Born From Above

 In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam a command, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17) In saying "you shall surely die" literally means "dying you shall surely die." In other words, in eating from the tree "of the knowledge of good and evil" Adam would experience death in two realm, first the spiritual realm then the physical. In the spiritual realm, his sin cut off his ability to communion with God and he became dominated by his body and soul, that is, the flesh. (Genesis 6:3) We also see this in the physical realm, after he ate of the tree, his physical body lived another 930 years (Genesis 5:5).

When Jesus met with Nicodemus, He made a very interesting statement, "Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-6) The key here is found in verse six. There is a distinction between the flesh (body and soul) and the spirit. Notice, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In other words, the human spirit is born (born again) of God's Spirit. After Adam fell, all people were now spiritually dead and were in need to be born of God's Spirit. In order for this to happen, God would have to reverse what Adam did. As believers, we know this was accomplished through Jesus Christ. But how?

Isaiah 53:9 tells us, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death..."  However, in the Hebrew the word "death" is plural, deaths. This indicates that Jesus died both spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "...And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) The Apostle Paul tells us, "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21) God made Jesus sin with our sin. Paul tells us, "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23) We know that Jesus was sinless, (Hebrews 4:15) so it was not His physical death that gives humanity the right and privileged to be born again of the Spirit, but His spiritual death that paid the price and now provides "...the gift of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Keep in  mind that Jesus was fully human. It was not the Holy Spirit in Him that became sin, but Jesus' human spirit.  

The Apostle Paul tells us, "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) The old man (the old spiritually dead, satanic nature) is dead, so let it be dead and live in the newness of life. Paul tells us, "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:5) "even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:5) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13) Here we witness the miracle of the eternities which took place in the depths of hell where Jesus was "Justified in the Spirit," (1 Timothy 3:16) where Jesus was, "...put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) 

How it must have shaken the foundation of hell when they saw Him made alive breaking the bonds of spiritual death, "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18) The Father said of Jesus after He was made alive, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." (Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33) Paul reveals, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Jesus Himself was the fist to be born again and has now opened the door of redemption to all to become as He is. PTL

Paul tell us, "Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:25) In hell God declared Jesus righteous and alive and at the same time counted us righteous and alive also. We are now new creations, (2 Corinthians 5:17) His sons and daughters. (1 John 3:1) The moment we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, new birth became a reality in us and "our old man was crucified with Him," it died. Jesus tells us, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) So let us say goodby to the old man, and live in the fullness of the new abundant life in Christ Jesus.

Let Us Exceeding Rejoice

The word freedom comes with a variety of definitions, such as; the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint; absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government; the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. Out of these definitions, "the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved," seems to best sum up what Jesus accomplished for humanity. When looking through the scriptures we find that God began the process of redeeming man as soon as man fell, promising that a Redeemer should come who would break the dominion of Satan and restore to man his lost dominion and standing. Some of the most compelling passages of scripture concerning this monumental event were foretold by the prophets, especially the prophet Isaiah.

In Isaiah 7:14, we have a declarative statement of the incarnation, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Notice how this would come about, "The Lord Himself" emphasizing God's might and power shall give a sign or miraculous work and wonder for our benefit. What would this miraculous work be? "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son." She is to be a daughter of the House of David, (remembering that Christ would be of the House of David and that Joseph was not Jesus' father, God was) and she shall conceive and bear a Son and His name shall be called "Immanuel," that is, God with us. Hallelujah!

As we proceed forward, look at Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, (inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous) Counselor, (the great attorney of God's family)  Mighty God, (all powerful) Everlasting Father, (having no beginning or end) Prince of Peace" (complete freedom from disturbance; complete quiet and tranquility). Yet, in all these glorious names, He would humbly come as the sin substitute for all humanity.

Turning to the four gospels, it is there we see Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane pouring Himself out in prayer as He was about to face the most horrific event that he would ever face. We see Him arrested, taken to the High Priest Caiaphas; insulted and struck; He is taken before Pilate, then Herod; He was mocked; see Him scourged, His back laid open, blood flowing, His flesh torn as the cruel blows fall mercilessly upon His bared back by the awful Roman lictor. His own clothes replaced with the mock garment of kingly authority; a mock crown of thorns pressed deep upon His brow; more mocking comes and His own clothes are placed roughly about Him, forced to carry the patibulum (a wooden beam weighting about 100 pounds) in which He would be nailed to. Heading to Golgotha, He staggering beneath the weight of the patibulum and fal1s to the ground. Rising from the ground, He again heads ever closer to Golgotha.

