Manifestation Of Mankind's Universal Salvation

Ephesians 3:7-13, 'Paul's Ministry of Universal Reconciliation'.

By the leading of a star, God manifested his only begotten Son, the Christ of Faith, to all humankind, in the historical Jesus, as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem [Matthew 2:1-12]. Through his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul discerned that in the Paschal Mystery and the historical Jesus' ministry, God's eternal, universal plan of deliverance, salvation, redemption and abundant life for all mankind, through the Christ of Faith, was fully revealed, proclaimed and manifested. 

Paul called the mystery of Spirit-based transformation in human souls, hearts, minds and lives, mankind's indwelling and hidden hope of glory [Colossians 1:24-29]. He discerned that the indwelling Christ of Faith, the image and likeness of God, eternally dwelt in the spiritual body of historical Jesus, himself and all persons.  He affirmed that  the indwelling Christ of Faith is always ready and available, within every person, to meet the just physical, emotional, and spiritual requirements of God's changeless Law. 

The Christ of Faith is God's universal presence, truth and way to achieve humankind's redemption from sin, spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death [Ephesians 1:3-8]. Like the historical Jesus, Paul sought to explain this previously hidden revelation, true understanding and full manifestation of the Paschal Mystery, God's eternal Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based plan of salvation, love, grace and truth, through the Christ of Faith, for both Jews and Gentiles. 

Paul teaches that the historical Jesus is truly God's Messiah, the literal, allegorical, metaphysical and mystical revelation of God's redemption to both Jews and Gentiles. To Paul, the entire wisdom, knowledge, power and judgment of God are all eternally centered and fulfilled in the Christ of Faith.  To Paul, the historical Jesus fully embodied proper mental alignment, the incarnation and the fully orbed human manifestation of the Christ of Faith.

God has always given humankind free choice. We can choose to obey God's changeless Law by repenting and turning within to the Christ of Faith. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can fulfill the letter and spirit of God's law and more fully partake in God's universal economy of love, grace and truth. Through Christ-centered spiritual mindedness, we can re-discover, seek and serve the Christ of Faith, in the historical Jesus, in ourselves and in all persons.  We can through faith, humility, and obedience, follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery. We can further establish kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven [Matthew 6:10].

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Emmanuel, The Universal Christ Of Faith

 
The annual Christmas Season assure us that the historical Jesus has given to mankind God's intended revelation of the universal reign of the incarnate Christ of Faith, in all human hearts and lives as Emmanuel.  As God's great high priest, the historical Jesus reveals the true identity of the Christ of Faith and humankind’s true spiritual identity as the image and likeness of God. The Christ of Faith is mankind's universal Emmanuel, God with us and God within us. 
 
By emptying himself of the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh, the historical Jesus truly unveiled, taught and manifested the mystery, glory and superiority of the Christ of Faith as Emmanuel in all human flesh. The historical Jesus truly bore the superior witness of God's intended covenant relationship with all humankind through Emmanuel, the incarnate Christ of Faith [Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 17:20-26].  The superiority of the Christ of faith is made real in following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.

As the Son of Man, the historical Jesus manifested humankind's true physical identity, Christ consciousness and divine spiritual heritage of intimate communion with God and one another through the Christ of Faith. The historical Jesus taught and demonstrated that humankind's deliverance, salvation and redemption come through repentance, humility, obedience and faith in the indwelling Christ of Faith as Emmanuel, through one's own spiritual body. Let us truly experience the true inner spiritual meaning of Christmas, God with us,  by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery. 

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The Historical Jesus Gave Birth To The Son Of God

Romans 1:1-7, 'God's universal call to all humankind'

The historical Jesus committed himself as Messiah, to a new Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based faith. Jesus as the Son of Man, lived a life of humility, obedience and righteousness. He chose to steadfastly do God's will. He mastered fulfilling not just the letter but the spirit of God's law.

Like us today, the apostle Paul never met the historical Jesus. He did however encountered the Christ of Faith on the road to Damascus. After that personal encounter with the Christ of Faith as indwelling Lord, Paul discerned that the Christ of Faith was fully present and gloriously manifested as Lord, in the historical Jesus.

Paul realized, like the historical Jesus, that all persons, religious and secular, are called into intimate, covenant, Holy Spirit-based relationship with God and one another through the indwelling Christ of Faith, who is forever present in our spiritual bodies. The historical Jesus fully experienced and manifested the Christ of Faith, as God's perfect presence, image and likeness through his spiritual body.

The historical Jesus is the perfect archetype pattern of the Divine Presence, the Christ of Faith, as the incarnation and manifestation of the Son of God, through the spiritual body of all humankind [Genesis 1:26-31, Romans 1:3]. Giving birth to the Son of God means repenting and intentionally putting our faith and confidence in the incarnate Christ of Faith, in the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical  dimensions of our lives, as our Emmanuel.  Are you willing to give birth to the Son of God, by follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery? 

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Is The Christ Of Faith The One Who Is To Come?

Scripture Reference:
Mathew 11:2-6, 'Messengers from John the Baptist'. 

The historical Jesus began his earthly ministry while John the Baptist was in prison. John heard about what Jesus was doing while he was in prison and sent messengers to Jesus asking this question. "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" The historical Jesus replied, "Go tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the leapers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have the good news preached to them. And blessed is everyone who takes no offense at me" [Matthew 11:2-6].     

