Baptisms Of Believers Living The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 3:18-22, 'Baptisms of those who follow Jesus Christ'

Throughout his saving and reconciliation ministry here on earth as Messiah, Jesus Christ sought to establish Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based witnessing paschal faith communities, throughout our planet (Acts 1:6-8). As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ began his life, just like all human beings, in the mind of the flesh (Luke 2:52). As the Son of God, Jesus Christ as Messiah in the power of the Holy Spirit, successfully lived his Jewish tradition, religion, culture, ethnic and secular life in the mind of spirit (Matthew 5:17, Luke 4:14-21, Colossians 2:6-9). In living the Paschal Mystery, his life, passion, death, glorification, resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ passed over from life on earth in the mind of the flesh, into a new and glorified life with the Father (Godhead), in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31, Romans 8:1-11).

In the mind of the flesh, Jesus Christ was baptized in water by John the Baptist. After his Baptism in water, Jesus Christ was baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit. In the mind of the spirit, Jesus was then taken by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. There for forty days, he was tempted by Satan (Mark 1:9-13). Jesus did not see his desert experiences in the wilderness as God's punishment or divine justice. In the mind of the spirit, he discerned that his fiery trials and lonely wilderness experiences were the vital purifying processes needed, before he began his ministry of teaching, healing, deliverance, salvation, reconciliation and kingdom living, here on earth (Mark 1:14-15).

Witnessing paschal faith communities are called to follow Jesus Christ as Messiah, Son of Man, in living the Paschal Mystery (Mark 8:31-34, John 3:16-17). In water baptism, believers outwardly identify themselves with Jesus Christ as their Messiah. They also identify themselves with and become members of a witnessing paschal faith community. Water baptism also visibly identifies believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, with the message of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ (1 Peter  3:21).

Most believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups choose to dwell in the mind of the flesh, while living, worshiping, and serving, within witnessing faith communities. Few believers choose to dwell in the mind of the spirit, while living, worshiping and serving within paschal faith communities (Matthew 7:13-14). In the mind of the flesh, believer's seek and wait for resurrection,  spiritual formation and ascension in Christ, after their personal physical death or the second physical coming of Jesus Christ, in human flesh. In the mind of the spirit however, believers seek and experience resurrection from spiritual death, awakening from spiritual sleep, and healing of spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness in their present life, here on earth in Christ (1Peter 3:21).

The believers Baptism of Fire is centered in the death and resurrection of Christ, within the believers souls, hearts, minds, relationships and lives, as they follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery (Mark 8:31, 34). When experienced in the mind of the spirit, the believer's Baptism of Fire reveals, facilitates and brings the completion and fuller realization of the Paschal Mystery, in one's personal life, and witnessing paschal faith communities. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit and the mind of the spirit, the Man of Lawlessness, the mind of the flesh, is discerned, cast down, cast out and destroyed (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

In the mind of the spirit, the presence and work of Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), the Son Begotten only of God, and the begetting of the Holy Spirit are discerned and realized, while in our present physical bodies, here on earth. In the mind of the spirit, believers within witnessing paschal faith communities seek and serve Christ within Jesus Christ, themselves and within all persons. In the mind of the spirit, Christ, the image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons is truly discerned, exalted, worshipped and glorified. In the mind of the spirit Christ, in the spiritual body of all persons, is given appropriate dominion and preeminence, in the believers personal life and in intrapreneurial witnessing paschal faith communities, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (1 Peter 3:22).

Have you identified and attached yourself to a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based, spiritually awake group of witnesses, within your witnessing paschal faith community? Are you seeking and serving Christ in all persons in the mind of the spirit? Have you decided to follow Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the flesh, or the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-38)?


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Human Epistles Living The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:3-7, 'Divine treasure in clay jars'.


Key Verse: "But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that the extraordinary power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 2:7). 

In the Gospel of Christ, the Paschal Mystery is the new, Holy Spirit based passover. It is God's liberation of all mankind from slavery to sin, and bondage of the mind of the flesh, through the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-11). The Paschal Mystery is mankind, individually and collectively, passing over into the new and glorified life with the Godhead, through the incarnation, reign and manifestation of Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), in the mind of the spirit, while living in our human flesh, here on earth. The Paschal Mystery is Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based believers, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups becoming human epistles, as they follow Jesus Christ as Messiah, in living the Paschal Mystery, throughout our planet, earth (Mark 8:34-38).

