Made Acceptable To God By Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, 'Jesus Christ our example is acceptable to God'.


Key verse: Paul declared, "Do you remember the generosity of Jesus Christ, the Lord of us all? He was rich beyond our telling, yet he became poor for your sakes, so that his poverty might make you rich" (2 Corinthians 8:7-15).


Introduction


The Christ-centered spiritual and relational vitality of the incarnate LOGOS (ADONAI, JEHOVAH), is the central, invisible, divine Presence and dynamic, which brings unity among witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, as the Son of Man and Messiah, pleased the Godhead. While physically here on earth, Jesus followed God's commands. He willingly took on fully, living his human life in the mind of the flesh. In obedience to God, he then laid down living in the mind of the flesh. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus again obeyed God's command. He took up living his life again, in the mind of the spirit (John 10:14-18, Romans 6:9-11, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Peter 2:18-25). 


Jesus was fully acceptable and pleasing to God, because he lived, taught and fully consummated living the Paschal Mystery, both in the mind of the flesh as well as the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34). As the fully orbed, incarnation and manifestation of the Godhead's loving kindness ('charis') and faithfulness concerning God's promises ('emeth') in human flesh, Jesus Christ is mankind's way, truth and life, to reconciliation with the Godhead and one another in Christ, here on earth (John 14:6, Colossians 2:9). 


By following Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, and abiding in Christ as the Son of God, all mankind can now live lives, that are pleasing and acceptable to God, while in our human flesh. Through repentance, faith, humility, obedience and following Jesus Christ, we can be liberated from the pervasive and divisive spiritual deafness, blindness, sleep and death of the mind of the flesh. By abiding in Christ, in the mind of the spirit, we can pass over into the new, glorified and eternal life with the Godhead and one another in Christ, in the mind of the spirit. 


An exhortation to benevolence

In today's Epistle, the Apostle Paul assures believers that like Jesus Christ, they must also give themselves first to God. He declares that if God has us, God should have all of us spirit, mind, attitudes, emotions, relationships and life. God should also have our packet books, so that we are steadfast in Bible based giving and sharing of our thoughts, talents, time, tithe and treasure. By following Jesus Christ, believes will please God and in the mind of the spirit, manifest God's loving kindness, grace and truth (Mark 8:34, John 1:14-18). By abiding in Christ in the mind of the spirit, believers can follow Jesus Christ in faithfulness concerning God's promises (2 Corinthians 5:7-9). 


Fulfilling God's designs for witnessing paschal faith communities

The Apostle Paul assures us that, within witnessing paschal faith communities, believers can live Christ-centered lives, which are pleasing and acceptable to God. Through repentance, faith, humility and obedience, Christ-centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups can excel in the generous undertakings of casting down and casting out the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh, in their relationships and lives. Believers can in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit. Paul affirms that Jesus Christ is mankind's sure example of the self-givingness, selfless love, civility and generous sharing, which is acceptable and pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:10-15).     
  
Conclusion


Christ-centered loving kindness and faithfulness form the driving force of agape love, which binds to together, witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. In the mind of the spirit, believers are able to maintain the proper balance in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of others, which is acceptable and pleasing to God. By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, we will develop the witnessing paschal faith communities which will transform human lives and manifest kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).  


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Spiritual Warfare Within Witnessing Paschal Faith Communities

Reference Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, 'Hard but glorious life of Christ-centered witnesses'.


Key Verse: Now is the "Acceptable Time", and this very day is the "Day of Salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Introduction: 

The purpose of Christ-centered witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups is to bring mankind and all creation into the new covenant relationship with the Godhead and one another in Christ, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-17, 2 Corinthians 6:2). Within witnessing paschal faith communities, believers learn to follow Jesus Christ in living this Paschal Mystery, God's new covenant relationship, in the mind of the spirit (Hebrews 8:7-13, Mark 8:31-9:1). Some believers readily embrace and others unfortunately reject laying down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, and taking up living them again in the mind of the spirit. Believers' conscious choices to embrace or reject the principles and processes of repentance, faith, humility, and obedience when following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, create the hard and yet glorious life of normal spiritual warfare, which exists within witnessing paschal faith communities, throughout our planet earth (Genesis 2:15-17, Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 10:14-21, Romans 8:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2).  

