Key Verse: The Apostle John declared, "God's love was revealed among us in this way, God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him (1 John 4:9).
Introduction
In today's Epistle 1 John
4:7-21, the Apostle John assures us that in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man and
Lord, believers will share the same (beloved) agape love relationship, which
Jesus Christ shared with the Godhead, while here on earth (2 Corinthians 3:1-6).
Jesus described God's covenant love relationship with those who believe in the
name of Jesus Christ, through the witness within Jesus Christ's witnessing
paschal faith community (Mark 8:31-35). In John 10:17-18, Jesus declared God's
agape love initiative in these word, "For this reason the
Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up
again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have
the power to lay it down and take it up again. I have received this command
from my Father".
Jesus' discourse on agape
love
In the Gospel of John
17:20-24 the Apostle records how Jesus Christ commissions and empowers
believers within his witnessing paschal faith community, to work in the same
agape love, which he knew with the Father in this prayer. "I ask not only
on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through
their word, that they may be one. As you Father are in me and I in you, may
they also be in us, so the world may believe that you sent me. The glory that
you have given me, I have given to them, so that they may be one as we are one.
I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so the world may
know you have sent me, and love them as you have loved me". These covenant
promises between God, Jesus Christ and believers are paraphrased and restated
by John in today's Epistle, 1 John 4:7-12, 'Agape love when expressed through
mankind, it is always God's initiative".
Witness of the Holy
Spirit
Through the power,
indwelling and begetting of the Holy
Spirit, witnessing paschal faith communities are called by God to
follow, imitate and fulfill Jesus Christ's mission as the Son of
Man and Lord, here on earth (John 14:6, 21:20-24). In his redeeming work as
Suffering Servant, Way-shower and Anointed Lord, Jesus Christ took upon
himself, the sins of all mankind (Isaiah 53:1-12). Jesus then sacrificed and
laid down his life in the mind of the flesh, for the atonement and forgiven of
the sins and works of the mind of the flesh, in all mankind. In taking up his
life again in the mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ confessed Christ (LOGOS,
ADONAI, JEHOVAH) as indwelling and incarnate LORD, in his life and lives of
believers, to the glory of the Father. In living the Paschal Mystery in the
mind of the spirit, Jesus Christ as Lord (Son of Man) and LORD (Son
of God), overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven, to
Christ-centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and
secular groups, who steadfastly follow him in living the Paschal Mystery, in
the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34, John 10:10, 1 John 4:13-16).
Agape love casts out fear
and inspires confidence
Within witnessing paschal
faith communities, agape love casts out fear, inspires confidence and engenders
holy boldness and righteous living in the souls, hearts, minds, relationship
and lives of believers, who embrace, glorify and abide in the incarnate Christ,
as LORD. In the mind of the spirit. Spiritually awake believers discern that
like Jesus Christ, they are the image
of God, now following Jesus Christ in becoming the likeness of God, here
on earth. Agape love is the believers certain covenant promise and mandate, as
they grow in Christ likeness, by follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal
Mystery in the mind of the spirit (1 John 4:17:21).
Conclusion
Through humility, repentance and obedience and faith in the name of
Jesus Christ as Lord, are you claiming forgiveness of the sins of the mind of
the flesh? By laying down your life in the mind of the flesh, are you
experiencing the forgiveness and atoning work of Jesus Christ as Lord, who
lived the Paschal Mystery, by shedding his blood and laying down his life in
the mind of the flesh, for all mankind (John 3:16-17, 14:6)? By abiding in
Christ as indwelling and incarnate LORD, are you following Jesus Christ in
taking up your life again the mind of the spirit, within your traditions,
religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups? Are you now experiencing
the unity, alignment, at-one-ment, and incarnation of the Godhead, which
Jesus Christ knew, as you follow Jesus as Lord, in living the Paschal Mystery,
in the mind of the spirit (John 3:16-21)?
Related articles
Related articles
No comments:
Post a Comment