Weakened by the loss of blood from the merciless beating, He staggers blindly up the mountain side, surrounded by soldiers who encircle Him. He and the patibulum which He carried are laid roughly down upon the stauros (a wooden beam in which the patibulum was attached to form a cross). Next,  Roman soldiers with cruel hate drive the spikes into His hands; then He is lifted up naked, and the Cross is dropped into a hole to support it. Jesus the Nazarene is crucified! We watch the mob as it surges backward and forward about the Cross. We hear the chief priest's hurling their bitter taunts in the face of the suffering Son of God. We hear the mob in their bitter denunciation, led on by their priesthood. Such a horrific sight. It was not a sight for angels, or for men, but for demons only, and yet the worse was yet to come for the suffering Substitute.

In see this unfold, we now have a better understanding of the prophecy spoken by Isaiah, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4) In the Four Gospels we see Him only stricken of man, but Isaiah sees into the spiritual realm. He sees the Redeemer as He hangs there,"stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." God is dealing not with Jesus' body, but with His spirit. Isaiah goes on, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5-6) Here we see God taking our sin and laying every bit of it upon the spirit of the innocent Lamb of God, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

Jesus, who is God the Word who became flesh (John 1:1, 14) is now man's sin Substitute. He has taken man's place. The whole human race is now represented in Him, as He hangs there under judgment on the accursed tree becoming a curse with every curse (Galatians 3:13). We also see that He becomes sick, with all of humanities sicknesses, "Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick..." (Isaiah 53:10 AMP) God takes your sin and mine, as well as every sickness and every curse and places it upon Jesus, into His very being. Jesus, nailed to the cross, suspended between heaven and earth becoming the outcast of heaven and earth. From the cross the Son of God cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me." (Matthew 27:46) Finally, the time had come when "Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last." (Mark 15:37) As mentioned before, when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane pouring Himself out in prayer as He was about to face the most horrific event that he would ever face, it was finally here.

Not only was it the Father's plan for His sinless Son to die on the cross, that His blood be shed for all humanity, but he was to go to hell itself to pay the full penalty of man's sin. God in His justice could not have acquitted humanity so that mankind could stand in His presence until every charge against him had been wiped off the books. (Isaiah 43:25) Only then could man stand before God as clean and as free as though he had never sinned. God could not pardon man until an adequate sacrifice had been made. Jesus tells us, "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:40) Peter quotes David the king, "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27)  The story unfolds.

Peter tells us, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) Notice, Jesus was made alive in spirit. He would not have been made alive in spirit had not He died in spirit. As it was with Adam, so it was with Jesus. Jesus died in spirit on the cross, before He died in the flesh. Peter declares that Jesus not only died in the flesh, physically, but that He also died in spirit, spiritually, and therefore His resurrection was a double resurrection. He was made alive, first in spirit, and then in the flesh, His spirit being raised from the dead and re-united with His body. The Apostle Paul tells us, "He put off from Himself the principalities and the powers, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them." (Colossians 2:15) Here is a picture of Christ in hell, with the whole host of demons attempting to keep Him there, but when the penalty of our sin had been paid in full, when justice was satisfied, Satan had no power to hold Him.

Paul tells us, "Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:25) The very moment the sin problem was settled, the moment Jesus
Christ was legally justified, was made alive in spirit once more, He cast off the hosts of demons, and became the Master of hell by taking from Satan the keys of death and hell. (Revelation 1:8) Jesus died as our sacrificial Lamb, but He rose as Lord, as Master of death, of hell and of the grave. The matchless, mighty Son of God had gone into the strong mans house, bound him and took his spoils. (Matthew 12:29) Jesus has taken from Satan all his authority, his dominion and now offers it to fallen man through His matchless name and grace. What does this mean to humanity?

It means that every person who repents (express a sincere regret or remorse about their sin), confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as their Savior, stands legally acquitted in the presence of God, free and clear of all charges against them. It means that God is vindicated, He has taken advantage of no one. He can now save humanity by His grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but also judge every person for rejecting His way to freedom. It means that Satan is defeated, and man can be free from sin, sickness, disease, poverty, death and all the works of the devil. It means that man is legally justified, declared righteous and is an heir of God and joint heir with Christ. (Romans 3:21 through Romans 8:39). It means that man, through faith in Christ receive the promise of eternal life. (1 John 2:25) It means that man can become a child of God and have all the privileges as sons and daughters. (John 1:12-13) It means that heaven is legally the home of God's children.(John 14:1-4)

Let us look beyond "Resurrection Sunday" and live in the abundant and the triumphant life that Jesus has given to us. "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ..." (2 Corinthians 2:14) Remember, we are no longer imprisoned or enslaved by the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4) So, let us never forget what Jesus has done for us, "And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail" (exceeding rejoice) (Matthew 28:9) and every day, exceeding rejoice in our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Have a wonderful Resurrection Day. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always...

