Jesus Christ's Mindset In Living The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: Philippians 2:5-11, 'Imitating Jesus Christ's' Mindset'

Key verse: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)

In today's epistle Philippians 2:5-11, the apostle Paul seeks to persuade followers of Jesus Christ, to imitate Jesus by living their lives in the unity, humility, selflessness, truth and service of the mind of the spirit. Paul stresses that within witnessing paschal faith communities, the disunity, discord and personal ambitions and selfishness of the mind of the flesh should have no place. Paul stresses that Jesus Christ revealed humility and obedience as he proclaimed God's will and plan for all human life, here on earth. Jesus humbled himself and in the power of the Holy Spirit, emptied himself of the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh. Jesus modeled human life in the mind of the spirit, while incarnate here on earth (Romans 8:1-11).

The bible teaches that Jesus Christ as Messiah and Way-shower was fully the Son of God and fully the Son of Man, while living in human flesh (John 14:6, Colossians 2:9). In Philippians 2:5, the apostle Paul gave this admonition to all who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal mystery. "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus". As the full image and the full likeness of God in human flesh, Jesus Christ rejected the ideas of being equal to and one with God, as something to be confused, exploited, and distorted by the mind of the flesh (Romans 8:1-4, Philippians 2:5-6).

In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, Paul describes the mind of the flesh as the Man of Lawlessness, who must be cast down and destroyed. The mind of the flesh had produced inappropriate divisions, disunity, discord, personal ambitions and self-centeredness within this Philippian witnessing, paschal faith community (Philippians 2:1-4). The mind of the flesh has and will always misunderstand, distort and misappropriate the universal meaning and practical application of Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (John 3:14-17, Philippians 2:5-6).

Through the discernment, humility, obedience and truth of the mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ revealed, taught and manifested the mystery of the incarnation of Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), in human flesh. In the power of the Holy Spirit, as the Son of Man, Jesus Christ emptied himself of the inappropriate influence and dominion of the mind of the flesh in his life (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:16-21). By living his life in the mind of the spirit, as the Son of Man, Jesus Christ manifested the fully orbed Image and Likeness of God in human flesh. The bible declares that in death Jesus Christ actually died on the cross. Jesus died to sin once for all. The life Jesus now lives, he lives to the glory of God (Romans 6:9-11, Philippians 2:7-8).

In Romans 6:12 the apostle Paul has this reminder for believers, who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. "So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God, in Jesus Christ". In this context the name Jesus Christ is mysterious, great, wonderful and unique, when understood and appropriately applied in every human encounter, experience and relationship of the believer. In the mind of the spirit, the name Jesus Christ is honored above ever name. The universal kingdom of Jesus Christ is found in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, who follow Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit (Philippians 2:9-10). The mysterious kingdom of heaven, into which Jesus Christ as Messiah invites believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups to enter, is within each person and in our midst (Luke 17:20-21, Colossians 1:15-29).  

In the mind of the spirit, believers discern that Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) as Spirit, is the Begotten and eternal Son of the Father. In the mystery of the incarnation, Christ became man in Jesus Christ, to set mankind free for the slavery, sin and death of the mind of the flesh. In the incarnation, Christ did not shun the Virgin's womb, but became fully incarnate in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ as the Son of Man is Master, Savior and Lord, here on earth. Jesus Christ lived the Paschal Mystery here on earth to the glory of the Godhead, as Being-Father, The Begotten-Son and Begetting-Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:11).
 
Are you willing to study and know who Jesus Christ really is, as the Revealed One? Are you willing to abide in Jesus Christ's mindset in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit? Are you willing to glorify the Godhead in your human flesh, as Jesus Christ glorified God, in his human flesh (Mark 8:31-34)? 


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Submission, Humility And Obedience In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: Hebrews 5:5-10, 'The submission, humility and obedience of Jesus Christ' 


Key Verse: 'Although he was a Son, he (Jesus Christ) learned obedience through what he suffered' (Hebrews 5:8).

Jesus Christ as the Son of Man is the way, the truth and the life, for believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, who choose to follow him in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (John 14:6). As the Son of Man, through submission, humility and obedience, in the mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ experienced and manifested the full incarnation of the Godhead in human flesh, here on earth. In his life, passion, death, glorification, resurrection and ascension Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, passed over into a new and glorified life with the Godhead in Christ (Hebrews 5:8).

