Living The Paschal Mystery In Agape Love

Text: James 2:1-17, 'True witnesses live and are judged by the law of liberty'

Key verse: 'So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty' (James 2:12).

Introduction 

In John 10:10, Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd declared, "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it more abundantly". These statements confirm that witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities of true faith, self-surrender, humility and obedience, follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit. In true faith, witnesses turn from the mind of the flesh, to be filled, guided and empowered by the Godhead, in the mind of the spirit. They speak and act as those who live and are judge by God's law of liberty, in the Godhead's agape love, grace and truth, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Mark 8:31-34, John 1:14-18, 10:14-21;  Romans 8:12-17). Today's epistle assures us that when living the Paschal Mystery, true faith begins in the mind of the flesh. More importantly however, James reminds us that true faith and true religion are fulfilled here on earth, in the mind of the spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45, James 2:12).

Speaking and acting in God's law of liberty means that witnesses follow Jesus Christ by setting their minds on the thing of God, heavenly things, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit. They let go their inappropriate obsessions and preoccupations with the things of men, the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of flesh (Matthew 16:33, Mark 8:33, Romans 8:1-11). They proclaim, affirm and manifest mankind's deliverance and freedom, from the bondage, slavery, condemnation, incivility, sinfulness and spiritual death of Satan, the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, they embrace and fulfill God's promises of salvation and righteousness in Christ, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). These spiritually resurrected believers realize and make daily practical application of God's promises of pardon, peace, civility, agape love and eternal life in Christ, while living here on earth, in the mind of the spirit (Genesis 1:26-31, John 3:16-17, Romans 8:1-11).    

Are you people of faith or judges of the poor? (Verses 1-4)

The Christ-centered witnesses and witnessing paschal faith communities which James exhorts and encourages in today's Epistle, can be found in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout the earth. These spiritually resurrected believers can be readily identified, because like Jesus Christ, they seek, serve and surrender their lives to the universal, indwelling Christ, the Godhead's invisible presence, image and likeness, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, themselves and all persons (Genesis 1:26-31). In the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit, these witnesses love the LORD their God, with all their hearts, their souls, their minds and all their strength. In the mind of the spirit, they are discovering the awesome and daunting reality, that when dwelling in God's law of liberty, in the mind of the spirit, it is normal, natural, effortless, compassionate and civil human behavior to love their neighbors, as they love themselves (Matthew 12:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:25-38).

Because they live in the mind of the spirit, these witnesses discern that all human beings are designed by the Godhead, to be forever bound together as one visible spiritual family, in Christ. They know, embrace and honor God's planned, normal spiritual unity and planned normal mental, emotional and physical diversity, within all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, throughout the earth. In the mind of the spirit, these spiritually resurrected witnesses learn to naturally discern differences and to show no partiality. They learn not to despise the poor, because they know they are called by the indwelling Godhead, to use their resources to protect, provide for, care for the poor. In the mind of the spirit, they learn not condemn others, because they know that there remains so much to be forgiven, in their own hearts, souls, minds, relationships and lives (James 2:1-4).

Who are the poor and the rich, in the kingdom of God?

In the mind of the spirit, witnesses discern how the Godhead so often chooses the people who are the poor in the context of material possessions, to be rich in true faith and kingdom living, here on earth. Many holy men and holy women have demonstrated, that when believers follow Jesus Christ, in living according to God's law of liberty, that is living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, they become rich in true faith and true works that please the Godhead, whether they are rich or poor in the material possessions of this world. In the mind of the spirit, these witnesses are able to possess, dwell in and demonstrate the invisible kingdom of heaven, which Jesus Christ declared and revealed, is forever within each person and in our midst (Luke 17:20-37).

These Christ-centered, spiritually resurrected believers are now becoming iconoclasts and intrapreneurs, within their own traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. Like Jesus Christ and his brother James, they are also called by the indwelling Godhead, to remind all people that too often, those who are rich in material possession, find it most convenient and easy to live their lives, in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. Those who choose to live in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, are often the ones who consciously or unconsciously, who practice incivility, speak evil of, and often oppress and drag down those witnesses, who choose to live in the mind of the spirit, within their traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (Matthew 22:38, Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:25-37, James 2:5-8).

The Essence of true faith

To James, the essence of true faith is following Jesus Christ in fulfilling the letter, as well as the spirit of the ten commandments, in the mind of the spirit (Matthew 5:17). It is thinking, speaking and acting as believers, who are liberated and free from the laws of the sin, incivility, condemnation, and spiritual death of the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh. James declares that God will not show mercy and forgiveness to those who choose not to have mercy and forgive themselves and others (Matthew 6::5-14, James 2:11-13).

Daily practical application of true faith 

James summaries his statements of exhortation and encouragement by asking these questions, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith, but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat you fill", and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what good is that? James then declares that true faith is based on works, which have their origin, goals, and ultimate fulfillment in seeking, lifting up, honoring and serving Christ, God's invisible presence, image and likeness, within the spiritual body of Jesus Christ, ones own spiritual body and the spiritual body of all persons, in the mind of the spirit (John 3:14-17, James 1:14-17).         