Was John looking for only a physical Messiah, who looked like the historical Jesus? Is it possible that John the Baptist was unaware of the indwelling Christ of Faith, the Son of God, and mankind's universal Messiah, who became fully incarnate and fully orbed in the historical Jesus? Was John aware of the spiritual kingdom of heaven, which the historical Jesus declared and revealed within himself, within all people, among us and in our midst [Luke 17:20-21, John 17:20-21; 21:36-37]?

The historical Jesus took God's revelation of himself to humankind many steps further than John the Baptist. Jesus not only declared himself as our physical Savior and Way shower. He also fully manifested mankind's potential as children of God. The historical Jesus demonstrated the nature and work of the universal body of Christ, throughout our planet [John 17:21, Romans 8:5, Colossians 1:26-27]. The historical Jesus established for the human race an entirely new and higher spiritual consciousness of the kingdom of heaven and kingdom living, here on earth [John 5:30, Philippians 2:5-7].

Have you chosen to place your trust in both the historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith? Are you personally seeking the discernment, coming, resurrection and incarnation, of the Christ of Faith, the image and likeness of God, through your spiritual body and through the spiritual body of all people [Genesis 1:26-27]? , Are you choosing to repent, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, follow the historical Jesus in kingdom living, here on earth? Are you with God’s help, patiently embracing the universal Christ-centered believer's challenge to steadfastly following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Matthew 16:21-27]? 

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Repent, God's Kingdom Is Here And Now

Scripture Reference:
Mark 1:14-15,  'The historical Jesus announces the Good news'

At the beginning of his earthly ministry , the historical Jesus announced the Good news of the Gospel of Christ. Two thousand years ago he declared, "Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand". The bible assures us that true repentance produces the good news of resurrection from spiritual death, new birth and the kingdom living. The historical Jesus revealed, taught and proclaimed throughout his earthly ministry, mankind's dwelling in the kingdom of God here on earth, by self-denial, taking up their cross daily and following him in living the Paschal Mystery [Mark 8:31-38].

Mankind's universal inner journey from spiritual death into spiritual resurrection and eternal life is initiated, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The historical Jesus as Messiah, and his forerunner John the Baptist both stressed repentance as transforming human souls, hearts and minds by resurrection from spiritual death to spiritual awakening and new life in the Spirit.  Resurrected believers discern, teach and proclaim why following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery is critical in establishing kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven [Matthew 6:10].

Repentance means forsaking our sinful ways of spiritual sleep, spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness and spiritual death. Repentance means following the historical Jesus in Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based spiritual mindedness, so we can greet and fully manifest the proper mental alignment and full incarnation of the Christ of Faith, as revealed in the life and ministry of the historical Jesus.

The bible assures us that true repentance produces resurrection from spiritual death and the kingdom living which the historical Jesus proclaimed [Mark 1:14-15]. I have vowed, with God's help, to seek and serve the Christ of Faith, in the historical Jesus, in myself and in all people. Spiritually awake believers steadfastly follow the historical Jesus as the fully incarnation, and the fully orbed manifestation of the Christ of Faith, in human flesh. In the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, they  are now manifesting kingdom living here on earth as it is in heaven.

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Why Celebrate The Historical Jesus?

During the Advent season, the world prepares to celebrate the descent, incarnation and birth of the Christ of Faith [Spirit], in the historical Jesus 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. Prior to this first revelation of the Christ of Faith in human flesh, many people believe that mankind had become progressively spiritually deaf, spiritually blind, spiritually asleep and spiritually dead, in trespasses and sin. In Holy Scripture, the historical Jesus is described as the first born of those human beings who are resurrected from spiritual death.

Without the first coming and revelation of the Christ of Faith in the historical Jesus then, many Christians believe that  humankind would have remained spiritually dead. In the power of the Holy Spirit, through faith, humility and obedience, the historical Jesus as Messiah, surrendered to the will of God [Trinity] for his life. By living the Paschal Mystery, the historical Jesus actually became the full incarnation and full manifestation of the invisible Christ of Faith, in human flesh. Through the historical Jesus, the invisible Christ of Faith [Logos] has been revealed as the universal King of Kings and the Lord of Lord, not only here on earth, but throughout all creation. 

Many people believe the life of the historical Jesus demonstrates that human beings individually and collectively, are designed to be God's chosen central place for proper mental alignment, the incarnation, the temple, the throne, and the reign of the Christ of Faith, here on earth [Genesis 1:26-31]. In Holy Scripture, the historical Jesus has steadfastly invited all people to believe and follow him in living this Paschal Mystery. The Bible declares that the historical Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that no man comes to the Father, except through the universal Christ of Faith, as revealed in the historical Jesus [John 14:6].   

Like the historical Jesus, with God's help, many sincere seekers have committed themselves to following the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery. They are planting the spiritual seeds, which will produce the same virtues, gifts, and fruit of the Spirit, which the historical Jesus demonstrated 2000 years ago in his life. During this Advent Season, with God's help, many Christ-centered, resurrected, born again believers will challenge themselves and each other, to more closely follow the historical Jesus, in repentance, the full incarnation and the full manifestation [second coming of the Christ of Faith] in their own souls, hearts, minds and lives. Many are now joining the historical Jesus in more fully revealing, manifesting and spreading this Good News of the kingdom of God, within us, in our midst and throughout our planet.

