The Enormity of our Born Again Experience- Part 6 a Glimpse of Our New Unseen Reality

If you’ve been following this teaching, perhaps it has dawned on you that God has accomplished everything concerning our salvation by simply placing our spirit (who we really are) into the Spirit of Christ. And, likewise, placing the Spirit of Christ into us. So, in the spirit, we are moved into the heavenly (the unseen spiritual world) where Christ is and He lives in us where we are.

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thess 5:18 amp

When Israel finally obtained her promised freedom from Egypt, it was only after Moses had led them across the Red Sea. Attempting to follow Israel across, the drowning of Pharaoh and his entire army occurred. The hold on the Red Sea was released by God and crashed back down on the Egyptians leaving no survivors.

From that point on, Israel was completely separated from the world and left to the mercy of God alone. Likewise your, you being born again, ‘Old Man’ was nailed to the cross of Christ and died as we were baptized into Christ. Our spiritual man was translated into the Spirit that Christ is, in order that we might also share His resurrection. Christ also provides and gives to us a new nature and grace above grace, the free gift of the righteousness of God. Moreover, Christ fulfills His promise, spoken to us by Jesus in John 6, to live in us and we live in Him. Let us take a look at John 6:56 amp.

He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him.

This, in a nutshell, describes our born again experience. Now, that we’ve been born again, we also find that ‘in Christ Jesus’ we are also consecrated unto God. In other words, everything that we find happening to or through us comes directly from the hand of God. Depending on how sure we are that He loves us completely, the easier it is for us to thank Him for events and circumstances that we would rather not be in our life at all. If you are not already there, you are headed for true surrender to the will of God for your life. For, the truth is, His will is the only will that determines what does or does not occur in your life. Many, many times you will not understand why God places you in the situations you find yourself in. Nevertheless, as were told in 1 Thess 5:18, if you are in Christ Jesus, it is all God’s will for you. And, you can be sure He loves you beyond understanding and that He acts like it. So, it is totality appropriate for you to be in constant thanksgiving for the life you find yourself living. It is all designed for your good. Settling this will usher in a new level of peace for you in your life.  

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]. 2 Tim1:9 amp

So, all of this comes freely from our Father. And, it all occurs only because He has called us to be ‘in Christ’. Our resulting consecration (which means that our very life itself is really something happening between our Father and us). How we react to the life we find ourselves  living is our reaction to our Father and His choices which form the nature of our life. As we learn about the overwhelming Love He has for us, which forms the basis for the life He gives us, we also learn to ‘walk in love’ trusting Him throughout whatever our life should bring upon us.

It is all grace and it’s a grace that was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. We are involved in, and have our part in, something very, very big. So big it lies beyond our comprehension. It really is something of a great honor bestowed on us. But, of course, knowing this, the Holy Spirit of God gives us advice on how to deal with God concerning what we may find ourselves living in- Phil. 4:6-7 amp.

 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that  tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall  garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7 amp.

Through our faith and understanding that it is only our Father’s will that brings to us events and circumstances that make up our lives- there is therefore no need for anxiety at all. Rather, we should habitually turn to Him with our prayers and petitions with thanksgiving, continuing  to make our wants known to God. And, God’s peace shall be ours. Assured of  our salvation through Christ, and having no fear of anything from God and content with our earthly lot shall keep guard over our hearts and minds.

But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]. 31 So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord. 1 Cor 1:30-31 amp

He (the Father) is the author of the life you now live in Christ Jesus. And, it is He who made or allowed the situations you find yourselves having to deal with today, yesterday and tomorrow..He can fulfill our dreams or frustrate them out of our hearts. He can cause any life to make a ninety degree turn into a totality new direction anywhere and at any time. Christ is our WISDOM from God. The result of this Wisdom that Christ is, shows up in our ‘free righteousness’ with God. Christ is our CONSECRATION in that once we are ‘in Christ’ All things that come to us are from God our Father, molding us into the image of His Son. Christ is our REDEMPTION in that Christ totality paid our ransom from the eternal penalty for sin. So, once again Christ brings us only Grace and Truth. We have very little to do with these things except to maintain a heart of gratefulness.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.  For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male2  and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. Gal 3:26-29 amp

Further, because we are ‘in Christ Jesus’ we are all sons of God through faith. All of us baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek- Slave nor free, there is no longer Male nor Female; for we are all ‘one new man’ in Christ Jesus. And those who are in Him who is Abraham’s seed are all Abraham’s offspring and (spiritual) heirs according to God’s promise.

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship)  recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Eph 2:10 amp

 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself  one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], Eph 2:13-15

May we give God praise for His immeasurable favor toward us- God bless all of you-

LOVE

The Enormity of The Born Again Experience- Part 5 Our Life ‘In Christ’

2nd Cor 5:14-17 amp.

For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us,

What a testimony from this man (the Apostle Paul) and the love of God he’s found ‘in Christ Jesus’ for the church. God’s love has become Paul’s love. And that love now controls, urges and impels him and his fellow workers to open up hearts to the Gospel whenever and wherever he can.Specially, now, since the Holy Spirit of Christ has brought with Him new insight and revelation.

because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.