Conclusion

Today's Epistle of James reminds us, that believers who choose to live their lives in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh, cannot practice true religion. The inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh is the universal reason why, many sincere believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, continue the practice false religion in mindsets, attitudes, behaviors and works, which are displeasing to the indwelling Godhead. Unless they repent and lay down living their lives in the mind of the flesh, carnal, mortal and worldly minded believers do not and cannot live their lives, in God's law of liberty, within the context of God's agape love, grace and truth, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-17).

Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ, in laying down living your life, in the inappropriate left-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the flesh? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ, in taking up thinking, speaking, behaving and acting, in the practical application of true religion, in the mind of the spirit, within you witnessing paschal faith community? Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ as a Christ-centered, Holy Spirit empowered iconoclast and intrapreneur, living the Paschal Mystery, in the appropriate right-brain hemisphere dominion of the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:31-34, John 10:14-21, Ephesians 2:12)?

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Living The Paschal Mystery: Basis Of New Life In Christ

Reference Text: Romans 5:16-21, 'Death in Adam, Life in Christ'

In today's Epistle, the apostle Paul steadfastly affirms that through one man, the historical Jesus, God's free gifts of deliverance from slavery to sin, salvation, redemption, grace, love, truth, righteousness and abundant life have been revealed and made available to all mankind. Down through the ages and generations however, by carnal, mortal and worldly human choices, mankind continues to follow Adam in disobedience, sin and error thinking. We continue to reject God's unique plan for our human lives individually and collectively. The mind of the flesh, continues to inappropriately dominate human souls, hearts, minds, relationships and lives.   

In Romans 5:17, the apostle Paul summarizes God's universal solution to the awful human problems of slavery to sin and alienation from God and one another. He declares, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death remained through the one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and free gift of righteousness [putting them in right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the One man, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

God's universal liberation from slavery to sin and passing over into the new life in the Christ of faith, is available to all mankind in all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, through repentance, faith, humility, proper alignment and the incarnation of the indwelling Christ of Faith, through one’s own spiritual body. The historical Jesus has pioneered, revealed and facilitated this most awesome, decisive and drastic transformation and change in human spirituality, morality, ethics, behavior, relationships and lives.

Jesus as Messiah, taught and modeled the proper human spiritual, mental, emotional, ethical and physical alignments, needed to experience the full incarnation, effective appropriation and magnificent glory of the indwelling Christ of Faith, the hidden image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of every person, through their own religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. In his life, suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension the historical is the physical man, who literally lived the parable, metaphor and mystery of mankind's universal repentance, deliverance from slavery to sin, as the Paschal Mystery.

The historical Jesus is the man who initially, revealed, taught and modeled the universal human initiatives of faith, humility, obedience, agape love and truth, which all mankind need, to be healed of spiritual blindness, spiritual lameness, and spiritual deafness. Jesus revealed and taught the metaphysical and mystical truth found in all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, which are  needed to awaken mankind from spiritual sleep. The historical Jesus revealed and modeled the divine initiatives of God's grace, mercy, love and truth needed to resurrect all mankind from spiritual death.

Have you stopped following Adam, in living under the dominion of the mind of the flesh, within your own religion, culture, ethnic and secular group? Have you through repentance, faith, humility and obedience, chosen to put on the mind and nature of the Christ of Faith, the image and likeness of God, in your spiritual body? Have you decided to follow the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery? Will you with God's help, seek and serve the Christ of Faith in all persons, and practice kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven?

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Triumph And Reign of the Christ of Faith

Reference Scripture:
2 Peter 1:19, 'The Mission and Prophesy of True Witnesses'

The Paschal Mystery is the truth which is emerging and unfolding, about the resurrected Christ of Faith and the Holy Spirit, forming Christ-centered, spiritually awake witnessing faith communities, in all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. This is one of the most exciting, profound and positive changes now taking place, throughout our planet. This spiritual awakening is occurring because of sincere and steadfast Christ-centered prayer, faith, fasting from error thinking and the practice of agape love.  Sincere spiritually awake believers in every religions are now embracing God's universal and changeless grace, agape love and truth, as revealed in the sacred texts, writing and oral traditions of all religions.    

Servants of Christ and Stewards of the Paschal Mystery

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, 'Servants of Christ and Stewards of the Paschal Mystery'

The central work the Father sent the historical Jesus to do on earth was to reveal, teach, live and fulfill the Paschal Mystery. The bible declares that through faith, humility and obedience, the historical Jesus increased in wisdom, and in years, and in divine and human favor (Luke 2:52).  In the power of the Holy Spirit, the historical Jesus passed over from ordinary human life on earth, through his passion, death and resurrection, and ascension, into a new and glorified life with the Father, through the indwelling and fully incarnate incarnate of Faith (John 1:1-5) . 

Like the historical Jesus, Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers progressively grow, and evolve, as faithful servants of the universal, indwelling and incarnate Christ of Faith and stewards of God's mysteries.  These spiritually awake, Christ-centered believers gradually mature into trustworthy stewards of God's mysteries, within their unique religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. Through faith, humility, obedience and following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, these spiritually resurrected believers pass over from slavery to sin, into the freedom of God's love, through the universal indwelling Christ of Faith (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27).  