Like the Apostle Paul, Christ-centered, spiritually resurrected and spiritually awake believers have mysteriously met Jesus Christ in his resurrected and alive, invisible, spiritual person, while in their present physical bodies (Acts 9:1-9, Colossians 1:26-27). By faith, these believers have been joined with Jesus Christ in water and spiritual baptisms. They are personal witnesses of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as the invisible Son of God and LORD, by the mind of the flesh, within their own souls, hearts, minds, relationships and lives. They are witnesses of the resurrection, ascension and second coming of Jesus Christ as the invisible Son of God and LORD, in the mind of the spirit, while in their present physical bodies. These spiritually awake believers, who have chosen to live their lives in the mind of the spirit, now discern and are partakers in the eternal and abundant life of the hidden, invisible, spiritual kingdom of heaven, which Jesus declared is in our midst, among us and within us (Luke 17:20-21, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Marks of effective and faithful witnessing paschal faith communities

Within effective and faithful witnessing paschal faith communities, believers are constantly reminded and encouraged to follow the Apostle Paul in steadfastly proclaiming the kerygma. Believers, who live in the mind of the spirit, do proclaim the kerygma, as an historical event in Jesus Christ's life, two thousand years ago. Like the Apostle Paul however, spiritually awake believers especially proclaim their personal experiences of the kerygma as the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based Paschal Mystery, within their own souls, hearts, minds, relationships and lives. This personal experience of the kerygma is realized, when believe repent and by faith, steadfastly follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the Spirit (Mark 8:31-9:1, 2 Corinthians 6:1-7). 

Cooperation within faith communities 

Spiritually awake believers are always called by the Godhead to proclaim their personal experience of the kerygma, in the courage, conviction and power of the Holy Spirit. Because many baptized believers have not learned to or not consciously chosen to lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, sharing one's personal experience of the kerygma, is often offensive and rejected to many of these leaders and adherents within one's own witnessing paschal faith community, who live their lives in the mind of the flesh (John 10:17-18, Romans 8:5-11). Therefore in cooperation with the Godhead, leadership and structure of one's own witnessing paschal faith community, one's personal experiences of the kerygma must be shared with others in agape love, humility, selflessness, compassion, long suffering, patience, forgiveness and loving kindness (2 Corinthians 6:1-3). 

Testing within faith communities

When Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul proclaimed their personal experiences of the Paschal Mystery, they often encountered great resistance and rejection from the mind of the flesh. This resistance and rejection first occurs within oneself, and then within one's own witnessing paschal faith community. This personal and collective spiritual warfare between the mind of the spirit and the mind of the flesh produced afflictions, hardships and distress. Rejecting and laying down living our lives in the mind of the flesh is hard work. The believers' hunger and thirst to live their lives in the mind of the spirit brings many sleepless and prayerful nights (2 Corinthians 6:4-5). 

 
 

Characteristics of Christ centered witnesses

Through dialogue, study and practical application of God's word, prayer, worship, service and active participation in the sacramental life of one's own witnessing paschal faith community, believers who choose to live their lives in the mind of the spirit, gradually develop the humility, purity, understanding, patience and loving kindness to proclaim and practice kingdom living here on earth, in the mind of the spirit. In the power of the Holy Spirit and agape love, these believers learn to use the word of truth as the power of God and their chief weapons in spiritual warfare. In the mind of the spirit, they produce right thinking, righteous behavior, agape love relationships and civility in their personal lives and in all aspects of their lives within their religious and secular communities (2 Corinthians 6:6-7). 

  

Paradoxes within witnessing paschal faith communities 

Many paradoxes co-exist within Christ-centered witnesses and within witnessing paschal faith communities. They include glory and dishonor, good report and bad report. Like Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul, one's personal witness of the kerygma, may be considered by many who live in the mind of the flesh, that of an impostor. Though intellectually known and proclaimed, the Gospel of Christ may appear to be unknown, to believers who live in the mind of the flesh. In the process of dying to life in the mind of the flesh, believers do have glimpses, visions, and actual experiences of eternal life, when dwelling in the mind of the spirit. In the midst of sorrow, they experience rejoicing. Though often poor in earthly wealth, believers are now rich in discerning and embracing their everlasting, divine heritage and heavenly treasure, by living their lives in the mind of the spirit (2 Corinthians 6:8-10).   