Look What He Has Done

We cannot begin to fully understand what Jesus had experienced from the cross to the sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. We can however see what scripture records to give us some idea as to what He suffered as our Substitute. On that awful cross, He not only became sin with our sin, but He became sick with our sicknesses and He also became a curse, "Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains); Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all…Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief.” (He has made Him sick) (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10) "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree).” (Galatians 3:13)

Is it any wonder that the Father turned His back from Him? Is it any wonder from the cross Jesus cried in agony, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1) He was our sin Substitute. He had taken humanities place in judgment. Sin was not reckoned to Him, it was not set to His account, He took on humanities fallen nature and became sin. If believers could only take this in, the fact that He was made sin, he was made sick and a curse and that we were identified with Him on the cross, then we could grasp the reality of His substitutionary work. This truth of His identifying with us and we identifying with Him has been a doctrine instead of a reality to most believers. In every sense, not only did the Father lay these things on Jesus, but He laid us on Him, "I was crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20) If we would only let these things be implanted in our heart, it will be the end of the dominion of sins and sicknesses among believers.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "For sin (Satan) shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 ) The fact that Jesus was made sin with our sin and sick with our sickness in our place as our Substitute means, Satan has no legal right to put sin or sickness on any believer, and in the Name of Jesus we can stay free from Satan's power. True, we have mortal bodies, but our mortal body is filled with the life of God, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) The Holy Spirit lives inside of each and every believer!

The Apostle Paul also tells us, "even when we were dead in trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:5)  "Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:12-13) This is the heart of redemption. These are some of the wonderful works that our glorious Substitute, Jesus has done for us.  (Please take some time and read Psalm 22 and Psalm 88. In these two Psalms we get a picture of Christ's suffering on the cross and in hell.)

While in hell we see the remarkable work of God in Christ, "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous." (Romans 4:25 Literal Translation) "We having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1 Literal Translation) "For Jesus who did not know sin, in our behalf, God did make sin, that we may become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 Literal Translation) "God was manifested in the flesh, justified (declared righteous) in the Spirit…" (1 Timothy 3:16) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) "And then having drawn the sting of all the powers ranged against us, He (Jesus) exposed them, shattered, empty and defeated, in his final glorious triumphant act!" (Colossians 2:15 Philips) "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18)

Notice, in the depths of hell Jesus was justified, made alive in His spirit by the Holy Spirit and in the mind of the Father, we were made alive with Him. The moment that He was made alive, the Father justified Him, declared Him righteous. He was declared righteous because He had satisfied the claims of Justice. He had met every demand that the Supreme Court of the Universe held against humanity. He was made righteous with the life of God as we are made righteous in the New Creation.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17 ) He also shattered, emptied and defeated the powers and forces of Satan as well as taking away from Satan his trophies of hell and death.

Jesus was made so righteous He left the depths of hell and could enter the Fathers presence without a trace of the sin or the sicknesses that were placed upon Him. He was made so righteous, that He could enter into the presence of the Father without a sense of sin, guilt, unworthiness or inferiority. He was made so righteous it was as though sin, sickness and becoming a curse had never been placed on Him. Finally, we see, "God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: You are My Son, today I have begotten You." (Acts 13:33 ) This verse is not referring to the incarnation, but Christs’ resurrection and man’s liberation in Christ through His resurrection. The Apostle Paul tells us, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Jesus is the first firstborn from the dead, or put another way, the first one born again.

Now, grace through faith opens the doors to a freedom that only believers can experience in Christ. So, when we have good times or difficult times, let us never forget what our wonderful Lord and Savior has accomplished and given to us, abundant and eternal life!!!

Go, In Jesus Name

Now that Easter Sunday, or better named Resurrection Sunday, has come and gone, where do we go from here? Is it churchianity as usual or do we, "...forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?" (Philippians 3:132-14) For many in the church today, Resurrection Sunday means putting on an Easter outfit, attend a church service, have a fine meal with family, which there is nothing wrong with, and then moving on with business as usual. However, are we seeing Christ's resurrection more than simply a day of traditions or as a catalysis of greater things in Christ and His kingdom? Paul's statement, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was not for him alone, but for all believers to entertain every day of our lives.  