In the context of the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in the life, teachings and ministry of the historical Jesus, these Christ-centered believers are now found in all the world religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups (John 3:16-21). Because they believe in and steadfastly follow the historical Jesus, they are now born from above.  With God's help, they now faithfully follow the historical Jesus, as God's appointed and anointed stewards, in living the metaphysical and mystical (inner spiritual meaning) of the Paschal Mystery (Matthew 16:21-28).
 

Through steadfast, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based prayer, listening, learning, studying, worship, service and fellowship, these spiritually awake believers are now the trustworthy and mature servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries, here on earth. In all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, they do seek and serve the Christ of Faith in all persons. With God's help they now love their neighbor as they love themselves.

Have you chosen to be a trustworthy, Christ-centered, spiritually awake servant of Christ and faithful steward of God's mysteries, within your unique, religion, culture, ethnic and secular group? Have you chosen to follow the historical Jesus as a spiritually awake, trustworthy servant of Christ and a faithful steward of God's mysteries, in living the Paschal Mystery, within your witnessing community? Are you willing to give up erroneous, worldly, carnal and mortal minded judgments, which down through the ages and generations, have created the unnecessary divisions, strife and conflicts, which have existed within your religion, culture, ethnic and secular group?

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Living the Paschal Mystery

Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:16, 'Temples of the Living God'

The historical Jesus lived a God-centered life. 

The Christ-centered spirituality which Jesus initially revealed, taught and modeled, provides the universal foundation and divine order needed, for believers in all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups to live God-centered lives. 

The universal foundation of the God-centered human life is the Holy Trinity.    

The historical Jesus revealed God's divine order of grace and truth, needed to live a God-centered life. 

With God's help, the historical Jesus proclaimed, taught and modeled the human initiatives of agape love and freedom from slavery to sin, needed to live the God centered life. 

The historical Jesus described the God-centered life as being born again, being born of water and the Spirit, being born from above and kingdom living here on earth (John 3:1-21). 

Are you willing to live a God-centered life by re-orienting your ideas, attitudes, values and actions God ward?

Are you willing to follow the historical Jesus in the daily practical application of the metaphysical and mystical meanings of living the Paschal Mystery, within your own unique witnessing faith community?

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Religion vs Spirituality

Reference Scripture text: 2 Corinthians 3:4-6,  'The Spirit Not The Letter'

As a general rule, every religion is centered on its uniqueness and its adherents being of the mind of the flesh. Religions stress differences and thus center their attention on the outer man: our morality, appearances, and actions. Religions compare themselves with, and contrast themselves against one another. Christian religions focuses on the historical Jesus and often reject the eternal, spiritual reality, and universal presence of the indwelling Christ of Faith in all persons. Many religions are preoccupied with physical resurrection after physical death.

Spirituality on the other hand is centered in universality, and its adherents stress being of the mind of the spirit. It stresses mankind's unity and connectedness with God and one another, through the indwelling Christ of Faith, the image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of every person. Spirituality focuses primarily on the human spirit, mind and emotion, the inner man, as the source of mankind's behavior, words and actions.


Christian Spirituality focuses equally on the historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith. It includes and embraces not just the literal and metaphorical interpretation of the Holy Bible. It seek to more fully understand and embrace, the universal metaphysical and mystical understanding, teaching and daily practical application of the Holy Bible, and the Sacred texts and Oral traditions of all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. Christian Spirituality focuses primarily on healing spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness, awakening from spiritual sleep, and resurrection from spiritual death, while in our present physical bodies.

     

In today's text, the early, Corinthian, witnessing community rejected the historical Jesus' and the apostle Paul's original Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based teachings. Instead they welcomed and embraced carnal minded religious teachings, principles and practices. They limited their teaching to literal interpretations of the law of Moses, the Gospel of Christ and the Paschal Mystery. They focused on the letter and not the spirit of the Gospel of Christ.

Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 3:6b, "For the letter kills but the spirit gives life.  The Gospel and the Paschal Mystery, as revealed in the historical Jesus, are Christ-centered and Holy Spirit based.  The historical Jesus declared in John 6:63, "It is the Spirit Who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words I speak to you are Spirit, and they are Life". Within his own Jewish religion, the historical Jesus declared that he came to not to destroy the letter, but to fulfill the spirit of God's law (Matthew 5:17-20).

The spirit of God's law affirms that all mankind are eternal spiritual beings, the image and likeness of God, now going through temporary, incarnate, human experiences. Mind of the spirit's  interpretations of God's Law, the Gospel and the Paschal Mystery focus on repentance, faith, humility and obedience. They are seen as universal ways for all people, in all religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, to realize deliverance from slavery to sin, and experience spiritual awakening, salvation, reconciliation and abundant life, here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-13, John 3:16-17). Christ-centered Spirituality declares that potentially, with God's help, all mankind can pass over from slavery to sin, into the freedom of God love, through repentance, proper mental alignment and the incarnation of the universal Christ of Faith, while in our present physical bodies.