In Luke 2:49 Jesus Christ told Mary his mother and Joseph that his father is God. Throughout his life, Jesus Christ fully embraced God's divine call, to glorify the Godhead in his human flesh. He also fulfilled God's appointment to be mankind's high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus did these things not to glorify himself, but to glorify God. As the full incarnation of the Godhead in Christ, the begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ is appointed by God, mankind high priest forever, both in heaven and on earth (Hebrews 5:5-6).

As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ was fully human. As the Son of God, Jesus Christ is the full incarnation of the Godhead in Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH). In his flesh, Jesus Christ offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who saved him from from death. Jesus' prayer were heard and answered, because of his submission to God's plan and will for his life (Hebrews 5:7).

Luke 2:51-52 declares, "Then he (Jesus) went down with them (Mary and Joseph) and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor". Holy scripture assures us that Jesus Christ was made perfect through submission, obedience and suffering the casting down, casting out and death of the mind of the flesh, while in his physical body (Mark 8:31-34, Hebrews 5:8-9).

Jesus Christ is the author and source of salvation unto all who believe, obey and follow him, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. Jesus Christ in forever appointed by God, to be mankind's High Priest. Jesus' high priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek who ministered bread and wine to Abram (Genesis 14:17-20, Hebrews 5:10).

Do you believe that Jesus Christ has been appointed by God, to be mankind's great high priest. Are you aware that Jesus' high priesthood is fully applicable in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, where believers choose to live their lives in the mind of the spirit (John 3:16-18)? Have you embraced the fact that the death that Jesus Christ died, he died to sin, in the mind of the flesh, once and for all? As a believer, do you by faith consider yourself dead to sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus, our Lord? Are you following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit? Are you seeking and serving Christ in all persons and loving your neighbor as yourself?


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From Death To Life In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10, 'From spiritual death to spiritual life in Christ'

Key Verse: "Even when we were dead with trespasses - (The Godhead) made us alive together with Christ - by grace we have been saved - and raised us up in him and seated us with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:5-6)".

Today's epistle, Ephesians 2:1-10 outlines the apostle Paul's understanding and experiences of spiritual warfare between the mind of the spirit and the mind of the flesh, within witnessing paschal faith communities. Down through the ages and generations, this unique aspect of spiritual warfare continues to take place in witnessing paschal faith communities, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. Before Paul's revelation and proclamation of the Paschal Mystery, as revealed to him by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, followers of Jesus Christ continued to live their lives of repentance, faith, humility and obedience, in the rebellion, deception, lusts, evil desires and spiritual warfare of the carnal mind of the flesh (Acts 9:1-23, Ephesians 2:1-3, Colossians 1:15-23).

Paul makes it clear that in the gospel of Christ, salvation comes through God's grace, faith in Jesus Christ and living our lives in the mind of the spirit. Believers who choose to live their lives, after water baptism, in the mind of the flesh, and focus on good works, cannot discern, seek, nor embrace their divine heritage in Christ. Although initiated and embraced in God's forgiveness, mercy and divine love as members witnessing paschal faith communities, these carnal minded believers remain spiritually blind, spiritually deaf and spiritually asleep (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Many sincere believers in all the world religions embrace the basics of the Gospel of Christ, God's saving grace, and plan of mercy and forgiveness of sins. Carnal minded believers however reject God's plan of resurrection from spiritual death and spiritual awakening, in the mind of the spirit. These believers choose to reject God's plan for mankind living Christ centered, Holy Spirit-based lives in the mind of the spirit, as revealed in Jesus Christ, as Messiah (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Resurrection from spiritual death, is discerned and realized to degree that believers surrender to the lordship of Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, steadfastly cast down and cast out, the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh. Within witnessing paschal faith communities, the mind of the flesh blocks normal communion with the indwelling Godhead. The mind of the flesh destroys normal fellowship, dialogue and establishing unity, within the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:6).