We all have various traditions that we embrace in the natural world, but when it comes to the spiritual world, how few really know, possess, or enjoy what Jesus has provided through His death, resurrection and glorification. You remember that Jesus said as He left the disciples, "In My Name ye shall cast out demons," (Mark 16:17) and you also may recall that a large part of His ministry was filled with combating the unseen hosts of darkness. One would naturally think in reading modern religious literature written today, as well as listening to the average preacher's sermon, that demons either no longer exist or else they had been herded together in the slums of the city and were spending their entire time among that environment only.

When Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus, he told them that their combat was, "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) We see this in the prayers of Epaphras for the church at Colossi, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12) Notice that the phrase "always laboring fervently for you in prayers," which means to wrestle, struggle, combat. Who was he wrestling, struggling and combating with? Surely, it was not with the Father, whose eternal purpose through Christ is to bless men. No, he was combating the hidden forces that were warring against the purpose of God.

So many people are held by the power of demons. They want deliverance from sin, addictions and all manner of bondage's, but they are unable to break loose from the bonds that are holding them. They do not need a program, a pill or a doctor, they need deliverance. I do not often share stories of my experiences, but, I will share one here to further my point. I remember a person that I was sharing the gospel with. He was intoxicated when I met him. I later found out that he was held by darkness to alcohol and was constantly intoxicated. As I was speaking to him about Christ, he replied, "I cannot become a Christian. I want to, but something holds me." With that, a chill struck me. My flesh was experiencing the oppression that held him. The Holy Spirit rose up inside of me, I laid a hand on him and from my mouth I spoke with authority, "In the Name of Jesus, release him and come out of him."  With that, the man confessed Christ and was instantly and completely sobered by the power of vested in the Name of Jesus.

The quicker we recognize that the very air about us is filled with hostile forces, who are attempting to destroy our fellowship with the Father, and to deprive us of our usefulness in the service of our Master, the better it will be for us. There are three things necessary in ones life in order to take the victory over demons and bring deliverance to the captives; First, we must be born again children of God. Second, we must not have any unconfessed sin or unforgiveness in the heart, if we do, the demons will laugh at our prayers. Third, we must know the power of the Name of Jesus, and
know how to use it. Please take some time and read the Book of Acts carefully. Notice how the disciples used the Name of Jesus.

For instance, notice the simplicity of Peter's use of the Name of Jesus in Acts chapter three. You will notice that he does not stop to pray for the paralyzed man. All he does, is say, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) There is no hint that he attempted to exercise what we call faith. He did not worry about the situation nor did he stop to analyze what it meant. All he did was to act on the Words of Jesus, "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." (John 16:23) Peter knew that Jesus had given him and all believers (Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12) the right to use His Name to continue the works of the Father on earth. Those in the early church simply entered into the right to use the Name of Jesus with authority, but with the simplicity of a child.

It seems to me that this is the same approach that all believers need to take today, that is, bring back the simplicity of true Christianity. The Christianity of love, power, unity, grace and faith, where Jesus is Master, Lord and King and the church is a direct reflection of Him. So, if you are dealing with defeat or you feel hemmed in by the power of the adversary, I want to encourage you to rise up in the Almighty Name of Jesus, cast off the enemy, receive your deliverance and then go, and set others free in the Almighty Name of Jesus...

Say Goodby to the Old Man

In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam a command, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17) In saying "you shall surely die" literally means "dying you shall surely die." In other words, in eating from the tree "of the knowledge of good and evil" Adam would experience death in two realm, first the spiritual realm then the physical. In the spiritual realm, his sin cut off his ability to communion with God and he became dominated by his body and soul, that is, the flesh. (Genesis 6:3) We also see this in the physical realm, after he ate of the tree, his physical body lived another 930 years (Genesis 5:5).

When Jesus met with Nicodemus, He made a very interesting statement, "Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-6) The key here is found in verse six. There is a distinction between the flesh (body and soul) and the spirit. Notice, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." In other words, the human spirit is born (born again) of God's Spirit. After Adam fell, all people were now spiritually dead and were in need to be born of God's Spirit. In order for this to happen, God would have to reverse what Adam did. As believers, we know this was accomplished through Jesus Christ. But how?

Isaiah 53:9 tells us, "And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death..."  However, in the Hebrew the word "death" is plural, deaths. This indicates that Jesus died both spiritually and physically. Isaiah also tells us, "...And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) The Apostle Paul tells us, "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21) God made Jesus sin with our sin. Paul tells us, "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23) We know that Jesus was sinless, (Hebrews 4:15) so it was not His physical death that gives humanity the right and privileged to be born again of the Spirit, but His spiritual death that paid the price and now provides "...the gift of God, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Keep in  mind that Jesus was fully human. It was not the Holy Spirit in Him that became sin, but Jesus' human spirit.  

