word. God's whole plan for redemption in His Word revolves around these two great truths, the Father and His family. When it comes to man, the earth, animals, plants, the universe, only God could conceive what the Word says. Only God's power could form, make, and create it; and only God's ability could achieve it. God as a father had His Son, Jesus Christ and via Christ, God was able to have sons of God. Sons of God make up a family, which is called the family of God. God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, created within every believer, makes us a part of the family of God. Spiritually, God has made it available for every believer to be seated in the heavenlies in Christ, thereby making up God's family, household and home. Christianity is what God wrought in Christ when He raised him from the dead. Christianity is a Father with his family. God is our Father; we are His children. God has prepared a tremendous home where God's family will be together throughout all eternity. Christianity is not philosophy; it's a divine human relationship. Philosophy is man's wisdom. Christianity is not theology. It's union with God in that family. "Ology" always means science; "Theo" means God. Theology is the science of God. For the most part, people never see the greatness of God's Word because they are natural people. The natural man will never understand God's Word, he simply cannot understand it. By sense knowledge a person cannot know the greatness of God's Word, for in order to understand spiritual things a person must have spirit. The natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God. If the natural man does not receive spiritual things, then he doesn't receive it. No matter how sincere the man looks, no matter how highly educated he may be, how sensitive and smart he is mentally, the "natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God:" 1 Corinthians 2:14 the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The man of the senses may learn a great deal about the universe in which he lives, but cannot learn anything about the Creator of that universe. The natural man will see intelligence; he'll see schemes or systems in the universe; but the man of the senses will never be able to see spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. The more intellectually phenomena have been studied by scientists and scientific Philosophers, the more gloriously have shone out the truths that God has occupied Himself through untold ages in preparing for man's arrival. That man has been the grand goal of his endeavor. The ultimate of His creative and prolonged preparation could not have been merely to render a comfortable short-lived and low-planned animal existence. This has been a patient approach for we the called of Jesus Christ, for whom God throughout the centuries has been so long waiting for us to be home. Theologians have given us the cosmological arguments for the existence of God. They have given us the anthropological arguments for the existence of god. They have given us the theological arguments for the existence of God. Theologians have found more pleasure on abstract theology than in personal dealings with the Almighty. Theologians have found more joy in metaphysics than in divine knowledge. They have found more of their believing in the opinions of men, rather than in the Word of God. The first three chapters of Genesis have been laughed at for centuries; it's only those first three chapters that give you the truth on the "why of creation." Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good." Now I realize this thinking cuts across the grain of everything that Kirk, Spock, and McCoy taught us in one of my favorite television programs called, Star Trek. I understand why we are looking into space for the answers, why we feel there must be a missing link, an outer space person, something we still need to learn that will answer the question most of us search for within ourselves. What is it about? Since we were created to respond to the Creator, and if we take this desire searching out every other possible alternative for our itch to know. Then we may very well search right into a few more centuries accomplishing what is written. 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. I do not really know if the earth is the reason for the great star-spangled heavens and universe, but I do know people are the reason for the earth, and God is the reason why people have been created on the earth. Tonight, this old earth of ours is being held more safely in the embrace of those uncounted and uncharted planets than a child in its mother’s arms. The heavens are the earth’s only perfect timepiece because no watch or clock ever built by people can give us perfect time. Anyone who knows the path of the stars is able to tell us that every star, sun, or planet will pass a certain given point on the scheduled time. The star may not have been seen for thousands of years, but she will appear at the crossroads of the heavens not one second ahead nor behind her schedule. The wonder of the Architect, the marvel of the Creator, the might of the Sustainer of this great universe of ours! Whether the earth is the reason for the stellar heavens is not important to me because I know that one way or the other God is watching over this earth of ours. Before the morning stars sang their first anthem to the heart of our father God, before the foundations of the earth were laid, before the first rays of life ever passed through the dark expanse, the heart of the great creator God had a yearning for children. How it must thrill the heart to realize the Creator had a passion for children. The heart of the Father, the great creator God longed for sons and daughters. This yearning passion took form, and God planned a universe for His people, and in the heart-midst of that universe He purposed a home. There is no time with God because time belongs to day and night, to sun and moon, and the omnipotent God was not hampered by days, nights, or years. He planned, and purposed it all to be the home for our beginning when His love laid the foundations of this mighty universe. It was to be our birthplace, our garden of delight, and our universe where we would learn to know our father God. The Almighty wanted sons and daughters to love Him, not because we have to, but because we want to. For God so loved that He gave, which made it possible for us to be able to so love that we could give. God has angels to minister to Him as servants, but His heart yearned for children, and so He spent with love’s wonderful patience, age after age in the preparation for the earth and the heavens for His people. I believe it's true according to what is written that we are the most wonderful of all God’s creation, and everything on the earth and in the universe is for us, who belong to God through Jesus Christ. The earth’s primary design is for God’s man and for God’s woman. What a wonderful place we must hold in God's heart, in His dreams, and in His eternity. He so wanted us and loved us that He spent years in preparation and anticipation for us. The reason the Christian is here is because we are God’s people, and the earth was made for us because God is our father, who loves us and this is why He planned the earth for His people, and His people for Himself. Before I close, I would like to inform anyone who enjoyed this writing that I added a bit more on how I understand the spirit of Christ to work. I did not have this understanding of "the spirit of Christ" at the time I penned "Stephen full of faith and power." It's all right here just a few scrolls down. I call it Appendix A, Appendix B, and Appendix C. And now I would like to close with a teaching that I heard a number of years ago. It was called the “Red Thread.” He is the red thread that binds together the royal tapestry of truth, the tapestry of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. He is the doom of the adversary as promised in Genesis 3:15, and accomplished in Revelation 20:10. He is the no night of Revelation 22:5, of which Genesis 1:2, is night. He is the light of Revelation 21:11, of which Genesis 1:16-17, is the sun and the moon. He is the no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying of Revelation 21:4, of which Genesis 3:16-17, is sorrow, suffering and death. He is the no more curse of Revelation 22:3, of which Genesis 3:17, is the curse. He is the welcome home to paradise of Revelation 22:2, of which Genesis 3:22-24, is the banishment of paradise. He is Abel’s sacrifice, Abraham’s ram, Isaac’s well, Jacob’s ladder, Judah’s sceptre, Moses’s rod, Joshua’s ram’s horn, Samuel’s horn of oil, David’s slingshot, Hezekiah’s sundial, Elijah’s mantle, Elisha’s staff, Job’s prayer, Isaiah’s fig tree, Ezekiel’s wheel, Daniel’s Jerusalem window, Jonah’s sea monster, Malachi’s storehouse. He is Peter’s shadow, Paul’s handkerchiefs and apron, the lily of the valley and the rose of sharon in life’s desert. He is the pearl of great price, the rock for pilgrims in a weary land. He is the bright and morning star. He is a smile on the face and a song in the heart of every believer looking to the hope for he is the heart of hope. HE IS: The believer’s justification. The believer’s righteousness. The believer’s sanctification. The believer’s redemption. The believer’s knowledge. The believer’s wisdom. The believer’s all in all to all. The believer’s completely complete completeness. In Genesis, he is the promised seed of the woman. In Exodus, he is the passover lamb. In Leviticus, he is the high priest. In Numbers, he is the star to rise out of Jacob. In Deuteronomy, he is the two laws of God. In Joshua, he is the captain of the lord of hosts. In Judges, he is the covenant angel named Wonderful. In Ruth, he is the kinsman redeemer. In Samuel, he is the root and offspring of David. In Kings, he is the greater than the temple. In Chronicles, he is the king’s son. In Ezra and Nehemiah, he is the rebuilder. In Esther, he is the savior of God’s people. In Job, he is the daysman. In Psalms, he is the song. In Proverbs, he is the wisdom of God. In Ecclesiastes, he is the one among a thousand. In Song of Solomon, he is the bridegroom of the bride. In Isaiah, he is Jacob’s branch. In Jeremiah, he is our righteousness. In Lamentations, he is the unbelievers’ judgment. In Ezekiel, he is the true shepherd. In Daniel, he is the stone that is the head of the corner. In Hosea, he is the latter rain. In Joel, he is God’s dwelling in Zion. In Amos, he is the raiser of David’s tabernacle. In Obadiah, he is the deliverer on Mount Zion. In Jonah, he is our salvation. In Micah, he is the lord of kings. In Nahum, he is the stronghold in the time of trouble. In Habakkuk, he is our joy and confidence. In Zephaniah, he is our mighty lord. In Haggai, he is the desire of all nations. In Zechariah, he is our servant—the branch. In Malachi, he is the son of righteousness. In Matthew, he is Jehovah’s Messiah. In Mark, he is Jehovah’s servant. In Luke, he is Jehovah’s man. In John, he is Jehovah’s son. In Acts, he is the gift of holy spirit. In Romans, he is the believer’s justification. In Corinthians, he is the believer’s sanctification. In Galatians, he is the believer’s righteousness. In Ephesians, he is the believer’s heavenly standing. In Philippians, he is the believer’s self-adequacy. In Colossians, he is the believer’s completeness. In Thessalonians, he is the believer’s soon-glorification. In Timothy, he is the faithful men. In Titus, he is the fellow laborer. In Philemon, he is love of a believer. In Hebrews, he is the high priest for sin. In James, he is the royal law. In Peter, he is the pastor. In John, he is as we are. In Jude, he is the beloved. In Revelation, he is the king of kings and lord of lords. He is my Lord, my Savior and my brother, Jesus Christ, the risen son of the living God. Feel free to check out Appendix A, B and C that follows the footnotes for even more of an in-depth look at the resurrected Christ Jesus. And in my opinion, there's some awesome stuff there. And also, there's even an Appendix D, E and F for those who would dare. FOOTNOTES 1 Kittel, G., ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Michigan: Wm. Eerdman's Publishing Co. Vol. 2 Graeser, Mark., Rethinking Christology: A Paper Presented to the ARC/Tyndale Symposium on Cults, the Occult and World Religions. 4 Ibid., p. 11 5 E. W. Bullinger., A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament: (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, 1975), p. 76. 7 Kittel, G., ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Michigan: Wm. Eerdman's Publishing Co. Vol. 8 Graeser, Mark., Rethinking Christology: A Paper Presented to the ARC/Tyndale Symposium on Cults, the Occult and World Religions. 9 E. W. Bullinger., A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament: (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, 1975), p. 151. 10 Graeser, Mark., Rethinking Christology: A Paper Presented to the ARC/Tyndale Symposium on Cults, the Occult and World Religions. 11 E. W. Bullinger., A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament: (London: Samuel Bagster & Sons, 1975), p. 453. 32 Quoted from Wierwille, V.P., The Blueprint for living: A Paper Presented to the Advanced Class. Appendix A Walking By The Spirit What are these spirit things that are inside of us? Some teach they are little seeds waiting for the return of Christ and others teach they are full grown all over the cells of our bodies. In the Scriptures we see they are referred to as spirit, holy spirit, comforter, and Christ in us. And that kind a makes me wonder whatever these spirit things are, they do seem to be tied close to the Christ. I was taught they are what God is... only with a small "s" because they are part of what He is. Therefore, we can say "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." So what are these holy things that are able to give us everlasting life? Also, a lot is said about people who had these things or were filled with them or were able to talk by them, such as speaking by the spirit. Well, then who was speaking? The human or these things? I was taught God or Christ was showing me something when I walk by the spirit. Maybe it's the spirit showing me something when I walk by the spirit. In Romans 8:4, it's suggesting we walk after or by this spirit. In Romans 8:9, it calls this spirit the spirit of Christ. In Romans 8:11, it calls this spirit the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead and that it dwells in us. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, it calls it the spirit of God that dwells in us. In Galatians 4:6, it's called the spirit of his son. And in Galatians 5:16, it talks about walking in this spirit. Very few Christians know who they are in the spirit because most of us have been taught by our religious leaders that we are sinners by nature. And in my view that is just the opposite of what the Scriptures teach. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. It's not the body, but the spirit that has become a new creature. In other words, it's in the spirit that we have become a brand-new species because our spirit is totally new and therefore there is not an old sin nature left in us. We undergo a miraculous exchange at the center of our being once we have the spirit of Christ. Who we were in Adam is no longer there. We become a new person because we are now a child of God who is in Christ. The key event causing this exchange is a death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. This miraculous exchange is not figurative or symbolic, but literal and actual. The spiritual part of every Christian has literally and actually been crucified, buried, and raised with Christ. The fact that this occurs spiritually and not physically doesn’t make it any less real. So what happens to the old self that was in Adam? The old self is entirely obliterated once the spirit of Christ enters the Christian. I know this comes as a complete shock to many of you who have been indoctrinated in the-old-nature-versus-the-new-nature theology. Most Christians have been taught to believe that after salvation, they are still the same at their core, and they live the rest of their lives trying to restrain this old nature. They believe they have two natures. Romans 6:2 How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? The Christians of today believe they are alive to sin and it's with much effort, frustration, and failure that they battle this sin nature the rest of their lives. It now seems clear to me that this concept of what the Christians believe today is not what the Scriptures teach. Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? We experience a death to our old sin nature once we are baptized into Christ. It’s dead and gone because it does not exist anymore. We become totally new in our spirit when we are born again, and this is how our old nature has been completely changed. Our minds are similar to computers in the sense they can be programmed, and once programmed, they will continue to function as programmed until we reprogram them. And this is what Romans is talking about when it states we should renew our minds. Our old sin nature programmed our minds how to walk by the flesh when we were born in sin. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. It’s not in the process of becoming new because it’s already as pure and perfect as it can be. 1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. Romans 6:5-6 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. This is not something that has yet to happen or has to happen over and over. It’s a done deal because in our new, born-again spirit, we are dead to sin. And so our sin nature is dead and gone, but it left behind a body that has a carnal mind, and therefore it will still function as programmed until we reprogram it. It's what the New Testament calls the "renewed mind" when our lives are transformed by the process of reprogramming our thoughts. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Therefore, victory in the Christian life is as simple as renewing our minds to who we are and what we have already received in Christ. It’s not the struggle of two natures inside of us. We will continue to struggle with sin if we see ourselves as old sinners saved by grace. And so it's also true we will manifest the change that took place in our new nature when we understand we are not old sinners saved by grace. Thus, we act like being part of the senses world when we see ourselves as being part of the senses world. We act like being part of the Christian world when we see ourselves as being part of Christ—i.e., in our born-again spirits. I believe God gave us a new nature when we are born again and that this is what the apostle Paul taught. Then where did this idea come from that we are still sinners by nature, and that the spirit of Christ makes our flesh spiritual, but still alive to sin whereby we must with much effort, frustration, and failure be in a battle with our sin nature the rest of our lives? Who taught us that it's not the spirit that has become our new nature, but that after we received Christ within, we still have the old sin nature left as we live the rest of our lives trying to restrain it? If the apostle Paul taught that we do experience a death to our old sin nature once we are baptized into Christ, and that it’s dead and gone and therefore we are dead to sin? Then where did this idea come from that we are still alive to sin? Could it have come from these guys... The concept of the original sin was first alluded to in the second century by Irenaeus, (Bishop of Lyon) who was working for the Catholics and not for the apostle Paul. Some two hundred years later another church father who went by the name of Augustine, (Bishop of Hippo) whose writings shaped and developed the doctrine of sin as he considered that humanity shared in Adam's sin. Augustine's formulation of the original sin after the year of 412 was popular among protestant reformer's such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, who equated the original sin with a hurtful desire meaning that it persisted even after baptism and therefore completely destroyed the freedom to do good. At first Augustine, said that free will was weakened, but not destroyed by the original sin. But after the year of 412 this concept changed to a loss of free will except to sin, and it's this Augustine's concept that influenced the development of the western church and western philosophy and indirectly all of western Christianity. The Catholic church declared baptism by imparting the life of Christ's grace, and thereby erasing the original sin, and then that would allow one back toward God. The thinking that the consequences for nature, weakened and inclined to evil, persist and summon the human to spiritual battle, and therefore weakened and diminished by Adam's fall, and still free will was not destroyed in the human race. Irenaeus, put forth his doctrine of the original sin, which is rather mild compared with what would later be found in the writings of Augustine. One recurring theme in Irenaeus, is his view that Adam, in his transgression is essentially a child who merely partook of the tree ahead of his time. For Irenaeus, knowing good and evil was an integral aspect of human nature; the "sin" of Adam, was snatching at the fruit of the tree rather than waiting for it as a gift from God. In the years of 354 to 430 Augustine, taught that Adam's sin is transmitted by concupiscence, or a "hurtful desire" resulting in humanity becoming condemned with an enfeebled, though not destroyed freedom of will. When Adam sinned, human nature was therefore transformed, and Adam and Eve via sexual reproduction recreated human nature. Their descendants now live in sin, in the form of concupiscence, a term Augustine, used in a metaphysical and not a psychological sense. Augustine, insisted that concupiscence was not a being but a bad quality, meaning a wound. He admitted that sexual concupiscence (libido) might have been present in the perfect human nature in paradise, and that only later it became disobedient to the human will as a result of the first couple's disobedience to God's will in the original sin. In Augustine's view (termed "realism") all of humanity was really present in Adam, when he sinned and therefore all have sinned. Augustine, was the first to add the concept of inherited guilt from Adam, whereby an infant was eternally damned at birth. Augustine, held the traditional view that free will was weakened, but not destroyed by the original sin until he converted in 412 to the Stoic view that humanity had no free will except to sin, which was the result of his later thinking on infant baptism. Augustine, believed that unbaptized infants go to hell as a consequence of the original sin. The Latin church fathers who followed Augustine, adopted his position, which became a point of reference for Latin theologians in the middle ages. In the later medieval period, some theologians continued to hold Augustine's view and others held that unbaptized infants suffered no pain at all. Augustine, states that God's grace and not human free will is responsible for everything that pertains to salvation and that includes even our faith. We are often told that people suffer because they deserve it. And we seem to be able to go into great explanations expressing a confidence in God's absolute sovereignty, defined here as control, that seems to provide many believers with a great deal of security. We teach in our churches that everything is under God's control, and thereby everything is proceeding as divinely planned, and that somehow it all fits together. This concept did not attain the status of a universal explanation until years after a man was born on the planet who was called Augustine. It's indeed historically true that what has constituted the most frequent explanation in the church and in western culture for why people suffer is due to the fact that a man was born on the planet called Augustine. And so this concept of God being in control of both good and evil is why we often consider a secret "divine blueprint" behind everything that is both good and evil being somehow an extension of God's good (but very mysterious) will. Opposition to Augustine's ideas about the original sin, which he had developed arose rapidly, and after a long and bitter struggle several councils, especially the second council of Orange in the year of 529, confirmed the general principles of Augustine's teaching within western Christianity. However, the church did not entirely endorse Augustine, and even some of Augustine's followers identified the original sin differently even after Augustine's authority was accepted. I see the "sin nature" as something that existed before Jesus Christ destroyed it when the spirit of Christ came within the believer. This spirit is indeed a life form that is in all Christians and it seems to me one cannot understand and therefore function or be in the spirit if our old nature (which is dead) thinks in it's unrenewed mind that it suppose to be fighting against the new nature. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" That's what I'm talking about. I now understand being in Christ is being in the spirit and neither of them (in Christ or in the spirit) has anything to do with the darn flesh. It now seems perfectly clear to walk in the spirit is the same as putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. And so in my mind the 4 verses below fit perfectly. Every single person I know has told me about Romans 7 when I tell them I do not believe Paul taught about a "sin nature" for the Christian. What Paul talks about in the seventh chapter of Romans is what occurs to the believer who still thinks the Law applies to them. They end up spiritually dying by the commandment and realize that the commandment does not produce life. The war is with their flesh because they are still believing the Law has power over them. In the eighth chapter of Romans is where it explains how we overcome this whole issue by living in the spirit and being dead to the Law. We cannot live by faith in what Christ has done for us and still think our obedience to written laws are necessary. To do so takes away from the perfect work of Christ and places salvation and righteousness back in our own hands. Romans 6:2 How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Galatians 5:16,18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now remember our minds are similar to computers in the sense they can be programmed, and once programmed, they will continue to function as programmed until we reprogram them. This is what I believe the twelfth chapter of Romans is talking about when it states we should renew our minds. Our old sin nature programmed our minds how to walk by the flesh when we were born in sin. To renew our mind deals with breaking or changing a habit and to do this we must tap into the subconscious portion of our mind because habits are controlled by the subconscious mind. It's necessary to harness the full powers of our mind to successfully free ourselves from the habit of our "old man." Why? Because it's indeed true that people have become what they are because of their dominating thoughts and desires. Let's compare our thinking to a computer which is extremely fast and powerful only when it has a set of instructions known as a program. The human subconscious mind is a lot like a computer program because it's within the human subconscious mind that more than ninety percent of our mental life is programmed. And most of this programming are habits that have been on the job from the time we were born up to the present where it has accepted and stored a wealth of information that we operate on very much like the operating system of any computer program. What this so-called "programming" consists of is a vast storehouse of everything that's ever happened in our life. Everything that we have ever felt from failures to successes, which does involve our emotions, habits, relationships, health, and even our financial condition. We are what we think, and that does not only refer to what we think, but it also applies to what we do not think. Often, we are unaware that our subconscious mind exerts far more control over our life than we realize. It literally directs our reality because the subconscious mind contains no reasoning power of its own. It's not at all like the conscious mind that tends to be logical and objective. The subconscious mind accepts ideas implanted in it without question and then influences our life accordingly. Present it with the "old man" concepts and it operates as a failure mechanism. Present it with our "new nature" that we have in Christ and it will work just as hard as a success mechanism. We can think of our subconscious mind as a machine or a computer program that we can control. Changing our life becomes a matter of changing our internal "programming" or the belief system in our inner mind. It is written that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." And this is how one can change an image to fit their goals, aspirations, and desires because any vivid image that we hold in our mind will eventually become a reality in our life. We are not born with whatever subconscious mind we have, but rather it's acquired in several ways, and all of them relate to what we have used to build our mental structure. It's our blueprint that is responsible for making our life what it is today. This mental blueprint is our subconscious or inner mind because all our experiences depend on the nature of the mental building blocks we have used. What we say and think on a conscious level impacts the subconscious mind and over time becomes a part of our internal mindset. To break or change a habit we must tap into the subconscious portion of our mind because habits are controlled by the subconscious mind. And therefore, it's necessary to harness the full powers of our mind to successfully free ourselves from the demands of our "old man" nature. Why? Because it's indeed true that people have become what they are because of their dominating thoughts and desires. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. I have come to believe I am a spirit being who has a soul and lives in a body. That the real me is my spiritual person and it’s in the spirit that I have been totally changed. This has changed a great deal for me now that I realize God deals with me on the basis of who I am in the spirit. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Therefore, I am redeemed from the law which is why it says in 1 Timothy 1:9, that the law is not made for a righteous man. And so I am totally righteous due to the fact that my spirit is His workmanship. And this is also why it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:21, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. I was taught something completely different in 1975. I was taught I had the power of Christ within me, which is the holy spirit, that gave me the ability to perform healing and miracles. It was Christ in me as it's so nicely written somewhere in the New Testament. However, at the age of 40 years old was when I gave up on this idea that I could get God to energize His spirit that was now mine and then tell me how to use it. Oh, and there were the magic words that had to be said with this. No magic wands, just the words "in the name of Jesus Christ" like if magic words could make a difference. It seems clear to me now that it's not me, but the Christ who can produce and operate the things of God. I got the idea when I was 40 years old that Jesus was not really on vacation, waiting to do stuff again after he returns. I was also able to make some sense out of the many verses that say to fellowship with Jesus Christ and with the Father is something that is indeed available. This fellowship idea was blocked from my understanding for years because I was taught the word "fellowship" in the Bible meant a way I needed to get my sins forgiven. When I threw that idea out the window is when I was able to begin having a relationship with both Jesus Christ and the Father. I might add just a side note here that it's impossible to have a relationship with someone if we do not believe they are there. Or to receive something from them if we do not believe they could give it to us mostly because we are not sure if they are there. E.W. Bullinger, defines the word "fellowship" in the following verses as an act of partaking, sharing—i.e., in participation. 