Rooted, Grounded And Established To Live The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:14 -21, 'Rooted, grounded and established in Christ'


Key Verse: Paul prayed, "...and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17).


Introduction


In Ephesians chapter 3, the Apostle Paul declared that his ministry of reconciliation was established in the fact that Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of Man, was sent by the Godhead, to save all mankind from the bondage, slavey, sin, alienation and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh (Matthew 1:21, Luke 17:10). God's universal plan of salvation is found and fulfilled only in Christ, God's invisible, changeless, Image and Only Begotten Son, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, God's Beloved Son, and in the spiritual body of every person (Genesis 1:26-31, Ephesians 3:1-4). 


God revealed to Paul that God's universal salvation has been hidden from mankind, down through the ages and generation by the mind of the flesh (Colossians 1:24-29). In Jesus Christ God's plan of salvation is discerned and has been revealed to mankind in the mind of the spirit (John 1:1-18). In the power of the Holy Spirit and through repentance, faith, humility, obedience and discipleship, Jesus Christ at God's command, is now creating witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, to proclaim and live this Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Matthew 4:18-22, John 3:16-17, Acts 1:8, Ephesians 3:5-10). 


The mission of these witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities is discerned and fulfilled by follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, not in the mind of the flesh, but in the mind of the spirit. As fishers of men, they are called the proclaim, further establish and manifest the completion Jesus Christ's mission, to seek and save those who are lost in the dominion and sin of the mind of the flesh (Luke 19:10, Acts 1:8). Their task involves following Jesus Christ in denying self, taking up their cross daily and practicing kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven, in the mind and power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 8:31-34, John 10:14-21, Romans 8:1-17, Ephesians 3:11-13).
      
The Apostle Paul's Affirmation 


In his divine call and commission, the Apostle Paul declared to both Jews and Gentiles, God's changeless and eternal agape love, grace, truth and desire to live in union equally, with all mankind in Christ. This previously hidden, eternal, divine mystery of unity of all mankind with the Godhead and one another in Christ, in the mind of the spirit, is forever centered and established in Christ, the invisible, Begotten Only Son, God's eternal image (LOGOS) in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and the spiritual body of all persons (Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:1-13). The Bible declares that the letter of the law was given by Moses, but God's eternal love, grace and truth, which is found in the spirit of the law, is now revealed and fully manifested in Jesus Christ, God's Beloved Son of Man as Messiah (John 1:14-18, Ephesians 3:14-15; Colossians 1:24-29, 2:6-9).


Paul's Prayer to the  Father 


The Apostle Paul prayed that all apostles, disciples and witnesses of the Good News of the Gospel of Christ, would follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, not in the mind of the flesh, but in the mind of the spirit. In living the Paschal Mystery, the divine nature of Jesus Christ and the divine nature of every human being remain unchanged (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27). Paul recognized that in the Gospel of Christ, the critical human initiatives in salvation are repentance and faith. Repentance to Paul is metanoia. Witnesses must lay down living in the mind of the flesh and taking up living in the mind of the spirit, while here on earth. Faith means following Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, in the mind of the spirit and abiding in Christ as the Son of God, in the mind of the spirit (John 10:14-18, Romans 8:1-17). 


Witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities are called in the Gospel of Christ, to put their faith in, abide in and dwell by faith in Christ (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH). They are called to seek, discern, serve and worship Christ, the invisible Begotten Son, God's Image, within the spiritual bodies of Jesus Christ, themselves and all persons, in the mind of the spirit. If witnesses desire to become like Jesus Christ, the incarnation and manifestation of the likeness of the Godhead in human flesh, and practice kingdom living here on earth, they must lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh and take up living their lives in the mind of the spirit (Mark 1:14-15, Luke 17:20-21; John 3:16-17, John 17:20-26, Ephesians 3:14-15).
        
Riches of God's grace and Truth in Christ, through the Holy Spirit


Paul had deep and passionate concerns, for not only the witnessing paschal faith communities which he established, but for the perpetual body of witnesses here on earth, throughout all ages and generations. He therefore asked God, from the wealth of His glory, to give all witnesses His power, to be strong in their inner man. He prayed that Christ would become incarnate and take up His home in witnesses' hearts through faith. Paul prayer that witnesses in paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups would be rooted, grounded and established in compassion, righteousness and civility, as they manifest God's agape love, grace and truth for all mankind (Ephesians 3:16-17).


Deeper Spiritual Life in Christ here on earth


Paul prayed that Christ-centered witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities would together know and share the deeper spiritual life, by abiding and dwelling in Christ, in the mind of the spirit. That in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, they would know and manifest the spiritual gifts and the fruit of the spirit, in their lives and ministries. He prayed that witnesses who followed Jesus Christ in living the Paschal mystery in the mind of the spirit, would have the power to understand and declare how broad and long, how high and deep, is the Godhead's love for all mankind in Christ (Ephesians 3:18).   