This Advent Season is a time of cleansing, anticipation and preparation. It is a time for making more room in our hearts, minds and lives to put on the Christ of Faith and celebrate the historical Jesus. It is that season of the year when spiritually awake believers deepen their commitment to follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.

                                                                                                                                 

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Christ, True Lord And King Of All

Scripture reference: Colossians 1:15-23, 'The Supremacy Of Christ'

The historical Jesus' and the Apostle Paul's ministries were about revealing, teaching and realizing the hidden mystery of the supremacy of the indwelling Christ of Faith. They taught that the Christ of Faith, who is the image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all humankind, existed before creation [John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:26-27].  Through the historical Jesus, the fully incarnate, invisible Christ of Faith was made visible. The historical Jesus revealed what God would be like, when fully incarnate in human flesh [John 4:24].  

The historical Jesus revealed taught and modeled God's way to make the Christ of Faith, the eternal and incarnate Lord and King, in the hearts, minds, experiences, bodies and affairs of all humankind. The Christ of Faith is therefore the true, universal, divine ruler, the image of God, in all religions, races, nations, cultures and ethnic groups [Genesis 1:26-27]. All other elemental spirits, which occupy space and human minds and life are irrelevant since the Christ of Faith is prior and superior [Colossians 1:16-18].  

All religious and secular groups, through repentance, faith and surrender to the lordship and reign of  the indwelling and incarnate, Christ of Faith, are encouraged to join the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul in living the Paschal Mystery. They are invited to steadfastly seek, experience and proclaim the full incarnation and manifestation of the Christ of Faith as God's light, life, love, truth and grace, in and through the spiritual body of all persons.

The Christ of Faith [Logos] is the Son, begotten only of God. The Christ of Faith is the individualized presence, image and likeness of God, within the spiritual body of all humankind. The Christ of Faith gives true coherence, true justice and true peace to all humankind. Through trust in the Christ of Faith and following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, all mankind can be reconciled and brought back in harmony with God and one another [Colossians 1:19-23].

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The Paschal Mystery and kingdom living

Scripture Reference: Luke 17:20-21, 'Kingdom, Spiritual, Not Temporal'

The Kingdom of God which is within us, among us and in our midst is Spiritual. It is not temporal.  The historical Jesus made it clear that Christ-centered, kingdom living begins in the Christ of Faith, within the human spirit. It then spreads like a mustard seed through human hearts and minds as the temples and thrones of the living God, the Holy Spirit and the risen Christ of Faith, here on earth [Matthew 13:31, Luke 17:20-21, 21:5-6].

The prophet Isaiah declares that repentant, faithful and obedient believers will experience gladness, rejoicing and reconciliation with God, in this new heaven and new earth spiritual consciousness. In this normal, human state of Christ-centered, spiritual consciousness sin, separation, sufferings, spiritual sleep and spiritual death would no longer be remembered or come to mind [Isaiah 65:17]. Though previously hidden, the prophet Isaiah, the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul sought to explain to misinformed Jews, Christians and Geniles the presence and spiritual nature of the Christ of Faith and the kingdom of God, in human hearts, minds and lives.

The historical Jesus, taught, lived and modeled the full incarnation and manifestation of the Christ of Faith, the Image of God, in human flesh. He re-entered the spiritual kingdom of God, while here on earth by living the Paschal Mystery. Through repentance, humility and Christ-centered Faith, every person can awake from spiritual deafness, spiritual blindness, spiritual sleep and be resurrected from spiritual death, by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.

Each person can experience proper mental alignment, encounter and realize the incarnation of the Christ of Faith, through their spiritual bodies. By rejecting sin consciousness and abiding in Christ-consciousness, God's hidden, spiritual universe will be discerned and permanently established within human hearts and spread throughout our planet [Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelations 21:1-8]. By steadfastly following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, all people in all ethnic, cultural, secular and religious groups can practice kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven [Luke 11:1-4. 

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First Coming And Second Coming of Christ

Scripture References:
Luke 4:1-13, 'Satan cast out by the historical Jesus'
Luke 11:1-4, 'Jesus' discourse on prayer'
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 'The day of the Lord'

During the historical Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the desert place, Satan tried to destroy Jesus' faith, trust and his actual experience of the incarnation, glory and reign of the Christ of Faith as Master, Lord and King in his own heart, mind and life [1^st Coming of Christ].

In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus persisted and completed the revelation of God's plan for the liberation, salvation and redemption for all mankind, through glorious reign of the Christ of Faith, in human hearts, minds and lives by teaching, modeling and living the Paschal Mystery [John 14:6].

In Jesus' Baptisms of Water, the Holy Spirit and Fire, the lawless one is revealed, dethroned and replaced in human hearts and lives.  Satan is replaced by the reigning presence, glory, divine thoughts and ideas of the indwelling and incarnate Christ of Faith [John 3:3-8].

Like the historical Jesus, spiritually awake believers put their faith in God as Trinity and Spirit. By following the historical Jesus, they also proclaim the incarnation and reign of the Christ of Faith, through their spiritual bodies as Savior, Maser, Lord and King [2^nd Coming of Christ].

With prayer, repentance, steadfast faith and God's help, Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers in all the world religions can now follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.  A Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based understanding, and daily practical application of God's love, grace and truth will establish the kingdom of Heaven and kingdom living in our midst, within us and throughout our planet [Luke 11:1-4].