1 Corinthians 1:9 called unto the fellowship of his Son 1 John 1:3 fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ 1 John 1:6 have fellowship with him (God) 1 John 1:7 we have fellowship one with another (God and us) It's God who has made His Christ to be the Lord in my life and therefore it's the Christ who has the power of God. Not me. It's done by his faith because it's he who has the power of God, and therefore it's by his authority, and by his believing that the power of God is brought to pass. I simply believe because at this level to renew the mind is not to make it behave, but rather to make it believe. In doing so I bond in my mind with the spirit of Jesus Christ who has the authority to use the power of God. It's the power of God... by the authority that is in Christ Jesus. We can begin to understand how this was set up when we go back to the days of Adam and Eve. Unlike humans, once God speaks, it's done. He never goes back on His Word. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. God meant it when He told Adam and Eve, that they had dominion and authority over this Earth. So once it went south... God couldn't just say "time out. This isn't what I intended. Stop. We're going to do this all over again. I take back the authority. You can't have dominion over the Earth anymore." So what's his face... Saw he could have the authority over the Earth if he could get Adam and Eve to yield to him and rebel against God. Romans Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? However, after Christ rose from the dead, he had authority in Heaven, on Earth, and under the Earth (Philippians 2:10). Part of Matthew 28:18 says... All power [delegated authority, implies the ability to make power felt. E.W. Bullinger] is given unto Christ in heaven and in earth. Could it be possible that it's the Christ who has the authority to use the power of God because God has made Jesus to be both Lord and Christ? And that would mean it would not be God who had the authority because He gave this authority to His Christ. Could it then be done by his faith (the faith of Jesus Christ) because it's he who has been given the authority? If this is true, then it would be by the authority of the risen Christ Jesus, and therefore by his believing that the power of God is brought to pass. Jesus said: "without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Jesus commissioned his disciples and sent them out as representatives. They already knew him well enough to have had a rock-solid relationship with him whereby they could represent him as an ambassador. We talk all day until the cows come home on how it's Christ in us the hope of glory, and that the power of the holy spirit is born within us, thereby making us able body believers. But nobody seems to be talking about us being in Christ to the end we know him well enough to represent him on the Earth. We must first know someone well enough to be able to have a working relationship with them before we could represent them. We ask God to pour out His spirit and do things without us. To move sovereignty. And therefore, we haven't been operating in our God given authority because we have shirked our responsibility by trying to throw it all back on God. The problem is God's people have been begging Him to do what He told us to do. Mark They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. It's the Christ who has given us the authority to believe he can do what he says he can do. When I realized God does not know the future was when I realized He is not in control. This was when I realized such a concept of having God in control put me in a state of not being in control. Such thinking caused me to ask for what I should have had based on what He had already designed for me. So what if He designed nothing for me because He is not in control of my life like if I were a puppet? Then it would have been nothing all those years that I was praying to receive. Realizing such a concept was never true has put me in control of my own spiritual life. The world has taught for thousands of years that it's God that does it all. So pray to Him and keep your fingers crossed. Some teach it's our power because God put Jesus Christ in us. So we believe for God to tell us what to do with our Christ in us. Others teach it's more that we have the right to pray because we already have the power of Christ in us. So we tell our power what to do by speaking it into being. I believe it's Christ who does the healing based on the relationship we have with him. This idea that God is not in control and that I am suppose to interact with God through Jesus Christ, which means I interact with Christ first has changed everything for me. This has been hidden from us mostly because the religions have made Jesus God, (which is pagan). And the religions have also made God in control, (which is also pagan) and thereby making us pawns who function without the authority of Christ Jesus. We must also break out of this mindset that they are inconsistent if we are ever going to have an efficient, effective, powerful relationship with God and Jesus Christ. We must get out of this thinking that says sometimes they will to do this and sometimes they will to do that because we never know what kind of mood they are in. I would also like to add that I am concerned with fellowshipping with God as I love and worship Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. But it's the Christ that I am fellowshipping with to the end that I am moving back and forth with him and thereby able to have a relationship with him. This is new to me because the concept is to not ask God for much. Also, and this is huge: I am not going to try to get God or Jesus Christ to work with me or to get close to me. I am going to them, mostly Jesus Christ, with everything I have. To run after his heart so as to bond with him with all that I have within My back ground has been to see the word "God" even when the word used is "Lord"... but not if the word is used with "Jesus Christ" after it. Somehow, I was taught that the "Lord Jesus Christ" means him. But the "Lord" may not mean him. I am amazed how often the word Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus, Lord, Lord Jesus, Jesus Christ the Lord, and Christ Jesus the Lord is used. The name is everywhere all over the New Testament starting with the book of Acts. The religious world does not seem to be able to see the Christ apart from seeing God through their own image. And because so many cannot understand the authority of Jesus Christ is why they believe we must have the authority. I disagree. I do not believe God has given any of this authority to me. I read nowhere where it says "ask in your name" or "all authority has been given unto us on earth and in heaven." But many Christians have been able to tap into this authority from time to time on all kinds of levels even if in most cases they had no idea what was happening or how it works. It seems clear to me that... Which leaves me with one little question: Is the thing I desire available? I have not found one statement in the book of Acts where someone was praying to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Nothing like "thank you God in the name of Jesus Christ." I also don't think I came across any statements where God has said something to someone. It appears to be either an angel, the spirit, holy spirit, or the Lord. I did however find this... For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Is it possible that God's hand to heal is brought to pass by Jesus Christ who has the authority? And then there is this... Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Is it possible God wrought miracles and wonders among the Gentiles by them because they were working with Jesus Christ who has the authority? And then there is this... And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: Is it possible God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul because he was working with Jesus Christ who has the authority? We thank God and then use the password which is Jesus Christ. It now seems clear to me that we should thank God that we can ask Jesus Christ who has the authority. And by the way, how did our minds get so blinded in the first place? I think the enemy did it like this... First, he killed my understanding of "the power of God" by teaching me to follow after "the Christ in me" through my flesh. And by sheer default, that made me follow after the flesh in me. Then he killed my understanding of "the authority of Christ" by making it a name. And that left me thinking I had the authority or the authority to use a name. At this point "faith" is already half dead because it cannot believe in God's power or the authority of Christ. On top of that he then killed "faith" further by making it my belief system. Below are a few verses concerning faith... Matthew: shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. According to your faith be it unto you. O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. he said unto them, O ye of little faith, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, If ye have faith, and doubt not, Mark: Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke: he said unto them, Where is your faith? Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Acts: And his name [authority] through faith in his name [authority] hath made this man strong, And Stephen, full of faith and power, Romans: And being not weak in faith, was strong in faith, whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 1 Corinthians: That your faith should stand in the power of God. Galatians: The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: Hebrews: without faith it is impossible to please him: By faith they passed through the Red sea... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, I would like to note that I have become very aware that in the biblical field there is a vast difference between someone who has been "educated" on a subject versus someone who can do the subject successfully. Just because a person has studied a subject doesn't mean they can do it. A student who has been educated on a subject has only proven they can be a student successfully. They have not proven they can do the subject. With that in mind I set a goal to discover how to fellowship with Jesus Christ in an even more intense way than I already do. I recommend you should first find out who Jesus Christ is if you are new to the Bible. For an advanced reading I highly recommend the book called "One God & One Lord" written by: John A Lynn, Mark H Graeser, and John W Schoenheit. As of this writing their book could still be found all over the Internet. Appendix B Is God In Control OF Everything Does He foresee the entire human history at once? We do indeed have significant differences among various traditions spread out all over the planet. However, the one fundamental shared concept seems to be quite similar, that the world is a spiritual battle zone, which is why it looks that way. From Indonesia to the Hottentots of South Africa, the Nahuatl of Mexico, the Apaches, Chiricahua, and Papagoes of the American Southwest, along with Northeatern Nigeria, and the Vedic Poets of early Hinduism just to name a few. And everywhere in between we find people all over the globe in every culture speaking and writing about some type of spiritual battle going on. Why does it have to be God in control of everything when the whole world from every culture since the beginning of man has spoken about gods, angels, demons, and Satan? Even the Buddha speak about the realm of angry spirits. This the invisible society of spirits do seem to be behind much that occurs in the physical world. We are often told that people suffer because they deserve it. And we seem to be able to go into great explanations expressing a confidence in God's absolute sovereignty, defined here as control, that seems to provide many believers with a great deal of security. We teach in our churches that everything is under God's control, and thereby everything is proceeding as divinely planned, and that somehow it all fits together. This concept did not attain the status of a universal explanation for evil until years after a man was born on the planet who was called Augustine. It's indeed historically true that what has constituted the most frequent explanation in the church and in western culture for why people suffer is due to the fact that a man was born on the planet called Augustine. And so this concept of God being in control of both good and evil is why we often consider a secret "divine blueprint" behind everything that is both good and evil being somehow an extension of God's good (but very mysterious) will. This is the biggest reason why we have trouble accepting the truth concerning the good and evil of the world we experience. A murder is more real to us than devils because the churches do not teach that the world we live in is involved in a state of war that is spiritual. The origin of evil among the cosmic powers is much like the origin of evil among human beings. And this is why the Jews saw no need to investigate the matter further (even if such an investigation were possible). The Jews knew only that both cosmic powers and humans were free to choose to obey or to disobey and that it was not God's fault if either of them disobeyed. Those who lived at the time of the first century (when the New Testament Scriptures were first starting to be spoken) had always thought of the problem of evil in the context of spiritual warfare. They understood the world was caught up in a cosmic battle and thus is saturated with horrifying suffering and evil. No one prior to Augustine, suspected that above this freely generated warfare there existed an even more fundamental explanation whereby an all-good and all-determination blueprint existed in the mind and will of God. In answer to the disciples misguided question about who sinned to cause a particular man to be born blind (John 9:2-3). "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." This translation seems to suggest it was God's will for this man to be born blind so God could be glorified. This verse should not be interpreted to suggest God's will is behind the man's blindness. The verse does not say he was born blind so God's works might be revealed. The Greek simply has hina with the aorist subjunctive passive of phaneroo "to manifest" and can readily be translated "but let the works of God be manifested." As is certainly the case in a host of other passages along with what is also frequently the case in the Septuagint and later post-apostolic writings. The hina here should be taken as forming a command or a plea and not as a result of planning or design. This is really a big deal for me as I start to realize for the first time that the foundational reason Jesus appeared was to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8), to disarm "principalities and powers" (Colossians 2:15), and to "destroy him that had the power of death" (Hebrews 2:14). The one concept that unifies all the other aspects of the ministry of Jesus Christ is his mission to spread the kingdom of God by pushing back the kingdom of darkness. It's also interesting to note that none of the devil spirits knew what was coming by the resurrection of Christ. And that would explain why they asked him continually "why have you come?" I believe in a partnership with Jesus Christ and yet I was not taught to function in such a partnership. I was taught I had the power within because of the gift of the holy spirit that is within me whereby I could and should be a soldier for the Lord. Paul could say "in the name of Jesus Christ" because he and the Lord were working together. The teaching I had in my early days is more like what our churches of