Comforting Certainty And Mandate In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: 1 John 3:14-24, 'Agape love in action'.

Key Verse: 'We know love by this, that he (Jesus Christ) laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another' (1 John 3:16).

Introduction

Today's Epistle describes the comforting certaintiy and mandate, which are the central focus of life' and living, within Christ-centered witnessing paschal faith communities. The comforting certainty is the same agape love for one another, which Jesus Christ has for all mankind. The mandate is to believe in the name of Jesus Christ, as Lord. Witnessing paschal faith communities who are have passed over from spiritual death into spiritual life, can now be found in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout our planet. 

These believers now study, know and imitate the mindset and character of Jesus Christ, in their thought life, attitudes, relationships, actions and daily lives. Empowered by the Holy Spirit they seek and serve Christ, God's Image and Likeness in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons, as fully revealed and modeled in life and teachings of Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:26-31, John 14:6, Colossians 2:9). They love their neighbors as themselves (1 John 3:14-15).

Grounding principles and practices 

The Apostle John declares, "We know love by this, the he (Jesus Christ), laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another" (1 John 3:16).  These believers thought-life, relationships and actions are therefore grounded in the practice of agape love in the mind of the spirit, as revealed in Jesus Christ. They are enabled and empowered to practice agape love, by following Jesus the living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Luke 4:14-21). They follow Jesus Christ by living their lives, no longer in the mind of the flesh. They imitate Jesus Christ by clothing their thoughts, relationships, actions and lives in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-17, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 John 3:16).

Manifest agape love

Practicing agape love is vital in maintaining the integrity and witness of the Gospel of Christ, within witnessing paschal faith communities. Like Jesus Christ these believes are concerned, merciful and compassionate to those who are in need. They practice sacrificial and forgiving love. In fellowship with Jesus Christ, they seek closer unity, justice and respect for the people of all traditions, cultures and races, in every land and nation, throughout our planet earth (1 John 3:17-18).

Confidence before God in Christ

Believing in the name of Jesus Christ to many means steadfastly following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit. In living the Paschal Mystery believers are able to put on the nature and character of Christ, God's Image and Likeness, as revealed in Jesus Christ. Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit they are able to discern, fulfill and manifest God's will for all mankind. Through faith, repentance, humility and obedience, their consciences, hearts and minds are cleansed and purified before God. When their hearts condemn them, through confession, repentance, faith, grace and truth, believers are made right before God (1 John 3:19-22).

Faith and love enjoined

The Apostle John opens and closes today's Epistle by again admonishing witnessing paschal faith communities, to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. John assures believers that all who obey Jesus Christ's mandate to practice agape love, will abide in Christ and Christ will abide in them, as indwelling LORD (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH). Believers, who abide in Christ (the Begotten), also have the assurance and witness of the Holy Spirit, (Begetting) in their thoughts, relationship and lives (John 16:5-11, 1 John 3:23-24)  

Conclusion

Do you believe in the name of  Jesus Christ as Lord? Are you willing to have agape love all people, and especially those within your witnessing paschal faith community, just as Jesus Christ loves us? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, thus passing over from spiritual death to spiritual life, by casting down the mind of the flesh and clothing yourself in the mind of the spirit? 

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What is the Paschal Mystery Part III?

Reference Scripture: Philippians 3:4-16, 'Christ, God's prize and the believer's goal' 

Key Verse: "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).

Introduction:

To Paul, the Paschal Mystery was human beings, the image of God, following Jesus Christ in becoming the likeness of God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, while in our human flesh (Genesis 1:26-31). This believers' passover from spiritual death into eternal life in Christ is realized by following Jesus Christ, living the Paschal Mystery by abiding in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-37, Philippians 3:10-11). The Paschal Mystery is ultimately about all mankind, the image of God and becoming the likeness of God, in Christ. To Paul, Christ is the Begotten, Image and Likeness of God's invisible Presence, Mind and Will, realized in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and every person (Colossians 1:24-29).