Bases of affection within faith communities 

Christ-centered purity and agape love are the bases of affection, dialogue and relationships within witnessing paschal faith communities. In steadfast faith and agape love believers seek to avoid and minimize alliances and relationships, which are based in the selfishness, error, deception, hatred, separation and incivility of the mind of the flesh. In repentance, humility, faith and obedience to God's will and way, believers seek the proper mental alignment, which will facilitate the incarnation and manifestation of Christ as the indwelling and invisible LORD in their lives. In the unity and power of the Holy Spirit, witnesses in paschal faith communities learn to love, encourage and support one another, as they lay down living our lives in the mind of the flesh, and take up living again, in the freedom, agape love and glory of the mind of the spirit (John 14:1-6, 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, Thessalonians 4:13-17, 1 John 3:1-3).   

Conclusion

What are your experiences as you speak the truth about your personal knowledge of the kerygma in agape love, within your witnessing paschal faith community? What are your experiences, as in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, you follow Jesus Christ in rejecting, destroying and putting to death your life in the mind of the flesh in your life and relationships? What are your experiences, as in humility, repentance, forgiveness, patience, kindness and agape love, you share your personal experiences of deliverance, salvation and eternal life as the Paschal Mystery, at this "Acceptable Time and Day of Salvation", in the mind of the spirit, within your witnessing paschal faith communities (2 Corinthians 6:2)? 

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Pleasing God By Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17 'Reconciliation based on solemn convictions'

Key Verse: The Apostle Paul declared, "From now on therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view, even though we once knew Christ (Jesus Christ), from a human point of view, we know him (Christ) no longer in that way" (2 Corinthians 5:16).  

Introduction

Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul taught that throughout all creation, the eternal, invisible spiritual world interpenetrates the changing, visible and invisible natural world. Thus in God's universal plan and will for reconciling mankind to Himself and one another, every human being has an invisible spiritual body as well as a visible, natural physical body (1 Corinthians 15:44). To Jesus Christ and Paul, Christ (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), is the invisible image and likeness of God within the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and every person (Genesis 1:26-27). Christ is the center of God's New Covenant relationship, anointing, reconciliation and promise of eternal life for all mankind (Jeremiah 31:31-33, Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 8:7-13). Christ-centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups therefore walks and live their lives by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

To Paul, Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, set his mind on spiritual and heavenly things. He thus became the full incarnation, revelation and manifestation of the Godhead in human flesh (Matthew 16:23, Mark 1:14-15, Colossians 2:9). Jesus Christ as the Son of Man is God's Beloved and Anointed Messiah. In the power, guidance and begetting of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ pleased God by laying down living his life here on earth, in the mind of the flesh. Jesus chose to follow God’s plan, will and command to live his life in the mind of the spirit (John 10:17-18, Luke 4:16-21, Philippians 2:5-11). Because Jesus Christ lived the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, Jesus is 'The Christ', the Beloved and the Begotten Son of God, fully revealing God's plan, word and will for mankind, while here on earth (Genesis 1:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Colossians 1:26-27).

Readiness for the death of the mind of flesh

In today's Epistle the Apostle Paul declares that in mankind’s new covenant relationship with God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, believers must be ready and prepared to live by faith and not by sight. Those who desire the knowledge and power to fulfill God's plan, will and commands for kingdom living here on earth, must be ready and prepared to lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh. Jesus Christ revealed that God’s wisdom, power and agape love for kingdom living, are by natural and spiritual law, withheld from and rejected by those who choose to walk and live their lives in the mind of the flesh (John 8:42-47). Jesus Christ and Paul assure us that believers, who trust in God, and live their lives in the mind of the spirit, are ready and by faith will open their souls, hearts, minds and lives to the full incarnation and manifestation of the Godhead’s presence, wisdom, grace. truth and agape love in their lives and relationships (Romans 8:1-17, 2 Corinthians 5:6-7).  

Intentionally dwelling in Christ's Presence

Throughout their reconciliation ministries here on earth, Jesus Christ and Paul intentionally taught, lived and revealed God's way, truth and life, in Christ, God's image and likeness, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons . Jesus Christ modeled and fulfilled God’s plan for all mankind to follow him, in the practice of kingdom living, here on earth (John 14:6). Jesus declared to the crowds and his disciples who followed him, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34-35).