today are still teaching. That we can be just like those in the book of Acts 19:13-14, which is the record where Jewish men tried to function within their own authority by using what appeared to them as Paul's formula when they said "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." Or as we say today "in the name of Jesus Christ" like if that really is some kind of a formula. It appears most people are seeking to understanding God in relation to themselves. Endeavoring to see God through their own image, which is probably some kind of idolatry. I once wrote what is spiritual cannot enter the carnal and then be subject to the obedience of the natural realm. It seems clear to me now that it's not a matter of praying that Christ Jesus would work through us, but rather that we should be able by our own free will to lock into a fellowship with the resurrected Christ Jesus. And therefore, the ultimate principle necessary to make sense of our lives cannot be found within the realm of human existence. Because what is spiritual cannot enter the carnal and then be subject to the obedience of the natural realm. It seems logical to say that if God works with His own logic and science that He created, then there is stuff He simply cannot do. It seems clear He cannot lie. He probably cannot make a square circle. And if He is unlimited in goodness and wisdom, then He probably cannot be bad or unwise. Can He be limited with qualities and properties in other ways? Well, I never thought God could have choices. I always thought of Him as being perfect and therefore His way was the only way. I just never thought of Him in any other way. I now believe Christianity is more about a personal God who gets involved with His creation and not about an idea or principle. For God to say yes to creating this particular world means God had to say no (we think) to other possibilities. And so putting all this together seems to suggest we have a Bible that literally portrays God as a personal agent, which implies a shared context for both God and humans. This is really a big deal because now I know I also have choices on how and how deep I interact with Him. Jeremiah repeatedly speaks of the conditional "if" in connection to both the clay (Israel) and the Potter (God). If Israel repents, then God will relent. This type of relationship God offers His people is not one of control and domination, but rather one of an awesome love and vulnerability. Many churches teach God called certain people because the New Testament has places where it talks about those who God called. I think God called everyone and only certain people answered the call. In Ephesians 1:4, it says God chose us in Christ beforehand, and in Revelation 17:8, it says certain names have been written in a book from the foundation of the world. It's the group, the body of Christ that is foreordained from the foundation of the world, and not specific individuals selected by God for salvation. So it's God who decided to establish a world of free will creatures with whom He would relate to in a give-and-take dialogue. The day Jesus Christ got up from the dead was the day God began to get ready to invite each human being to participate with Him in the overall plan of redemption. This work of God depends on the resource's available in any given situation and the cooperation of us humans. God resourcefully works with human attitudes, values, and character, as He responds by getting involved in this give-and-take of life to accomplish His goal with those who answered the call of Christ Jesus. We have been taught things cannot be changed because everything in the universe is already set. If this is true, then why have a genuine dialogue of prayer with God if things cannot be changed since everything in the universe is already set? I believe the answer is that everything in the universe is not already set. And this is why God can and does enter into deep personal relationships of love with those who have indeed been called in Christ Jesus. And an authentic interpersonal relationship of love must involve not only a creative one-way love, but a genuine mutuality and reciprocity love. By that I mean such a relationship will include not only the giving of love, but the joyful acceptance of love in response to it. This means that our God is a God who really cares about our lives, and therefore He enters into a truly reciprocal personal relationship with us, making it possible for Him to respond to our prayers. Could it then be possible that God freely chooses to be affected by His creatures? That He is free to decide not to determine everything that happens in history? Well, He may not need to control everything that happens in history because He is supremely wise and endlessly resourceful in seeking to fulfill His goal. Why is it humans have a hard time understanding God can have the ability to sometimes decide alone what will happen, and other times modify His plans in order to accommodate the choices, actions, and desires of His people? Plato: was the guy who defined the understanding of God's perfection to deal with exhaustive control to the end that a genuine give-and-take interpersonal relationship between God and humanity is denied. Aristotle: clearly pointed out that God is dependent on us if He has any relationships with us. And since any genuine relationship implies dependence is why there can never be a real relationship between God and us. The biblical writers: saw God as one who has entered into relationships with them all throughout history. It's this biblical view that was the “missing piece” that I have been looking for since I was a very young man. And this is why my prayer life has been greatly expanded, taking on much more urgency and fervency. Also, my vision of the importance of my life has been magnified since I now realize I am the only me that God has. And the choices I make moment by moment either limit Him or allow Him to get involved in shaping the history of my life and that of those I touch with His love. It's also worth noting that it takes far more self-confidence, more wisdom, more love, and more sensitivity to govern what is personal and free, than it does to govern that which one has absolute control of. A God totally in control can run a world of controlled beings. But what is magnificent about that? If everything in the universe is already set? Then the conversation God has with humans is more like that between a ventriloquist and the dummy. Such a dialogue is merely a sophisticated form of talking to oneself. If what God has foreseen is the entire human history at once, then the difficulty is to somehow allow for God's intervention into that history. This raises a serious problem. Does simple foreknowledge imply that God knows in advance His own decisions and actions? If God possesses foreknowledge of His own actions, then the problem is to explain how the foreknowledge can be the basis for the actions when it already includes the actions. Would it then be impossible that God should use foreknowledge derived from the actual occurrence of future events to determine His own prior actions in the governance of the world? Such a God would then know what He is going to do before deciding what to do. Thus, He would be unable to plan, anticipate, or decide. He would simply know. This seems to call the divine freedom into question, making God a prisoner of His own ability to know what's going on everywhere in the universe at every moment. And if God sees history "all at once" and His actions were not foreseen, then God never foresees any prophets making predictions given by Him. If God is so wise as to be competent and resourceful in dealing with us instead of manipulating all that happens? Then this would not diminish His authority to govern because such authority that reigns unchallenged is not as absolute as the authority that accepts a challenge. Such supreme independent power requires tremendous wisdom, patience, love, faithfulness, and resourcefulness to work with a world of independent creatures. This kind of a relationship is not one of domination or manipulation, but of participation and cooperation wherein we become co-laborers with God. It did not have to be this way. It's so only because God wanted a reciprocal relationship of love and elected to make us an important element in such a relationship. And this is why I am suggesting that God has established personal relationships whereby He can have fellowship with us and not that of manipulative or contractual relations. Those who lived at the time of the first century (when the New Testament Scriptures were first starting to be spoken) prayed boldly because they believed their prayers could change things and that means even God’s mind. They understood they were working with God to determine the future because God has open routes into the future and He desires we participate with Him in determining which ones to take. And so it can be said we open a window of opportunity for new possibilities for God to carry out His goal when we turn to Him in prayer. And since prayer affects both parties and changes the situation making it different than what it was prior to the prayer. Then asking in faith may make it possible for God to do something that He could not have done without our asking. And also, there are indeed times when the person making the request makes a difference to God because He is interested in a personal loving relationship with us. So if there is no verse in the Scriptures stating God is “omniscient” meaning He knows the past, the present, and the future? Then why do so many Christians believe God is omniscient? The answer is: Ancient Greek Mythology and Philosophy. Understanding the Scriptures regarding this topic magnifies His infinite resourcefulness and His personal involvement in our lives. We do not have to trust in a fixed pre-determined “plan” because we can trust in the living Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it's the Christ who I believe walks closely with us in the trenches of life who is able to fight for our very best. There are many good Christians who believe God is Almighty in such a way that He lives in a hyper-dimensional-universe and moves through them. Folks believe it's been proven mathematically that God can exist in a 6 dimensional-hyper-space that would allow Him to walk through walls and any other solid object in our 3-dimensional world. They also talk about the mathematics of 10/11 dimensions that implies how God can be everywhere at once and all powerful and all knowing. Now that hyper-dimensional-universe may be true. But what seems pretty darn clear to me is that such thinking puts God outside of my reach. Knowing God probably interacts with me within the same boundaries He set up for me to function in has brought my relationship with Him closer. I would also like to say if the cosmos is not something of a free democracy because it's under the ultimate rulership of God, then it has to be something of a tyrannical monarchy. Either some power is shared or it's not. And if it's not, then all the blame for all the evil in the cosmos must ultimately rest on the lap of the monarch whose will is never stopped from happening. I believe the cosmos is a free democracy whereby we are truly blessed or cursed by how we align ourselves in the fight between two cosmic kingdoms. We either share in Christ's victory or we share in Satan's defeat. But we are in either case always only the secondary participants and never the main players. Appendix C In Christ We Are A New Creature How Shall We That Are Dead To Sin Live Any Longer Therein? The written Word of God is made to shine with the glory of the divine presence of God through His wonderful Son Jesus Christ, because the one great subject of the whole Word of God is Jesus Christ. The Son of the living God is the master key to understand God’s heart of love, the written Word of God, the Christian walk, and those Scriptures that pertain to power. 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power (dunamis) of God. 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (dunamis) Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis) to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (kratos) [The Greek word "kratos" means the force of superior strength.] Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might (dunamis) by his spirit in the inner man; Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that worketh in us, Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power (kratos) of his might. Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, (dunamis) according to his glorious power, (kratos) 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, (dunamis) and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (dunamis) thereof: from such turn away. I would like to point out that the word “might” in Ephesians 3:16, and in Colossians 1:11, is the Greek word “dunamis” which means inherent power that is capable of performing anything. The word “kratos” is also translated into English as the word “power” meaning the force of superior strength. We do not have this power because we are so wonderful, but because Christ is so wonderful, who now lives at the right hand of God. The power is in Christ because the Creator of the heavens and the earth has made His Son to be the Lord and the Christ with power. Since God gave Jesus Christ this new life when He raised him out from among the dead is how we are able to receive it through His Christ. We can enter into that glorious limitless life, with the light and beauty of the divine presence of God, because it's God in Christ in us, and that is why we can radiate the beauty of the presence of our Master, Jesus Christ. Romans 1:3-4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: The following is a list of almost all of the places where I found the word "spirit" in the epistles along with Acts and a few from the gospels. I also listed words in first John that suggested the same like in "his seed." The word "spirit" is not listed here if there was any possible way I thought it might be being used for God. However, I do believe because of the scope of how "the Spirit of God" is used that it does not always mean God, but rather His spirit that He has given to those who are in His Christ. Yet I still left out most of them from this list. I also did not list any that seemed to be repeating the same idea in a nearby verse. And I do not believe the context is referring to God when it talks about the "love of the Spirit." However, I still did not list most of those in this listing. I have started to believe after 45 years of searching diligently that we have more than I was ever taught. It seems clear to me now that I have a new nature which is the spirit of God. And that I am not in a battle between two natures nor do I need to get God to teach my spirit to teach my flesh. This spirit is indeed a life form that is in all Christians even though most have no idea what it is or how it works. There are many Christians who have been able to tap into this spirit from time to time on all kinds of levels even if in most cases they had no idea what was happening or how it works. Most if not all of the problem is that this is a "lost art" because the Bible preachers teach their people to walk by the flesh. A guy like me who has had some of the best Christian training in the world found himself with no clue at the age of 65 years old for the same reason. That I too was trying to operate the spirit of God through my flesh. Jesus taught this when he was on the earth and I now understand it in a much greater detail than I ever did before as I look very carefully at what is written in the book of John. Statements like "the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:" Or when he said "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:" 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. It's not the body, but the spirit that has become a new creature. In other words, it's in the spirit that we have become a brand-new species because our spirit is totally new and therefore there is not an old sin nature left