Key Verse: 'But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift' (Ephesians 4:7).
Introduction
In today's Epistle, the Apostle Paul assure us that Jesus Christ as Messiah, has brought to the world, previously alienated from God and mankind disunited from one another in the mind of the flesh, God's way of reconciliation and unity with all mankind in Christ. Paul recognized that the witnessing paschal faith communities created by Jesus Christ, are the human instruments used by the Godhead to facilitate and maintain reconciliation between God and man, and man and man, here on earth, in the mind of the spirit. This unity is realized as Christ-centered witnesses in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups steadfastly follow Jesus Christ in laying down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, and take up living their lives in the mind of the spirit. (Romans 8:1-11).
Christ mankind's source of virtues and spiritual fruit
Jesus Christ was sent by the Godhead and empowered by the Holy Spirit to reveal, teach, model and consummate mankind living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. In his passion, death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus passed over from life on earth in the mind of the flesh, into the new and glorified life with the Godhead, in the mind of the spirit (Hebrews 4:14-16). Through the descent, incarnation and manifestation of Christ (Logos, ADONAI, JEHOVAH) as LORD of his and all human life here on earth, Jesus Christ has been designated by the Godhead as the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, except through him (John 1:14-18, 10:14-21, 14:1-6).
Within witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, we find in witnesses varying degrees of faults, challenges, inadequacies, knowledge, commitment, spiritual formation and spiritual maturity. For Paul it is absolutely necessary that all witness practice living the virtues of humility, gentleness, and patience, as they bear with one another in agape love. These virtues and the spiritual fruit of meekness, peacefulness, long-suffering, faithfulness and self-control are found in Christ, God's invisible image and likeness in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and in the spiritual body of every person (Genesis 1:26-27, Galatians 5:22-27, Ephesians 4:1-3, Colossians 1:26-27).
Maintaining Unity in Christ
The Apostle Paul assures Christ-centered believers, within all witnessing paschal faith communities, who follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, that they will eventually discern, discover and experience the fact that we all live in a perfect spiritual universe. This universe was created, is sustained and forever controlled by the Godhead. Jesus called this hidden, invisible, eternal and changeless reality, the kingdom of God. He located this kingdom of heaven among us, in our midst and within each person (Luke 17:20-21). Within that spiritual universe, forever dwells the Imminent Trinity, Father-Being, Son-Begotten, and Holy Trinity-Begetting.
The visible witnessing paschal faith communities, which Jesus Christ initially revealed, created and established two thousand years ago, are centered in the Economic Trinity. The Bible declares that the Father sent the Begotten Son into the world (1 John 4:10). The invisible Begotten Son came down from heaven and became fully incarnate in Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Son of Man, in the power, presence and begetting of the Holy Spirit. The Begotten became incarnate in Jesus Christ, not to do the Begotten’s own will, but to do the will of the Father (Being), here on earth (John 6:38). In the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ willingly obeyed God's commands to lay down his life in the mind of the flesh, and take up living again here on earth, in the mind of the spirit (Matthew 16:24-28, Mark 8:31-34, Luke 9:23-27; John 6:4-6, 10:14-21, 12:25).
Paul therefore declares that witnessing paschal faith communities, created by Jesus Christ are one body. The head of that visible universal body is Jesus Christ, as Messiah, Savior, Master and Lord. There is one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God, Who is Father of all, above all, through all and in all. In the midst of these hopes, eternal realities and divine promises, the paradox and mystery is that Christ-centered, spiritually resurrected witnesses, 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, often find themselves living their lives in the mind of the flesh (Ephesians 4:4-6).
God's gifts of love, grace and truth in Christ
As in the life of Jesus Christ here on earth, the creative spiritual journeys of Christ-centered witnesses, living their lives in the mind of the spirit, are supported, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness of sins, resurrection from spiritual death, and deliverance from the bondage and slavery of the sins of the mind of the flesh are gifts of God's agape, love, grace and truth. They are eternally available to all in Christ. Christ-centered believer's passing over into the glorious freedom, love and eternal life of the Godhead in Christ, are realized and actualized through repentance, self denial, steadfast faith, humility, obedience and following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-9:1, Ephesians 4:7-10).
Diversity of spiritual gifts and ministries
Paul then declares that the Godhead, through Christ has given witnesses, within witnessing paschal faith communities, in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups diverse spiritual gifts and ministries. Some are apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers. The divine purpose of these spiritual gifts and ministries are to edify and build up these paschal faith communities. These spiritual gifts are used to lovingly and patiently care for, govern, educate and guide witnesses into truth, spiritual formation and spiritual maturity, as intrapreneurs, within their own unique traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, in the mind of the spirit (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Spiritual formation, growth and maturity in Christ
By following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, Christ centered believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups will come together in oneness of faith, and in the true knowledge of Christ, the invisible Son, Image and Likeness of God, as revealed in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and Messiah. In the mind of the spirit, witnesses will become mature believers, reaching the very height of the Christ's incarnation and fullness, as revealed in Jesus Christ, here on earth. Christ centered, spiritually resurrected witnesses will no longer be tossed to and fro by deceitful and erroneous religious dogma and teaching, which are based in the mind of the flesh. In Christ, these witnessing paschal faith communities will be bound together, just like different parts of the human body. In the presence, power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, they will fit together as the whole body of Christ throughout the earth. They will grow and mature together, in the Godhead's agape love, truth and grace and practice kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10, Ephesians 4:13-16).
Conclusion:
What is your level of commitment to living your life in the mind of the spirit, since you have joined your witnessing paschal faith community? Have you sought to discover and be guided in the proper and effective use of your spiritual gifts? Are you in repentance, faith, humility and obedience steadfastly following Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind, of the spirit?
Related articles:
Season of Pentecost, Proper 13
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