By repentance and faith, we can all seek, welcome and proclaim the proper mental alignment, incarnation, glorification and reign of the universal Christ of Faith, the image of God, in the hearts, minds and lives of all humankind [Genesis 1:26-31].

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Realizing Eternal Life Now

Scripture Text: John 3:16-19, 'The life the historic Jesus promised'

Christ-centered living helps to explain why Jesus of Nazareth is also called the Christ of Faith. The historical Jesus steadfastly obeyed and fully manifested God's will and vision for human life as kingdom living, here on earth. This awesome human achievement and realization, in the Holy Spirit, is called he Paschal Mystery.

After the historical Jesus' ascension, the risen Christ was revealed as the eternal Christ of Faith, in the kingdom of God, within every person and in our midst. Christ-centered spirituality declares that by faith, obedience and following the historical Jesus, the Christ of Faith can be fully incarnate and fully appropriated in the hearts and lives of all who believe

At birth, all human beings after Adam and Eve begin life’s journey on the slippery slopes to spiritual deafness, spiritual blindness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death. Many people continue to lost sight of God’s original vision of Christ-centered kingdom living here on earth, which the historical Jesus revealed, taught and modeled. We can now have eternal life by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.

 

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Embracing The Historical Jesus And The Christ Of Faith

Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 4:2 , 'Proclaiming The Word'

The Bible teaches that the historical Jesus demonstrated the full alignment, incarnation and manifestation of the universal Christ of Faith, as the image and likeness of God, in human flesh [John 1:1-5, Colossians 2:1-5]. The Christ of Faith is 'Logos', the universal Spiritual Presence, and sure foundation, on which all humankind can learn to love God, and love our neighbors, as we love ourselves. The Bible teaches that all persons could realize the full alignment, incarnation, and manifestation of the universal Christ of Faith [Logos], by steadfastly following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 9:21-27].

The Christ of Faith is the presence and image of God in every person [Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27]. Christ is the Real man, the eternal Spiritual man. Christ is the consciousness of God, every where, with us, and within us. Christ-consciousness is the consciousness of God indwelling presence, which the historical Jesus lived, modeled and proclaimed. 

The Bible teaches that the revelation of God’s love, grace and truth in Christ of Faith, came to humankind through the historical Jesus [John 1:17-18]. The Christ of Faith, within the spiritual body of each person is God’s universal, common, central point of communion with all persons. 

Let us today examine ourselves, and find the personal reasons why we have chosen to either embrace or reject the Bible-based uniqueness, similarities and differences, between the historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith.  Should not all people be open to the literal, allegorical, metaphysical and mystical interpretative lenses of any and all the sacred writing in all religions? Let us therefore lovingly, openly, honestly and courageously herald and preach the Good News of the Gospel, in the Christ of Faith, as we steadfastly follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery. 

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Faithful Witnesses Of The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 2:15-19, 'Scripture study and godly living'

Christ-centered spiritually awake believers, in all the world religions, cultures and faith communities seek and serve the Christ of Faith, as the Image of God, in the spiritual body of all persons. Today’s Epistle 2 Timothy 2:15-19 encourages these believers to hold fast to the historical Jesus' universal faith, proclamation and hope of all mankind's resurrection from spiritual death and experience of kingdom living, here on earth, as revealed in the Gospel of Christ [John 1:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:8]. These believers are encouraged to study their scriptures, live a godly life and be reflections of the truth, light and life of the risen Christ of Faith, in the kingdom of God, within us and in our midst [Luke 17:20-21, Colossians 1:26-27, Revelations 21:1-5]. 

In today's text, the apostle Paul reminds us, that within many witnessing communities, believers often experience suffering, ostracism and persecution, when they engage in Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based soul winning, within their own faith communities [2 Timothy 2:9]. Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers are admonished to recognize that erroneous attitudes and all Satanic hatred and subtlety are directed at the Christ of Faith, in the spiritual body of all people, saints and sinners alike [Genesis 3:15, Revelations 12:10-12]. 

Faithful witnesses of the Gospel of Christ proclaim their conversion, intimacy, communion and eternal life with God and each other, through the Christ of Faith. They know that forgiveness of sins, sanctification and glorification are established through the work of the Holy Spirit and Christ-centered, spiritual mindedness. These believers experience the new, eternal and abundant life in Christ of Faith, by rightly dividing, teaching and sharing the Holy Scriptures in their own unique religions and faith communities, and by steadfastly following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 9:23-24].

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The Wholistic Approach In Living The Paschal Mystery

Sunday’s Epistle 2 Timothy 1:1-7, reminds all Christ-centered spiritually awake believers, in all witnessing communities to be bold and courageous in their proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. They are called to authenticity in their teaching, living and sharing their unique gifts and ministries, as they follow the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery.  They are challenged to be faithful ministers in rightly teaching, preaching and dividing the Christ-centered written and spoke Word of Truth, found in all the world religions.

Paul assures us that through the Christ-centered, spiritual mindedness of right brain hemisphere thinking, which the historical Jesus taught, all people, in all religions, cultures and ethnic groups can overcome internal fear, error, sin and all evil desires as well as external rejection and marginalization. Wholistic interpretation and daily practical application of the sacred writings and oral traditions in all the world religions are desperately needed in all religions, at this pivotal time in human history. 