in us. Romans 6:2 How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? The Christians of today believe they are alive to sin and that it's with much effort, frustration, and failure that they battle this sin nature the rest of their lives. They have been taught to believe that after salvation, they are still the same at their core, and this is why they live the rest of their lives trying to restrain their old nature. They believe they have two natures. One of the Harlem Globetrotter's once said he could always make the basket ball shot because he thought it was impossible to miss. When I heard that I thought it would be great if I could think of God like that. Instead of thinking it's possible God's power can help me. Maybe I should be thinking it's impossible for God's power to not help me. Matthew For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Mark And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit The spirit truly is ready but the flesh is weak Luke my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour the child grew and waxed strong in spirit Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan was led by the Spirit into the wilderness The Spirit of the Lord is upon me Jesus rejoiced in spirit into thy hands I commend my spirit John Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing he groaned in the spirit he was troubled in spirit the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you Acts ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you they were all filled with the Holy Ghost I will pour out in those days of my Spirit receive the gift of the Holy Ghost Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom Stephen a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake being full of the Holy Ghost that they might receive the Holy Ghost they received the Holy Ghost be filled with the Holy Ghost comfort of the Holy Ghost the Spirit said unto him the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word the Spirit bade me go with them the Holy Ghost fell on them full of the Holy Ghost and of faith Agabus signified by the Spirit filled with the Holy Ghost the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost giving them the Holy Ghost Paul was pressed in the spirit instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit Have ye received the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost came on them Paul purposed in the spirit bound in the spirit who said to Paul through the Spirit were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit while Paul waited for them at Athens his spirit was stirred in him was instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in the spirit Romans serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost serve in newness of spirit in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you the Spirit is life because of righteousness if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God ye have received the Spirit of adoption The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children ourselves also which have the firstfruits of the Spirit the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit fervent in spirit serving the Lord 1 Corinthians in demonstration of the Spirit and of power God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God the Spirit of God dwelleth in you no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost the manifestation of the Spirit For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 2 Corinthians given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts God who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit Galatians Received ye the Spirit having begun in the Spirit He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son For we through the Spirit Walk in the Spirit the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh But if ye be led of the Spirit But the fruit of the Spirit If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit Ephesians sealed with that holy Spirit of promise have access by one Spirit unto the Father ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man be renewed in the spirit of your mind grieve not the holy Spirit of God the fruit of the Spirit be filled with the Spirit Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit Philippians worship God in the spirit 1 Thessalonians in power and in the Holy Ghost God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless 2 Timothy by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit Titus the Holy Ghost Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ Hebrews gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will made partakers of the Holy Ghost James the body without the spirit is dead The spirit that dwelleth in us 1 Peter preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit live according to God in the spirit the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you 2 Peter holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 1 John the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you the same anointing teacheth you of all things Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us Hereby know ye the Spirit of God spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world Hereby know we the spirit of truth God dwelleth in us Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit God dwelleth in him and he in God he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him we are in him in his Son Jesus Christ Jude praying in the Holy Ghost Here's some data on the "flesh"... Matthew the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Mark The spirit truly is ready but the flesh is weak John the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit It is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing Romans by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight when we were in the flesh I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh they that are in the flesh cannot please God But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof 1 Corinthians That no flesh should glory in his presence flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 2 Corinthians For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the flesh Galatians having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh the works of the flesh are manifest that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Ephesians we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind For we wrestle not against flesh and blood Philippians rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Colossians putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ I wonder if what is written in Romans goes without saying because the culture of the time just knew that the renewed mind can only be done in the spirit as we see in Ephesians. Perhaps it's not... be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. But rather... be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Most believers have been taught it's them, their mind, and therefore their flesh that should be involved in renewing their mind. I'm thinking it's the spirit of my mind that comes with a bit of an already renewed mind as I just get out of the way. Perhaps this is why a guy like Paul could say... "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" I believe the wrong belief many Christians have is that we become sinners again whenever we fail and this is why we live our lives with insecurity and condemnation. Sometimes we think we are righteous and then at other times we think we are sinners. We wrongly believe our righteousness is dependent on how we perform that day and that leads to a very severe identity crisis. writing to people who are genuinely looking for a way out of their fears, guilt and bondage. We are saved and made righteous by grace, but we still make mistakes, fail, and are tempted, and yet our righteousness is not a result of our right doing, but rather a result of our standing in Christ. The Greek word hamartano, is used for all of the 11 following verses that have the word "sin" in it. Translated into English as "sin" which means to miss, failure, aberration from prescribed law or duty. Thus, considered not as an action, [as the Catholics taught us, who are the ones who defined the definition for us 1600 years ago] but as the quality of action, the evil principle from the actual transgression. If a canal by which water flows down to a place is considered pure. And then an influence comes into the water that has the idea of muddying the water. Then it's the defiling influence, the disturbance that has flowed upon the creation of God. There is no mud in what God created in Christ Jesus that was placed inside of our new nature. None. Thus, it's impossible for me to bring this mud forward when I'm in Christ. So let's begin by looking at these 11 verses and keep in mind they do seem to be speaking about our time right now and not for some time into the future. We see this with statements like "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law." Well, I'm not under the law right now. Or "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not." I'm born of God right now. Or "being made free from sin, and become servants to God." I'm a servant to God right now. Romans 6 How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. being made free from sin, and become servants to God, 1 John 3 & 5 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not. We read in the book of Matthew that Jesus shall save his people from their sins. The problem I have had with this begins in Romans where it states we don't have sin anymore and yet everyone seems to agree that we all fall short. Today I woke with an idea of starting at the beginning which is where any good building starts when we need to have a solid foundation. So let's consider Adam and Eve who were created to have the spirit of God. A dog was created to function without the spirit of God and so dogs are normal in the way they function. But humans are missing something and therefore not complete if we do not function with the spirit of God. It would be considered broken if it were a car that was missing a part because it would be incomplete since it would be missing a necessary part. It had to be the spirit that Adam and Eve gave up that caused them to be broken, to have missed the mark, and to deliberately do such a thing was considered sin. Well, we know it was not an apple. If I'm correct on how I'm looking at this then it makes sense that blasphemy against God would be an unforgivable sin because to do so would be to keep ourselves broken and therefore unable to have the spirit of life. The book of Matthew states Jesus had the ability to forgive sins. In the book of John, we see "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." We will continue to stay broken if we refuse the spirit and this is why Jesus told them they will die in their sins because they cannot go where he is going to go. The Lord said "If you were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." In other words, if we did not know we were broken. Then we did not know we were missing a part and so it's not our fault. But if we say yeah, we know we are not broken. Then there lies the acknowledged sin. This reminds me of 1 John where it is written if we acknowledge or confess our sin is one thing. But we lie if we say we don't have any sin. It seems to be the same concept in both John and 1 John. I'm just looking at the way sin is used in the gospels and in doing so it seems clear that Jesus had the ability to forgive sin. We still have sin if we don't get this forgiveness from him and that's what is being said in the book of Matthew and John. And if we don't know we have sin because we are challenged to the degree of being impaired, disabled or blind to it in some way is how we would be exempt from it. Understand? The New Testament epistles have words like "remission of sins" and "sins may be blotted out" and "the forgiveness of sins" and "wash away thy sins" and "whose sins are covered" and "impute sin" and "are dead to sin" and "condemned sin in the flesh" and "take away their sins" and "Christ died for our sins" and "purged our sins..." The book of Romans begins talking about Jews and Gentiles being both under sin and this should not be anything new to us since both are still broken without the spirit of God. And yet for some mysterious reason I live on a planet where many Christians think their flesh is justified by the deeds of the law even after the book of Romans tells us plainly that everyone except the Christian is under sin (Romans 3:20 says Jews and Gentiles). Romans tell us "sin is not imputed when there is no law" and "that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." And then there's verse 7 with "For he that is dead is freed from sin." I never understood Romans 6 because I was taught that I was a sinner saved by grace. Let's look at what Romans is saying: Christ died unto sin once and now he lives unto God. How are we who are still alive going to be able to likewise reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God? It seems to me it must be done through Jesus Christ our Lord. It's not about us or our broken selves. It's him we must function in. Here's the verse "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." It appears both Catholic and Protestant churches do not teach that "sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Nor do they teach "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness." And so "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." I'm going to skip over Romans 7 because it tells us right up at the top of the chapter that Paul is talking to them who are into or know the law. And then by the context of the whole chapter is how we can see it's all about human's and how they toy with their flesh. What Paul talks about in the seventh chapter of Romans is what occurs to the believer who still thinks the Law applies to them. They end up spiritually dying by the commandment and realize that the commandment does not produce life. The war is with their flesh because they are still believing the Law has power over them. In the eighth chapter of Romans is where it explains how we overcome this whole issue by living in the spirit and being dead to the Law. We cannot live by faith in what Christ has done for us and still think our obedience to written laws are necessary. To do so takes away from the perfect work of Christ and places salvation and righteousness back in our own hands. Romans 8 states "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin..." The verse in 2 Corinthians 5:21, is talking about the "righteousness of God in him." It's the "in him" that nobody seems to be able to understand. This whole thing functions "in him." It's in Christ and therefore in the new nature that is mentioned just a few verses above this in verse 17 where it says "new creature:" It's not that we do not sin in our old man nature. It's that we do not sin in the new man that we are told to put on. The churches have destroyed this idea by teaching we put on the new man by following the teachings of Jesus as we walk in our flesh. So this is a lost art. In the book of Colossians, we read "putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:" We did not put it off. It was the circumcision of Christ. Two verses later we read "together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;..." Again, it's "in him" or "with him." I also want to get the book of Hebrews in here where we see Christ offered himself once "for this he did once" and not like the high priest who offered up the sacrifice daily. The Lord Christ "after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;..." Peter has the same mindset as Paul when he writes in 1 Peter "that we, being dead to sins,..." Peter goes on to say that Christ suffered once for sins so as to bring us to God, and so this is why the Scripture reads "being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" Again, the old man crucified and the new man put in its place. Peter again, "ceased from sin;..." Put that mindset on or as Peter writes "arm yourself likewise with the same mind:" Because he that has suffered in the flesh or was crucified in the flesh has put on the new man because the other one is dead. That new person "hath ceased from sin;..." A belief system called Gnosticism was taking root in Christianity at the time the book of John was being written that taught there was a supreme and unknowable Being, which they designated as the "Monad." The Monad produced various gods, who in turn produced other gods, and one of these gods called the "Demiurge" created the earth and then ruled over it as an angry, evil and jealous god. Gnostics believe this evil god was the god of the Old Testament who is called "Elohim" and so the Monad had to send another god known as the "Christ" to bring special knowledge to mankind and free them from the influence of the evil Elohim. And this is why the gnostics do not seek salvation from repenting of their sin (but rather from the ignorance of which sin is a consequence) that they believe the evil creator God and his angels caused. They emphasize salvation of select humans from bodily existence through their awakening to the knowledge of their original divine identity. I believe the Apostle John had them on his mind when he wrote the Epistle of 1 John saying you must realize you have sin and repent. John was not talking to the already saved Christian as the Catholics would like you to believe. I see this 1 John chapter 1 and 2 as we are either walking in our old dead nature if we are into sin. Or we are walking in the spirit if we are not into sin. Chapter 1 6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" Not in him because we are either not saved or have not put on the new man. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." In him because we are saved and have put on the new man. 8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Not in him because we are either not saved or have not put on the new man. 9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." In him because we are saved and have put on the new man. 10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." Not in him because we are either not saved or have not put on the new man. Chapter 2 1 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" Not in him because we are either not saved or have not put on the new man. 2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Not in him because we are either not saved or have not put on the new man. 3 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." In him because we are saved and have put on the new man. 4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." Not in him because we are either not saved or have not put on the new man. 5 "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." In him because we are saved and have put on the new man. 6 "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." In him because we are saved and have put on the new man. The last verse I'm going to mention has "in him" again. From 1 John we read "that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." We cannot sin in him because there's no sin in him and this is why "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." It seems to me it has all come down to the startling facts that I was living a whole lot below par for 45 years when I thought the spirit of Christ was my little spirit that was indeed inside of me that God needed to wake up and energize. I now understand it's not my spirit, but rather the spirit of Christ. For 45 years I had believed the "sin nature" (mine) was my flesh that I needed to control so as to make it nice. I now know it's not my "nature" after the spirit of Christ came into me. I was taught it's my flesh that controls the spirit of Christ that is within me. I now understand it's what I walk in or after as I'm being led by the spirit of Christ. Most Christians still believe the spirit of Christ makes their flesh spiritual. And this is why they believe their sins are forgiven when they are born again up to that point, but must run to God to confess and repent their new sins every time they sin after becoming a Christian. The belief is that you will either be lost, or on your way to hell, or at the very least God will not fellowship with you, and He certainly will not answer your prayers if you are found with an unconfessed sin. Such a concept would mean everybody would be on their way to hell because there is not a person on this earth who does not have either a known or an unknown unconfessed sin. Now if this new sin just means the loss of a relationship with God, which would include unanswered prayers. Then God would not have a single person on this earth qualified to receive an answer to prayer or to be able to fellowship with Him. This idea that the spirit of Christ makes our flesh spiritual is believed by most because the churches teach that Christians still have a sin nature. They do not. It's destroyed after the spirit of Christ has come upon the Christian. It seems like the whole Christian world teaches that the spirit follows the flesh, and by that, I mean the spirit functions through the flesh. I'm daring to believe the Christian's flesh should walk in or after and therefore be led by the spirit of Christ that just happens to be in the Christian. It's not really my spirit, but rather the spirit of Christ. And if you want to split hairs, it's really not his spirit because it came from God, which is why it's sometimes referred to as the spirit of God. When we read it's not you that speak, but the spirit of your Father. That does not mean God is speaking through you. It's His spirit that He gave to you that He calls the spirit of His son. I was taught since I was 19 years old that I had the spirit of Christ within me. And it was this spirit that was the gift from God that gave me everlasting life whereby I can get into heaven. Some teach it's a little seed in the Christian and others teach it's woven between all of the cells of our body. I spent 45 years trying to get God to wake up this spirit by energizing it so that I could control it. The Scriptures really mean just that when it says we should walk in or after the spirit. It's simple. I can be led by the spirit because it's separate from me. All kinds of verses are exploding all over my brain that I never understood before. Or better said, would be that I thought I understood, but now I see a great deal more in verses that I once thought I understood. Now I finally know why when we follow after the spirit we will not walk after the lust of the flesh. I stopped trying to get the spirit of Christ to work for me. I am now walking in or after it. The reason I cannot lust in the flesh when following after the spirit is because it's impossible to do so since the spirit of Christ does not lust after the flesh. Religious people don't follow after the spirit, but rather they follow after their flesh and call it spiritual. The religious folks lead with their flesh and call it Christian. The church folks clean up their flesh by making themselves nice. Then they say this is Christian because we are being nice like the way Jesus was. In contrast to that, I believe we should walk after the spirit of Christ. I believe I have attained the conclusion I had hoped to find when I started the search to look for what it was that Stephen had plugged into when it was said of him that he was full of faith and power. It is written that we should ask in his name, which I have finally come to believe means to ask in his authority, which seems to me would mean to ask by representing him. Now right here is where I think you should sit down if you are not already doing so. Because we can see very clearly by just looking at this Appendix C that this is done through the spirit. And this is really a big deal because the spirit of Christ is not far away like if we need to reach high into the heavens to connect with him. The spirit of Christ is inside of us and therefore to ask in the spirit is to not reach high into the heavens to try to connect with him. When I receive what I'm focused on in prayer, then I will be living within the authority of Jesus Christ, and thereby functioning as his representative. 2 Corinthians 5:20... Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,... - King James version (1611) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,... - New American Standard version (1995) We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ,... - American Standard version (1901) So we are the representatives of Christ,... - Basic English Bible We are ambassadors therefore for Christ,... - Darby Bible Now then we are embassadors for Christ,... - Webster's Bible On Christ's behalf therefore we come as ambassadors,... - Weymouth Bible We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ,... - World English Bible Therfor we vsen message for - Wycliffe Bible in behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors,... - Youngs Literal Bible Most Christians pray to have Jesus come down or send something down to answer their need. And then if we get what we desired from him, we disconnect from the prayer as we leave him in heaven and us on the earth. I now think the prayer is to Jesus Christ and he is not far from us, but rather right inside of us via the spirit of Christ within us, whereby we can function through the spirit of Christ. And so I believe we should be doing just that and not praying to an object such as an illness like the cough or whatever pain we are seeking help from. I now bring my concern to him and not him to my concern. We represent him, not the cough, or our pain, or whatever it is we are praying for. So I no longer would see myself praying to an object like people do when they talk to the cough, or the pain, or whatever it is they seek in prayer. When I am close to the spirit of Christ, then I will function as a partner with the Lord whereby it becomes a joint effort. I believe the spirit of Christ is my new nature and therefore I have been able to function in it. To live in it, walk by it, and be in it. When I finally figured this out is when the lights turned on. Most of my life I believed I was in a battle between what I thought was my old man fighting against what I thought was my new man. Now I'm not fighting. I moved right in the darn thing. It seems to me one cannot walk in or by the spirit if our old nature (which is dead) thinks it's fighting against our new nature. Last night is when I took the red pill that released me from the Matrix. I was taught being in Christ meant I was in fellowship with God because I was walking upright in my flesh. I now understand being in Christ is being in the spirit and neither of them (in Christ or in the spirit) has anything to do with the darn flesh. It now seems perfectly clear to walk in or by the spirit is the same as putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the same as having fellowship with Jesus Christ, which is also part of having the mind of Christ. Living in Christ is the same as being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. There's a verse where Jesus says without me you can do nothing. Well, I'm never without him. So I can continue to say I have the mind of Christ, and therefore can stand fast in the Lord, whereby I can do all things through Christ. Why? Because as I have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so I can walk in him. I would like to also note that both faith and love are in Christ Jesus, which means in my spirit because it's the spirit of Christ that is in me. And yes, this is why as he is so am I in this world. When the spirit of Christ and I come together in any agreement, then my prayer is answered whereby I can then say thus said the Lord. Copyright 2000 - All Rights Reserved.
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महान् विवाद नयाँ देशमा ज्योति- Contents - १ — तीर्थयात्री पुर्खाहरू - २ — बिहानका अग्रदूतहरू - ३ — अमेरिकाको सुधारक - ४ — अँध्यारोद्वारा ज्योति - ५ — एक महान् धार्मिक जागृति - ६ — एक चेतावनी इन्कार भयो - ७ — अगमवाणीहरूको पूर्णता - ८ — पवित्रस्थान के हो? - ९ — पवित्रहरूका पवित्रमा - १० — परमेश्वरको अपरिवर्तनीय व्यवस्था - ११ — एउटा सुधार-कार्य - १२ — आधुनिक जागृतिहरू - १३ — जीवनको अभिलेख सामु - Results - Related - Featured - Weighted Relevancy - Content Sequence - Relevancy - Earliest First - Latest First १२ — आधुनिक जागृतिहरू जहाँ परमेश्वरको वचन विश्वासयोग्यताका साथ प्रचार गरिएको छ, त्यहाँ यस्ता परिणामहरू देखिएका छन् जसले ईश्वरीय मौलिकताको प्रमाणित गरेको छ। उहाँका सन्देशवाहकहरूको सन्देशसँग परमेश्वरको आत्मा हुनुहुन्थ्यो, र वचन शक्तिशाली थियो। पापीहरूले तिनीहरूको विवेक जागेको महसुस गरे। “हरेक मानिसलाई ज्ञान प्रदान गर्ने साँचो ज्योति” तिनीहरूका प्राणका गुप्त स्थानहरू पनि उज्यालो पारिदियो, र अँध्यारोमा लुकिएका कुराहरू प्रकट गरिए। तिनीहरूका दिमागहरू र हृदयहरूमा गहिरो दोष-प्रमाण भयो। पाप, धार्मिकता र आउनेवाला न्यायको विषयमा तिनीहरूलाई चित्त बुझ्यो। तिनीहरूमा यहोवाको धार्मिकताका एक ज्ञान थियो र हृदयहरूका अनुसन्धानकर्ताको सामु तिनीहरूको दोष र अशुद्धतामा आउने आतङ्क तिनीहरूले महसुस गरे। संतापमा तिनीहरू कराए: “यस मृत्युको शरीरबाट मलाई कसले छुटाउला?” जब कलवरीको क्रूसचाहिँ मानिसहरूका पापको निम्ति असीम बलिदानसाथ प्रकट भयो, तब तिनीहरूले देखे कि ख्रीष्टको योग्यताबाहेक अरू कुनै पनि कुरा तिनीहरूका अधर्म प्रायश्चित्त गर्न पर्याप्त छैन; यसले मात्र मानिसलाई परमेश्वरसँग मिलाप गर्न सक्दछ। तिनीहरूले संसारको पाप उठाइलैजानुहुने परमेश्वरको थुमालाई विश्वास र नम्रतासाथ स्वीकार गरे। येशूको रगतद्वारा मात्र तिनीहरूका “विगत पापहरूको क्षमा” हुन्थ्यो।MBND 209.1 ती मानिसहरूले पश्चात्ताप सुहाउँदो फल फलाए। तिनीहरूले विश्वास गरे र बप्तिस्मा लिए, र जीवनको नयाँ मार्गमा हिँड्न उठे—ख्रीष्ट येशूमा नयाँ प्राणीहरू भए; तिनीहरू आफूलाई विगतका अभिलाषाअनुसार चलाउने होइन; तर तिनीहरू परमेश्वरको पुत्रको विश्वासद्वारा उहाँका पाइलाहरूमा हिँड्नुपर्नेथिए, र तिनीहरूले उहाँको चरित्र प्रतिबिम्ब गर्नुपर्नेथिए र जसरी उहाँ पवित्र हुनुहुन्छ त्यसरी नै तिनीहरूले आफैलाई पवित्र पार्नुपर्नेथिए। तिनीहरूले घृणा गरेका कुराहरू अब तिनीहरूले प्रेम गरे, र तिनीहरूले माया गरेका कुराहरू अब तिनीहरूले घृणा गर्न थाले। घमण्डी र आत्म-विश्वासीहरू अब कोमल र नम्र हृदयका भए। मूर्ख र घमण्डीहरू गम्भीर र विनम्र भए। अधर्मी श्रद्धालु भए, जँड्याहा सचेत भए र भोगविलासी शुद्ध भए। संसारको व्यर्थका ढाँचाहरू हटाइए। इसाईहरूले “केशको सिङ्गार, सुनको गहनापात र दामी वस्त्र”-को बाहिरी सिङ्गारपटार खोजेनन्, तर तिनीहरूले “भित्री हृदयलाई भलो र शान्त आत्माको अविनाशी रत्न” खोजे, “जो परमेश्वरको दृष्टिमा साह्रै मूल्यवान् छ।” १ पत्रुस ३:३, ४।MBND 209.2 जागृतिहरूले गहिरो हृदय तलाश र नम्रता ल्यायो। ती जागृतिहरूमा पापीहरूप्रति उत्सुक र गम्भीर आह्वानहरू र ख्रीष्टको रगतद्वारा किनिनेहरूको लागि तृष्णापूर्ण मायाको गुणहरू थियो। पुरुष र स्त्रीहरू मानिसहरूका मुक्तिको निम्ति परमेश्वरसँग लडन्त र प्रार्थना गरे। यस्ता जागृतिको फल मानिसहरूमा देखा परे जो आफैलाई इन्कार गर्न र बलिदान गर्न हिचकिचाएनन्, तर ख्रीष्टको खातिर तिनीहरूले घृणा र कष्ट भोग्ने योग्य गनिएको कारण तिनीहरू आनन्दित भए। जसले येशूको नाम दाबी गरे तिनीहरूको जीवनमा भएका परिवर्तन मानिसहरूले देखे। तिनीहरूको प्रभावबाट समाजले लाभ हासिल गरेको थियो। तिनीहरू ख्रीष्टसँग भेला भए, र अनन्त जीवन कटनी गर्नको लागि आत्माको निम्ति बीउ छरे।MBND 210.1 तिनीहरूको विषयमा यसरी भन्न सकिन्थ्यो: “तिमीहरूको शोकले तिमीहरूलाई पश्चात्तापी बनायो।” “किनभने ईश्वरीय शोकले मुक्तिको निम्ति पश्चात्ताप उत्पन्न गर्छ, र त्यसमा पछितो हुँदैन, तर सांसारिक शोकले भने मृत्यु उत्पन्न गर्छ। किनकि हेर, यस ईश्वरीय शोकले तिमीहरूमा कस्तो उत्साह उत्पन्न गराएको छ—आफैलाई निर्दोष तुल्याउन तिमीहरूमा कस्तो उत्सुकता छ, कस्तो क्रोध, कस्तो भय, कस्तो तृष्णा, कस्तो जोश, न्याय होस् भन्ने कस्तो इच्छा! सबै कुरामा तिमीहरूले आफैलाई निर्दोष भएको साबित गरेका छौ।” २ कोरिन्थी ७:९-११।MBND 210.2 यही नै परमेश्वरको आत्माको कामको परिणाम हो। यसमा सुधार कार्य नभएसम्म वास्तविक पश्चात्तापको प्रमाण हुँदैन। यदि उसले कर्जा राखेको धितो फर्काइदिन्छ, उसले लुटेको माल फिर्ता गरिदिन्छ, र उसको पाप स्वीकार गर्छ, र परमेश्वर र उसको सँगीलाई माया गर्छ, तब पापी परमेश्वरसँग मिलाप भएको निश्चित हुन सक्छ। विगत वर्षहरूमा भएको धार्मिक जागृतिका समयहरूका असरहरू यस्ता थिए। तिनीहरूका फलहरूद्वारा जाँच गर्दा तिनीहरू मानिसहरूको मुक्ति र मानवजातिको उत्थानमा परमेश्वरका धन्यहरू कहलाएका थिए।