  

Of which mind have you chosen to be? Of the mind of the spirit, or of the mind of the flesh? Who within your witnessing faith community, steadfastly encourages and guides you, into being of the mind of the spirit? Who in your faith community seems to apparently facilitate your natural tendency and preference to be of the mind of the flesh?

Let's remember, the apostle Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life".

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Paschal Mystery And Christ Crucified

Reference Scriptures:
Matthew 5:17-21, ‘The historical Jesus fulfilled God’s law
Matthew 16:21-28, 'The unique, personal and universal Second Coming of Christ'
Acts 17:22-34, ‘The Unknown God’
1 Corinthians 2:1-12, ‘Christ Crucified’

Both the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul recognized that within the sacred texts of all religions, every word and sentence veils universal, Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based truth  [Matthew 5:17, Acts 17:30].

Throughout his life and ministry, the historical Jesus taught, revealed and modeled the full incarnation and manifestation of the Christ of Faith, the Image and likeness of God, in his spiritual body and thus potentially, in the spiritual body of all persons.

The apostle Paul fully embraced the historical Jesus’ teaching, that in God's universal plan of Salvation, the Christ of Faith is the reigning divine Presence, Wisdom and Power of God, within every fully functioning human life, here on earth.

Whoever follows the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based inner spiritual, mental, emotional, relationship and physical steps outlined in the Gospel of Christ Crucified, will finally reach the conscious relationship with God, other human beings and all creation, which the historical Jesus knew, here on earth.  

Based on your personal experiences of awakening and resurrection from spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death, you will begin to discern how you have crucified afresh, the Christ of Faith, within your own spiritual body.   

By follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery; Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers in all religions, secular and ethnic groups are now able to proclaim the resurrection, incarnation, second coming, manifestation and reign of the indwelling and incarnate Christ Faith, through their spiritual bodies.

These believers, who are now realizing what it means to be born from above, are declaring like the apostle Paul; "I previously rejected, crucified and buried the universal indwelling Christ of Faith by my own spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death".

"The previously Crucified Christ of Faith is now Resurrected and Reigning as indwelling and incarnate Savior, Master and Lord, through my spiritual body".

By following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, these Christ-centered Spiritually awake believers are now realizing, proclaiming and further establishing kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven.  

Called To Live The Paschal Mystery

Scripture text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, 'Salvation through faith and faithfulness to God's plan'

The gospel is the good news of mankind's liberation from slavery to sin and reconciliation with God and each other in and through the Christ of Faith [Son of God]. God sent the historical Jesus [Son of Man] into the world, to proclaim repentance, show all people how to follow God ways, and model righteousness and kingdom living here on earth [John 3:14-17]. The central focus of Jesus’ work is called the Paschal Mystery.  Embracing and steadfastly imitating Jesus' mission, vision and actions facilitate repentance, brings salvation and re-establish kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven [Matthew 6:10, Mark 1:14-15, John 14:6].

The bible assures us that God’s universal plan of redemption has been fully revealed in the life and ministry of the historical Jesus. Both the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul in today's epistle affirm that salvation came through faith and faithfulness to God's universal plan of redemption [John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 1:4-9]. They both declared that kingdom living is re-established and maintained here on earth, by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Mark 8:31-34, Colossians 1:26-29].

The Bible also declares that the Christ of Faith, the Word as Logos, is the universal presence and the image and likeness of God, in all mankind [Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:1-5]. Holy Scripture reveals that the Christ of Faith [Son of God] forever exists as Spirit, long before the Christ of Faith, through proper alignment and incarnation, in the power of the Holy Spirit, came down from heaven and became fully incarnate and fully manifested in the historical Jesus [Son of Man]  [John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 17:20-21].

Are you committed to correctly responding to God's universal call to follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery? Have you chosen to embrace and follow the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based faith and faithfulness of the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul? Is your faith and faithfulness centered in the second coming and reign of the universal Christ of Faith, in your life and in the lives of all persons?

God's ultimate and changeless plan of repentance, salvation and reconciliation must be universal. It must be applicable to all people, in and through all the worlds diverse religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. God's universal liberation, salvation and reconciliation with God as Trinity, and with one another as sons of men, must come to all through faith in and faithfulness to the incarnation of the universal Christ of Faith, through the spiritual body of all person [Genesis 1:26-31].

Aren’t members of the emerging, universal body of Christ literal, metaphorical, metaphysical and mystical believers in the incarnation of the indwelling Christ of Faith, certainly found in all the world religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups? Don’t these inclusive witnessing communities base their vitality in Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based relationships, transformation, righteousness and spirituality? Shouldn’t all members of the universal body of Christ seek the practical manifestation of the kingdom of God here on earth as social justice, feeding the poor, visiting the sick and prisoners, stopping contemporary slavery, respect for all persons, and working for environmental causes? 

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Manifestation Of Mankind's Universal Salvation

Ephesians 3:7-13, 'Paul's Ministry of Universal Reconciliation'.

By the leading of a star, God manifested his only begotten Son, the Christ of Faith, to all humankind, in the historical Jesus, as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem [Matthew 2:1-12]. Through his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul discerned that in the Paschal Mystery and the historical Jesus' ministry, God's eternal, universal plan of deliverance, salvation, redemption and abundant life for all mankind, through the Christ of Faith, was fully revealed, proclaimed and manifested. 