Manifesting the spiritual fullness of Christ here on earth 


Paul followed Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit. He prayed that witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups would like Jesus Christ as the Son of Man, be filled with the very nature of the Godhead. He prayed that believers would manifest the same divine abilities which Jesus Christ demonstrated in his life and ministry (Luke 4:16-22, Ephesians 3:19-21). 


Conclusion 


Are you following Jesus Christ in laying down living your life in the mind of the flesh, and taking up living your life in the mind of the spirit? Within your witnessing paschal faith community are you seeking, worshipping and serving Christ in all persons and loving your neighbor as yourself? Are you seeking to be rooted, grounded and established in the incarnation and the fullness of the Godhead in your heart, mind, relationships and body, as revealed in Jesus Christ (John 10:14-18, Romans 8:12-17)?

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THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL REVEALED - Barry Boucher

Spiritual, Mental And Physical Temples Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Text: Ephesians 2:11-22, 'God's new humanity in Christ'


Key Verse: The Apostle Paul declared, "In union with him (Jesus Christ), you too are built together with all the others, into a place where God lives through His spirit (Ephesians 2:22).


Introduction


The Apostle Paul initially describes his personal experiences of the tragedy, suffering, spiritual poverty, and spiritual death of the human condition and life without Christ. The Bible teaches that this tragic human life in the mind of the flesh is lived, to some degree by every human being, while here on earth. In the dominion of the mind of the flesh all human beings put on to some degree, the disobedience, sin, evil, wickedness, separation, barriers and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh (Romans 8:1-11). 


In Ephesians 2:1-10, the Apostle Paul declares his understanding and personal experience of human beings who followed Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit. Paul declared that before Jesus Christ's life and ministry here on earth, all human beings were spiritually asleep and spiritually dead, because they lived their lives in the mind of the flesh. The Godhead in agape love, truth and, grace, sent Jesus Christ as God's Messiah in human flesh, to deliver mankind from this fallen human condition (Romans 8:12-17). 


Jesus Christ's mission from the Godhead was to reveal to all mankind, how they could be delivered from the guilt, alienation, fear and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh and live their lives in the freedom, truth, grace and eternal life of the mind of the spirit (John 3:14-17, 10:10). To Paul, Jesus Christ fully taught and manifested, how in the mind of the spirit, every person could realize the full incarnation and fully manifestation of hidden Christ (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), God's invisible, perfect Image and Likeness in the spiritual body of ever person, while in our present physical bodies (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 8:1-11, Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 1:24-29).   


Hopeless and helpless human condition transformed in Christ


By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, within witnessing paschal faith communities, mankind's hopeless, helpless and lost conditions without Christ, in the mind of the flesh are transformed. In the mind of the spirit, through repentance, faith, humility and obedience, a mysterious cleansing, healing and transfusion of the invisible blood of Christ and incarnation of the invisible mind and body of Christ takes place, in believers' souls, hearts, minds, relationships, lives and physical bodies (John 14:1-14). 


Mankind's spiritual death, spiritual destitution, spiritual estrangement and spiritual poverty are transformed into resurrection from spiritual death, spiritual formation, spiritual maturity and eternal life in Christ. In the mind of the spirit, Christ-centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups experience the peace which surpasses human understanding. In the presence and power of the Holy Spirit these believers, as witnessing paschal faith communities, discern and experience unity with the Godhead and all mankind in Christ, by following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit (Ephesians 2:11-18).       


Witnessing paschal faith communities spiritual, mental and physical temples 


In the Good News of the Gospel of Christ as revealed in Jesus Christ by the Apostle Paul, these witnessing paschal faith communities are the spiritual, mental and physical temples of the living Godhead, here on earth. These Christ-centered, Holy Spirit based, human dwelling places of the Godhead, can now be found in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout the earth (John 3:16-17). They are built by faith, repentance, humility and obedience, on the spiritual foundation laid by the prophets and the apostles, Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of Man is the chief cornerstone (Mark 8:27-30, Ephesians 2:19) 


In the presence, power and begetting of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ became the full incarnation of Christ (the Begotten, LOGOS) and the fully orbed Son of Man (the Beloved), in human flesh (Colossians 2:9). At God's command Jesus Christ established and formed these human spiritual, mental and physical temple of the living Godhead together in Christ (Luke 4:14-21). As the Messiah and Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ and these witnessing paschal faith communities steadfastly lived their human lives, according to the commands of the Father (Being) (John 6:38-40).