MBND 210.3 तर आधुनिक समयहरूमा प्रकट गरेका धेरै जागृतिहरू त्यो ईश्वरीय अनुग्रहको प्रदर्शनभन्दा धेरै फरक देखिएका छन् जुन अघिल्ला दिनहरूमा परमेश्वरका दासहरूका परिश्रमहरूसँग देखिन्थे। यो सत्य हो कि विश्वव्यापी चाहना आरम्भ भएको छ, धेरै जना परिवर्तन भएको दाबी गर्दछन्, चर्चहरूमा ठूलो सङ्ख्यामा थपिन्छ; तापनि परिणामहरू यस्ता छन् कि जसले वास्तवमा आत्मिकी जीवन त्यसरी नै वृद्धि भएको छ भन्ने विश्वासमा निश्चयता दिँदैन। केही समय बल्ने ज्योति निभेर जान्छ र पहिलेको भन्दा कालो अँध्यारो हुन्छ।MBND 211.1 प्रचलित जागृतिहरूले धेरैजसो कल्पना र भावनालाई उत्तेजित पार्दछन्, जुन कुरा नयाँ छ र भयप्रद छ त्यसको चाहनालाई सन्तुष्टि पार्दछन्। यसरी परिवर्तन भएकाहरू बाइबलको सत्यता, अगमवक्ताहरू र प्रेरितहरूको गवाही सुन्नेप्रति त्यति चाहना गर्दैनन्। धार्मिक सेवाहरूमा केही उत्तेजनात्मक चरित्र भएन भने तिनीहरूलाई आर्कषण गर्ने थोक केही पनि हुँदैन। अनुत्तेजित विवेकलाई प्रभाव पार्ने कुनै सन्देशले कुनै प्रतिकृया ल्याउँदैन। तिनीहरूका अनन्त लाभलाई मध्यनजर राख्ने परमेश्वरको वचनको स्पष्ट चेतावनीहरू तिनीहरूले बेवास्ता गर्छन्।MBND 211.2 वास्तविक परिवर्तन भएको प्रत्येक मानिसको जीवनमा परमेश्वरप्रति भएको सम्बन्ध र अनन्त कुराहरू नै महान् प्रसङ्ग हुनेछन्। तर वर्तमान प्रचलित चर्चहरूमा परमेश्वरमा समर्पित आत्मा कहाँ छ? यी परिवर्तन भएकाहरूले तिनीहरूका घमण्ड र संसारप्रतिको प्रेमलाई इन्कार नै गर्दैनन्। तिनीहरू परिवर्तन हुनुभन्दा अगाड़ि जस्ता थिए त्यस्तै अहिले पनि क्रूस उठाउन र दीन र नम्र येशूलाई अनुसरण गर्नका लागि आ-आफ्ना स्वार्थलाई इन्कार गर्न तयार छैनन्। धर्मचाहिँ नास्तिकहरू र शङ्काशीलहरूको खेल भएको छ, किनकि धेरै जसले यसको नाम धारण गर्दछन्, तिनीहरू नै त्यस सिद्धान्तमा अनजान छन्। धेरै चर्चहरूबाट भक्तिको शक्ति झण्डै हटिसकेको छ। पिकनिकहरू, चर्चका नाटकहरू, चर्चका बजारहरू, सुन्दर घरहरू र व्यक्तिगत प्रदर्शनले परमेश्वरप्रति भएका विचारहरूलाई हटाइदिएका छन्। जग्गाहरू र सम्पत्तिहरू र सांसारिक पेशाहरूले मस्तिष्कलाई व्यस्त पार्छन्, र अनन्त चाहनाका कुराहरूप्रति झण्डै अचेत भइसकेका छन्।MBND 211.3 विश्वास र भक्तिको पतन गतिशीलरूपमा भए तापनि यी चर्चहरूमा ख्रीष्टका सत्य विश्वासीहरू छन्। पृथ्वीमा परमेश्वरको अन्तिम न्याय आउनुभन्दा अगावै परमप्रभुका मानिसहरूमा प्रेरितहरूको समयदेखि नदेखेका मौलिक भक्तिको जागृति हुनेछ। उहाँका सन्तानहरूमाथि परमेश्वरको आत्मा र शक्ति खन्याइनेछ। त्यो समयमा धेरै जना आफै ती चर्चहरूबाट निस्केर आउनेछन् त्यसमा संसारको प्रेमले परमेश्वरको प्रेम र उहाँको वचनको स्थान ओगटेको हुन्छ। जुन महान् सत्यताहरू परमेश्वरले उहाँका मानिसहरूलाई उहाँको आगमनको लागि तयार गराउन घोषणा गर्नुभएको छ ती सत्यताहरूलाई धेरै पास्टरहरू र मानिसहरूले हर्षसाथ स्वीकार गर्नेछन्। आत्माको शत्रुले यो कामलाई बाधा ल्याउने इच्छा गर्छ; र यस्तो अभियान आउनुभन्दा पहिले नै उसले यसको नकल निकालेर त्यसलाई रोक्ने प्रयास गर्नेछ। जुन चर्चहरूलाई उसले आफ्नो भ्रमपूर्ण शक्तिको अधीनमा ल्याउन सक्दछ, तिनीहरूमा परमेश्वरको विशेष आशिष् परेको जस्तै देखाउनेछ; त्यहाँ यस्तो कुरा प्रकट हुनेछ जुन विशाल धार्मिक चाहना ठहरिनेछ। तिनीहरूका लागि परमेश्वरले अचम्म तरिकाले काम गर्दैहुनुहुन्छ भनी भीडौँ मानिसहरू अति नै खुशी हुनेछन्, जबकि कामचाहिँ अर्कै आत्माबाट भएको हुन्छ। धार्मिक भेष लिएर शैतानले उसको प्रभाव इसाई संसारभरि फैल्याउने प्रयास गर्नेछ।MBND 211.4 विगत आधा शताब्दिभरि भएका जागृतिहरूमध्ये धेरै वा थोरै मात्रामा यस्ता प्रभावहरू क्रियाशील थिए, जुन भविष्यको अझै विशाल हलचलहरूमा त्यही नै प्रदर्शन हुनेछ। त्यहाँ सत्य र झूट मिश्रित एक भावनात्मक उत्तेजना छ, जुन कुमार्गतर्फ लैजाने ढाँचाको हो। तापनि कोही पनि भ्रममा पर्नु आवश्यक छैन। परमेश्वरको वचनको ज्योतिमा यी हलचलहरूको स्वभाव छुट्याउन कठिन छैन। जहाँ-जहाँ मानिसहरूले बाइबलका गवाहीहरूलाई लत्त्याउँछन्, जहाँ स्वार्थ-त्याग र संसार-त्यागको माग राख्ने स्पष्ट र आत्मा जाँच्ने सत्यताहरूबाट फर्कन्छ, हामी निश्चित हुन सक्छौं कि त्यहाँ परमेश्वरको आशिष् प्रदान गरिएको छैन। ख्रीष्ट आफैले दिनुभएको नियमद्वारा यो कुरा प्रमाणित छ, “तिनीहरूका फलबाट तिमीहरूले तिनीहरूलाई चिन्नेछौ” कि यी हलचलहरू परमेश्वरको पवित्र आत्माबाट होइनन्। (मत्ती ७:१६)।MBND 212.1 उहाँको वचनका सत्यताहरूमा परमेश्वरले मानिसलाई आफ्नै प्रकाश िदनुभएको छ, र जसले यी सत्यताहरू स्वीकार गर्छन् ती सत्यताहरू नै तिनीहरूका पक्षमा शैतानका भ्रमहरू विरुद्ध ढाल ठहरिन्छन्। यी सत्यताहरू बेवास्ता गरेकै कारण दुष्टताहरूतिर ढोका खोलिएको छ, त्यसैले गर्दा अहिले धार्मिक जगत्मा यी दुष्टताहरू अति नै फैलिएका छन्। परमेश्वरको व्यवस्थाको स्वभाव र महत्वको विषयमा धेरै जसो बिर्सिसकेको छ। त्यसको चरित्र, अनन्तता र दैवीय कानूनको कर्तव्यप्रति गलत समझले गर्दा परिवर्तन र पवित्रताको विषयमा झूटो आशय लगाएको छ, जसको कारण चर्चमा भक्तिको स्तरलाई नीच पारेको छ। हाम्रो समयमा भएका जागृतिहरूमा परमेश्वरको आत्मा र शक्तिको अभावको रहस्य यही नै हो भनी थाहा पाउनुपर्नेछ।MBND 212.2 विभिन्न मण्डलीका संस्थाहरूमा तिनीहरूका भक्तिले गर्दा परिचित मानिसहरू छन् जसले यो तथ्यलाई स्वीकार गर्छन् र शोक गर्छन्। अध्यापक एडवार्डस ए. पार्क वर्तमानको धार्मिक जोखिमलाई प्रकट गर्दै निर्धक्क भन्दछन्: “दैवीय व्यवस्था पुल्पिटबाट लागू नगर्नु नै खतराको एउटा स्रोत हो। अघिल्ला समयहरूमा पुल्पिटचाहिँ विवेकको आवाजको एक प्रतिध्वनि भएको थियो। ... मालिकको उदाहरण अपनाउँदै, व्यवस्था वा त्यसका विधानहरू र चेतावनीहरूको अटलता घोषणा गर्दै हाम्रा सबभन्दा प्रख्यात प्रचारकहरूले तिनीहरूका प्रवचनमा अचम्मलाग्दो ऐश्वर्य प्रकट गरे। तिनीहरूले दुई महान् सिद्धान्त दोहोऱ्याए कि व्यवस्थाचाहिँ दैवीय पूर्णताहरूको प्रतिलिपि हो, र जसले व्यवस्थालाई प्रेम गर्दैन त्यसले सुसमाचारलाई पनि प्रेम गर्दैन; किनकि व्यवस्था साथै सुसमाचार पनि परमेश्वरको सत्य चरित्र प्रतिबिम्ब गर्ने ऐना हुन्। यो जोखिमले अर्कोतिर लैजाँदछ, पापको दुष्टता, त्यसको व्यापकता र अवगुणलाई कम मूल्यको ठान्दछ। आज्ञा जति सत्य छ त्यसप्रति अनाज्ञाकारी हुनु भनेको त्यति नै दुष्ट हुन्छ। ...MBND 213.1 “उल्लेखित जोखिमहरूसँग सहकार्य गर्नु भनेको चाहिँ परमेश्वरको न्यायलाई अवहेलना गर्ने खतरा हो। आधुनिक पुल्पिटको लक्ष्यचाहिँ दैवीय न्यायलाई दैवीय परोपकारिताबाट अलग गर्नु र सिद्धान्तमा उच्च पार्नुभन्दा बरु परोपकारिता बङग्याएर भावुकतामा डुबाउनु रहेको छ। नयाँ बाइबलशास्त्रीय कुव्याख्याले परमेश्वरले जोड्नुभएको कुराहरूलाई भाग-भाग गरी छुट्याएको छ। के यो दैवीय व्यवस्था असल छ कि खराब छ त? यो असल छ। त्यसो भए न्याय पनि असल छ; किनकि त्योचाहिँ एउटा व्यवस्था लागू गर्ने स्वभाव नै हो। दैवीय व्यवस्था र न्याय, मानविक अनाज्ञाकारीताको मात्रा र अवगुणलाई हल्कारूपमा लिने बानीले गर्दा मानिसहरूले अनुग्रहलाई सहजै हेला गर्नेछन् जुन पाप-प्रायश्चित्तका लागि प्रबन्ध गरिएको छ।” यसरी मानिसहरूको मस्तिष्कमा सुसमाचारले यसको महत्व र मूल्य गुमाउँदछ, र अब चाँड़ै नै तिनीहरू व्यवहारिक रूपमा बाइबल नै हटाउन पनि तत्पर हुन्छन्।MBND 213.2 धेरै धार्मिक शिक्षकहरूको भनाइ छ कि ख्रीष्टले उहाँको मृत्युद्वारा व्यवस्थालाई हटाउनुभयो, र त्यसकारण मानिसहरू यसका आदेशहरूबाट मुक्त छन्। कति जनाले यसलाई दुःखजनक जुवाको रूपमा प्रकट गर्दछन्, र व्यवस्थाको दास हुनुको सट्टामा सुसमाचारको अधीनमा रहेर स्वाधीनतालाई भोग गर्नुपर्छ भनी प्रस्तुत गर्दछन्।MBND 214.1 तर अगमवक्ताहरू र प्रेरितहरूले परमेश्वरको पवित्र व्यवस्थाको विषयमा यसो गरेनन्। दाऊदले भने: “म स्वतन्त्र भएर हिँड्नेछु, किनकि मैले तपाईंका आदेशहरू खोजी निकालेको छु।” भजनसंग्रह ११९:४५। प्रेरित याकूबले ख्रीष्टको मृत्युपछि लेखेका थिए, तिनी दश आज्ञालाई “राजकीय व्यवस्था” र “स्वतन्त्र दिने शुद्ध व्यवस्था”-को रूपमा दर्शाउँदछन्। याकूब २:८; १:२५। ख्रीष्ट क्रूसमा मृत्यु भएको आधा शताब्दी पश्चात् प्रकाशकले तिनीहरूका निम्ति जोहरू “जीवनको रूखमाथि अधिकार पाउनाका निम्ति र ढोकाहरूद्वारा शहरभित्र पस्न सक्नाका निम्ति ... उहाँका आज्ञाहरू पालन गर्छन्,” तिनीहरूका निम्ति आशिष् घोषणा गर्दछन्। प्रकाश २२:१४ (KJV)।MBND 214.2 ख्रीष्टको मृत्युद्वारा उहाँले पिताको व्यवस्थालाई रद्द गर्नुभयो भन्ने दाबीचाहिँ आधारहीन छ। यदि व्यवस्था परिवर्तन गर्न वा हटाउन सम्भव भएको भए त मानिसहरूलाई पापको सजायबाट बचाउनको निम्ति ख्रीष्ट मर्नु आवश्यक नै थिएन। ख्रीष्टको मृत्युले व्यवस्थालाई रद्द गर्ने होइन तर झन् बरु त्यो अटल छ भन्ने प्रमाण दिँदछ। परमेश्वरको पुत्र “व्यवस्थालाई महान् र महिमित पार्न” आउनुभयो। यशैया ४२:२१। उहाँले भन्नुभयो: “व्यवस्था अथवा अगमवक्ताहरूलाई रद्द गर्न म आएको भन्ने नसम्झ। म ती रद्द गर्न होइन, तर पूरा गर्न आएँ। किनभने साँच्चै म तिमीहरूलाई भन्दछु, जबसम्म स्वर्ग र पृथ्वी टलेर जाँदैन तबसम्म सबै कुरा पूर्ण नभई कुनै किसिमले व्यवस्थाबाट एउटा मात्रा वा एउटा बिन्दु टल्नेछैन।” मत्ती ५:१७, १८। उहाँ आफ्नै विषयमा घोषणा गर्नुहुन्छ: “हे मेरा परमेश्वर, तपाईंको इच्छाबमोजिम गर्न चाहन्छु, तपाईंको व्यवस्था मेरो हृदयभित्र छ।” भजनसंग्रह ४०:८।MBND 214.3 परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था यसको मौलिक स्वभावबाट नै अटल छ। योचाहिँ त्यसको लेखक वा सृजकको इच्छा र चरित्रको प्रकाश हो। परमेश्वर प्रेम हुनुहुन्छ, र उहाँको व्यवस्था पनि प्रेम हो। परमेश्वरलाई प्रेम गर्नु र मानिसलाई प्रेम गर्नु नै यसको महान् दुई सिद्धान्तहरू हुन्। “प्रेम गर्नु नै व्यवस्था पूरा गर्नु हो।” रोमी १३:१०। परमेश्वरको चरित्रचाहिँ धार्मिकता र सत्यता हुन्; उहाँको व्यवस्थाको स्वभाव यस्तै छ। भजनसंग्रहको लेखक भन्दछन्: “तपाईंको व्यवस्था सत्य हो।” “किनकि तपाईंका सबै आज्ञाहरू धार्मिकता हुन्।” भजनसंग्रह ११९:१४२; १७२ (KJV)। अनि प्रेरित पावल घोषणा गर्दछन्: “व्यवस्था पवित्र छ, र आज्ञा पवित्र, न्यायसङ्गत र असल छ।” रोमी ७:१२। यस्तो व्यवस्था परमेश्वरको दिमाग र इच्छाको वक्तव्य भएको कारणले यो पनि यसको लेखक झैँ सदा-सर्वदा रहने हुनुपर्दछ।MBND 215.1 परिवर्तन र पवित्रकरणको कामले नै तिनीहरूलाई उहाँको व्यवस्थाका सिद्धान्तहरूसँग एकत्र गर्नेद्वारा मानिसहरूलाई परमेश्वरकहाँ पुनर्मिलन गराउँदछ। आदिमा मानिस परमेश्वरको स्वरूपमा सृष्टि भएका थिए। तिनी परमेश्वरको स्वभाव र व्यवस्थासँग पूर्ण मिलेका थिए; धार्मिकताका सिद्धान्तहरू तिनको हृदयमा लेखिएका थिए। तर पापले तिनलाई आफ्नो सृजकबाट छुट्यायो। अब तिनले दैवीय स्वरूपलाई प्रतिबिम्ब गरेनन्। तिनको हृदयले अब परमेश्वरको सिद्धान्तसँग लड़न्त गर्न थाल्यो। “किनभने पापमय शरीरतिर लागेको मनचाहिँ परमेश्वरप्रति शत्रुता हो। परमेश्वरका व्यवस्थाको अधीनमा त्यो हुँदैन, न त त्यो कहिल्यै हुन सक्छ।” रोमी ८:७। तर “परमेश्वरले संसारलाई यस्तो प्रेम गर्नुभयो, कि उहाँले आफ्ना एकमात्र पुत्र दिनुभयो,” ताकि मानिस परमेश्वरसँग मिलापमा आउन सकोस्। ख्रीष्टका योग्यताहरूद्वारा तिनी आफ्ना सृजकसँग पुनर्मिलन हुन सक्छ। तिनको हृदय दैवीय अनुग्रहले फेरि नयाँ हुनुपर्छ; तिनले माथिबाट नयाँ जीवन पाउनुपर्छ। यो परिवर्तनचाहिँ नयाँ जन्म हो, येशू भन्नुहुन्छ, योविना तिनले “परमेश्वरको राज्य देख्न” सक्दैनन्।MBND 215.2 परमेश्वरसँग मिलाप हुने क्रममा पहिलो खुड्किला भनेको नै पापको दोष-प्रमाण हुनुपर्छ। “पाप नै व्यवस्था भङ्ग हो।” “किनकि व्यवस्थाद्वारा नै पापको चेतना हुन्छ।” १ यूहन्ना ३:४; रोमी ३:२०। पापीले आफ्नो दोष देख्न उसले आफ्नो चरित्रलाई परमेश्वरको महान् धार्मिकताको स्तरद्वारा जाँच्नुपर्छ। यो एउटा ऐना हो जसले एक धार्मिक चरित्रको पूर्णतालाई देखाउँदछ र आफैलाई आफ्ना चरित्रका खोटहरू छुट्याउन सक्षम बनाउँदछ।MBND 215.3 व्यवस्थाले मानिसलाई आफ्ना पापहरू प्रकट गराउँदछ, तर यसले उपचारचाहिँ गर्दैन। यसले आज्ञाकारीलाई जीवनको प्रतिज्ञा गर्छ भने यसले अधर्मीको अंश नै मृत्यु हो भनी घोषणा गर्दछ। ख्रीष्टको सुसमाचारले मात्र उसलाई पापको दोष वा अशुद्धताबाट मुक्त गर्न सक्छ। उसले परमेश्वरसँग पश्चात्ताप गर्नैपर्छ, जसको व्यवस्था भङ्ग भएको छ; र ख्रीष्टमा अर्थात् उहाँको प्रायश्चित्त गर्ने बलिदानमा विश्वास गर्नुपर्छ। यसरी उसले “पहिले गरिएका पापहरूको क्षमा” प्राप्त गर्दछ र दैवीय स्वभावमा सहभागी बन्दछ। ऊ एक परमेश्वरको छोरा हुन्छ, धर्मपुत्र भईकन उसले “अब्बा, पिता!” भनी पुकार्दछ।MBND 215.4 के अब ऊ परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था भङ्ग गर्न स्वतन्त्र छ त? पावल भन्छन्, “तब के हामी यही विश्वासद्वारा व्यवस्थालाई रद्द गर्ने? कदाचित् होइन! बरु हामीहरू त व्यवस्थालाई कायम पो राख्छौं।” “हामी जो पापको लेखि मऱ्यौं, त कसरी हामी अझै त्यसैमा जिउनु?” अनि यूहन्ना घोषणा गर्दछन्: “परमेश्वरको प्रेम यही हो कि हामी उहाँका आज्ञाहरू पालन गर्दछौं, र उहाँका आज्ञाहरू भारपूर्ण छैनन्।” रोमी ३:३१; ६:२; १ यूहन्ना ५:३। जब यसले उहाँको व्यवस्थासँग मिलाप गराउँछ तब नयाँ जन्ममा परमेश्वरसँग हृदय मिलाप हुन्छ। जब यो प्रभावशाली परिवर्तन पापीमा आउँछ, तब उसले मृत्युदेखि जीवन, पापदेखि पवित्रता, व्यवस्था भङ्ग र विद्रोहदेखि आज्ञाकारिता र बफादारितामा पार गरेको हुन्छ। परमेश्वरबाट अलग्गिएको उसको पुरानो जीवन बितिगयो; विश्वास र प्रेमको पुनर्मिलापको नयाँ जीवन आरम्भ भएको छ। त्यसपछि “व्यवस्थाको धार्मिकता हामीमा, जो शरीरअनुसार होइन, तर आत्माअनुसार हिँड्दछौं, पूरा होस्।” रोमी ८:४ (KJV)। अनि मानिसको भनाइ यस्तो हुन्छ: “आहा! तपाईंको व्यवस्थालाई म कति प्रेम गर्दछु! दिनभरि म तिनैमाथि मनन गर्दछु।” भजनसंग्रह ११९:९७।MBND 216.1 “परमप्रभुको व्यवस्था सिद्ध छ, प्राणलाई परिवर्तन गर्ने।” भजनसंग्रह १९:७ (KJV)। व्यवस्थाविना परमेश्वरको शुद्धता र पवित्रता वा आफ्नै दोष र अशुद्धताको न्यायसङ्गत समझ मानिसहरूमा छैन। तिनीहरूसँग कुनै पनि पापको सत्य प्रमाण छैन र तिनीहरूले पश्चात्तापको कुनै आवश्यकता ठान्दैनन्। परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था भङ्ग गर्नेहरू स्वरूप आफू हराएको अवस्था नबुझ्दा तिनीहरूले ख्रीष्टको प्रायश्चित्त गर्ने रगतको आवश्यकता नै अनुभव गर्दैनन्। मुक्तिको आशा हृदयको पूर्ण परिवर्तन वा जीवनको सुधारविना नै स्वीकार गरिएको हुन्छ। यसरी कृतिम परिवर्तनहरू प्रशस्त हुन्छन्, र कहिल्यै पनि ख्रीष्टसँग सहकार्य नगरेका भीडहरू चर्चमा समावेश हुन्छन्।MBND 216.2 दैवीय व्यवस्थालाई हेलचेक्रयाइँ वा इन्कार गरेको परिणाम स्वरूप उठेका पवित्रकरणको भ्रमपूर्ण सिद्धान्तहरू नै आधुनिक धार्मिक कार्यमा मुख्य स्थान रहेको हुन्छ। यी शिक्षाहरू त्यसका सिद्धान्तमा नै झूटो छन् र व्यवहारिक परिणामहरूमा खतरनाक छन्; अनि यी शिक्षाहरू व्यापक रूपमा स्वीकार्य भएका छन् त्यसकारण यस विषयहरूमा धर्मशास्त्रीय शिक्षा सबैमा स्पष्ट समझ हुनुपर्छ भन्ने दोब्बर आवश्यकता देखाउँदछ।MBND 217.1 सत्य पवित्रकरणचाहिँ बाइबलीय सिद्धान्त हो। पावल प्रेरितले थेसलोनिकी चर्चलाई लेखेको पत्रमा घोषणा गर्दछन्: “किनकि परमेश्वरको इच्छा जो तिमीहरूको पवित्रकरण पनि हो।” अनि तिनले प्रार्थना गर्दछन्: “शान्तिका परमेश्वर आफैले सम्पूर्णरूपले तिमीहरूलाई चोखा तुल्याऊन्।” १ थेसलोनिकी ४:३; ५:२३। पवित्रकरण के हो र यो कसरी प्राप्त गर्ने भनी बाइबलले स्पष्ट सिकाउँदछ। मुक्तिदाताले उहाँका चेलाहरूका लागि प्रार्थना गर्नुभयो: “तिनीहरूलाई सत्यमा पवित्र पारिदिनुहोस्, तपाईंको वचन सत्य हो।” यूहन्ना १७:१७। अनि पावल पनि सिकाउँदछन् कि विश्वासीहरू “पवित्र आत्माद्वारा शुद्ध” हुनुपर्छ। रोमी १५:१६। पवित्र आत्माको काम के हो? येशूले उहाँका चेलाहरूसँग घोषणा गर्नुभयो: “जब उहाँ, अर्थात् सत्यका आत्मा आउनुहुनेछ, तब उहाँले तिमीहरूलाई सबै सत्यतामा डोऱ्याउनुहुनेछ।” यूहन्ना १६:१३। अनि भजनसंग्रहको लेखक भन्दछन्: “तपाईंको व्यवस्था सत्य हो।” परमेश्वरको वचन र आत्माद्वारा उहाँको व्यवस्थामा एकत्रित भएका धार्मिकताको महान् सिद्धान्तहरू मानिसहरू माझ प्रकाश भएको छ। परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था “पवित्र, न्यायसङ्गत र असल” साथै दैवीय पूर्णताको प्रतिलिपि भएको कारणले सोही व्यवस्थाको आज्ञाकारितामा सृजना भएको चरित्र पनि पवित्र नै हुनेछ। ख्रीष्ट नै यस्तो चरित्रको एक पूर्ण उदाहरण हुनुहुन्छ। उहाँले भन्नुभयो: “मैले मेरा पिताका आज्ञाहरू पालन गरेको छु।” “किनभने म सधैँ उहाँलाई प्रसन्न तुल्याउने काम गर्दछु।” यूहन्ना १५:१०; ८:२९। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहद्वारा उहाँको पवित्र व्यवस्थासँग मिलेर चरित्रहरू सृजना गरीकन ख्रीष्टका चेलाहरू उहाँजस्तै हुनुपर्नेछ। बाइबलमा भएको पवित्रकरणचाहिँ यही हो।MBND 217.2 यो काम ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास र हामीभित्र वास गर्नुभएको परमेश्वरको आत्माको शक्तिद्वारा मात्र पूरा हुन सक्छ। पावल विश्वासीहरूलाई चेतावनी दिँदछन्: “डर र कम्पसाथ तिमीहरूको आफ्नो मुक्तिको काम पूरा गर्न परिश्रम गर। किनकि तिमीहरूलाई उहाँको असल अभिप्रायअनुसार इच्छा गर्ने र काम गर्ने दुवै तुल्याउनलाई परमेश्वर तिमीहरूमा काम गर्नुहुन्छ।” फिलिप्पी २:१२, १३। इसाईले पापको प्रभाव महसुस गर्नेछ, र उसले त्यसको विरुद्धमा निरन्तर लड़ाइँ कायम राख्नेछ। यति बेला नै ख्रीष्टको सहायताको आवश्यकता पर्दछ। मानवीय कमजोरीहरू दैवीय शक्तिसँग एकता हुन्छ, र विश्वास यसरी आश्चर्य भई कराउँछ: “परमेश्वरलाई धन्यवाद होस्, जसले हामीलाई हाम्रा प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टद्वारा विजय दिनुहुन्छ।” १ कोरिन्थी १५:५७।MBND 218.1 धर्मशास्त्रले स्पष्टसाथ देखाउँछ कि पवित्रकणको कार्यचाहिँ विकासोन्मुख हुन्छ। जब प्रायश्चित्तको रगतद्वारा पापीले परिवर्तनमा परमेश्वरसँग शान्ति प्राप्त गर्दछ तब इसाई जीवनको सुरुवात मात्र भएको हुन्छ। अब ऊ “परिपक्वतातर्फ” बढ्नुपर्छ; र “ख्रीष्टको परिपूर्णतारूपी कदको नापसम्म” बढ्दैजानुपर्छ। प्रेरित पावल भन्छन्: “म एउटा काम गर्दछु, कि पछाडिका कुराहरू बिर्सेर र अगाड़िका कुराहरूतिर जोड़सँग लम्कँदै ख्रीष्ट येशूमा परमेश्वरको स्वर्गीय बोलावटमा पाइने पुरस्कारको निम्ति निशानातिर म जोड़सँग अगि बढ्दछु।” फिलिप्पी ३:१३, १४। पत्रुसले हाम्रो अगाड़ि यस्ता कदमहरू बनाउँछन् जसद्वारा बाइबलमा भएको पवित्रकरण प्राप्त गर्नुपर्दछ: “यसैकारण सबै किसिमका प्रयत्नद्वारा तिमीहरूको विश्वासमा सद्गुण र सद्गुणमा ज्ञान थप, ज्ञानमा आत्मसंयम, आत्मसंयममा धैर्य, धैर्यमा भक्ति, भक्तिमा भातृ-स्नेह, भातृ स्नेहमा प्रेम थप। ... यी कुरा गर्नाले तिमीहरू कहिल्यै लोट्नेछैनौ।” २ पत्रुस १:५-१०।MBND 218.2 ज-जसले बाइबलको पवित्रकरण अनभूति गर्छन् तिनीहरूले नम्रताको आत्मा प्रकट गर्छन्। मोशाले जस्तै तिनीहरूले पनि पवित्रताको श्रद्धापूर्ण ऐश्वर्यको दृश्य देखेका छन्, र अनन्त जनको शुद्धता र उच्च पूर्णतासँग तुलना गर्दा तिनीहरूले आफ्नै अयोग्यता देख्छन्।MBND 218.3 दानिएल अगमवक्ताचाहिँ साँचो पवित्रकरणको एक उदाहरण थियो। तिनको लामो जीवनचाहिँ आफ्नो मालिकको लागि उत्कृष्ट सेवाले भरिएको थियो। तिनी यस्ता मानिस थिए जसलाई स्वर्गले “अति नै सम्मान गरिएका” थिए (दानिएल १०:११)। शुद्धता र पवित्रताको दाबी नगरीकन यो सम्मानित अगमवक्ताले तिनका मानिसहरूको पक्षमा परमेश्वरको सामु बिन्ती गर्दा आफैलाई पनि इस्राएलको अति नै पापी भएको भनी चिनाए: “हामी धर्मी छौं भनेर यो बिन्ती गरेका छैनौं, तर तपाईंको महान् कृपाको कारणले।” “हामीले पाप गरेका छौं, हामीले गल्ती गरेका छौं।” तिनी घोषणा गर्छन्: “म बोल्दै र प्रार्थना गर्दै, मेरा आफ्नै पाप र मेरा इस्राएली जातिको पाप स्वीकार” गर्दै थिएँ। जब पछिल्लो समयमा परमेश्वरको पुत्र तिनलाई सल्लाह दिन आउनुभयो तब दानिएल भन्छन्: “ममा मेरो सुन्दरता विकृतिमा बदली भयो, र मसँग कुनै बल थिएन।” दानिएल ९:१८, १५, २०; १०:८।