All died. The whole human race, past and present, and future died with Christ. But that is not enough. The purpose of God in sharing the death of Christ was that (as we know) He (God) knew that He would call those that He would- unto Life and that Life would be lived to and for Him who died and was raised again for their sake. Those who were His and who would find themselves, at the right time, ‘in Christ’. That, by the way, is you and I.

Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value].

For He died for all. And we are to understand and to look at people differently. We, like Paul has become, are different. No longer are we to perceive them from our physical point of view. That is, with judgement, and with our emotions or anything that originates from the ‘Old Man’ we used to be. We are to walk in the spirit and be ever learning to see through God’s eyes of love. One thing can be said for sure, we are being molded into the image of His Son. That is our sure direction.

[No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh].

There was a time for us to understand Christ Himself from a human point of view. We should (by this time) know enough to no longer estimate Him as a man. This may be difficult for some but the Spirit will teach us. How then should we see Him?

Consider 2 Cor: 17-18

 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

So, we no longer relate to our Lord Christ like as a man walking around Galilee. Even though we were first introduced to Him as a man, that was temporary (although there are so many who never come to know Him as He really is). But as we continued to behold His glory in scripture we are aware that we ourselves are changing. We are actually being transfigured into His very own image. As the scripture above tells us ‘in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another’. And, this also is not our work ‘for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit. Read your scripture every day, asking the Lord first to give you a spirit of revelation and wisdom in what you find you have selected to read. I would suggest that you spend a moment or two preparing yourself before you ask. Get yourself in a believing state of mind. Mentality detaching your heart and mind from as much of the world (which constantly swirls around all of us) as possible. Then, when you’re ready, read carefully. Not in a hurry but having a spirit of expectation- but waiting almost. Also, again ask God for a love for His word. If you mean it, you will get it. Refuse to ever- ever- let Satan convince you that God has left. I say this no matter what you may have done or said etc. Ask forgiveness quickly and keep your lines of communication open. Ignore feelings when it comes to the truth. Practice this and other good ideas can enter your mind like memorizing scripture to be able to say it out loud to yourself when able. You will be teaching your heart to believe, but do it often.

17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Here we say it again. Scripture uses the metaphor ‘ingrafted’ which suggests a living plant. Works fine as Christ has been refereed to as the ‘Root of Jesse’, King David’s father. There are other similar scriptures. I usually call our spirit a ‘small glass of water’ which is poured into the ‘endless ocean’ that the Spirit of Christ is. Seeing your spirit as being ingrafted into Christ, the root, is very good because there is no doubt that your source is God Himself. And possessing a new root and source means your supply of truth and life is pure and will, without a doubt, produce perfect fruit for the Master. The old previous moral and spiritual source has passed away. You have been plugged into a new source producing brand new results. The time will come when you can say the scripture below in confidence and truth regarding yourself.  Gal. 2:20-21

 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. [Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain.

There is still more to be said concerning this, and we should be finishing up this topic in our next blog.

May God keep you all safe and close in Him-Stay in His Grace and Favor

The Enormity of our Born Again Experience. Part Four- Our Life ‘In Christ’-

This post will be based on scriptures that speak directly about our life in Christ.

[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,  Romans 3:24 Amp.

What a scripture- If we are born again, our spirit now lives ‘in Christ’ and Christ (who is a Spirit), lives in us. We now are redeemed through the redemption which is freely provided to all who are in Christ. All are now justified and made upright and in right standing with God by His grace which has placed us in Christ. Our redemption now dependent only by where our spirit lives. There is nothing for you to do except keep yourself abiding ‘in Christ’ through the faith God has also already granted you.

We need to spend some time in Romans 6:1-8 amp.

WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow?

Up to this point in Romans, Paul had been talking about the grace of God that has already been ours as God has overlooked our past sins. So, now he asks about what we think about sin now that we’re aware of God’s grace in Christ.

 
Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

He responds with this comment. How can someone who has died to sin, live in it? Wherever I go, I can tell that this teaching of the truth needs to be heard. It will free many who have the power to really believe. ‘In Christ’ in general, but here now we are about to receive the truth regarding baptism.

Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Amazing stuff that only God could accomplish. Notice now that when we begin to realize the things of the Spirit, we are really getting down to walking by faith to things that can’t be seen. For we have a God that calls the things that are not as though they were and He gives life to the dead. Here, we have been immersed (baptized) into the Spirit of Christ Jesus. And, it brings with it our immersion also into His very death on the cross.

We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.

If you have been following this blog, an unseen pathway into the grace and the free gifts that the Spirit of God provides for God’s born again children may start showing up in your heart. Here we realize with great celebration that there are more doors opening for us. We have been united with Him into His death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by God’s glorious power, so we too might (habitually and as a matter of course) live and behave in newness of life.

For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].

One with Him! I’ve read somewhere concerning Romans 8. That in that chapter it’s impossible to tell whether the bible is talking about our spirit or the Spirit of Christ. The  reason being that Christ and our spirit are now one because of our born again event. (Watchman Nee- ‘The Spiritual Man’). Since Christ and you have became one in His death, you are also one with Him in sharing His resurrection and given a new life to be lived for God.