Many literal, carnal and mortal minded religious leaders in all the world religions, consider the universal, metaphysical and mystical Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based teachings, principles and practices in the Gospel of Christ, as taught and modeled by the historical Jesus, heretical and apostasy. I believe that exclusion of the metaphysical and mystical approaches to any religion lays the sure foundation for confusion, error, xenophobia, spiritual sleep, spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness and spiritual death within any witnessing communities. 

Christ-centered, spiritually awake witnessing communities are now emerging in all cultures, ethnic groups and religions. They stresses that God's grace, love, power and hope, have been eternally given to all humankind, through the Christ of faith and the Holy Spirit in the spiritual body of every person [John 16:12-15, Colossians 1:24-27]. These witnesses reject the inappropriate dominion of left brain hemisphere thinking and seek to regain the appropriate balance of right brain hemisphere thinking, feeling, emotions and actions, which the historical Jesus taught and modeled, throughout his incarnate earthly ministry, as kingdom living.
 

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The Historical Jesus Lived The Paschal Mystery

Scripture reference: 1 Timothy 1:12-13, 'Mankind's universal salvation revealed in the historic Jesus'

In 1 Timothy 1:15 the apostle Paul declared, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." Before his personal, Spirit-based encounter with the risen Christ of faith, Saul was a faithful, Rabbi, leader and teacher of the letter of the Law as given by Moses. He was however spiritually asleep, spiritually blind, spiritually deaf and spiritually dead. He did not grasp Jesus' universal message of God's salvation, through the Christ of faith, in the spiritual body of all people [John 3:14-17]. Unbelieving and arrogant, in dark ignorance, Saul so fiercely opposed this universal Good News of the Gospel of Christ, that he eventually became violent, within his own Jewish religion.

He initially rejected the person, Spirit-based message and ministry of his fellow Rabbi, the historical Jesus. He sought to persecute and destroy all Jews who believed and embraced God's grace, mercy and truth, as revealed in the historical Jesus. After his personal encounter with the risen Christ of faith, conversion, confession, spiritual awakening and spiritual discernment, Saul was so radically transformed in his feelings, experiences, actions and thoughts that he labeled himself, the chief of sinners. His name was eventually changed from Saul to Paul.

In John 1:14-17, the apostle John shines some light and spiritual understanding on Saul's hostile feelings, distorted experiences, wicked actions and erroneous mindsets when he states, "And the Word [Logos / Christ] was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ".

Divine grace and truth are eternally present as gifts of God, in the spiritual body of all persons. No person has to, nor can anyone earn God's grace, love and truth. They come equally to all people alike, because all people are created in the image and likeness of God, for God's glory, honor and sovereign reign [Genesis 1:26-31].  The historical Jesus actually lived, taught and revealed not only the literal but also the metaphorical, metaphysical and mystical meanings of the Law of Moses, by living the Paschal Mystery.

The inner spiritual meaning of the Law, 'Christ [Logos] in you the hope of glory', has been hidden from humankind down through the ages and generations [Colossians 1:26-29]. This truth cannot be discerned nor realized by human beings who choose to be spiritually asleep, spiritually deaf, spiritually blind and spiritually dead. Often erroneous religions and belief systems by design hide and distort mankind's true relationship with God. They foster spiritual sleep and spiritual death [Romans 8:1-11].

The historical Jesus declared if any person would come after him, they must deny self, take up their own cross daily and follow him [Luke 14:25-35]. The universal, personal cross that the historic Jesus is referring to is the personal casting out of the same spiritual blindness, spiritual sleep, spiritual deafness and spiritual death which the apostle Paul experienced before his conversion. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, taking up one's own cross means casting out the unbelief, rejection, religious xenophobia and arrogance which Saul experienced and demonstrated.

Following the historical Jesus means lifting up the universal, indwelling Christ of faith [Logos], the image and likeness of God, within the historic Jesus, within one's self and within all persons, in kingdom living [Genesis 1:26-31, Luke 17:20-21]. Imitating the historical Jesus, must involve the vital practice of daily living the letter as well as the spirit of the Law. Through repentance, faith and taking up one's own cross daily, believers in all the world religions can release the old sinful life, and establish the new life in Christ, by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.
                   

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Spiritual Practice And Formation

Reference Text: Hebrews 13:13-15, 'Living an obedient Life'

The historic Jesus and the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews both stress that Christ-centered, witnessing, faith communities seek and serve the Christ of faith in all persons. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus as Messiah initially revealed and modeled the full incarnation of the Trinity, through his spiritual body and that same potential through the spiritual body of every person. The universal body of Christ is the Christ-centered, spiritually awake remnant within the faith communities of all religions, who actually obey the call of the historic Jesus to self denial, taking up their own cross daily and following Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 9:22-24].

To the historic Jesus, feasting at Christ's table and sharing the free gifts of God's love, grace and truth with others is the essence of spiritual practice and formation in the universal body of Christ. The believer's sacrifice of praise which is always pleasing to God is the conscious decision, under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit to cast out, crucify and put to death, the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh, within one's own self and life. These conscious act of true repentance and obedience are the sure foundation and fertile soil for bearing the spiritual fruit of the believer passing over from the slavery of sin into the freedom of God's love through the Christ of faith [Galatians 5:22-26].

Let us choose to follow the historic Jesus in seeking and serving the Christ of faith in all persons. The bible clearly states that in order to bear the spiritual fruit of those who profess and confess the name of Jesus, one must deny self, take up one's own cross daily and follow the historic Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery. Let us then choose to imitate the historic Jesus in humility, hospitality, compassion, trust and obedience, so that we may also feast at Christ's banquet table, in the hidden spiritual kingdom of heaven in our midst and within each person [Luke 17:20-21, Colossians 1:24-29, Revelations 3:20].