MBND 218.4 जब अय्यूबले बतासबाट परमप्रभुको सोर सुने तब तिनले आश्चर्यसाथ भने: “म आफूलाई तुच्छ ठान्छु, अनि धूलो र खरानीमा बसेर म पश्चात्ताप गर्दछु।” अय्यूब ४२:६। जब यशैयाले परमप्रभुको महिमा देखे र करूबहरूले “सर्वशक्तिमान् परमप्रभु, पवित्र, पवित्र, पवित्र हुनुहुन्छ” भनिरहेको सुने तब तिनी चिच्याए, “धिक्कार! म नष्ट भएँ।” यशैया ६:३, ५। पावल तेस्रो स्वर्गमा लगिएपछि र मानिसले उच्चारण गर्न नसकिने कुराहरू सुनेपछि आफ्नै विषयमा मचाहिँ “सबै सन्तहरूमा म अत्यन्त तुच्छ” हुँ भनी सम्बोधन गर्छन्। २ कोरिन्थी १२:२-४; एफिसी ३:८। उही प्रिय यूहन्नाले येशूको छातिमा ढल्केर उहाँको महिमा देखे, जो स्वर्गदूतको पाउमा मरेको मान्छेजस्तै लम्पसार परे। प्रकाश १:१७।MBND 219.1 जो कलवरी क्रूसको छायामा हिँड्छन् तिनीहरूमा आत्म-उच्चता, पापदेखि स्वतन्त्र भएको अभिमानपूर्ण दाबी जस्ता कुरा हुन सक्दैन। तिनीहरूले महसुस गर्छन् कि तिनीहरूको पापले यस्तो सन्ताप ल्याएको थियो जसले परमेश्वरको पुत्रको हृदय चकनाचूर पाऱ्यो र यो विचारले तिनीहरूलाई आफै तुच्छ बन्न अगुवाइ गर्नेछ। जो येशूको सबभन्दा नजिक भएर जिउँछन् तिनीहरूले मानवको कमजोरीपन र पापपूर्णता अत्यन्तै छर्लङ्ग देख्छन् र तिनीहरूको एउटै मात्र आशाचाहिँ क्रूसमा टाँगिनुभएको र बौरिउठ्नुभएको मुक्तिदाताको योग्यतामा निहित हुन्छ।MBND 219.2 वर्तमान समयमा धार्मिक जगत्मा प्रमुख भूमिका खेलिरहेको पवित्रकरणले आत्म-उच्चताको आत्मा र परमेश्वरको व्यवस्थाप्रति बेवास्ता गर्ने कार्यलाई अगाड़ि लैजान्छ, जुन बाइबलको धर्मसँग अपरिचित ठहरिन्छ। यसका अनुयायीहरूले सिकाउँछन् कि पवित्रकरणचाहिँ एक्कासी हुने काम हो, जसमा विश्वासद्वारा मात्रै तिनीहरूले पूर्ण पवित्रता हासिल गर्न सक्छन्। तिनीहरू भन्छन् “विश्वास मात्रै गर्नुस् र आशिष् तपाईंकै हो।” सोभन्दा उप्रान्त प्रापकले कुनै पनि प्रयत्न गर्नुपर्दैन भन्ने विचार छ। त्यति मात्रै नभएर तिनीहरू आज्ञाहरू पालन गर्ने कर्तव्यहरूबाट मुक्त भएका छन् भन्ने कुरालाई जोड दिएर तिनीहरूले परमेश्वरको व्यवस्थाको अधिकारलाई इन्कार गर्छन्। तर के उहाँको स्वभाव र इच्छा व्यक्त गर्ने र उहाँलाई राम्ररी खुशी पार्ने कुराहरूको सूचकरूपी सिद्धान्तहरू अनुरूप नचलेर मानिसहरू परमेश्वरको इच्छा र चरित्रमुताबिक पवित्र हुन सम्भव छ र?MBND 220.1 प्रयत्न गर्न नपर्ने, आत्म-इन्कार गर्न नपर्ने, संसारको मूर्खताबाट छुट्टिन नपर्ने जस्ता सजिलो धर्मको चाहनाले विश्वास र विश्वास मात्रको सिद्धान्तलाई प्रचलित बनाएको छ; तर परमेश्वरको वचन के भन्छ? प्रेरित याकूब भन्छन्: “यदि कोही मानिसले ‘मसित विश्वास छ’ भन्छ, तर कामचाहिँ गर्दैन भने, यसबाट के लाभ? के त्यसको विश्वासले त्यसलाई बचाउन सक्छ र? ... मूर्ख हो, कामविनाको विश्वास व्यर्थ हुन्छ भन्ने कुराको प्रमाण चाहन्छौ? जब हाम्रा पुर्खा अब्राहामले आफ्नो छोरो इसहाकलाई वेदीमा अर्पण गरे, तब तिनी कामद्वारा नै धर्मी ठहरिएनन् र? तिमी देख्तछौ, कि तिनका कामहरू सँगसँगै विश्वास क्रियाशील थियो, र कामद्वारा नै विश्वास पूर्ण भएको थियो। ... तिमीहरू देख्तछौ कि कामद्वारा मानिस धर्मी ठहरिँदोरहेछ, विश्वासद्वारा मात्र होइन।” याकूब २:१४-२४।MBND 220.2 परमेश्वरको वचनको गवाहीचाहिँ कामविनाको विश्वासको यो पासोमा पार्ने सिद्धान्तको विरुद्ध हो। कृपा दिइनुपर्ने सर्तहरूसँग सहमति नगरीकन स्वर्गको अनुग्रह दाबी गर्नु भन्ने कुरा विश्वास होइन, योचाहिँ दुःसाहस हो; किनकि साँचो विश्वासको जग धर्मशास्त्रका प्रतिज्ञाहरू र प्रबन्धहरूमा हुन्छ।MBND 220.3 कसैले आफैलाई यस्तो विश्वासले भ्रममा नपारोस् कि तिनीहरूले परमेश्वरको एउटा आज्ञा जानीबुझी भङ्ग गरेर पवित्र हुन सक्छन्। जानेको पाप गर्दाखेरी आत्माको गवाही दिने आवाजलाई शान्त पार्दछ र परमेश्वरबाट प्राणलाई अलग पार्दछ। “पाप नै व्यवस्था भङ्ग हो” र “पाप गरिरहने [व्यवस्था भङ्ग गरिरहने] कसैले उहाँलाई न त देखेको छ न चिनेको नै छ।” १ यूहन्ना ३:६। यूहन्नाले तिनका पत्रहरूमा यति पूर्णताकासाथ प्रेमको वर्णन गर्दछन् तैपनि तिनले त्यो समूहको सत्य चरित्र देखाउन हिचकिचाउँदैनन् जसले परमेश्वरको व्यवस्था भङ्ग गर्दै जीवन बिताएर पनि पवित्र भएको दाबी गर्दछ। “जसले ‘म उहाँलाई चिन्छु’ भन्छ, तर उहाँका आज्ञाहरू उल्लङ्घन गर्छ, त्यो झूटो हो, र त्यसमा सत्य छैन। तर जसले उहाँको वचन पालन गर्छ, त्यसमा परमेश्वरप्रतिको प्रेम साँच्ची नै सिद्ध भएको हुन्छ।” १ यूहन्ना २:४, ५। प्रत्येक मानिसको दाबीको जाँच यहीँ छ। हामीले स्वर्ग र पृथ्वीमा रहेको परमेश्वरको एकमात्र पवित्रताको स्तरसँग कुनै मानिसलाई नल्याएसम्म त्यसलाई पवित्र ठान्न सक्दैनौं। यदि मानिसहरूले नैतिक व्यवस्थाको महत्व महसुस गर्दैनन्, यदि तिनीहरूले परमेश्वरका विधानहरूलाई होच्याउने गर्छन् र हल्का ठान्छन् भने, यदि तिनीहरूले यी आज्ञाहरूमध्ये सानालाई तोड्छन् र मानिसहरूलाई त्यसै गर्न सिकाउँछन् भने तिनीहरू स्वर्गको दृष्टिमा कुनै मूल्यको हुनेछैनन् र हामी यो कुरा जान्न सक्छौं कि तिनीहरूका दाबीहरू जगहीन छन्।MBND 220.4 जसले पापरहित छु भनी दाबी गर्छ त्यही नै एउटा प्रमाण हो कि ऊ पवित्रतादेखि टाढा छ। परमेश्वरको असीम शुद्धता र पवित्रताको साँचो अवधारणा नबुझेको कारणले वा जोहरू उहाँको चरित्रअनुसारको हुन चाहन्छन् तिनीहरू कस्तो हुनुपर्ने भन्ने नबुझेको कारणले; येशूको शुद्धता र उच्च सुन्दरता, पापको घातकपन र दुष्टताको साँचो अवधारणाको ज्ञान नभएको कारणले मानिसले आफैलाई पवित्र ठान्न सक्छ। ख्रीष्ट र आफूबीच दूरी जति टाढा छ र उहाँको ईश्वरीय चरित्र र आज्ञाहरूको विषयमा उसको समझ जति अपर्याप्त हुन्छ त्यति नै आफ्नो नजरमा आफैलाई धर्मी देखिन्छ।MBND 221.1 धर्मशास्त्रमा उल्लेख गरिएको पवित्रकरणले आत्मा, प्राण र शरीर जस्ता सम्पूर्ण प्राणलाई समेट्दछ। पावलले थेसलोनिकेमा भएकाहरूको निम्ति प्रार्थना गरे कि तिनीहरूको “समस्त आत्मा, प्राण र शरीर हाम्रा प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टको आगमनमा निष्कलङ्क रहून्।” १ थेसलोनिकी ५:२३। फेरि तिनी विस्वासीहरूलाई लेख्छन्, “यसकारण भाइ हो, परमेश्वरको कृपालाई ध्यानमा राखी म तिमीहरूलाई अनुरोध गर्दछु, कि तिमीहरूको आत्मिक उपासनाको रूपमा आ-आफ्ना शरीरलाई पवित्र र परमेश्वरलाई ग्रहणयोग्य हुने जिउँदो बलिको रूपमा अर्पण गर।” रोमी १२:१। प्राचीन इस्राएलको समयमा परमेश्वरलाई बलि चढाउन ल्याइएको प्रत्येक बलिदान होसियारीपूर्वक जाँच गरिन्थ्यो। प्रकट गरिएको जनावरमा कुनै खोट भेटिएको खण्डमा त्यो इन्कार गरिन्थ्यो किनकि परमेश्वरले आज्ञा गर्नुभएको थियो कि बलिचाहिँ “निष्खोट” हुनुपर्नेथियो। त्यसरी इसाईहरूलाई तिनीहरूका शरीरहरू “पवित्र र परमेश्वरलाई ग्रहणयोग्य हुने जिउँदो बलिको रूपमा” प्रस्तुत गर्ने आदेश दिइएको छ। यसो गर्नको लागि तिनीहरूका शक्तिहरू जतिसक्दो उत्तम अवस्थामा कायम राख्नुपर्छ। शारीरिक वा मानसिक शक्तिलाई कमजोरी पार्ने प्रत्येक कार्यले मानिसलाई उसका सृष्टिकर्ताको सेवामा अयोग्य ठहऱ्याउँछ। के परमेश्वर हामीले दिन सक्ने उत्तम कुरामा भन्दा अरू कुनै कुरामा खुशी हुनुहुनेछ र? ख्रीष्टले भन्नुभयो: “तैंले परमप्रभु आफ्ना परमेश्वरलाई आफ्नो सारा हृदयले ... प्रेम गर्नू।” जसले परमेश्वरलाई सारा हृदयले प्रेम गर्दछन् तिनीहरूले आफ्नो जीवनको उत्तम सेवा उहाँलाई दिने इच्छा गर्दछन्, र तिनीहरूले आफ्नो शरीरको प्रत्येक शक्ति व्यवस्थाअनुसार मिलाउने निरन्तर प्रयास गर्नेछन् जसले तिनीहरूमा उहाँको इच्छा पूरा गर्ने क्षमता वृद्धि गर्नेछ। तिनीहरूले भोक वा आवेग पूरा गर्नेद्वारा बलिलाई कमजोर वा दुषित पार्नेछैनन् जुन तिनीहरूले आफ्ना स्वर्गीय पितालाई प्रस्तुत गर्छन्।MBND 221.2 पत्रुस भन्छन्, “तिमीहरूका आत्माको विरुद्धमा लड़ाइँ गर्ने शारीरिक अभिलाषाहरूबाट अलग रहो।” १ पत्रुस २:११। प्रत्येक पापमय विलासले क्षमताहरूलाई मन्द पार्ने र मानसिक र आत्मिक बुझाइलाई निस्क्रिय पार्ने गर्दछ र परमेश्वरको वचन वा आत्माले हृदयमा त्यति धेरै प्रभाव पार्न सक्दैन। पावलले कोरिन्थमा भएकाहरूलाई लेख्छन्: “शरीर र आत्माको हरेक किसिमको अशुद्धताबाट हामी आफैलाई शुद्ध पारौं, र परमेश्वरको भयमा पवित्रतालाई सिद्धतातर्फ बढ़ाउँदैजाऔं।” २ कोरिन्थी ७:१। आत्माका फलहरू जस्तै: “प्रेम, आनन्द, शान्ति, धैर्य, दया, भलाइ, विश्वस्तता, नम्रता”-सँगै तिनले “संयम” पनि राख्छन्। गलाती ५:२२, २३।MBND 222.1 यी प्रेरणादायिक घोषणाहरू भए तापनि कति जना इसाई हुने दाबी गर्नेहरूले लाभप्राप्ति वा फेसनको आराधनाले गर्दा तिनीहरूले आफ्ना शक्ति कमजोर पारिरहेका छन्; कति जनाले खन्चुवापन, मद्यपान र निषेधित सुख-विलासद्वारा तिनीहरूको परमेश्वरको स्वरूपमा भएको पुरुषत्व नष्ट पारिरहेका छन्। मण्डलीले त्यसलाई हप्काउन छोडेर भोक, धनको इच्छा वा सुख-विलासको मोह, त्यसको भण्डार भर्नको लागि प्रयोग गर्नेद्वारा प्रायः ती दुष्ट कुराहरूमा उत्साहित गर्दछ जसलाई भर्नको निम्ति ख्रीष्टप्रतिको प्रेम पर्याप्त छैन। यदि येशू वर्तमानका चर्चहरूमा प्रवेश गर्नुहुन्थ्यो र धर्मको नाममा त्यहाँ गरिएका भोज र अपवित्र कार्य हेर्नुभएको भए के उहाँले मन्दिरबाट पैसा साट्नेहरूलाई लखेट्नुभएजस्तै ती अपवित्र पार्नेहरूलाई पनि खेद्नुहुनेथिएन र?MBND 222.2 प्रेरित याकूब घोषणा गर्छन् कि माथिबाट आएको बुद्धि “पहिले शुद्ध हुन्छ।” जसले सूर्तीद्वारा अशुद्ध पारिएका ओठहरूले येशूको बहुमूल्य नाम लिन्छन्, जसको सास र शरीर त्यसको दूर्गन्धले दुषित पारिएको हुन्छ, जसले ब्रमाण्डका हावालाई दुषित पार्छन् र तिनीहरू वरिपरि भएकाहरूलाई विषालु सास फेर्न बाध्य बनाउँछन्, यदि सो प्रेरितले यस्तो सुसमाचारको शुद्धताको अति विरोधी कार्य भेटेको भए के तिनले त्यसलाई “सांसारिक, अनात्मिक र शैतानिक” कुरा स्वरूप हप्काउनेथिएनन् र? सम्पूर्ण पवित्रकरणको आशिष् दाबी गर्दै सूर्तीका दासहरूले स्वर्गको तिनीहरूका आशाको विषयमा कुरा गर्दछ; तर परमेश्वरको वचनले स्पष्टसाथ घोषणा गर्छन कि “त्यसभित्र अपवित्र पार्ने ... कुनै पनि कुरा कुनै रीतिले पस्नेछैन।” प्रकाश २१:२७ (KJV)।MBND 223.1 “तिमीहरूको शरीर पवित्र आत्माको मन्दिर हो, जुन पवित्र आत्मा तिमीहरूले परमेश्वरबाट पाएका छौ, र उहाँ तिमीहरूभित्र वास गर्नुहुन्छ भन्ने के तिमीहरूलाई थाहा छैन? तिमीहरू स्वयम् आफ्नै होइनौ। तिमीहरू मोल तिरेर किनिएका हौ। यसकारण तिमीहरूका शरीरमा परमेश्वरको महिमा गर।” १ कोरिन्थी ६:१९, २०। जसको शरीर पवित्र आत्माको मन्दिर हो ऊ हानिकारक बानीद्वारा दास बन्नेछैन। उसका शक्तिहरू ख्रीष्टका हुन् जसले उसलाई रगतको मूल्य तिरेर किन्नुभएको छ। उसको सम्पत्ति प्रभु कै हो। उसलाई सुम्पिइएको सम्पत्ति फुर्मास गरेर कसरी ऊ निर्दोष हुनसक्थ्यो र? इसाई हुने दाबी गर्नेहरूले वार्षिक रूपमा निरर्थक हानिकारक भोक विलासमा विशाल रकम खर्च गर्छन् जबकि मानिसहरू जीवनका वचन नपाएर मरिरहेका छन्। परमेश्वर दशांश र भेटीमा लुटिनुभएको छ जबकि तिनीहरूले गरिबहरूलाई राहत दिएको वा सुसमचार विस्तार गर्नका लागि दिइएको भन्दा धेरै विनासकारी अभिलाषाको वेदीमा खर्च गर्छन्। जसले ख्रीष्टका चेलाहरू हुने दाबी गर्छन्, तिनीहरू सबै साँच्चै पवित्र पारिएको भए तिनीहरूको सम्पत्ति अनावश्यक र झन् हानिकारक भोग विलासितामा खर्च गर्नुको सट्टामा तिनीहरूले परमप्रभुको भण्डारमा ल्याउनेथिए र इसाईहरूले आत्म-संयम, आत्म-इन्कार र आत्म-बलिदानको उदाहरण दिनेथिए। त्यसपछि तिनीहरू संसारको ज्योति हुनेथिए।MBND 223.2 संसार आत्म-सुखविलासमा छोडिएको छ। “शरीरको अभिलाषा, आँखाको अभिलाषा, जीवनको शेखी”-ले मानिसको समूहलाई नियन्त्रण गर्छ। तर ख्रीष्टका चेलाहरूको अझै पवित्र बोलावट छ। “तिनीहरूका बीचबाट निस्केर आओ, र तिनीहरूबाट तिमीहरू अलग होओ, परमप्रभु भन्नुहुन्छ। अशुद्ध कुरा केही नछोओ, र म तिमीहरूलाई ग्रहण गर्नेछु।” परमेश्वरको वचनको ज्योतिमा हामी यसरी घोषणा गर्दा ठीक छौं भनी साबित भएको छ, कि संसारको पापमय कार्यहरू र आनन्दहरू पूर्णरूपले नत्याग्ने पवित्रकरणचाहिँ वास्तविक हुनै सक्दैन।MBND 223.3 “तिनीहरूको बीचबाट निस्केर आओ, र तिनीहरूबाट तिमीहरू अलग होओ, ... अशुद्ध कुरा केही नछोओ,” भन्ने यी सर्तहरूअनुसार ज-जसले गर्छन्, तिनीहरूका लागि परमेश्वरको प्रतिज्ञा यस्तो छ, “म तिमीहरूलाई ग्रहण गर्नेछु। म तिमीहरूका पिता हुनेछु, र तिमीहरू मेरा छोराछोरीहरू हुनेछौ, सर्वशक्तिमान् परमप्रभु भन्नुहुन्छ।” २ कोरिन्थी ६:१७, १८। परमेश्वरका कुराहरूमा असल र प्रशस्त अनुभव प्राप्त गर्नु भनेको प्रत्येक इसाईको सुअवसर र कर्तव्य हो। येशूले भन्नुभयो, “म संसारको ज्योति हुँ। मलाई पछ्याउने अन्धकारमा हिँड्डुल गर्नेछैन, तर त्यसले जीवनको ज्योति पाउनेछ।” यूहन्ना ८:१२। “धर्मीको चाल प्रभातको प्रथम चमकजस्तै हो, त्यो मध्यदिन नहोउञ्जेल झन्-झन् चहकिलो हुँदैजान्छ।” हितोपदेश ४:१८। विश्वास र आज्ञाकारिताको प्रत्येक कदमले मानिसलाई संसारको ज्योतिसँग भएको सम्बन्धमा अझै निकट बनाउँदछ, जसमा “कत्ति पनि अँध्यारो छैन।” धार्मिकताको सूर्यको उज्यालो किरणहरू परमेश्वरका दासहरूमाथि चम्कन्छ, र तिनीहरूले उहाँका किरणहरूलाई प्रतिबिम्ब गर्नुपर्नेछ। जसरी ताराहरूले हामीलाई बताउँछन् कि आकाशमा एउटा ठूलो ज्योति छ जसको उज्ज्वलताले तिनीहरू उज्यालो भएका छन्, त्यसै गरी इसाईहरूले पनि यस्तो कुरा प्रकट गर्नुपर्नेछन् कि ब्रमाण्डको सिंहासनमा एउटा परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्छ जसको चरित्र प्रशंसा र अनुकरण योग्य छ। उहाँका आत्माको अनुग्रह अर्थात् उहाँका चरित्रको शुद्धता र पवित्रता उहाँका साक्षीहरूमा प्रकट हुनेछ।MBND 224.1 परमेश्वरका छोराछोरीहरूलाई प्रदान गरिएको प्रशस्त आशिष्हरू पावलले कलस्सीका मानिसहरूलाई लेखेको पत्रमा प्रस्तुत गर्दछन्। तिनी भन्छन्: हामी “उहाँको इच्छाको ज्ञानले सारा आत्मिक बुद्धि र समझमा तिमीहरू पूर्ण होओ भनेर बिन्ती गर्दै तिमीहरूका निम्ति प्रार्थना गर्न छोड़ेका छैनौं, र उहाँलाई पूर्णरूपले प्रसन्न पार्ने प्रभुको योग्य जीवन बिताउँदै र प्रत्येक असल काममा फलवन्त हुँदै परमेश्वरको ज्ञानमा बढ्दैजान सक। उहाँको महिमित शक्तिअनुसार आनन्दसाथ सबै सहनशीलता र धैर्यको लागि तिमीहरू सारा शक्तिसित बलिया होओ।” कलस्सी १:९-११।MBND 224.2 तिनले फेरि आफ्नो इच्छाको कुरा लेख्छन् कि एफिससमा भएका दाजुभाइहरूले इसाईको सौभाग्यको उचाइलाई बुझ्न सकेका होऊन्। तिनले तिनीहरूको सामु अत्यन्तै विस्तारित भाषामा अचम्मलाग्दो शक्ति र ज्ञान प्रकट गर्छन् जुन तिनीहरूले सर्वोच्चका छोराछोरीहरू भएका हैसियतले प्राप्त गर्न सक्छन्। “शक्तिले उहाँका आत्माद्वारा भित्री मनुष्यत्वमा तिमीहरूलाई शक्तिशाली” पार्न, “प्रेममा जरा गाडिएका र दह्रिला” पार्न, “सबै सन्तहरूसँग चौडाइ, लमाइ, उचाइ र गहिराइ के रहेछ सो बुझ्ने शक्ति प्राप्त गर्न ... , र ज्ञानलाई माथ गर्ने ख्रीष्टको प्रेमलाई थाहा पाउन” तिनीहरूलाई दिइएको थियो। तर जब तिनी प्रार्थना गर्छन् कि “परमेश्वरको सारा पूर्णताले तिमीहरू भरिपूर्ण होओ” तब प्रेरितको प्रार्थना सौभाग्यको चरम विन्दुमा पुग्दछ। एफिसी ३:१६-१९।MBND 224.3 जब हामीले उहाँका आज्ञाहरू पालना गर्छौं तब यहाँ सफलताको शिखर प्रकट भएको हुन्छ कि हामी हाम्रा स्वर्गीय पिताका प्रतिज्ञाहरूमा विश्वास गर्नेद्वारा पुग्न सक्छौं। ख्रीष्टका योग्यताहरूद्वारा हामी असीमित शक्तिको सिंहासन पुग्न सक्छौं। “जसले आफ्नै निज पुत्रलाई बाँकी राख्नुभएन, तर हामी सबैका निम्ति उहाँलाई दिनुभयो, के उहाँले हामीलाई सबै थोक पनि उहाँकै साथमा दिनुहुनेछैन र?” रोमी ८:३२। पिताले पुत्रलाई उहाँको आत्मा नापविना नै दिनुभयो र हामी पनि त्यही पूर्णतामा सहभागि हुन सक्छौं। येशू भन्नुहुन्छ, “तिमीहरू दुष्ट भईकन आफ्ना छोराछोरीहरूलाई असल थोकहरू दिन जान्दछौ भने, तिमीहरूका स्वर्गीय पिताले उहाँसँग माग्नेहरूलाई कति बढ़ी गरेर पवित्र आत्मा दिनुहुन्छ।” लूका ११:१३। “तिमीहरूले मेरो नाउँमा कुनै थोक माग्यौ भने म गरिदिनेछु।” “माग, अनि तिमीहरूले पाउनेछौ। यसरी तिमीहरूको आनन्द पूर्ण होओस्।” यूहन्ना १४:१४; १६:२४।MBND 225.1 इसाई जीवन नम्रताले चिनिएको हुन्छ तैपनि त्यो दुःखपूर्ण र आफ्नो कारणले गर्दा अभावले भरिएको हुनुहुँदैन। यसरी जिउने प्रत्येकको सौभाग्य हो कि परमेश्वरले अनुमोदन गर्नुहुनेछ र आशिष् दिनुहुनेछ। हामी सधैँभरि दोष बोकेर बस्ने र अन्धकारमा रहने हाम्रा स्वर्गीय पिताको इच्छा होइन। शिर झुकाउँदै आफ्नो विषयमा सोचिरहेको हृदयमा सत्य नम्रताको कुनै प्रमाण छैन। हामी येशूकहाँ जान सक्छौं र शुद्ध हुन सक्छौं र लाज र पछुतोविना नै व्यवस्थाको अगाड़ि उभिन सक्छौं। “यसकारण अब ख्रीष्ट येशूमा हुनेहरूलाई कुनै दण्डको आज्ञा छैन, जो शरीरअनुसार होइन, तर आत्माअनुसार हिँड्दछन्।” रोमी ८:१ (KJV)।MBND 225.2 येशूद्वारा आदमका पतन भएका सन्तानहरू “परमेश्वरका सन्तान” हुन्छन्। “पवित्र तुल्याउनुहुने र पवित्र तुल्याइएकाहरू पनि सबै एउटै परिवारका हुन्। त्यसैकारण तिनीहरूलाई भाइ भन्नमा येशू शर्माउनुहुन्न।” हिब्रू २:११। इसाईको जीवनचाहिँ विश्वास, विजय र परमेश्वरमा आनन्दको जीवन हुनुपर्दछ। “परमेश्वरबाट जन्मेको हरेकले संसारमाथि विजय प्राप्त गर्छ, संसारलाई जित्ने विजय हाम्रो विश्वास हो।” १ यूहन्ना ५:४। परमेश्वरको दास नहेम्याहले साँचो कुरा बोलेका छन्ः “परमप्रभुको आनन्द नै तिमीहरूको बल हो।” नहेम्याह ८:१०। अनि पावल भन्छन्ः “प्रभुमा सधैँ आनन्द गर। म फेरि पनि भन्दछु, आनन्द गर।” “सधैँ आनन्दित रहो। निरन्तर प्रार्थना गरिरहो। सबै परिस्थितिमा धन्यवाद देओ, किनकि ख्रीष्ट येशूमा तिमीहरूका लागि परमेश्वरको इच्छा यही हो।” फिलिप्पी ४:४; १ थेसलोनिकी ५:१६-१८।MBND 225.3 बाइबलमा भएको परिवर्तन र पवित्रकरणका फलहरू यस्ता हुन्छन्; र परमेश्वरको व्यवस्थामा स्थापित भएको धार्मिकताका महान् सिद्धान्तहरूलाई इसाई जगत्द्वारा यति बेवास्ता गरेको छ कि यी फलहरू विरलै देखिएका छन्। त्यसैकारणले परमेश्वरको आत्माको यति थोरै गहिरो अर्थात् रहिरहने काम प्रकट हुन्छ जो अघिल्ला वर्षहरूको जागृतिहरूमा देखिन्थे।MBND 226.1 हेर्नेद्वारा हामी परिवर्तन हुन्छौं। जब ती पवित्र विधानहरू बेवास्ता गरिएका हुन्छन् जसमा परमेश्वरले मानिसहरूलाई उहाँको चरित्रको पूर्णता र पवित्रता प्रकट गर्नुभएको छ र मानिसहरूका दिमागहरू मानवीय शिक्षाहरू र सिद्धान्तहरूप्रति आकर्षित हुन्छन् तब चर्चमा जिउँदो भक्तिमा ह्रास आएको कुरा कुनै आश्चर्यको कुरा होइन। परमप्रभु भन्नुहुन्छ: “तिनीहरूले म जिउँदो पानीको मुहानलाई त्यागेका छन्, र आफ्ना निम्ति ट्याङ्कीहरू, फुटेका ट्याङ्कीहरू खोपेर बनाएका छन्, जसमा पानी अड़िँदैन।” यर्मिया २:१३ (KJV)।MBND 226.2 “धन्य हो त्यो मानिस, जो दुष्टहरूको सल्लाहमा हिँड्दैन, ... तर परमप्रभुको व्यवस्थामा नै त्यो खुशी रहन्छ, र त्यसले दिनरात उहाँकै व्यवस्थामा मनन गर्छ। त्यो खोलाको किनारमा रोपेको बोटजस्तै हुन्छ, जसले आफ्नो ऋतुमा फल दिन्छ, अनि जसको पात कहिल्यै ओइलाउँदैन। त्यसले जे पनि गर्छ, त्यसमा त्यो सफल हुन्छ।” भनजसंग्रह १:१-३। परमेश्वरको व्यवस्थालाई त्यसको उपयुक्त स्थानमा पुनः राखिएको खण्डमा मात्र उहाँको जन हुने दाबी गर्नेहरूको बीचमा मौलिक विश्वास र भक्तिको जागृति हुन सक्छ। “परमप्रभु यसो भन्नुहुन्छ: ‘दोबाटोमा उभिएर हेर, प्राचीन मार्गहरूका विषयमा सोध। असल मार्ग कहाँ छ त्यो सोध, र त्यसैमा हिँड, र तिमीहरूले आफ्नो प्राणको निम्ति विश्राम पाउनेछौ।’” यर्मिया ६:१६।MBND 226.3