The Apostle Paul tells us, "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) The old man (the old spiritually dead, satanic nature) is dead, so let it be dead and live in the newness of life. Paul tells us, "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:5) "even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:5) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13) Here we witness the miracle of the eternities which took place in the depths of hell where Jesus was "Justified in the Spirit," (1 Timothy 3:16) where Jesus was, "...put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) 

How it must have shaken the foundation of hell when they saw Him made alive breaking the bonds
of spiritual death, "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:18) The Father said of Jesus after He was made alive, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You." (Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33) Paul reveals, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Jesus Himself was the fist to be born again and has now opened the door of redemption to all to become as He is. PTL

Paul tell us, "Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:25) In hell God declared Jesus righteous and alive and at the same time counted us righteous and alive also. We are now new creations, (2 Corinthians 5:17) His sons and daughters. (1 John 3:1) The moment we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, new birth became a reality in us and "our old man was crucified with Him," it died. Jesus tells us, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) So let us say goodby to the old man, and live in the fullness of the new abundant life in Christ Jesus.

Child of God - Part 3

We have talked about the catastrophic nature of the fall of man. How man is hopeless, godless and in a world that was controlled by the father of sin, Satan. The only way that man could be restored to the relationship that he had with God before the fall, could only be accomplished through a mediator. Someone who has a legal standing with God and at the same time can sympathize, understand and represent man before God. The all-knowing, all-wise God, knew before creation what Adam would do and also had the plan to completely restore man to the same relationship that he had before Adam disobeyed his Father and Maker. (Ephesians 1:3-6) How would God do this? He would have to take the liability of man's treason upon Himself. The Apostle John tells us that God the Word became flesh. (John 1:1, 14) Deity put on humanity (flesh). 

The question of the humanity and deity of Jesus has been the battle ground of controversy from the time of the early church mostly among philosophers, and theologians. Why? Because, Jesus is a puzzle to them. To the natural mind He is a mystery. (1 Corinthians 2:14) In the history of man, no man has ever had such an incredible impact as He. He changed liars to truth-tellers, lazy men to workers, thieves to honest men, and so much more. Basically, He changes one's nature the moment they take Him as his Savior and crowns Him Lord.  So, to understand the deity and humanity of Jesus, to comprehend the incarnation we must ask ourselves, "Could the Son of God have been incarnate if His body had been conceived by natural means, (the union of a man and a woman)? Would it have been possible for God to have come into a child born of natural means and dwell in the child and be incarnate?"

This could not be so because scripture reveals to us through the Apostle Paul, "for al1 have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12) If Jesus had been born through the natural means of man and God had come into Him, He would have been nothing more than a sinful man with God dwelling in Him. He would not have qualified as the sinless Son of God. The only way that man could be redeemed would have to be by the incarnation. It would have to be one who would not be subject to death, nor subject to Satan. The fact is, during Jesus' earthly walk, He was not a subject of death, neither was He a subject of Satan. Death had no dominion over Him until the sins of the world had been laid upon Him on the Cross. (1 Peter 2:24)

Jesus was not mortal nor immortal, but was a perfect human as Adam was before the Fall. If God could have changed the nature of a child after birth so that He could be incarnate in the child, He could as well have changed the nature of the whole human race in the same way. Although man would have benefited greatly by this, to do this would have been an injustice to God Himself and to Satan. The reason behind this is, the sin problem would not have been legally settled and the penalty of man's transgression would not have been legally paid. This would have opened the door for Satan to cry foul. Although Satan himself is corrupt, it would have given him the right to accuse God bending justice in favor of man. So, man's redemption would need to be accomplished on complete legal grounds. The Redeemer would have to be a man. He must be one over whom Satan had no legal claims, no authority over and be sinless as Adam had and was before the fall. The only way that this could come about was in the way the angel Gabriel revealed it to the virgin Mary, "And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) The incarnation was the only solution to the human problem.