The Apostle Paul declares that down through the ages and generations, this mystery of mankind being delivered and passing over from the slavery, sin and spiritual death in the mind of the flesh, into the freedom, truth and grace of God's love in the mind of the spirit, has been hidden from mankind (Colossians 1:25-29).  This Paschal Mystery remains hidden from those who choose to live their lives in the mind of the flesh. Today’s Epistle stresses that believers who choose to live and dwell in the mind of the spirit, and practice kingdom living here on earth, must focus their hearts, minds, actions and lives on the things of God and not the things of men (Mark 8:31-33, 2 Corinthians 5:8).  

Life in the mind of the spirit

Living in the mind and power of the Holy Spirit engenders holy ambitions within Christ-centered witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities. Life in the mind of the spirit is pleasing to God. When believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, choose to lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, and take up living in the mind of the spirit, their hearts, thoughts, relationships, actions and lives are transformed. They will have God's desired authority, power, wisdom, compassion, love and civility to practice kingdom living, here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:9-10).
 
Reconciliation within witnessing paschal faith communities

In 2 Corinthians 5:16, the Apostle Paul made this startling affirmation about Christ-centered witnessing paschal faith communities, who live their lives in the mind of the spirit. "From now on therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view, even though we once knew Christ (Jesus Christ), from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way" (2 Corinthians 5:16). Is Paul suggesting that when believers see Jesus Christ in the mind of the flesh, they tend to focus primarily on how different, exceptional and divine Jesus Christ was as a human being, and how condemned, sinful and unworthy we are, compared to him?

On the other hand, could Paul be implying, when believers see Jesus Christ in the mind of the spirit, they will discern and more easily embrace Jesus' full humanity, in the presence and mystery of Jesus Christ's full incarnate divinity (Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 2:9)? Is Paul then suggesting that in the mind of the spirit, with humility, repentance, faith and obedience, believers are more effectively empowered by the Holy Spirit, to steadfastly follow Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, as witnessing paschal faith communities (Mark 8:31-34)? Is Paul suggesting that believers, who seek and serve Christ in all persons, in the mind of the spirit, are better able to discern, experience and manifest mankind's hidden, inner potential, as God's image and likeness, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, all persons and themselves (Luke 17:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)?

Conclusion:

Like the Apostle Paul, are you confident that whether in or out of your present physical body, you are forever present with the Godhead in Christ (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) as LORD (Acts 17:28) Are you pleasing God, in walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:6)?  Are you now experiencing the Paschal Mystery of resurrection from the spiritual death of the mind of the flesh, and passing over into eternal life in Christ, in the mind of the spirit? Isn't it exciting to experience what Jesus Christ described as being born again, and being born from above, because you have been born of water and of the spirit (John 3:1-21)? Are you now seeing Jesus Christ, all other persons and yourself not just from a human point of view, but primarily from a divine or spiritual point of view in Christ? Have you chosen to lay down your life in the mind of the flesh, and now live your life in the mind of the spirit? (John 10:17-18, 2 Corinthians 5:16).

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Transitory And Eternal Life When Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, 'Transitory living with minds set on everlasting life" 


Key Verse: The Apostle Paul declared, "So we do not lose heart, even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:17).


Introduction

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus Christ as risen and glorified Lord, commissioned his disciple and all witness of the Gospel of Christ, to go and make disciples of all nations. He asked then to baptize believers in the name of the Father (Being), The Son (Begotten) and the Holy Spirit (Begetting). He recommended that believes should be taught everything that he commanded. Jesus encourage his disciples to remember this mystery about himself, as the invisible, crucified, risen, ascended and now incarnate Christ, the Son of God. In Matthew 28:20 he declared, "...Remember I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 9:18-23, Colossians 1:26-27).

In today's Epistle 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, the apostle Paul describes his discernment, understanding and experience of the mystery of Jesus Christ in the Economic Trinity. He declared that spiritual understanding and daily practical application of the Paschal Mystery of Christ, has been hidden from mankind for ages and generations, by the mind of the flesh. Paul proclaimed that faith, repentance, discernment, and proper mental alignment, in the mind of the spirit, produces the discernment and triumphant incarnation of Christ, in and through the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, himself and all person. The incarnation of Christ, in the presence, power and begetting of the Holy Spirit, brings resurrection from the transitory spiritual death of the mind of the flesh. By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, believers pass over into freedom, love, glory and everlasting life of Christ, the invisible Image and Likeness of God, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons (Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:1-18, Colossians 1:26-27).

