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.  

Paschal Mystery: Wisdom And Power Of God

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, 'Paul Preaches Christ Crucified'

The bible teaches that the Paschal Mystery is the center of the work the Father sent the historical Jesus to do on earth. It is the historical Jesus' passing over from life on earth, through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension, into a new and glorified life with the Father, through the incarnate Christ of Faith [Colossians 2:9]. The Paschal Mystery is also the truth that is unfolding, about mankind's regeneration and reconciliation with God and one another, through the indwelling and incarnate Christ of Faith. The Paschal Mystery is especially about believers in all the world religions and secular groups, actually passing over from the slavery of sin, into the freedom of God's love, through the incarnation of the indwelling Christ of Faith, by following the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery [Matthew 16:21-26, Colossians 1:26-27]. 

The Paschal Mystery is the historical Jesus as Messiah, the Son of Man, preaching, teaching and healing as the incarnate presence of Abba Father, the eternal, invisible Christ of Faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, 2000 years ago [John 5:30, 10:30; Luke 4:16-19]. As Emmanuel, the historical Jesus fully revealed the Christ of Faith, as God's presence, wisdom and righteousness, within himself and within all people. As Savior, the historical Jesus revealed the indwelling Christ of Faith as God's sanctification and redemption for all mankind.

Both the historical Jesus and the apostle Paul proclaimed the indwelling Christ of Faith as mankind's universal center of origin, meaning, morality and destiny. They taught that the Christ of Faith is the universal image and likeness of God, in the spiritual body of the historical Jesus and all persons [Genesis 1:26-27, John 17:20-26, Ephesians 3:8-13]. Like the historical Jesus, the apostle Paul proclaimed the indwelling Christ of Faith as mankind's universal salvation and hope of glory. Unfortunately, mankind's spiritual blindness, spiritual deafness, spiritual sleep and spiritual death, continue to hide the Christ of Faith, from mankind's discernment and appropriation, down through the  ages and generations [Colossians 1:24-29].

The esoteric message of the Paschal Mystery declares that the Christ of Faith is God's universal, Word [Logos]. It declares that the Christ of Faith and the Word [Holy Scripture], cleanse the human consciousness of sin and dead works. By faith, the Christ of Faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, also enables all mankind to serve the living God, in spirit and in truth [John 4:23-24]. The essential message of the Gospel of Christ is the Paschal Mystery.

Is it possible that the invisible Christ of Faith as [Logos], who forever dwells in our spiritual bodies, remains hidden and crucified again, by our present, prevailing  worldly, mortal and carnal mindsets and consciousness [Hebrews 6:4-8]?  Can you describe how 'Christ crucified' is helping you and the members of your witnessing faith community, to live the Three-Self Movement (Self-rule, self-support, self-propagation)? Is it not true that in order for mankind to experience the transforming presence, wisdom and power of God in our thoughts, feelings, emotions, relationships and actions, we must all take up our cross daily, metaphysically and mystically, and follow the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery and kingdom living, here on earth [Matthew 16:24, Romans 8:1-11, Luke 17:20-21]? Like the apostle Paul, is it not true that spiritually awake believers, in all the world religions, can now and actually do by faith, encounter the historical Jesus, as the universal, indwelling Christ of Faith, the Image and likeness of God, in and through their own spiritual bodies [Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27]?
  

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Unity And Universality Of The Christ Of Faith

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 1:10-16, 'Christ, the universal Lamb of God' 

Living the Paschal Mystery is often strongly rejected as foolishness by many exoteric religious and secular minded people. It is however more warmly embraced and applied, as the universal power of God unto salvation, by most esoteric, spiritually awake, religious people, in all the world religions. Like the historical Jesus, the apostle Paul also taught that only the cross does save humankind from vain and erroneous human philosophies, and brings all mankind to the true, exoteric and esoteric knowledge of God’s grace, truth, wisdom and love, through the universal, indwelling Christ of Faith, the image of God, in the spiritual body of all persons [Genesis 1:26-31, Matthew 16:24-28, Colossians 1:26-27].

Mortal minded people believe that human beings are now experiencing separation from God and one another. The carnal minded are intellectually motivated to deny that all human beings have eternal spiritual bodies. They are thus preoccupied with the things of men, rather than the things of God. Mortal, carnal and worldly mindedness are among the diverse manifestations of the mind of the flesh. Spiritually minded people realize, that all humans, like the historical Jesus, are eternal spiritual beings, going through temporary, incarnate, human experiences [John 1:1-5, Romans 8:1-11].

In Romans 8:5-8, the apostle Paul declares that the mind of the flesh, always burdens people with the sins of erroneous thinking, spiritual blindness and spiritual death. Paul makes it clear that the mind of the flesh creates divisions, schisms, conflict and separation. Paul realized that the historical Jesus' exoteric and esoteric message of the cross, is foolishness to those who are perishing in the erroneous thinking, spiritual blindness and spiritual death of the mind of the flesh [1 Corinthians 1:17-18]. 

The Bible declares that the Book of Revelations completes the unveiling of the limited exoteric and the universal esoteric messages of the historical Jesus. It describes the second coming of the universal Christ of Faith on earth, as it is in heaven [Matthew 6:10]. It outlines many aspects of the coming triumph and reign of the universal Christ of Faith, in human hearts, minds, emotions, lives and affairs, here on earth. These apocalyptic writing describes many of the literal, metaphorical, metaphysical and mystical end time experiences, of people following and those choosing not to follow the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery. 

Are you numbered among those Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers, in your unique religion, who with God's help, have chosen to steadfastly follow the historical Jesus, in living the Paschal Mystery? Are you daily, in the power of the Word and the Holy Spirit, crossing out the inappropriate dominion of the mind of the flesh? Have you chosen, with God's help, to put on the unity and universality of the mind of the indwelling and incarnate Christ of Faitht? 

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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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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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Substitute or Wayshower?

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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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