The incarnation is the basic miracle of Christianity. It proves the preexistence of Christ and is the foundation and reason for all subsequent miraculous manifestations of divine power. The incarnation of deity with humanity would provide the very thing that man was in dire need of, the perfect Mediator. Although Jesus' time on earth served many purposes and fulfilled all the law and all that the prophets foretold of Him, it all culminated with His main mission, to die as a substitute for the sin of all humanity. His death was to pay the price for all the evil and wickedness of man. The just for the unjust. The righteous for the unrighteous. This was all Gods doing. (Isaiah 53) The sinless Son of God would freely lay His life down (John 10:17-18) to satisfy justice and pay in full the sin debt that no person on earth could ever pay. Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

Although it was man who betrayed God, the Father's desire to have a family of son's and daughter's was so great, that His love moved Him to to make things right between Himself and man through the death of His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) To think of such love staggers the imagination. The Apostle John tells us, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1) Take a moment and meditate on such an incredible truth. The brilliant Creator of everything seen and unseen; the most holy, righteous, perfect, Almighty God took it upon Himself to restore man to His intended, legal and rightful position as His children. All one has to do is to confess Jesus as Lord and receive Him as Savior. This act of faith transforms the sinner instantly by-means-of new birth an gives them the right to become a child of God. (John 1:12) PTL 

Memorial Day

Today, is the fourth Monday of the month of May and in the United States it is a national holiday entitled, Memorial Day. It is a day in which Americans remember the service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives so that others may have freedom. They did not give their lives for the United States alone, but as they fought and died in the numerous conflicts throughout the world, they did it to bring an end to demonized dictators who enjoy(ed) killing, like Satan their father, have only one desire, to have power. They fought and died to turn back these satanic ruled people whose only objective was to steal, kill, destroy and or hold in bondage to slavery their fellow man in efforts to promote their tyrannical reign. Let us never forget those in the armed forces who have gone before and those today who are ready to do what it takes to defend and protect the citizens of the United States of America.

In a similar way, Christians also have a Memorial Day. However, our Memorial Day is not only a day of remembrance, but a day of celebration. We celebrate the day that we "confessed with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and were saved." (Romans 10:9) We celebrate the fact the Jesus Christ also paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving His life to save (redeem, heal, deliver, make whole) all humanity from Satan, the most evil, murderous tyrant known to man. The Bible reveals to us, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) and "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)

When we consider what Jesus did for mankind the mind can hardly comprehend it. The apostle Paul reveals to us through the Holy Spirit, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned  (Romans 5:12) and speaking of the state of all men since the fall, “…having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) This means that not one person in all of mankind had the ability to provide redemption. God Himself must provide man’s redemption. God must redeem man from the dominion of Satan. Death must be destroyed and man’s authority over the Satan must also be restored. We also must keep in mind that God is just, "…God is abundant in justice…” (Job 37:23) and therefore mankind could only be redeemed on absolute legal grounds. Even though God's love for man is unfathomable and the fact that He is also sovereign, He could not redeem man outside the realm of justice.

God would have to provide a substitute who would not have man’s satanic fallen nature but would be like Adam. He could not be mortal or immortal, but a perfect man as Adam was before the fall. He must fulfill the entire Mosaic Law, withstand the onslaught of all the devils attacks without sin, meet the demands of justice, (meaning that He would have to pay the penalty for man’s crimes against God) by suffering in man's place by becoming sin, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Being make sin the Redeemer would be separated from the presence of God by going to hell, which is the ultimate penalty for sin, until mankind had been fully and legally acquitted for their crime. In other words, Deity must suffer for humanity.

As Adam die both spiritually and physically ("a death you shall die," or, "dying you shall die." Genesis 2:17  Hebrew) and "and they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death..."(Isaiah 53:3 deaths in the Hebrew) Jesus too would have to experience both to reverse Adam's transgression. If Jesus' physical death was all that was required to redeem humanity, then sin is nothing more than a physical condition. If physical death deals with the sin issue, then every person that physically dies pays the penalty of his/her own sin. If sin is only a physical condition and can be dealt with through physical death, then we must conclude that God has no right to send someone to hell because the physical death of every person would be sufficient to satisfy justice and give them a pass to eternal life.

However, we know that this is not true. Jesus must suffer in both realms, physically and spiritually. Physically because that is the only way that spiritually dead humanity could eliminate the Son of God; spiritually, because it’s the only way that God could legally redeem man taking away Satan’s claim to humanity. It also stops man from accusing God of being unjust when they reject His way of redemption. Jesus indeed went to hell and suffered as a substitute for all mankind.  His physical death was infinitesimal to what He suffered in the spiritual realm. If humanity could have been redeemed apart from Christ, then Jesus becoming a substitute for humanity and being sent to hell would have become the most heinous crime ever committed in all of creation.

But thanks be to God who was willing to take upon Himself man's liability by suffering an incomprehensible death in two realms as man's substitute. So let us never forget what the Father did through Jesus to give humanity complete freedom from Satan's power. Let us never forget and rejoice continually on our Memorial Day. The day you and I were born again. 

The Name Above All Names; Jesus

The name of Jesus is the most powerful name in all creation and has been given to the church. The Bible clearly reveals that the believer has been given the power of attorney to use His name. To have power of attorney means to have the legal authority to act for another person. How do we know that this is so for the believer? Jesus Himself gave every believe the authority to carry out His continuing mission and to have prayer answered...