Resurrection from spiritual death:

Paul realized that Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) was no longer discerned, sought, worshipped, glorified or served as Lord, within each person and within his witnessing paschal faith community. He went on to intuitively declare that down through the ages and generations, the Way to discern, encounter and allow Christ to be the indwelling Lord in our human hearts and lives, has been hidden from mankind, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, not by mankind's diverse religions, but by the deception, divisiveness and destruction of the mind of the flesh (Romans 8:5-6, Colossians 1:26). In living the Paschal Mystery, Jesus Christ demonstrated how all mankind, through the image of God, can again be the likeness of God, in human flesh, by putting on Divine Mind and fulfilling God's Will, in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34, John 14:1-6, Romans 8:12-17,  Philippians 2:5-11).

The Paschal Mystery is the universal goal, prize and heavenly call of the Godhead in Christ Jesus (John 3:16-17, 1 John 3:1-7). It is knowing Christ as Lord. Thus, the Paschal Mystery was revealed in the first coming, incarnation and manifestation of Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) as Lord, in Jesus Christ as Messiah (John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:24-29, Philippians 3:14). In today's Epistle, Philippians 3:4-16, God's eternal call and emphasis is for all mankind to manifest the Paschal Mystery as Christ-centered kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). The Paschal Mystery is thus discerning, birthing, nurturing, forming and maturing, Christ-centered witnessing paschal faith communities. These communities, who are willing to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, do so through the power, presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit (Begetting).


Spiritual awakening and spiritual formation:


Paul never met Jesus Christ as a physical person while here on earth. His mindset and world view, however, were radically transformed from the mind of the flesh to the mind of the spirit, when he personally encountered, discerned, repented, and allowed the risen, glorified and exhaled Christ, to be the indwelling Lord of his life (Acts 9:1-9, Colossians 1:26-27). Paul embraced baptism by Ananias (Acts 9:10-19). He then immediately joined himself to the witnessing paschal faith community which he previously sought to destroy. Within that same witnessing paschal faith community, and in the synagogues of Damascus, Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ as Messiah, Son of Man and Son of God (Acts 9:20-24).

In his conversion experience, Paul discerned and very openly confessed the false pride, deception, judgment and inappropriate condemnation of the mind of the flesh in his own life. As a highly influential religious leader, before he encountered the risen, glorified and ascended Christ, he sought to condemn and destroy all Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based witnessing faith communities. Because of his new understanding and resurrection from spiritual death, Paul no longer tried to put Gentile converts to his religion under the Mosaic Law, in the mind of the flesh (Philippians 3:4-6). He ultimately discerned that the Godhead in Jesus Christ, placed Divine Judgment in the able hands of the Holy Spirit and his one command being that human beings love God and love one another (John 13:31-35, 16:5-11).


In the mind of the spirit, the Apostle Paul gained a new understanding and appreciation for the uniqueness, diversity and validity of all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. He recommends that teaching doctrines, traditions, sacraments and rituals should be shared and practiced through truth, grace, love, honesty, humility and civility of the mind of the spirit. Evangelism and evangelization to Jesus Christ and Paul involves seeking, discerning, serving and glorifying Christ in all persons and loving one's neighbor as oneself. They believed all persons should live in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-11, Philippians 3:7-9).


Today's Epistle shows that to Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul, the Paschal Mystery is the first coming and revelation of Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), as Lord in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ identified himself as mankind's Way-shower, Savior, Truth and Life (John 14:1-14). The Paschal Mystery refers to the life, passion, death, glorification, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, as the Son of Man, while here on earth. In the first coming of Christ, the Son of Man passed over from life on earth in the mind of the flesh, through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension, into a new and glorified life with the Godhead, in the mind of the spirit. For the Apostle Paul, the Paschal Mystery is knowing Christ, the Begotten, as the Universal Revealing One, by knowing and following Jesus Christ, as Messiah, the Revealed and Anointed One in his own religion, in the mind of the spirit (Philippians 3:10-11).


Could the Paschal Mystery also include the Second Coming of Christ?:


The Apostle Paul's faith, humility, honesty and obedience, established the fact that his heart, soul, and mind are now set on Christ, God's established goals and prize for his life. Paul desired to also know Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) through Christ's incarnation, life, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, as revealed in Jesus Christ, in his own personal life and experience (Luke 17:20-21). As one who previously rejected Jesus Christ as Messiah, Paul knew by faith, in the mind of the spirit, that Jesus Christ had now made him, his own Apostle and witness of the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. Paul now chooses to no longer live within his tradition, religion, culture, ethnic and secular group in the mind of the flesh. He has now embraced Jesus Christ's revelation of the kingdom of heaven and kingdom living in abundant and eternal life, in the mind of the spirit, here on earth, within his witnessing paschal faith community (John 3:16-17, Luke 17:20-21, Romans 8:12-17, Philippians 2:12-13).