Paul called the mystery of Spirit-based transformation in human souls, hearts, minds and lives, mankind's indwelling and hidden hope of glory [Colossians 1:24-29]. He discerned that the indwelling Christ of Faith, the image and likeness of God, eternally dwelt in the spiritual body of historical Jesus, himself and all persons.  He affirmed that  the indwelling Christ of Faith is always ready and available, within every person, to meet the just physical, emotional, and spiritual requirements of God's changeless Law. 

The Christ of Faith is God's universal presence, truth and way to achieve humankind's redemption from sin, spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death [Ephesians 1:3-8]. Like the historical Jesus, Paul sought to explain this previously hidden revelation, true understanding and full manifestation of the Paschal Mystery, God's eternal Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based plan of salvation, love, grace and truth, through the Christ of Faith, for both Jews and Gentiles. 

Paul teaches that the historical Jesus is truly God's Messiah, the literal, allegorical, metaphysical and mystical revelation of God's redemption to both Jews and Gentiles. To Paul, the entire wisdom, knowledge, power and judgment of God are all eternally centered and fulfilled in the Christ of Faith.  To Paul, the historical Jesus fully embodied proper mental alignment, the incarnation and the fully orbed human manifestation of the Christ of Faith.

God has always given humankind free choice. We can choose to obey God's changeless Law by repenting and turning within to the Christ of Faith. In the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can fulfill the letter and spirit of God's law and more fully partake in God's universal economy of love, grace and truth. Through Christ-centered spiritual mindedness, we can re-discover, seek and serve the Christ of Faith, in the historical Jesus, in ourselves and in all persons.  We can through faith, humility, and obedience, follow the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery. We can further establish kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven [Matthew 6:10].

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The Paschal Mystery and kingdom living

Scripture Reference: Luke 17:20-21, 'Kingdom, Spiritual, Not Temporal'

The Kingdom of God which is within us, among us and in our midst is Spiritual. It is not temporal.  The historical Jesus made it clear that Christ-centered, kingdom living begins in the Christ of Faith, within the human spirit. It then spreads like a mustard seed through human hearts and minds as the temples and thrones of the living God, the Holy Spirit and the risen Christ of Faith, here on earth [Matthew 13:31, Luke 17:20-21, 21:5-6].

The prophet Isaiah declares that repentant, faithful and obedient believers will experience gladness, rejoicing and reconciliation with God, in this new heaven and new earth spiritual consciousness. In this normal, human state of Christ-centered, spiritual consciousness sin, separation, sufferings, spiritual sleep and spiritual death would no longer be remembered or come to mind [Isaiah 65:17]. Though previously hidden, the prophet Isaiah, the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul sought to explain to misinformed Jews, Christians and Geniles the presence and spiritual nature of the Christ of Faith and the kingdom of God, in human hearts, minds and lives.

The historical Jesus, taught, lived and modeled the full incarnation and manifestation of the Christ of Faith, the Image of God, in human flesh. He re-entered the spiritual kingdom of God, while here on earth by living the Paschal Mystery. Through repentance, humility and Christ-centered Faith, every person can awake from spiritual deafness, spiritual blindness, spiritual sleep and be resurrected from spiritual death, by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.

Each person can experience proper mental alignment, encounter and realize the incarnation of the Christ of Faith, through their spiritual bodies. By rejecting sin consciousness and abiding in Christ-consciousness, God's hidden, spiritual universe will be discerned and permanently established within human hearts and spread throughout our planet [Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelations 21:1-8]. By steadfastly following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, all people in all ethnic, cultural, secular and religious groups can practice kingdom living here on earth, as it is in heaven [Luke 11:1-4. 

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Realizing Eternal Life Now

Scripture Text: John 3:16-19, 'The life the historic Jesus promised'

Christ-centered living helps to explain why Jesus of Nazareth is also called the Christ of Faith. The historical Jesus steadfastly obeyed and fully manifested God's will and vision for human life as kingdom living, here on earth. This awesome human achievement and realization, in the Holy Spirit, is called he Paschal Mystery.

After the historical Jesus' ascension, the risen Christ was revealed as the eternal Christ of Faith, in the kingdom of God, within every person and in our midst. Christ-centered spirituality declares that by faith, obedience and following the historical Jesus, the Christ of Faith can be fully incarnate and fully appropriated in the hearts and lives of all who believe

At birth, all human beings after Adam and Eve begin life’s journey on the slippery slopes to spiritual deafness, spiritual blindness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death. Many people continue to lost sight of God’s original vision of Christ-centered kingdom living here on earth, which the historical Jesus revealed, taught and modeled. We can now have eternal life by following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery.