• "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)   

• "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14)

• "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24)

The measure of Jesus' ability is the measure of the value of His Name. If you keep in mind that God the Word (John 1:1) put on human flesh (John 1:14) and in human flesh was given the name Jesus, then we will understand that His name carries unlimited power in three worlds, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 9-11) Because Jesus was both man and God we also must note, "For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37)

When we meditate on the wonderful name of Jesus, we see that demons and all manner of sickness and disease are subject to the believe in Jesus' name (Mark 16:17, Luke 10:17). We also see that prayer in His name receives special attention. (John 16:23-24) In other words, Jesus is saying, If you ask the Father in My name, I will endorse it and the Father will give it to you. Now for many this may sound unheard-of, but I submit that Jesus would not have said it if it were not true. It takes faith to accept such as wonderful promise and act on it. "So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:23-24) 

Believers must also know, that the power of attorney to use His name is on purely legal basis. Not only has He given us the legal right to use His name, but He is the guarantee behind His name. When Jesus gave us the legal right to use His name, the Father knew all that His name would imply. So the possibilities enveloped in the name of Jesus are for the most part, beyond our understanding. However, when Jesus said, "whatever you ask the Father in My name," He is giving us a signed, blank check and asking us to fill it in. Mind boggling isn't it?

The Father has made this investment for the benefit of the church on which the church has a legal right to draw upon for Her every need. The church has the right to use name of Jesus against its enemies; to use in our petitions; in praise and worship; in healing and deliverance, etc. These are but a few of the wonders of the greatness of His name. Basically, He gave His name to the church that she might carry out the will of the Father in the same way He Himself did and to do even greater works than He did. This is clearly revealed in scripture through the early church as it took dominion by preaching the gospel and moving in the power of God through signs, wonders and miracles. So let us exercise our faith and see wonders released through the wonderful Name of Jesus.     

The Hand of the Lord

One of the greatest misunderstandings concerning how God deals with the believer comes from the writer of Hebrews, "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons, My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5-11)

To understand what the writer of Hebrews is conveying we must define the word chasten. Chasten is defined as: To train up a child; instruct; educate; teach; discipline. Where we tend to go wrong is when we look at the word discipline. Discipline to most means punishment. Although the word discipline has the word punishment in its definition, it also means to correct; to instruct; to chasten. As we can see the words chasten and discipline are synonymous words. Now let's look at what it means for God to chasten or discipline the believer, His child.

First and foremost, God loves us and His chastening is always immersed in His love. Next, He deals with us as with sons and I might add daughters. This is very foreign to most peoples thinking. For many parents, when it come to disciplining their children there is a tendency to punish the out of frustration, disappointment and even anger, rather than through love. This has nothing to do with the method in which parents chasten their children but the attitude of the heart when bringing discipline. Gods most potent characteristic is love and we must always keep in mind that He chasten His children through His abounding, surrounding love.

Next, we see that the chastening of the Lord is for the believers profit. Honestly, how can the believer profit from chastening? We profit because it is always for our good. It is always to promote our welfare. Look at one of the benefits that we profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. The believers becomes so holy that it may be said that we are partakers of the very holiness of God. "And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24) Now for some this may be hard to believe, nevertheless it is fact. However, finding such a claim hard to believe actually reveals doubt in the believers heart. The evidence that the new man, New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness has nothing to do with how we feel or our performance, but faith in Jesus Christ and the integrity of God's Word.

Next, we see what else the believer profits from the chastening of the Lord, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. What is the fruit of righteousness? To determine this, we must look to Jesus. The prophet Jeremiah refers to Christ as the "Righteous Branch." (Jeremiah 23:5) At His death, a Roman centurion glorified God by saying, "Certainly this was a righteous man." (Luke 23:47) The apostle Paul states, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus tells us,  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit..." (John 15:5) The fruit of righteousness is doing the works that Jesus did and speaking the Word of God in the same manner as He walked the earth as the Son of Man. It is carrying out the will of the Father as Jesus did. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)

As parents, so also the methods to which God chastens His children may vary. The misunderstanding concerning the chastening of the Lord come from such phrases as, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him, He scourges every son, If you endure chastening, Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Unfortunately, believers take these phrases and twist them to mean that God chastens His children with financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on. If this is true, if God truly uses financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on to chasten His children, then one of two things come into play. First, we do not truly know Him (Job 42:1-3, Hosea 4:6) or we believe that He does these things contrary to His Word which is so very far from the truth (Psalm 89:34, 107:20, 119:89, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, John 1:1)