To Paul, the mystery of  Immanent Trinity is centered in Christ, the invisible, eternal, Begotten Son (ADONAI, JEHOVAH, LOGOS), who was sent from the Father, to redeem mankind from the transitory slavery to sin and the spiritual death of the mind of the flesh (Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-19). In Paul's description of the Economic Trinity, the Holy Spirit empowered, generated and facilitated Christ descended from heaven. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ became fully incarnate and fully manifested in Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Beloved Son of Man, here on earth (Colossians 2:6-15). In describing himself as the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ confirms Paul's description by declaring that the Father loves him, because he willingly obeyed God's command to lay down his life, in order to take it up again (John 10:17-18, Philippians 2:5-11).   

Life out of death

Jesus Christ and the  Apostle Paul's taught that through repentance (metanoia) believers pass over from the condemnation and suffering of transitory life in the mind of the flesh, into the freedom, glory and eternal life of the mind of the spirit (John 3:5-7, Romans 1:1-11). This awesome Paschal Mystery can be discerned and realized in Christ-centered, spiritually resurrected believers, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, when believers choose to follow Jesus Christ, by living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-17). Their faith, confidence and worship are based not in flesh and blood, but in the mystery of the Godhead as the eternal, invisible, Imminent, Economic, Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient Trinity, throughout all creation (John 4:23-24). 

Through faith in Jesus Christ's passion, death, resurrection and ascension, believers in all traditions, religions, ethnic and secular groups can know forgiveness of sins and have everlasting life (John 3:16-17). Through the baptisms of water and of the Spirit, Jesus declared the believers are born again, born from above and born of the spirit. Jesus stressed that to be effective and triumphant, the outer sacrament of water Baptism must be accompanied, by the inner human decision to repent, before the believer can realize resurrection from the temporary state of spiritual death. Inner spiritual resurrection must take place, before believers can live their lives in the mind of the spirit, within witnessing paschal faith communities (2 Corinthians 4:13-14). 

Blessings of affliction 

In the mind, power, guidance and begetting  of the Holy Spirit, spiritually resurrected witness, while in their mortal flesh, discern and triumph over the transitory deception, divisiveness, destruction, incivility and spiritual warfare of the mind of the flesh, within themselves and within their witnessing paschal faith faith communities. In the power, procreation and appropriation of the Holy Spirit, believers seek and serve Christ, as the Son of God and LORD), in the spiritual body of all persons, as a member of both the Immanent and Economic Trinity. In the mind of the spirit they follow Jesus Christ as LORD, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit, while in their mortal bodies (2 Corinthians 4:15-16).

Promise of salvation and eternal life

God's sure promises are salvation, everlasting life and kingdom living here on earth, to believers 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. Spiritually resurrected believers have an eternal spiritual vision, which focuses on how God wants and has designed life to be lived throughout all creation. Although this vision and human experience has been distorted down through the ages and generations, by the mind of the flesh, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups its eternal like and nature can never be destroyed. This eternal live Christ-centered vision was discerned, articulated and proclaimed by Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul on today's Gospel and Epistle readings, while in their temporary physical bodies (Mark 3:20-35, Luke 17:20-21, Corinthians 4:17-5:1).

Assurance of immortality

Throughout his ministry of reconciliation, the Apostle Paul recognized the presence and mortality of the natural or physical body in Jesus Christ, himself and every person. Paul also recognized and proclaimed the presence and immortality of the spiritual body in Jesus Christ, himself and every person (1 Corinthians 15:35-50). Like Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul discerned that the the kingdom of God is eternally within the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, themselves and all persons. Believers who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, will discern, have the assurance and know the experience eternal life in Christ, while living in their present, mortal physical bodies (Luke 17:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1).  