    

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Different Opinions Concerning The Historic Jesus

Reference Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20, 'Peter's Confession of Jesus' Deity'.

Today's Gospel reading reveals that Jesus' 12 disciples, who knew him intimately, as well as the crowds who followed him, expressed different opinions about who the historic Jesus of Nazareth was. Matthew 16:13-14 declares, 'When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

In Matthew 16:15-17 we read this additional account. "Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being".  Some bible translations state that Peter declared Jesus was the Christ. Matthew 16:20 states that the historic Jesus called himself the Son of Man as he cautioned his disciples to tell no man that he was the Messiah, the Son of the living God and the Christ.

The bible declares in John 1:1-5 and Hebrews 13:20, that God's eternal covenant relationship with all humankind is established in the eternal Christ of faith [Logos, the Word], who became fully incarnate and fully manifested in the historic Jesus of Nazareth. Here and in John 10:1-18, the historic Jesus described himself as the great shepherd of the sheep. In John 14:1-14, the historic Jesus described himself as the way, the truth and the life and assures us that no man can come to the Father except through him.

Is it possible that the blood [life] of God's eternal covenant with the Son actually refers to the eternal presence of the Christ of Faith, God's image and likeness, as the individualized Logos, in the spiritual body of the historic Jesus and every person [Genesis 1:26-27, Hebrews 13:20]?
Like most Christians, I believe that the historic Jesus, the Son of Mary, was uniquely aware of the character of God and his own personal dependence on and eternal intimate relationship with God as Abba Father [John 5:19, 30; 10:30]. I believe the historic Jesus of Nazareth was fully dependent on and uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach and fully model God's eternal plan for kingdom living, by incarnate human beings, while here on earth [Genesis 1:28-31]. Like the apostle Paul, I also call Jesus the Christ, because of his person, character and work as the Son of Man. To me the historic Jesus is the incarnate, visible head of the body of Christ.

The historic Jesus is the first born of spiritually awake human beings, who were previously spiritually unaware of the indwelling Christ of faith, before Jesus' incarnation. I do believe that the fullness of the Godhead as the Trinity became fully incarnate in the historic Jesus of Nazareth. I believe that God is pleased to reconcile to himself all things whether in earth or heaven, by making peace through the blood of the cross, the Christ of faith, within all persons [Colossians 1:15-20].
I now recognize that the historic Jesus and all persons are divine, eternal spiritual beings, the image and likeness of God, and sons and daughters of the living God, going through temporary incarnate human experiences. I believe that Jesus and Paul were called by God to make the Word of God [Logos] more fully know the mystery, which has been hidden down through the ages and generations, but now has been revealed to the saints.

I believe the historic Jesus actually lived and revealed the Paschal Mystery. He revealed the eternal liberated, transformed, spiritually awake human being, living under the reign of the Christ of faith [Logos]. The Christ of faith as the image of God dwells in the spiritual body of all people. The bible states that the Christ of faith in you, in me and in all people, is mankind's universal and eternal hope of glory [Colossians 1:23-27].

Do you sincerely desire to be delivered from slavery to sin, pass over into the freedom of God love in and through the Christ of faith [Logos]? Do you desire to be empowered by the Holy Spirit as the historic Jesus was? Do you believe all people are called by God to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to lift up their own indwelling Christ of faith and follow the historic Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Matthew 16:24-26]? Do you believe through repentance, humility, faith and obedience, all people can more fully establish the invisible and visible kingdom of heaven here on earth, within us and in our midst [Matthew 6:9-10]? Who do you believe the historic Jesus is?    
   

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The Second Coming OF Christ

Reference Scripture: Hebrews 11:39 - 12:2, 'The New Dispensation  Inaugurated'

Christians believe the first revelation and full incarnation of the Christ of Faith [Logos], as the Image of God, occurred 2000 years ago in the Historic Jesus of Nazareth, as Messiah [John 1:1-5]. As Son of Man, Jesus first recognized, taught and fully manifested the Christ of Faith, the incarnate Word, as the eternal Spiritual Man, the real Son of God, within his spiritual body and the spiritual body of all persons. During this first coming of Christ, in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus completed the liberation, salvific and redemptive work the Father sent him to do, by living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 4:18-21, John 10:9-11].

Through humility, obedience and faith in Christ as universal Logos, Jesus taught and lived the New Covenant relationship between God and men [Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:7-13].  Jesus fully modeled the normal, potential, human experience of kingdom living, which God intended for all human beings on earth [Genesis 1:26-31]. Jesus desired and prayed to Our Father, God, that all believers would know and experience the same relationship with God, through the same Christ of Faith Who he knew, and thus become the universal body of Christ, throughout our planet  [John 17:21-26].

Now 'parousia' is the Greek term which many literal and metaphorically minded Christians use to describe the second coming or arrival of the historic Jesus of Nazareth, in the same physical body from heaven, here on earth. In Luke 9:23-27 however, Jesus declared these words to his disciples, the crowds and all who would choose to follow him in living the New Covenant, living the Paschal Mystery and Kingdom living while here on earth. '...If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me...". To Christ-centered spiritually awake believers in all religions these words of  Jesus describe not only the conditions of discipleship but more importantly they declare and affirm the universal second coming of the same Christ of Faith, Who he experienced, but now in the feelings, experiences, actions and thoughts of Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers, here on earth, in all the world religions and those involved in no religion.