 

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Faithful Witnesses Of The Paschal Mystery

Scripture Text: 2 Timothy 2:15-19, 'Scripture study and godly living'

Christ-centered spiritually awake believers, in all the world religions, cultures and faith communities seek and serve the Christ of Faith, as the Image of God, in the spiritual body of all persons. Today’s Epistle 2 Timothy 2:15-19 encourages these believers to hold fast to the historical Jesus' universal faith, proclamation and hope of all mankind's resurrection from spiritual death and experience of kingdom living, here on earth, as revealed in the Gospel of Christ [John 1:16-17, 2 Timothy 2:8]. These believers are encouraged to study their scriptures, live a godly life and be reflections of the truth, light and life of the risen Christ of Faith, in the kingdom of God, within us and in our midst [Luke 17:20-21, Colossians 1:26-27, Revelations 21:1-5]. 

In today's text, the apostle Paul reminds us, that within many witnessing communities, believers often experience suffering, ostracism and persecution, when they engage in Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based soul winning, within their own faith communities [2 Timothy 2:9]. Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers are admonished to recognize that erroneous attitudes and all Satanic hatred and subtlety are directed at the Christ of Faith, in the spiritual body of all people, saints and sinners alike [Genesis 3:15, Revelations 12:10-12]. 

Faithful witnesses of the Gospel of Christ proclaim their conversion, intimacy, communion and eternal life with God and each other, through the Christ of Faith. They know that forgiveness of sins, sanctification and glorification are established through the work of the Holy Spirit and Christ-centered, spiritual mindedness. These believers experience the new, eternal and abundant life in Christ of Faith, by rightly dividing, teaching and sharing the Holy Scriptures in their own unique religions and faith communities, and by steadfastly following the historical Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 9:23-24].

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The Wholistic Approach In Living The Paschal Mystery

Sunday’s Epistle 2 Timothy 1:1-7, reminds all Christ-centered spiritually awake believers, in all witnessing communities to be bold and courageous in their proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. They are called to authenticity in their teaching, living and sharing their unique gifts and ministries, as they follow the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery.  They are challenged to be faithful ministers in rightly teaching, preaching and dividing the Christ-centered written and spoke Word of Truth, found in all the world religions.

Paul assures us that through the Christ-centered, spiritual mindedness of right brain hemisphere thinking, which the historical Jesus taught, all people, in all religions, cultures and ethnic groups can overcome internal fear, error, sin and all evil desires as well as external rejection and marginalization. Wholistic interpretation and daily practical application of the sacred writings and oral traditions in all the world religions are desperately needed in all religions, at this pivotal time in human history. 

Many literal, carnal and mortal minded religious leaders in all the world religions, consider the universal, metaphysical and mystical Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based teachings, principles and practices in the Gospel of Christ, as taught and modeled by the historical Jesus, heretical and apostasy. I believe that exclusion of the metaphysical and mystical approaches to any religion lays the sure foundation for confusion, error, xenophobia, spiritual sleep, spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness and spiritual death within any witnessing communities. 

Christ-centered, spiritually awake witnessing communities are now emerging in all cultures, ethnic groups and religions. They stresses that God's grace, love, power and hope, have been eternally given to all humankind, through the Christ of faith and the Holy Spirit in the spiritual body of every person [John 16:12-15, Colossians 1:24-27]. These witnesses reject the inappropriate dominion of left brain hemisphere thinking and seek to regain the appropriate balance of right brain hemisphere thinking, feeling, emotions and actions, which the historical Jesus taught and modeled, throughout his incarnate earthly ministry, as kingdom living.
 

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Different Opinions Concerning The Historic Jesus

Reference Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20, 'Peter's Confession of Jesus' Deity'.

Today's Gospel reading reveals that Jesus' 12 disciples, who knew him intimately, as well as the crowds who followed him, expressed different opinions about who the historic Jesus of Nazareth was. Matthew 16:13-14 declares, 'When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

In Matthew 16:15-17 we read this additional account. "Then he asked them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being".  Some bible translations state that Peter declared Jesus was the Christ. Matthew 16:20 states that the historic Jesus called himself the Son of Man as he cautioned his disciples to tell no man that he was the Messiah, the Son of the living God and the Christ.

The bible declares in John 1:1-5 and Hebrews 13:20, that God's eternal covenant relationship with all humankind is established in the eternal Christ of faith [Logos, the Word], who became fully incarnate and fully manifested in the historic Jesus of Nazareth. Here and in John 10:1-18, the historic Jesus described himself as the great shepherd of the sheep. In John 14:1-14, the historic Jesus described himself as the way, the truth and the life and assures us that no man can come to the Father except through him.

Is it possible that the blood [life] of God's eternal covenant with the Son actually refers to the eternal presence of the Christ of Faith, God's image and likeness, as the individualized Logos, in the spiritual body of the historic Jesus and every person [Genesis 1:26-27, Hebrews 13:20]?
Like most Christians, I believe that the historic Jesus, the Son of Mary, was uniquely aware of the character of God and his own personal dependence on and eternal intimate relationship with God as Abba Father [John 5:19, 30; 10:30]. I believe the historic Jesus of Nazareth was fully dependent on and uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach and fully model God's eternal plan for kingdom living, by incarnate human beings, while here on earth [Genesis 1:28-31]. Like the apostle Paul, I also call Jesus the Christ, because of his person, character and work as the Son of Man. To me the historic Jesus is the incarnate, visible head of the body of Christ.