Becoming witnesses of the Paschal Mystery:

For Paul the Paschal Mystery is the discernment, experience and confession of the actual suffering, death and resurrection of Christ, God's Image in his own life and the lives of all people down through the ages and generations. This is due not to religions, but to the spiritual blindness, deafness, sleep and death of the mind of the flesh, which continues to co-exist within all witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 8:1-11). Paul encourages all believers to reject the mind of the flesh, and be of the same mind, which Christ Jesus knew and revealed, the mind of the spirit (Luke 24:44-48, Philippians 2:5-11).

Paul knew that we all by nature are unique and designed by God to think differently. In the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, Paul encourages believers to hold fast to God's call to seeking and serving Christ in every human being. Let us, like the Apostle Paul, seek to be the image of the God, becoming the likeness of God, in Christ (The Begotten). Let us affirm that Christ (the Begotten) eternally dwells in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and the spiritual body of all persons (Genesis 1:26-27, Philippians 3:14-16).


Conclusion:

This attempt to discussion and share my understanding and experiences of the Paschal Mystery seems inadequate. I know it is certainly incomplete. In sincerity, honesty, humility, compassion, love and obedience to Christ and the Holy Spirit, I seeks to highlight and addresses a few of the challenges and temptations of the spiritual warfare, that are now taking place, between the mind of the spirit and the mind of the flesh. Spiritual warfare is occurring daily within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout our planet earth (Mark 4:1-11). Are you discerning and sharing your understanding and personal experiences of the Paschal Mystery with others, especially those within your own witnessing paschal faith community?


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Children Of God Living The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: 1 John 3:1-7, 'Becoming like Jesus Christ by living the Paschal Mystery'


Key Verse: "...What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2b).

In today's Epistle 1 John 3:1-7, the disciple John assures believers in Christ-centered witnessing paschal communities, that they are Children of God, while living in their present human flesh, in the mind of the spirit. As they walk in the light of the mind of the spirit, they will imitate Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery. They will become like Jesus Christ. Their sins will be forgiven. They will be delivered from the deception, slavery, bondage, sins and death of the mind of the flesh. In the mind of the spirit, like Jesus Christ, believers will pass over into the new and glorified life with the Godhead, which Jesus Christ, revealed, taught and modeled, while here on earth (Luke 9:18-23).

In Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Godhead has revealed Divine Love for all mankind, while we were yet sinners (John 3:16-17). Jesus Christ revealed God's eternal plan for mankind's forgiveness, regeneration, redemption, spiritual adoption and spiritual formation as sons and daughters of God, Our Father. True knowledge about who Jesus Christ really is, cannot be truly discerned and know by believers, who choose to dwell in the mind of the flesh. Jesus Christ can only be known, imitated and truly followed by believers, who choose to dwell in and live their lives, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-17, 1 John 3:1). 

The true knowledge and glorious liberty of salvation is withheld and hidden from believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, who choose to live their lives in the mind of the flesh. Christlikeness can only be realized in believers who live their lives in the mind of the spirit. Jesus Christ's vision of the kingdom of God and kingdom living here on earth as it is in heaven, can only be discerned, proclaimed and manifested by believers, who choose to live their lives, under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, in the mind of the spirit (John 8:32, 14:6, 16:5-11; 1 John 3:2).

The eternal hope and prayer of Christ-centered spiritually awake believers are for spiritual cleansing from the sins and death of the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh. These believers recognize and honor Jesus Christ's sinlessness as Messiah, Savior and Way-shower. They therefore seek to be like Jesus Christ. They discern and know the truth about Jesus Christ, by steadfastly follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Luke 9:23). Their eternal quest is for peace of mind, loving relationships, worthy goals and ideals, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation and kingdom here on earth,  as children of God, who follow Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Philippians 2:5-8, 1 John 3:3).