In his life, passion, death, resurrection, glorification and ascension, Jesus Christ as Son of Man and Messiah revealed, lived and fully manifested the Paschal Mystery, as one of us. As the fully incarnate Christ, the Son of God, Jesus Christ modeled the fulfillment of God's universal law and the prophets, found in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, while in human flesh. As mankind's universal Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life of mankind living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit, here on earth (Psalm 23:1-6, John 14:6-7, Colossians 1:24-29).

In the Gospel, Christ is the image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons. Christ is the Son, begotten only of God. Down through the ages and generations, the mystery, presence and riches of the glory of Christ, have been hidden from mankind by the mind of the flesh. The apostle Paul followed Jesus Christ in calling the mind of the flesh Satan, the Devil, the Man of Lawlessness, the prince of this world, the Adversary and the father of lies (Mark 8:33, John 8:43-44, Romans 8:1-11, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Through the spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh, the truth of the Gospel of Christ, continues to be veiled from unbelievers and believers alike. As within Jesus Christ's Jewish religion, lost sheep being led by false shepherds continue to be created by the mind of the flesh, within witnessing faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. Satan continues to block mankind's deliverance from bondage and slavery to sin. Passing over into the new life in Christ, in the mind of the spirit, continues to be delayed, stifled and blocked by the mind of the flesh (Mark 8:33, 2 Corinthians 4:4).

In the begetting power of the Holy Spirit and the mind of the Spirit, Jesus Christ revealed, proclaimed and manifested the full incarnation of the Godhead through Christ, the begotten Image of God in human flesh, here on earth (Luke 4:16-21, John 10:29-30, Colossians 2:9). As a slave for Jesus' sake, the apostle Paul discerned and proclaimed the truth and mystery of Christ crucified and Christ resurrected in all human flesh, as revealed in Jesus Christ as Messiah (Colossians 1:24-29). Through faith, repentance, humility and obedience, believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular group can also follow Jesus Christ as human epistles, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. As slaves for Jesus' sake, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based believers are now being called by the Godhead, to more effectively facilitate and further establish the kingdom of God and kingdom living here on earth, in the mind of the spirit (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Christ (Logos, ADOMAI, JEHOVAH) is the changeless, invisible and eternal Son, begotten only of God. Christ is mankind's universal, indwelling Light, Lord, Master and Savior, in Jesus Christ and all persons (Genesis 1:26-27, John 3:16-21, Acts 17:28). Like all human beings who have lived since Jesus Christ's crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension, the apostle Paul never met Jesus Christ physically. In the mind of the spirit, on the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul however, had an awesome encounter with the risen Christ, the Son begotten only of God, who became fully incarnate and manifested in Jesus Christ. Paul's soul, heart, mind, emotions, relationships and life were radically transformed, through Christ and the Holy Spirit, within the fellowship of the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based witnessing paschal faith communities, which he established (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Throughout his ministry among us, Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, made it clear that the he was in every way, a clay jar like every human being. Jesus Christ also established the fact that the extraordinary presence and power in his life belonged to the Godhead and not to himself (John 5:19, 30). Jesus' power to live the Paschal mystery came directly from the Godhead. The Godhead dwelt in Jesus Christ like DC rather than AC current (John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 4:7).

As a living human epistle within your unique witnessing paschal faith community, is Christ becoming more fully incarnate and more fully manifested in your life? Are you striving in the mind of the spirit, to more fully align your soul, your mind, your heart, your emotions, your relationship and your life, in harmony with the grace, agape love and truth, found in the mind, heart, intentions, relationships and life of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:1-5)? Are you seeking, discerning, worshipping and serving, Christ, the mysterious Son of God within you, within Jesus Christ, and within all persons (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27)?  Are you steadfastly following Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul, as a human epistle, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit?


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Death And Eternal Life In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 'Discipline and reward in the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based life'


In today's Epistle 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the apostle Paul addresses Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based believers, within all witnessing paschal faith communities. Paul includes all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. He reminds all people that Jesus Christ stated the goal the Father sent him into the world to achieve, as Messiah. As the good shepherd, Jesus declared in John 10:10, "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly". In the mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ revealed, achieved and modeled the universal goal of abundant and eternal life in Christ for all mankind, by living the Paschal Mystery (John 3:16-17)".

The bible clearly states that believers who choose to follow Jesus Christ in achieving abundant and eternal life, must live disciplined and goal oriented lives. In the mind of the spirit, they must deny self, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery (Mark 8:34-38). Like Jesus Christ, after his water baptism and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him, they will be sent by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. They will also be distracted, tested and tempted by Satan, to abandon the goals, the Father called them to achieve, within their witnessing paschal faith communities (Mark 1:14-15).