The historic Jesus is the first born of spiritually awake human beings, who were previously spiritually unaware of the indwelling Christ of faith, before Jesus' incarnation. I do believe that the fullness of the Godhead as the Trinity became fully incarnate in the historic Jesus of Nazareth. I believe that God is pleased to reconcile to himself all things whether in earth or heaven, by making peace through the blood of the cross, the Christ of faith, within all persons [Colossians 1:15-20].
I now recognize that the historic Jesus and all persons are divine, eternal spiritual beings, the image and likeness of God, and sons and daughters of the living God, going through temporary incarnate human experiences. I believe that Jesus and Paul were called by God to make the Word of God [Logos] more fully know the mystery, which has been hidden down through the ages and generations, but now has been revealed to the saints.

I believe the historic Jesus actually lived and revealed the Paschal Mystery. He revealed the eternal liberated, transformed, spiritually awake human being, living under the reign of the Christ of faith [Logos]. The Christ of faith as the image of God dwells in the spiritual body of all people. The bible states that the Christ of faith in you, in me and in all people, is mankind's universal and eternal hope of glory [Colossians 1:23-27].

Do you sincerely desire to be delivered from slavery to sin, pass over into the freedom of God love in and through the Christ of faith [Logos]? Do you desire to be empowered by the Holy Spirit as the historic Jesus was? Do you believe all people are called by God to be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to lift up their own indwelling Christ of faith and follow the historic Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery [Matthew 16:24-26]? Do you believe through repentance, humility, faith and obedience, all people can more fully establish the invisible and visible kingdom of heaven here on earth, within us and in our midst [Matthew 6:9-10]? Who do you believe the historic Jesus is?    
   

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The Second Coming OF Christ

Reference Scripture: Hebrews 11:39 - 12:2, 'The New Dispensation  Inaugurated'

Christians believe the first revelation and full incarnation of the Christ of Faith [Logos], as the Image of God, occurred 2000 years ago in the Historic Jesus of Nazareth, as Messiah [John 1:1-5]. As Son of Man, Jesus first recognized, taught and fully manifested the Christ of Faith, the incarnate Word, as the eternal Spiritual Man, the real Son of God, within his spiritual body and the spiritual body of all persons. During this first coming of Christ, in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus completed the liberation, salvific and redemptive work the Father sent him to do, by living the Paschal Mystery [Luke 4:18-21, John 10:9-11].

Through humility, obedience and faith in Christ as universal Logos, Jesus taught and lived the New Covenant relationship between God and men [Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:7-13].  Jesus fully modeled the normal, potential, human experience of kingdom living, which God intended for all human beings on earth [Genesis 1:26-31]. Jesus desired and prayed to Our Father, God, that all believers would know and experience the same relationship with God, through the same Christ of Faith Who he knew, and thus become the universal body of Christ, throughout our planet  [John 17:21-26].

Now 'parousia' is the Greek term which many literal and metaphorically minded Christians use to describe the second coming or arrival of the historic Jesus of Nazareth, in the same physical body from heaven, here on earth. In Luke 9:23-27 however, Jesus declared these words to his disciples, the crowds and all who would choose to follow him in living the New Covenant, living the Paschal Mystery and Kingdom living while here on earth. '...If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me...". To Christ-centered spiritually awake believers in all religions these words of  Jesus describe not only the conditions of discipleship but more importantly they declare and affirm the universal second coming of the same Christ of Faith, Who he experienced, but now in the feelings, experiences, actions and thoughts of Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers, here on earth, in all the world religions and those involved in no religion.

Metaphysical and mystical Christ-centered, spiritually minded Christians choose by faith, humility and obedience to steadfastly following the historic Jesus. They believe and realize that the second coming of the Christ of Faith is now taking place as spiritual awakening, alignment, incarnation and supernatural regeneration, in the souls, hearts, minds, bodies and lives of all people who choose to follow Jesus in living the Paschal Mystery, under the guidance, power and anointing of the Holy Spirit [Luke 4:16-21; The Gospel of Thomas, Saying 17]. They know they are consciously, an active part of establishing the kingdom of heaven here on earth as it always is in heaven [Matthew 6:8-10, Luke 17:20-21].

The first coming of Christ was individually revealed, established and modeled in the historic Jesus of Nazareth. The second coming of Christ is now being fully revealed, maintained and further established in and through the universal body of Christ-centered believers throughout our planet. The Christ of Faith [Logos] is now discerned, worshiped and glorified as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in all the earth.

                   

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The Historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith

Scripture Text: Colossians 2:6-7, 'The Historical Jesus and The Christ of Faith'

The bible reveals that the apostle Paul never personally met, nor ever encountered the historical Jesus of Nazareth. It clearly states however that on the road to Damascus to arrest and persecute the disciples and followers of the historical Jesus of Nazareth as Saul, he personally encountered and was transformed to Paul by the living Christ of Faith. Throughout his ministry, the apostle Paul stressed his awareness of the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based mystery, which had been hidden from humankind down through the ages and generation. In Colossians 1:27 Paul describe this mystery in these words, "To whom God was pleased to make known to the Gentiles are the riches of this glorious mystery, which is Christ within you, the hope of [realizing the] glory".