In todays Epistle, the Apostle John defines sin and salvation. He describes sin as lawlessness. He declares that those who commit sin are guilty of lawlessness. Scripture declares that Jesus Christ was revealed to take away mankind's sins, which are caused by the Man of Lawlessness, who must be revealed and destroyed (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). The text declares that no believer who abides in Christ, will choose to live their lives, in the dominion of the mind of the flesh (1 John 3:4-5).

By abiding in Christ, believers' lives in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups remain centered in the mind of the spirit. John reminds believers that no believer who has discerned, encountered, and abides in Jesus Christ in the mind of the spirit, can or will be comfortable committing the sins of the mind of the flesh. He assures his readers that believers who choose to live in the mind of the flesh, have never truly discerned, encountered or known Jesus Christ, in the mind of the spirit (1 John 3:6).

The Apostle John encouraged believers, within witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, not to be deceived by living their lives in the mind of the flesh. John assures believers, who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, that they are living in righteousness. Like the apostle Paul, John declares that Jesus Christ is the full manifestation of the wisdom, power and righteousness of the Godhead in human flesh (1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 1 John 3:7).

Are you willing to live your life in the mind of the spirit, by seeking and serving Christ in all persons, and loving your neighbor as yourself? Do you now recognize why believers, who choose to live in the mind of the flesh, often despise and reject believers in their witnessing paschal faith communities, who choose to follow Jesus Christ, by living their lives in the mind of the spirit? Do yo believe that you are the image of God in the creative process of becoming the likeness of god, in human flesh? Does your life and witness prove to you and others, that Jesus Christ as Messiah is the righteousness of God in human flesh?   

The Believers' Challenge And Assurance In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: 1 John 1:1-2:2, 'Believers' assurance of walking in the light'


Key Verse: "This life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you, the eternal life, that was with the Father, and was revealed to us' (1 John 1:2). 

The Paschal Mystery, is the revelation of the invisible presence, glory, and eternal life of the Godhead in Christ Jesus. As the Son of Man and the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ modeled how all Christ-centered believers could pass over into a new, glorified and eternal life with the Godhead, while he was in human flesh, as Messiah (John 3:16-17). In today's Epistle, the Apostle John declares that he was an eyewitness of this physical revelation of the eternal life of the Godhead, in Jesus Christ. John declares that he also witnessed in the mind of the spirit, the invisible presence and eternal life of the risen, glorified and ascended Christ, and the kingdom of heaven, here on earth, while in his physical body, as the New Jerusalem  (Luke 17:20-21, Revelations 1:9-20, 21:1-8).

In Colossians 1:24-29, the Apostle Paul  explained that he also experienced the presence, glory and eternal life of the invisible Godhead in Jesus Christ, in the mind of the spirit (Acts 9:1-9). Jesus Christ as Messiah, located the place where God intends the Paschal Mystery to take place, in our present human lives and relationships. He declared that the kingdom of heaven is within every person and in our midst, here on earth (Luke 17:20-21). Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul and the Apostle John assure believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups that the cleansing, fellowship, passover and celebration in the kingdom of God are centered in the incarnate Christ, within human beings, who live their lives in the mind of the spirit (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-24, John 1:1-4, Romans 8:12-17, Colossians 1:24-29, 1 John 1:1-4).

The Bible declares the reason the Father sent Jesus Christ as Messiah into the world, is to restore all mankind to normal mental alignment, fellowship, eternal and abundant life with the Godhead and one another with Christ, in the mind of the spirit. Jesus Christ was the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us (John 1:1-5). In Jesus Christ, God revealed the full incarnation and full manifestation of the Godhead as SPIRIT, in human flesh (Colossians 2:9). By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal mystery in the mind of the spirit, believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups can and will experience resurrection from spiritual death, regain spiritual fellowship, experience spiritual joy, know the incarnation of Christ and realize the same spiritual fullness in Christ, which Jesus Christ experienced, revealed, taught, modeled and manifested here on earth (Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-9:1, Luke 9:22-27, John 14:1-14, 1 John 1:3-4).  