Jesus Christ Mankind's Good Shepherd


Jesus Christ willingly, at God's command laid down his initial divine life as Emmanuel in the mind of the spirit. At God's command he took upon himself, the full incarnation of the mind of the flesh. Jesus Christ fully manifested mankind's alienation and separation from the Godhead and one another because of the dominion of the mind of the flesh, in his passion, crucifixion of the cross, physical death and the burial of his human body. After three days in the tomb, Jesus Christ in obedience to God's command, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, arose from physical death and the grave. In his resurrected physical body, Jesus Christ fully took up, living his human life fully again, in the mind of the spirit (John 10:14-18, Ephesians 2:19-21).


In his ascension at God's command, Jesus Christ as the invisible Image, Likeness and Son of God (LOGOS), now dwells with the invisible Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in the invisible kingdom of heaven, which Jesus Christ declared is among us, in our midst and within each of us (Genesis 1:26-27, Luke 17:20-21, John 17:20-26, Colossians 1:26-27). Because Jesus Christ lived the Paschal Mystery both in the mind of the flesh (death), as well as the mind of spirit (resurrection), while in human flesh, Jesus Christ has fully experienced the fall of man, in the mind of the flesh. In his resurrection, post resurrection appearances and ascension, Jesus Christ has also experienced and fully revealed, taught and manifested the Godhead's eternal plan for the full redemption of all mankind, to the Godhead and one another in Christ, in the mind of the spirit  (John 10:14-18, 14:1-14).


Witnessing paschal faith communities the temples of the Godhead


It is in Jesus Christ as the fully incarnate Son of God and the fully orbed Son of Man, that the spiritual, mental and physical temples of the Godhead, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups are formed, held together and grow as one sacred temple of the invisible, living Godhead, in the mind of the spirit (John 4:23-27). In mystical union with Jesus Christ, believers who are learning to lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, and those who are learning to take up living their lives in the mind of the spirit, can now identify with and be bound together in faith, repentance, forgiveness of sins, and  spiritual formation, in Jesus Christ. As more Christ-centered believers follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, the eternal, invisible, spiritual kingdom of God, will be more fully discerned, proclaimed, manifested here on earth, as it is in heaven, as revealed, taught and manifested in Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:9-10, Luke 17:20-21, John 17:20-26, Ephesians 2:22).  


Conclusion


Are you a member of a Christ centered, Holy Spirit based witnessing paschal faith community, within your tradition, religion, culture, ethnic and secular group? Have you chosen to be an active and involved member within your witnessing paschal faith community? Have you chosen to numbered among those believers within your witnessing paschal faith community, who choose to live and dwell in the mind of the flesh; or those believers who choose to live and dwell in the mind of the spirit? 


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Spiritual Blessings Living The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: Ephesians 1:3-14, 'Spiritual blessings in Christ'

Key Verse: He (Godhead) has made know to us the mystery of His will, according to His pleasure in Christ (Jesus Christ)" (Ephesians 1:9).


Introduction: Redeemed in the Son

In today's Epistle the Apostle Paul declares that in Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Godhead has made known to all mankind, the mystery of His will, according to His pleasure. This Paschal Mystery is God's eternal plan for all mankind's deliverance from the bondage and slavery of the sins of the mind of the flesh, and passing over into the freedom and glory of God's love in Christ. In the fullness of time the Godhead will gather together all thing in heaven and earth in Christ, God's Image and Likeness, as revealed in Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Ephesians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:26-27).


Purchased by Christ's blood 

The blood of Jesus Christ, in today's Epistle is symbolic of the presence and properties of Being (Godhead), which restore mankind to his divine estate in Christ. Through repentance, humility, proper mental alignment and the incarnation of Christ, mankind's sins are forgiven. The life contained in God's Word (LOGOS, ADONAI, JEHOVAH), when poured into mankind, in the mind of the spirit, cleanses mankind from the dominion, sins and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh. This divine energy enables mankind to seek, serve and worship the Godhead, in spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24, Philippians 2:5, Ephesians 1:7).


Enlightened by God's grace


The Bible declares that the letter of God's Law was given by Moses, but the grace, agape love, truth and spirit of God's will and Law were revealed and fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17-19, John 1:16-17). By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, mankind will be restored to his intimate relationship with the Godhead in Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit and the mind of the spirit, mankind will be re-establish in our eternal state of being, and all thing will be gathered together in Christ, the wisdom, power and knowledge of God (Mark 8:31-34, Romans 8:12-17, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 1:8-10).


Given an inheritance in God's eternal purpose

Through repentance, faith, humility and obedience, Christ centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups can regain their divine inheritance in Christ. By living their lives in the mind of the spirit, the Godhead will be manifested and glorified in them. These spiritually resurrected believers will also be glorified in the incarnate presence of the Godhead, in and through their spiritual bodies and spiritual cores (1 Corinthians 15:42-49, Ephesians 1:11-12).