Within witnessing paschal faith communities, for ages and generations, the mind of the flesh erroneously separated Jews from Gentiles in God's eternal and changeless plan of redemption for all mankind. Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul, in the mind of the spirit, recognized God's loving kindness and the riches of God's grace are universal and equally available to all mankind. The eternal gifts of God's salvation and eternal life through Christ, (ADONAI, JEHOVAH) in the spiritual bodies of Jesus Christ and every person, are freely given to all who believe (Genesis1:26-27, John 3:14-17, Ephesians 2:7-8).

In today's epistle, the apostle Paul stresses that salvation does involve personal resurrection from spiritual death. God's divine gifts of salvation and liberation from slavery to sin in the mind of the flesh, are freely available to all. The human initiatives of faith and embracing God's grace, love and truth in the mind of the spirit, produce transformed attitudes, relationships, lives and good works. Living in the mind of the spirit bring the manifestation of the gifts and fruit of the spirit and good works, in believers lives, within witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (Isaiah 11:2-3, John 1:17, Ephesians 2:9-10, Galatians 5:22-23).

Have you sought and experienced resurrection from spiritual death since you believed the gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ as Messiah? Are you experiencing liberation from slavery to the sins of the mind of the flesh, since you became an active member and participant within your witnessing paschal faith community? Are you passing over into the new and glorified life with the Godhead in Christ, by following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-2)?


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Christ Crucified And Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 'Christ the power and wisdom of God'

Key Verse: "We proclaim Christ crucified...the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthian 1:23-24).


All traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups base their identities in their uniqueness and diversities. Down through the ages and generations, these normal human virtues and gifts from the Godhead have been distorted, demonized and used by the mind of the flesh, as the basis for the incivility, inhumanity and cruelty of mankind to one another (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:15-17; Romans 1-8). In the Gospel of Christ as revealed in Jesus Christ, Jesus was initially baptized in water by John the Baptist. While still in the water, the Godhead baptized Jesus Christ, the Son of Man with the Holy Spirit. The Godhead then declared Jesus Christ, my Son, the Beloved. Immediately the Holy Spirit took Jesus Christ into the wilderness. In the mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ entered the wilderness. There he experienced the human experience of baptism of fire, during his temptation by Satan. He was with wild beasts and the angels waited on him (Mark 1:9-13, Romans 8:9-11).

Down through the ages and generations, these simple truths of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ have been misunderstood and distorted by the mind of the flesh. In the mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, is mankind's visible way shower, lord and savior here on earth. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the full incarnation and full manifestation of the Godhead in human flesh (Colossians 2:9). The Godhead, through the Gospel of Christ, resurrects, incarnates and manifests the crucified Christ, God's image and likeness, in the souls, hearts, minds, relationship and lives of those in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, who choose to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal mystery, in the mind of the spirit (1 Corinthians 1:18).

In the Gospel of Christ as revealed in Jesus Christ, Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Word, Who is eternally present with the Godhead as Logos, (ADONAI, JEHOVAH) (John 1:1-5). Christ is Omnipresent Spirit, the eternal Son, begotten only of and within the Godhead (John 4:23-24). Christ is the invisible image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and the spiritual body of all persons (Genesis 1:26-27). Christ is the presence, power and wisdom of God, eternally seeking to become fully incarnate and fully manifested in all human flesh (Romans 8:12-17, 1 Corinthians 1:18).

In the Gospel of Christ, the mind of the flesh is revealed as the Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). In the bible, the mind of the flesh is the anti-Christ. In Romans 8:1-11, the apostle Paul reveals the true nature of the Man of Lawlessness. In today's epistle, the apostle Paul shares the truth about how, down through the ages and generations, the Man of Lawlessness has crucified and buried Christ, the Son of God, in the souls, hearts, minds, relationships and lives of mankind within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (1 Corinthians 1:19).

Paul declares that the Gospel of Christ is foolishness to the mind of the flesh. Within witnessing paschal faith communities scribes, rhetoric, reasoning and apologetics are often used by the mind of the flesh, to distort the simplicity and truth of the Gospel of Christ. Vain, complicated and empty carnal minded philosophies continue to hide the truth of the Gospel of Christ. The mind of the flesh forever veils the presence of the indwelling Christ, the image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons. The Man of Lawlessness makes ineffective the normal divine virtues and gifts the Godhead has provided for all mankind, within the rituals, liturgy and sacraments of their unique and diverse traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (1 Corinthians 1:20-21).