Metaphysical and mystical Christ-centered, spiritually minded Christians choose by faith, humility and obedience to steadfastly following the historic Jesus. They believe and realize that the second coming of the Christ of Faith is now taking place as spiritual awakening, alignment, incarnation and supernatural regeneration, in the souls, hearts, minds, bodies and lives of all people who choose to follow Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, under the guidance, power and anointing of the Holy Spirit [Luke 4:16-21; The Gospel of Thomas, Saying 17]. They know they are consciously, an active part of establishing the kingdom of heaven here on earth as it always is in heaven [Matthew 6:8-10, Luke 17:20-21].

The first coming of Christ was individually revealed, established and modeled in the historic Jesus of Nazareth. The second coming of Christ is now being fully revealed, maintained and further established in and through the universal body of Christ-centered believers throughout our planet. The Christ of Faith [Logos] is now discerned, worshiped and glorified as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in all the earth.

                   

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Live The Paschal Mystery

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Luke 9:23-27, 'Conditions of Discipleship'.

In today's scripture text all people are challenged to follow Jesus of Nazareth in returning to a life of Christ-centered and Holy Spirit-based faith, trust in God's sure promises, and obedience to God's call and will for our lives. In Genesis 1:27 we read this inclusive truth, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him male and female, he created them".  In John 4:32 we read this truth about God and how all person should worship God. "God is Spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.

Unlike many of us, Jesus always proclaimed and maintained that he was one with God, mankind's universal Abba Father [John 10:30, 14:9]. As eternal spirit, now temporarily incarnate in human flesh, Jesus knew his oneness with God, through the incarnate Christ of faith, the image and likeness of God, as his spiritual body.  Jesus' steadfast faith in God, through empowerment of the Holy Spirit, gave him the vision, endurance, will and authority to shape spiritual substance, fulfill his mission, do the seeming impossible and live the Paschal Mystery [Luke 4:16-20].

To Jesus absolute faith in God as Abba Father, was the essence and sure foundation of his existence [John 5:19, 30]. Jesus our elder brother admonishes and encourages all people to follow him with God's help in living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 6:23].  To Jesus, having faith in God is having faith which is aligned with God's will and unique plan for every human life. In light of the Christ of faith's indwelling Presence and God will for your life, what do you think God is calling you to do and be in discipleship as you live the Paschal Mystery?     

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The Historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith

Scripture Text: Colossians 2:6-7, 'The Historical Jesus and The Christ of Faith'

The bible reveals that the apostle Paul never personally met, nor ever encountered the historical Jesus of Nazareth. It clearly states however that on the road to Damascus to arrest and persecute the disciples and followers of the historical Jesus of Nazareth as Saul, he personally encountered and was transformed to Paul by the living Christ of Faith. Throughout his ministry, the apostle Paul stressed his awareness of the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based mystery, which had been hidden from humankind down through the ages and generation. In Colossians 1:27 Paul describe this mystery in these words, "To whom God was pleased to make known to the Gentiles are the riches of this glorious mystery, which is Christ within you, the hope of [realizing the] glory".

In Colossians 1:4, Paul praised the Colossians believers as sincere disciples and followers of the historical Jesus of Nazareth. Apparently Paul and Epaphras recognized that these believers had lost their original enthusiasm and trust in the Christ of faith. They were now trusting entirely in the historic Jesus of Nazareth, the human personality, with absolute trust and confidence in Jesus' power, wisdom and goodness, instead of maintaining their primary focus on the indwelling Christ of faith. In today text the apostle Paul reminds these believers to renew their trust in the Christ of faith, within Jesus of Nazareth, within himself, within the believers who he intended to persecute in Damascus, within themselves and within all people [Acts 9:3-7].

In Colossians 1:8-12, Paul prayed that these and all sincere followers of the historical Jesus, would also come to know the fullness of their divine heritage which the historical Jesus revealed and he now realized through his personal  encounter with the Christ of faith, in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Paul discerned and taught the need for all believers to honor and follow the historical Jesus as Way-shower and Savior.  In today's text however he stresses the greater and vital importance of the believer's personal encounter with the Christ of Faith, as indwelling Spirit, the Word and Image of God, who became fully incarnate and fully manifested in Jesus of Nazareth as universal King of Kings, Master and Lord of Lords [Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:1-5].

Wouldn't it help to clarify the unnecessary confusion about Jesus of Nazareth [physical personality] and the Christ of Faith [Spirit], if theologians and leaders in all the world religions would just embrace Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah, the Son of Man, who Christians now call 'The Christ', because he truly modeled, revealed, taught, and fully lived the Paschal Mystery? Doesn't the bible declare that through, faith, humility and obedience, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the universal Christ of Faith became fully incarnate and fully manifested in Jesus of Nazareth [Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:15-21]? Doesn't Paul's ministry stress that all humankind can now live the Paschal Mystery, through faith, humility and obedience to the Christ of Faith, within each person and following the historic Jesus? Isn't the Christ of Faith [Spirit] humankind's only universal hope, for realizing and living the same glorified life with the Father, which the historical Jesus taught and lived here on our beloved planet earth [Colossians 1:26-29]?      