Conclusion

Do you believe in the mystery of the interior and eternal existence, unity, diversity and love that the invisible Father, Son and Holy Spirit, have for each other as the eternal Immanent Trinity? Do you believe that the Economic Trinity reveals the mystery and manifestation of God's love for the world in Christ, as manifested in Jesus Christ as Messiah (John e:15-17, Colossians 2:4-10)? Have you experienced the temporary suffering, pain, useless and unnecessary suffering and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh? Are you now experiencing triumph, joy and everlasting life, by following Jesus Christ in living the paschal mystery, in the mind of the spirit?


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Choosing The Greater And Rejecting The Lesser Witness

Reference scripture: Romans 8:12-17, 'Choosing to live and witness in the mind of the spirit'.


Key verse: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the spirit of adoption. When we cry, Abba Father!" (Romans 8:15).


Introduction


To be born again, as described by Jesus Christ in today's Gospel John 1:1-17, means to discern, know and worship Christ, the Begotten Son of God, as the invisible image and likeness of God, in Jesus Christ as Messiah, oneself and all persons, in the mind of the spirit. Jesus Christ as Son of Man, teacher and Rabbi described the new birth as seeking, worshipping and serving Christ (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) in himself and all persons, as being born from above (John 17:21-23). Jesus declared that the born again experience is begetting, birthing and being born of water and of the spirit into eternal life, and mystery of the Economic Trinity of Jesus Christ, as the Beloved and Anointed One and at the same time Christ the Begotten Son, in the mind of the spirit.   

Spiritual Resurrection 

In today's Epistle Romans 8:12-17, the Apostle Paul declares that believers who are born again experience repentance (metanoia). They choose to lay down living the old life, their lives in the mind of the flesh, the lesser witness. They follow Jesus Christ and God's command to take up the new life, by living their lives in the mind of the spirit, the greater witness (John 10:14-30; Mark 1:14-15, 8:31-34; Philippians 2:1-11). The born again experience is knowing and realizing that they have been actually resurrected from spiritual death. In resurrection from Spiritual death, believers no longer feels grateful to honor, nor obliged to obey the sinful nature, the mind of the flesh. Instead they cut the nerves and lifeblood and mortify the instincts, thoughts and actions of the mind of the flesh, by living their lives in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-13). 

Sonship of Believers

In the liberation, salvation, sanctification and sustaining presence of the Economic Trinity, these Christ-centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, live their lives within witnessing paschal faith communities, as God's beloved sons and daughters in Christ, in the mind of the spirit. Because they dwell in the mind of the spirit, they do not relapse into the old slavish attitudes of fear, anxiety, alienation, incivility, guilt and condemnation of the mind of the flesh (Romans 8:1-11). In the mind of the spirit, they abide in God's agape love, grace and truth. They discern and honor the Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience of the Immanent Trinity as they cry, "ABBA FATHER" (Ecclesiastes 7:39, Acts 17:28, Romans 8:14-15).

Witness of the Spirit

Like Jesus Christ, spiritually resurrected believers discern that the Holy Spirit is the only true witness of the Economic Trinity, Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Christ, here on earth (John 16:5-15). By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, the incarnate Godhead within Jesus Christ and within spiritually resurrected believers endorses and confirms the believer’s inward convictions, that they are truly the children of God. As children of God they know that they are spiritual heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ in eternal life and kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10, Romans 8:16).

Spiritual relationships 

Think of the great advantages available believers who choose the greater witness of living their lives in the mind of the spirit, within witnessing paschal faith communities. Like Jesus Christ, as iconoclasts and intrapreneurs, they choose to endure the suffering and rejection of those within their witnessing faith communities, who choose the lesser witness of living their lives, in the mind of the flesh. These spiritually resurrected believers recognize that in the mind of the spirit, they are now sharing the regeneration, glory, kingdom living and eternal life which Jesus knew, while here on earth. They choose to listen and follow Jesus as the Good Shepherd, by living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit (John 10:14-30, Romans 8:17).

Conclusion:

Do you know what it means to be born again? Have you experienced the new birth? Have you been born from above? Have you been born of water and of the spirit? Have you experienced repentance (metanoia)? Do you have eternal life? Within your witnessing paschal faith community, are you choosing, experiencing, sharing and declaring the greater witness of the Gospel of Christ, in the mind of the spirit or the lesser witness of the Gospel of Christ, the mind of the flesh, as revealed in and through Jesus Christ (John 3:1-7, 10:16-18, Galatians 6:7-8)?

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