The Bible declares that believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups who   reject God's way of living human lives in the mind of the spirit, are false prophets. They have a false profession of faith in Jesus Christ. They are walking in the hard heartedness, spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh (John 4:23-26, Romans 8:1-11, Philippians 2:5). The mind of the flesh is the Man of Lawlessness, who must be identified, cast down, cast out and destroyed in believers' souls, hearts, minds, relationships and bodies, if they are to live in harmony and fellowship with the Father-Being, Christ-the Begotten, and the Holy Spirit-Begetting, while incarnate, here on earth (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 John 1:5-6).


Spiritually awake believers, who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, bring witnessing paschal faith communities into fellowship with the Godhead and the Saints in Christ. Through faith, confession of sins, humility and repentance, within witnessing Paschal faith communities, believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups do experience deliverance, and progressive cleansing from the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh, in their lives and relationships. The blood of Christ cleanses repentant believers from all sin. By faith believers are united with Jesus Christ as Son of God and Son of Man, in his risen, glorified, and eternal life with the Godhead, by living their lives in the mind of the spirit (1 John 1:7-8).  


In today's Epistle, the Apostle John describes the perils, apostasy, lying, false witness, self-deception and universal sins of believers, within witnessing paschal faith communities, who reject and refuse to live their lives in the mind of the spirit. The Apostles John and Paul remind us that believers who choose to live their lives in the mind of the flesh, live under the dominion and control of the Lawless Man (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Their unrighteousness is described as spiritual destitution, degradation and hypocrisy. Humble, repentant and obedient believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups are assured of God's pardon and forgiveness of sins, by following Jesus Christ, in living their lives in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-17, 1 John 1:9-10).

Believers who reject the false pride, condemnation, strife, deceit, mischief, betrayal and discord of the mind of the flesh and turn to Christ, have an Advocate with the Godhead. Jesus Christ is the believers' assurance and advocate with the Godhead, in the midst of their normal, daily challenges of spiritual warfare. Jesus Christ came not only secure forgiveness of our sins. Jesus Christ shows all mankind God's way to redemption and eternal life, in Christ. Believer can know and have abundant and eternal life, by following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34, 1 John 2:1-2).

Do you seek and follow God's way of eternal life, at this present time in your life, by knowing God and Jesus Christ, who God sent, in the mind of the spirit (John 17:1-3)? Do you seek and serve Christ, God's Image and Likeness in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons, and love your neighbor as your self (Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 22:36-40, 1 Corinthians 15:42-49)? Do you discern the reality and deceptive power of sins of the mind of the flesh, within your life and within your witnessing paschal faith communities? In honesty, faith, repentance, and obedience, are you willing to die to the sins of the mind of the flesh, in your daily life? Will you live and proclaim with assurance the joy of Christ's resurrection in your life, in the mind of the spirit, within your witnessing paschal faith community?

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Celebrating And Encountering The Risen Lord In Living The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11, 'The Risen Lord'
Key Verse: The Apostle Paul declared, "Last of all, as to one untimely born, he also appeared to me" (1 Corinthians 15:8).


In today's Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, the apostle Paul reminds believers about the Good News of the Kerygma, which he initially shared with them. He declared his personal experiences of living the Paschal Mystery, and the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit basis and nature of God's gift of salvation. To Paul salvation is a spiritual experience. It involves personally discerning, encountering and embracing the resurrected and glorified Christ as Lord, in one's own soul, heart, mind and life. It is the spirit-based deliverance from the slavery, deception, incivility, condemnation and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh, in and through Christ. Paul declares that in salvation, believers are united with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection, through Christ, the life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthian 15:42-49).

In the Gospel of Christ, salvation involves encounter, faith, repentance, forgiveness and believing the Good News, as revealed in Jesus Christ (John 3:1-11, John 14:6). Salvation means following Jesus Christ as Messiah, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (John 3:13-17). For the Apostle Paul and spiritual awake believers in all the world traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups believers are born from above. Their proclamations, celebrations and affirmations about the Gospel of Christ are always universal and made in the mind of the spirit. 'Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Christ is risen in me!' (Mark 8:31-34, John 3:14-17, Colossians 1:24-29).