Following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the mind of the spirit involves disciplined and purposeful cleansing, casting down and casting out the mind of the flesh. The personal and collective disciplines, within witnessing paschal faith communities must include the restoration of Christ-centered relationships with God, all persons and all creation, in the mind of the spirit. The universal, imperishable believers' goal and wreath of eternal and abundant life in Christ, can be realized only in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-11, 1 Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 2:1-5).

Paul stresses that born again, Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers must stay focused on the imperishable wreath and goal of eternal life in Christ, in their striving. Many spiritually blind, spiritually deaf, spiritually asleep and hardhearted believers, within witnessing paschal faith communities, choose to live their lives in the mind of the flesh. Many choose to embrace the perishable wreath and goals of the power, prestige, positions and popularity of the mind of the flesh. Paul assures us that in the mind of the flesh, these believers will not and cannot realize abundant and eternal life, in Christ (1 Corinthians 9:25).

In using the metaphor of the boxer, the apostle Paul recognized and confessed the presence of spiritual warfare between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the spirit in his personal life. He emphasized however, that he does not live the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based life aimlessly. He stresses that his life in Christ is not lived in the inappropriate, deceptiveness, divisiveness and destruction of the mind of the flesh (1 Corinthians 9:26, Galatians 5:19-21).

In the power of the Holy Spirit and the mind of the spirit, Paul was able to identify the man of lawlessness within himself, and exercise self control over the Adversary (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Like Jesus Christ in the wilderness, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul restrained his appetites. In self denial he followed Jesus Christ in putting on the mind of the spirit, and the whole armor of God, so that he would not become a stumbling block to others and a castaway (Ephesians 6:11-13). With God's help, Paul lived his life in the mind of the spirit (1 Corinthians 9:27, Galatians 5:22-26).

What is your goal, as you live your life, within your witnessing paschal faith community? Are you aimlessly beating yourself up, in the useless, unnecessary suffering, erroneous thinking, spiritual sleep, spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh? Have you chosen to steadfastly follow Jesus Christ in regaining your divine inheritance and imperishable crown of eternal and abundant life in Christ? Will you follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit, within your witnessing paschal faith community?

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What is the Paschal Mystery Part II?

Scripture Reference: Romans 8:1-17, 'Triumphant human life in the mind of the spirit'.

In living the Paschal Mystery, Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Revealed One, the Son of Man, has gone before all who believe in him, and follow him as the way, the truth and the life (John 14:5-7). Christ, the invisible, Begotten, image and likeness of God, the eternal Son of God, forever dwells within the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons, saints and sinners alike. Jesus Christ knew, experienced, revealed and demonstrated the believers' positions of forgiveness, cleansing, liberation and enlightenment with the Godhead, one another and all creation in Christ, by following him, in living their lives in the mind of the spirit  (Genesis 1:26-31, John 1:14-18, Romans 8:1-17).

The Holy Spirit operating through Christ the Begotten Righteousness of God in the believers life, is God's revealing, begetting and empowering presence, throughout all creation. In the mind of the spirit, the Holy Spirit counteracts, overcomes and destroys (Satan) the mind of the flesh, the lower law of sin and death, in the believers' life. The Holy Spirit reveals, guides and facilitates the life of righteousness in believers in and through witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, who live lives in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-2).

In the mind of the flesh, neither the law of Moses, nor God's law in any other tradition, religion, culture, ethnic, and secular group, could accomplish the believers position of triumphant human life in Christ, which Jesus Christ revealed. No legal position in the mind of the flesh, could accomplish this transition and regeneration because of the spiritual deception, blindness, deafness, sleep and death of the mind of the flesh. The Godhead continues to accomplished this triumphant human life, through the incarnation of Christ in Jesus Christ, and in all believers, who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-17).

In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ condemned and overcame the mind, sins and works of the flesh, while living in human flesh (Galatians 5:16-21). By following Jesus Christ as Messiah, Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers in all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups can discern and embrace the catholicity and universality of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ, in the mind of the spirit. By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit, all believers can also fulfill the letter as well as the spirit of God's law, in Christ (Matthew 5:17, Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 5:22-26).