In Colossians 1:4, Paul praised the Colossians believers as sincere disciples and followers of the historical Jesus of Nazareth. Apparently Paul and Epaphras recognized that these believers had lost their original enthusiasm and trust in the Christ of faith. They were now trusting entirely in the historic Jesus of Nazareth, the human personality, with absolute trust and confidence in Jesus' power, wisdom and goodness, instead of maintaining their primary focus on the indwelling Christ of faith. In today text the apostle Paul reminds these believers to renew their trust in the Christ of faith, within Jesus of Nazareth, within himself, within the believers who he intended to persecute in Damascus, within themselves and within all people [Acts 9:3-7].

In Colossians 1:8-12, Paul prayed that these and all sincere followers of the historical Jesus, would also come to know the fullness of their divine heritage which the historical Jesus revealed and he now realized through his personal  encounter with the Christ of faith, in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Paul discerned and taught the need for all believers to honor and follow the historical Jesus as Way-shower and Savior.  In today's text however he stresses the greater and vital importance of the believer's personal encounter with the Christ of Faith, as indwelling Spirit, the Word and Image of God, who became fully incarnate and fully manifested in Jesus of Nazareth as universal King of Kings, Master and Lord of Lords [Genesis 1:26-27, John 1:1-5].

Wouldn't it help to clarify the unnecessary confusion about Jesus of Nazareth [physical personality] and the Christ of Faith [Spirit], if theologians and leaders in all the world religions would just embrace Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah, the Son of Man, who Christians now call 'The Christ', because he truly modeled, revealed, taught, and fully lived the Paschal Mystery? Doesn't the bible declare that through, faith, humility and obedience, in the power of the Holy Spirit, the universal Christ of Faith became fully incarnate and fully manifested in Jesus of Nazareth [Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:15-21]? Doesn't Paul's ministry stress that all humankind can now live the Paschal Mystery, through faith, humility and obedience to the Christ of Faith, within each person and following the historic Jesus? Isn't the Christ of Faith [Spirit] humankind's only universal hope, for realizing and living the same glorified life with the Father, which the historical Jesus taught and lived here on our beloved planet earth [Colossians 1:26-29]?      

Lordship Of Jesus And The Living Christ

Scripture text: Colossians 1:18-19, 'Christ's headship of the church'

The apostle Paul proclaimed for himself the same Christ-centered, Spirit-based relationship and union with God, which Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah had experienced. This new birth and new life experience involved repentance, proper mental alignment and the incarnation of the living Christ. He declared that by Christ-centered faith, this new birth and new life is actually available and accessible to all people. Paul realized this because of his willingness to embrace and in faith, humility and obedient surrender to the living Christ, as Savior and Lord.

Paul discovered that his personal mind of the flesh, left-brain hemisphere dominance, was at emnity with the will of God for his life. He also discovered that his mind of the Spirit, right-brain hemisphere dominion was in alignment and harmony with God's will for his life [Romans 8:1-11].  Paul proclaimed the supremacy of Jesus of Nazareth as the unique and full human manifestation of God, revealing Himself to humankind in and through the living Christ. He also declared the supremacy of the eternal Spirit, the living Christ as the head of Jesus of Nazareth and the universal, spiritual head of the body of Christ.

To Jesus and Paul, the living Christ is mankind's universal, indwelling center of light, life, love, grace, truth, authority, identity, worship, security and meaning [John 17:15-23, Colossians 1:15-16]. The living Christ is mankind's spiritual indwelling and incarnate King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The living Christ is eternal Spirit, the Image of God, in the spiritual body of all people.  

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Substitute or Wayshower?

Image via Wikipedia

Scripture Text:
John 10:22-30, ‘Jesus declares he is the Messiah and True Shepherd’.

In John 10:22-26, Jesus explained that as Messiah, he has totally trusted and obeyed God’s will and plan for his life. The Paschal Mystery declares that Jesus passed over from ordinary human life on earth through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension into a new and glorified life with the Father. In the power of the Holy Spirit, the living Christ became fully incarnate and manifested in Jesus, so that all people could experience deliverance from slavery to sin and share the same new and glorified life, by listening, hearing and following Jesus.

In John 17:20-26, Jesus prayed that all believers would share his relationship of union with God. This mysterious union establishes the living Christ as the Only Begotten Son, the image of God, in the spiritual body of all people [Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27]. Jesus Christ declared himself the true Messiah and Way-shower.

In today's Gospel John 10:22-30, Jesus again confessed his total dependence on God and the Holy Spirit, for removing all blocks to this mysterious union in every aspect of his life and ministry. Rather than being a penalty, substitute and atonement for mankind’s sin, Jesus’ blood symbolizes the life giving Spirit, forgiving and removing all gaps and blocks created by sin. By repentance and faith the living Christ is now re-establishing humankind's divine heritage.

For many Christians the central focus of faith, hope and the born again experiences are alignment, incarnation and kingdom living. These sheep follow Jesus in total dependence on the same Holy Spirit and the living Christ, in sharing God’s new covenant of reconciliation. By listening, hearing and following Jesus as Way-shower and Good Shepherd, the kingdom of heaven is now being more fully established in our midst and within us.

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