Sealed by the Holy Spirit 

In repentance, spiritual resurrection, and conversion, Christ centered believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit, as witnesses of Jesus Christ. By following Jesus Christ in living their lives in the mind of the spirit, they become the pledge, deposit and full possession of mankind's divine inheritance in Christ. Their redemption and full reconciliation with the Godhead and mankind is fulfilled and manifested in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:16-17, Ephesians 1:13-14).

Conclusion

Do you believe that in Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Godhead has made known to all mankind, the mystery of His will, according to His pleasure? Do you believe that the  Paschal Mystery is God's eternal plan for mankind's deliverance from the bondage and slavery of the sins of the mind of the flesh, and passing over into the freedom and glory of God's love in Christ? Do you believe, that in the fullness of time, the Godhead will gather together all thing in heaven and earth in Christ, God's invisible Image and Likeness, as revealed in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and Messiah (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27)?.

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Human Weakness Facilitates Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Text: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, "Christ's power experienced more deeply in human weakness'.


Key verse: The Apostle Paul declared, "...Therefore I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ" (2 Corinthians 12:9b).


Introduction


Witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups are called by God, to reveal and manifest the life of Jesus Christ, as the fully orbed Son of Man, throughout our planet earth (Matthew 6:9-10, John 14:6, Mark 8:31-34). To fulfill this divine commission and responsibility, witnesses must be inclusive and Christ-centered. They must live their lives in the mind of the spirit. In faith, humility and obedience their thought-life, attitudes and actions must be guided by God's agape love and empowered by the renewal and restoration of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-17). 


Through inquiry, initiation, purification and illumination as witnesses, believers progressively learn to reject the pervasive and destructive inner call of the mind of the flesh to reject God's plan of agape love, renewal and restoration. Witness must not set their hearts and minds on thing seen (Romans 8:5-9). Spiritually awake witnesses, within witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, seek to follow Jesus Christ in fulfilling God's plan to live the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:12-17). They seek and learn to set their minds on unseen, eternal and heavenly things (Mark 8:31-34; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 12:9). They seek and serve Christ in the spiritual body and spiritual core of Jesus Christ, all persons, and love their neighbors as they love themselves (Mark 12:28-34).
     
Paul's vision and revelations of kingdom living here on earth


In today's Epistle, the Apostle Paul describes one of his many mystical experiences of the Godhead's glory in Paradise (Luke 17:20-21). He called the place of God's abode the Third Heaven. Paul found that normal human language, could not describe nor explain his authentic experiences of the Godhead's  presence, majesty and glory, which he experienced in the mind of the spirit. Paul believed he actually discerned and experienced the Reality of the invisible, spiritual kingdom of heaven, which Jesus Christ declared is forever within himself, among us, in our midst and within the spiritual bodies and spiritual cores of every person (John 17:20-26, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4).


The Godhead's presence and glory in the midsts of affliction 


Some commentators have suggested that Paul mystical experiences of the Godhead may have occurred during periods when Paul was mercilessly stoned and dragged our of the city of Laodicea (Acts 14:19-20). Rather than seeing these periods of rejection, suffering and persecution for the sake of the Gospel of Christ, as God's chastisement, Paul saw them as occasions to reveal and manifest his human weakness, but more importantly to deepen his experience and encounter with the presence and mystery of the risen, living and incarnate Christ, God's image, likeness and agape love, in and through his spiritual body and the spiritual core of all persons (2 Corinthians 12:5-6, Colossians 1:24-29). 


Paul's Thorn in his flesh 


The Apostle Paul had a constant challenge and obstacle in his life. He called it a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan, which caused real pain, distress and suffering in his life. To Paul these manifestations of Satan (the mind of the flesh in his life), also reminded him of his human weakness and inadequacy, in fulfilling his ministry of reconciliation. He affirmed they served to keep him humble and totally dependent on the Godhead. Paul believed in and was totally dependent on God's promise of the all-sufficiency of Christ's indwelling presence, grace and truth, in the midst of his weakness (John 1:14-18, 2 Corinthians 12:7-8, Colossians 1:24-29).


Finding pleasure in infirmities


In the mind of the spirit, Paul paradoxically found pleasure and greater awareness of the Godhead's presence in every area of his life. He experienced the Godhead as an invisible and eternal abiding, protecting, enhancing and sustaining presence, in the midst of weakness, insults, hardships, persecution and difficulties for Christ's sake and the Gospel of Christ. He declared, "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (Acts 17:22-28, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).


Conclusion


Are you like the Apostle Paul, experiencing criticism, challenges, rejection and insults  within your witnessing paschal faith community, because you seek, serve and love Christ, God's invisible image, likeness and agape love, in the spiritual body and spiritual core of Jesus Christ and all persons? Have you found comfort and reassurance in Paul's understanding and description of the all sufficiency of Christ, in his reconciliation ministry, in today's Epistle. Are you like Paul, following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10)?
   

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