The Holy Spirit reveals and takes control of the spiritual warfare within the believers thought-life, belief systems and relationships, within witnessing paschal faith communities. In the Godhead's own time, the Holy Spirit casts down and casts out the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh. By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, in the mind of the spirit, believers realizes the victory over sin instead of the defeat of sin. In the mind of the Spirit, within witnessing paschal faith communities, believers pass over into the freedom and glorious human life of God's love, grace and truth in Christ (Romans 8:5-7).

Believers in all the world's traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups can, in the mind of the spirit, following Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery. Through repentance, faith, humility and agape love, we can all experience forgiveness of sins (Matthew 6:12). In the mind of the spirit, we will discern and regain our divine inheritance of eternal and abundant life in Christ (John 3:16-17). Kingdom living will be established here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). Reconciliation with God, mankind, and all creation in Christ, is God's sure reward for those who follow Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit.

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What Is The Paschal Mystery Part I?

Scripture Text:  1 Corinthians 9:15-23, 'Privilege and task of Paul's reconciliation ministry' 


Key Verse: "To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law" (1 Corinthians 9:19).

The Paschal Mystery is the believers privilege and task to realize, live and share God's redemptive plan for all mankind and his creation, in Christ. The apostle Paul declared that the Paschal Mystery is the essential message of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:24-29). Revealing, modeling and sharing the Paschal Mystery is the center of the work the Father sent Jesus Christ as Messiah to do here on earth. In living the Paschal Mystery, Jesus Christ passed over from life on earth in the mind of the flesh, through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension, into the new and glorified life with the Godhead, in the mind of the spirit, thus revealing God's redemptive plan for all mankind  (Mark 8:31-34).

In 1 Timothy 1:15-17, the apostle Paul declared, "This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ may display the uttermost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen".

The apostle Paul had the personal knowledge and wisdom of a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based mindset and life. He had a unique and radical transformation of being born from above. Because he life in the mind of the spirit after his conversion, he knew what it means to be born of the spirit. When he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul immediately surrendered to Christ, and steadfastly following Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. After that dramatic conversion Paul zealously proclaimed the Gospel of Christ, in the mind of the spirit. He abruptly stopped persecuting and imprisoning those believers who chose to follow Jesus Christ (Acts 9:1-19). In the context of his dramatic conversion, Paul like Jesus Christ, no longer saw, taught and practiced his Jewish religion in the limiting and erroneous perceptions of mind of the flesh.

Paul fully embraced God's divine call and commission to preach the new Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based dispensation of the Gospel of Christ, to all people. Because he realized that most believers do not have such an unusual and abrupt personal conversion, he sought to be thoughtful, inclusive, compassionate and patient with all people. Paul knew that the stewardship, integrity grace and truth of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ, could only be sustained and maintained by believers who follow Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery with agape love, in the mind of the spirit (1 Corinthians 9:16-17). 

Paul was so radically transformed by his personal encounter with the living Christ, that his preaching and ministry of reconciliation were self-supported. In patient and compassionate service and in the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul established Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based witnessing paschal faith communities among Jews and Gentiles, Romans and Greeks, and godly and pagan believers. In steadfast faith, repentance and humble service, Paul followed Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. Paul sought to gently and patiently lead and win all souls to seek, discern and serve Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) within the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, within himself and within all persons  (Genesis 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 9:18-19,  Colossians 1:24-29).

In the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul sought to discern the universal forgiveness, salvation, deliverance, freedom and truth of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ. He embraced and taught the catholicity of the Gospel of Christ. He steadfastly sought to adapt its catholicity and universal application to hearers and believers, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (1 Corinthians 9:20-21).  

In living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, Paul had great compassion and encouragement for weak believers, who continued to struggle with the inner spiritual warfare, between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the spirit, within witnessing paschal faith communities (Romans 8:1-11). In the mind of the spirit, he patiently sought to apply the truth of the Gospel of Christ, to all situations, experiences and relationships. In his great zeal for the deliverance of human souls from the bondage and slavery to the sin of the mind of the flesh, Paul made many sacrifices, endured great hardship, and suffered rejection for the Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

Are you willing to follow the apostle Paul in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ, in the mind of the spirit? Are you embracing the believers' privilege and responsibility to proclaim and live the Paschal Mystery, within your witnessing paschal faith community, in the mind of the spirit?  Are you by faith, being delivered from the spiritual blindness, spiritual sleep and spiritual deafness and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh, within your tradition, religion, culture, ethnic and secular group? Are you, in the mind of spirit, passing over into the freedom and glory of human life in Christ, in the mind of the spirit?  

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