Celebrating the born again experiences and passover encounters of believers with the risen Christ, in the mind of the spirit, are described in the proclamations by the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 5:7-8, Colossians 1:26-27). Peter's proclamation in Acts 10:34-43, declares his personal witness of the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, from physical death, in the mind of the flesh. This is the basis of the Christian religion. Paul's proclamation of the Gospel of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, also shares Peter's proclamation of the Christian religion. In addition, Paul reveals the born again believers' spiritual discernment and encounter with the risen and glorified Christ, as God's salvation, individually and collectively, within witnessing paschal faith communities. Paul proclamation honors the uniqueness of all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, because it is centered in the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based, universal spirituality of the mind of the spirit.  Paul's declaration reveals spiritual receptivity, believing and following Jesus Christ in proclaiming, celebrating and living the Paschal Mystery, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8: 31-34, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

According to scripture, Jesus Christ as the Messiah and the Anointed One, died, was buried and descended to hell to deliver all mankind from the slavery, sins and spiritual death of the mind of flesh. In the mind of the flesh, Jesus Christ is seen by many Christian believers as a scapegoat and his death a substitution for mankind's sin, thus satisfying Divine Judgment. In the mind of the spirit, however many Christian believers discern Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection on the third day as the full revelation of God's Divine Love for all mankind, and as the model of God's universal way of salvation and redemption for all mankind, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-17, 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4).

On Easter morning, Mary did not discern Jesus Christ as the risen Lord, when he appeared to her, after his resurrection and glorification and before his ascension. Her encounter remained in the mind of the flesh, even after Jesus Christ revealed himself to her. The Apostles, other disciples and Jesus' brother James also encountered and discerned the risen and glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, in the mind of the flesh. The five hundred brethren also discerned and encountered the risen and glorified Lord, Jesus Christ in the mind of the flesh (1 Corinthians 15:5-6). These encounters, in the mind of flesh are the basis of the Christian religion. They do not address the universal Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based spirituality of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ as Messiah.

The Apostle Paul's discernment and encounter with the risen Christ in today's Epistle are different. They are Christ-centered and spirit-based. Paul never met Jesus Christ physically. His discernment and encounter with the risen and glorified Christ occurred in the mind of the spirit. Paul's repentance, forgiveness, conversion, born again and born from above experiences occurred in the mind of the spirit. Paul's commission and apostleship occurred in the mind of the spirit. Jesus Christ and Paul discerned and experienced the risen Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) in their lives. They dwelt in the spiritual kingdom of God (Heaven), within us and in our midst (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-24, John 3:11-15, Acts 9:1-19).

Like the Apostle Paul, when believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups encounter the risen and glorified Christ in the mind of the spirit, those personal experiences occur in the spiritual kingdom of heaven, and within Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based witnessing paschal faith communities (Luke 17:20-21). The awe of that personal spiritual encounter and experience is accompanied with a sense of wonder, self-abasement, humility and unworthiness. The believer has an awesome spiritual awakening, when that individual discerns that the Godhead as Christ (Logos, JEHOVAH, ADONAI) has always existed in their spiritual body. Spiritual awakening brings an incredible realization of God's Grace, compassion, forgiveness, love and truth in the believer's soul, heart, mind, relationships and life (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).

Life in the mind of the spirit is accompanied with a deep caring, solicitude and zealousness to share the Good News of the Gospel of Christ, with the humility, love, grace, compassion and truth of the mind of the spirit. When believers truly discerns and embraces their divine call and accompanying spiritual gifts, like Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul, they become iconoclasts and intrapreneurs in Christ-centered spiritual labors, within their own witnessing paschal faith communities (1 Corinthians 15:11). They proclaim the Good News of God's Divine Love in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-17). They abhor and reject proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Christ, in the arrogance, divisiveness, incivility, hatred, bigotry, judgment and condemnation of religion and the mind of the flesh (Romans 8:1-11).

Like Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul, are you willing to glorify the Godhead as Being-Father, Begotten-Son and Begetting-Holy Spirit in your spiritual body and the spiritual body of all persons, in the mind of the spirit? Are you like the Apostle Paul willing to encounter, embrace, celebrate and serve the risen and glorified Christ, in Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, all persons, and in your life, in the mind of the spirit? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ as Messiah in proclaiming, celebrating, encountering and living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit, within your witnessing paschal faith community (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-24, 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, Colossians 1:24-29)?

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