We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. I

It is incredible, what God has accomplished for us in the spiritual (and invisible) reality we are now in. Only faith will open this door for us, but we have been given the faith we need when we were born again. As we were given a new heart our unrenewed (Old man in some translations) heart and self was nailed to His cross when we died with Him. Our body, which is the instrument and source of our sin, can now be rendered ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might be freed from sin’s enslavement.

Understanding and believing this truth will free us from the constant battle of trying to defeat sin’s desires. How many lives have you witnessed (including your own) working on one sin today, another sin tomorrow and on and on trying to ‘clean’ themselves up for God and stop the ‘accuser of the brethren’ from his constant condemnation and resulting torment.

For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men].

And you have truly died! God is not asking you to ‘make believe’ but to actually believe and realize you were killed in reality by His cross and His power. We have been freed from the power of sin.  Believe in your own death on His cross. The more I understand the more I am finding out that ‘it is finished’ leaving no works for us required. I now see clearly why, when the people asked Jesus ‘what must we do to do the works of God’ in John 6, Jesus answered ‘ This is the work of God, that you believe in the One He has sent’. And that is what we should be working on: Believing from our heart what the death and resurrection of Christ has accomplished for you and I and all of God’s children. Teachings of His from His Word regarding what He has already accomplished for us such as this one out of Romans 6.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him.

We have died with Christ and we do live now and forever with and in Him, and He lives forever with and in us.

For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him].

Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.. Romans 6:11 Amp.

Thank you all and may God bless you and your family-

The Enormity of our Born Again Experience Part Three: Not Quite What We Thought

I need to begin by pointing out to you that there are occasions when the Apostle Paul refers to our savior in two different ways. Sometimes he addresses Him as Jesus Christ and at other times as Christ Jesus, in Ephesians for example.  We know from the Amplified Bible that Christ is an eternal Spirit and as such existed before creation itself came into being. Let me post John 1:1 in the amp. to drive the point home.

 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God  Himself.  

He was present originally with God.  

All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

We can see from this short section of scripture that the Word and Christ are both referring to the same thing. That is, the Spirit that God Himself is. And, that all things found their existence through the operation of the Spirit of God, or, another way to say it would be to say through God’s Word, or through God’s Christ. So that there is no mistake as to what I want you to hear, let me rewrite this passage-

 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Christ, and the Christ was with God, and the Christ was God  Himself.  

He was present originally with God.  

All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

Carrying this idea even further, we might read:

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us;

And so, the eternal Christ became flesh (like us- human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us;

As to Paul’s language, we might say that when he uses Jesus Christ, he means the man Jesus who’s fleshly body is worn by the Spirit who Christ is. When he speaks of Christ Jesus, he is referring to the ageless Christ, the Spirit of God who indwells the man Jesus. A word: Whenever we read where Jesus says something, His words are the words of the Christ which is His inner man, and we should listen more carefully because it is God speaking directly through the man Jesus.

I would like to start now by dealing with perhaps the most important scripture, for us, regarding our born again encounter with this “Christ” and God’s simple plan for our salvation

Therefore if any person is in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come. 2Corth 5:17 amp.

He meant it! He meant that when you are in Christ you are actually in the Christ’. Your spirit now is seated at the right hand of the Father ‘in Christ Jesus’. All of us born again folks are really spiritual beings who now dwell within the Spirit which is Christ. Marvel of all marvels, when the Father looks at you or anything you do He sees you ‘in’ HIs Son Christ, with all the blessings and favor available to Christ Himself.

This is our born again experience. Our spirit is translated by God into the very presence of this eternal one… Christ!  And, just because of where our spirit now dwells, marvelous things happen. Our old previous and moral condition is gone! Like Jesus, we too possess the righteousness of God. Expressed in us by new desires and hopes. Reading God’s word and talking to Him will cause this new person we’ve become to grow and grow- eventually overtaking the fallen Adam nature we were born with. Our new nature is sure. It will manifest itself much like a  seed. Not much shows at first, growing slowly at first. But before too long you will begin to be aware of some basic changes in your thinking and behavior showing up in your personality.

Here, we will begin to see real insight as to how God accomplishes His salvation in us. Notice that the truth expressed above depends only on ‘Where we are’. Our location!

The Spirit which is Christ spoke to us through Jesus concerning this miracle of you and I living in Christ and Christ living in us in John 6:56. Of course no one could understand what He meant until after His resurrection. Of course God always knew who He would draw to Jesus for their salvation (that includes you and I by the way) and the day would come where the believer would understand this. Here is what Jesus said:

He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him. John 6:56 amp.

Of course we eat His flesh which was battered and bruised beyond recognition, when we appropriate that He was marred beyond recognition for our salvation. In like manner we drink His blood when we appropriate His shed blood for our spiritual cleansing. In other words, when we believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus provided everything we would ever need to have our spirit live in Him and to have His Spirit live in us. I have much more to say about this, but I will leave you with a couple of scriptures to illustrate this further:

Rom 8:1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!

 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. Eph !-3,4 amp.