In the Gospel of Christ as revealed in Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul preached Christ crucified. He declared that Christ crucified is a stumbling block to those within his and Jesus' Jewish religion, who choose to live their lives in the mind of the flesh. Christ-crucified is also foolishness to Gentiles who choose to live their lives according to the mind of the flesh. The apostle Paul assures all Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based, spiritually awake believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, that the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, to deliver all mankind from the bondage, slavery, sins and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh, the Man of Lawlessness (1 Corinthians 1:22-23).

Do you believe that God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and that God's weakness is stronger than human strength (1 Corinthians 1:24-25)? Will you follow Jesus Christ in casting down and cast out the mind of the flesh, so that Christ is no longer crucified within your soul, heart, mind, relationships and life? Will you follow Jesus Christ in proclaiming and living the Paschal mystery, within in the unity, civility, uniqueness and diversity of all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, in the mind of the spirit, throughout our beloved planet earth?


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Righteous Faith In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference scripture: Romans 4:15-25, 'Abraham's mighty faith'


Key Verse: Therefore his (Abraham's) faith was was reckoned to him as righteousness. Now the words, "It was reckoned to him", were not for his sake alone. But for ours also... (Romans 4:22-24a).

In today's epistle to the Roman believers, the apostle Paul declares that God's New Covenant, as revealed in Christ Jesus, is based on the same righteousness of faith in God's promises, found in God's covenant with Abraham. The apostle Paul declares this universal, human initiative of righteousness of faith is not found in the blood of animals or humans, nor the works of the law. Paul affirms that Abraham's faith like Jesus Christ's faith, became the righteous of God, because their faith in God's promises, was based in the mind of the spirit (Romans 4:16-18).

The apostle Paul discerned and taught that Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), is the image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Jesus Christ and every persons. In the mind of the spirit, Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups will discern that God has always fulfilled his promises, to mankind in and through Christ. Because Jesus Christ as Messiah, in faith, humility and obedience lived the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, he became the scepter of God's righteousness, and the full incarnation and manifestation of the Godhead in human flesh (Romans 4:19).

In John 14:6, Jesus Christ declared, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me". In the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups can, in the mind of the spirit, also become the righteousness of God. By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, they can know reconciliation with God, one another and all creation in Christ. By faith, humility and obedience they can also experience the full incarnation and manifestation of the Godhead in human flesh (Romans 4:19).

In the mind of the spirit, Abraham maintained steadfast faith in God as Spirit. His old age and Sarah's barrenness did not distract nor diminish his faith in God's promises. Both Abraham and Sarah hoped against hope. In the mind of the spirit, adversities seem to strengthen their faith. Instead of being discouraged, Abraham gave glory to God, in the midst of his adversities  (Romans 4:20).

Because Abraham lived in the mind of the spirit, he knew God. In the mind of the spirit he also knew the true nature, substance, value and wisdom of God's promises.  He recognized God as divine love (chesed). He knew God is always faithful (emeth) concerning his promises. The apostle Paul assures us that this same faith in God and God's promises, in the mind of the spirit, is imputed to all mankind as the righteous of God, in human flesh (Romans 4:21-23).

Christ-centered spiritually awake believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups believe that, in the mind of the spirit, the Godhead became fully incarnate and fully manifest in human flesh, in Jesus Christ as Messiah (Colossians 2:9). They believe the Godhead raised Jesus Christ from the dead. They believe Jesus Christ was crucified, that he died and was raised on the third day. They believe Jesus Christ was delivered from the dead for mankind's deliverance from the spiritual death, bondage and slavery to sins in and of the mind of the flesh. They believe Jesus Christ was resurrected to life again for mankind's spiritual resurrection, salvation, justification and sanctification in Christ (Romans 4:24-25).

Are you following Abraham, Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul by placing your faith in God and God's promises in the mind of the spirit? Are you following Jesus Christ in seeking proper mental alignment, the incarnation and the full manifestation of the Godhead, in your life, in the mind of the spirit? Is it possible, when following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, that the shed blood of Jesus Christ is the biblical symbol for, living one's life in the mind of the spirit, which Jesus Christ revealed, taught, shared and manifested to all mankind as Messiah?

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