Lordship Of Jesus And The Living Christ

Scripture text: Colossians 1:18-19, 'Christ's headship of the church'

The apostle Paul proclaimed for himself the same Christ-centered, Spirit-based relationship and union with God, which Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah had experienced. This new birth and new life experience involved repentance, proper mental alignment and the incarnation of the living Christ. He declared that by Christ-centered faith, this new birth and new life is actually available and accessible to all people. Paul realized this because of his willingness to embrace and in faith, humility and obedient surrender to the living Christ, as Savior and Lord.

Paul discovered that his personal mind of the flesh, left-brain hemisphere dominance, was at emnity with the will of God for his life. He also discovered that his mind of the Spirit, right-brain hemisphere dominion was in alignment and harmony with God's will for his life [Romans 8:1-11].  Paul proclaimed the supremacy of Jesus of Nazareth as the unique and full human manifestation of God, revealing Himself to humankind in and through the living Christ. He also declared the supremacy of the eternal Spirit, the living Christ as the head of Jesus of Nazareth and the universal, spiritual head of the body of Christ.

To Jesus and Paul, the living Christ is mankind's universal, indwelling center of light, life, love, grace, truth, authority, identity, worship, security and meaning [John 17:15-23, Colossians 1:15-16]. The living Christ is mankind's spiritual indwelling and incarnate King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The living Christ is eternal Spirit, the Image of God, in the spiritual body of all people.  

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Disciples Facilitate And Observe The Fall Satan

Scripture Text: Luke 10:16-20, 'Disciples Observe The Fall Of Satan'.

In Scripture, Jesus of Nazareth always located the kingdom of heaven within each person, among us and in our midst [Luke 17:20-21]. In today's Gospel reading Luke 10:1-11, Jesus selected and sent 72 disciples to go before him into the places he intended to visit at a future time. He commissioned them to, subdue and cast out the forces of evil by curing the sick and proclaiming the presence and activity of the kingdom of God, in their midst.

In Luke 10:16-20, the 72 disciples returned to Jesus filled with great joy, because of their success in fulfilling their mission. They declared that even demons submitted to them when they healed and proclaimed the truth of the Gospel of Christ and the kingdom of God in Jesus' name.  The disciples actually observed the fall of Satan from the kingdom of heaven, within themselves and within those they cured and healed in Jesus' name. 

The bible has always revealed and declared that the Satanic world system is the chief foe of God's eternal plan of true Christ-centered spirituality and kingdom living within all humankind. In today's Gospel Luke 10:18, Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of Man, said to these 72 disciples, as they returned and were surprised by the power and control they also had over evil and Satan,  "I saw Satan falling like a lightning [flash] from heaven. In Luke 10:23-24, Jesus also declared to these disciples,  "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 

As a disciple of the living Christ, are you seeing the fall of Satan from heaven, within yourself and in those with whom you share the truth of the Gospel of Christ? Are you seeing demons and error states of mind are subject to and cast out by the word of truth you proclaim and the kingdom living  you demonstrate? Are you using the authority and divine commission given you by Abba Father, the living Christ and the Holy Spirit to further facilitate and demonstrate the fall of Satan within yourself, within all who you meet and in our midst?       

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Repentance, Alignment, Incarnation And Union With God

Galatians 5:1, 13-25, 'Living in the Spirit'

Jesus of Nazareth claimed and modeled proper alignment, full incarnation and union with God through the living Christ. Jesus did this by steadfastly locating Abba Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit [Trinity] and the kingdom of God within himself, within us and in our midst. God has given all people the freedom to choose to live in the same inter-penetrating, spiritual universe, ruled by the grace, loving-kindness and truth of the living Christ, which Jesus of Nazareth experienced in his earthly life.

Christ-centered spiritual mindedness is the universal foundation on which to establish the preeminence of the spiritual dimension of our human lives. God established the living Christ as the chief cornerstone on which to stand firm in liberty and freedom. God's way of freedom in living Christ is outlined in Isaiah 61:1-3.

Choosing repentance and turning to Christ brings spiritual healing, spiritual liberty, enlightenment, spiritual vision and practical application of the teaching of Jesus and Paul into all human lives, religions and cultures [Mark 1:14-15].  Paul proactively admonishes believers to choose Christ-centered, spiritual mindfulness. We are each designed to be holy temples of the living Christ. Let us therefore reclaim our freedom and divine heritage in and through the living Christ, by following Jesus of Nazareth.

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Christ, The Sure Foundation For Kingdom Living

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In today's Epistle, Galatians 3:24-29, Paul maintained that God’s original, Spirit-based, covenant relationship of true communion and abundant life with Abraham forever remains intact in the true Gospel of the living Christ for all people. Paul contrast's this covenant with the pervasive issue of mankind's rejection of direct Spirit-based, contact, communion and relationship with God and each other through the living Christ [Adonai].

Spiritual awakening and the practice of clothing ourselves with the living Christ were clearly revealed to Paul, through his personal encounter with the living Christ, on the road to Damascus [Acts 9:3-5]. Jesus Christ and Paul believed, experienced and taught the same faith and encounters with the incarnate, living Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Embracing and honoring the living Christ as the Image of God, within oneself and in all people is the sure foundation for spiritual awakening, building Christ-like character, spiritual maturity and further establishing the kingdom of God within us and in our midst [Luke 17:20-21].

Are you willing to seek and serve Christ in all people? Are you willing to clothe yourself with the living Christ? Do you believe the kingdom of God is within us and in our midst? 

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