In fact, God punished Jesus (Isaiah 53:4-10) so that those who confess and believe that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) could enjoy all the benefits and privileges of being sons and daughters. (Romans 8:15-17, 32) He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses so that we are healed (Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24) He came to give us abundant life here on earth. (John 10:10) He died in our place to give us eternal life (1 John 2:25) He was made sin to make us righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He was condemned so that we could go free. (Matthew 27:22-23, 34-35, Galatians 5:1) We also must realize that the believer is a member of the Body of Christ. If we truly believe that God chastens His children with financial struggles, sickness, disease and so on, then we must also believe that Jesus Himself, the head of the body deals with the same. We must also believe that the Holy Spirit who dwells in the believe has no problem with sickness or disease defiling our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16) No, God child trains; instructs; educates and teaches His children through love.

Always remember that no one has a better new birth, a better righteousness, a better Savior, a better Healer, a better Provider, a better Father, a better right standing with the Father than the believer. No one can get closer to the Father's heart than we His children. So when the Lord chastens us, let us stand in the confidence that it is for our profit because God wants to reproduce Himself in us.         

    

Who Are You, Lord?

Acts chapter seven records the first murder of a Christian, his name was Stephen. We also are introduced to a man named Saul who was not only present at Stephen's execution but was also consenting to his death. In Acts chapter nine we find this same man, Saul, "still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1-2) but something happened, "As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:3-4) Next, we see Saul ask a very important question, "Who are you Lord?" (Acts 9:5) Saul recognized that there was something taking place that was beyond everything he knew. His response was not "Who are You," but he address the One talking to him as Lord. On the surface this may not strike you as something all that important but to Saul it was the beginning of an experience that would radically change his life as well as have an impact on the entire world.

In Acts chapter thirteen we see that Saul becomes know as Paul and he and Barnabas are sent from the church at Antioch to the world to preach Christ. In the Epistle of Paul the apostle to the Philippians, he shares who he was prior to meeting Christ, "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (Philippians 3:3-6) In the eye of academia today, Paul would be perceived to be a brilliant man who knows the Word of God. However, look at what Paul himself says about his incredible wealth of biblical knowledge, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;" (Philippians 3:7-9)

Notice that Paul considers all the former knowledge that he had gained as useless as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ. His utmost desire was, "That I may know Him..." (Philippians 3:11) Paul did not want to know about Christ. He did not want to know what others thought or knew about Christ. He desired a personal intimate knowledge of Christ. We see his intimate knowledge of Christ revealed in the Epistle that he wrote. The epistles of Paul reveal an overwhelming wealth of revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Paul's desire to know Christ personally and intimately should be the desire of every believer, but unfortunately for most, knowing what others think or know about Christ has become sufficient. This attitude has cause damaging doctrines to permeate the church promoting division. Paul had to deal with this very issue and calls those who fall prey to it carnal babies in Christ who act like mere men. (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)

Paul tells Timothy in both his letters to Timothy, the damage that would occur in the church as the end time approached, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Timothy 4:1) "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Of course not one church leader would ever admit that this could be about them and their belief system.

I believe that there is not one church leader or particular group of churches that have the revelation that Paul gives us in its purest form. This is why we've got to put down our pride and prejudices and let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth. We must also be open enough to consider that our pet doctrines may not be entirely correct. Instead of resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51) and embracing doctrine whether old or new, that does not consider the whole counsel of God's Word, let's grow up and embrace Jesus Christ with a desire to know Him so that the power, presence and glory of the Lord fills His entire Body once again. Whether we want to take the responsibility or not, the lost world is depending on the church to reveal to them the real Jesus. The church is His body which means that as He is, so should the church be in the world! This means that as He is supernatural in ever sense of the word, so is the church. Through the name of Jesus and having an intimate knowledge of Him, the church will once again turn the world upside down for His glory.
   

What's Your Nature?

There are six Greek words that describe various aspects of life. The two found most in the New Testament are psuehe which is natural life and the other is zoe which is life as God has it. The apostle Paul tells us, "And you God made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:1-2) In other words before we were born again we were spiritually dead and partakers of Satan’s nature. It is this nature that has produced sin, wickedness, evil, misery, sickness and disease. It has produced the works of the flesh, which are, "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like." (Galatians 5:19-21) It has also produced condemnation, guilt, inferiority, shame and a sense of unworthiness. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:12 "that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." In Romans 8:7-8 Paul tells us, "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Much of Christianity today is a product of the Dark Ages and has not moved very much beyond the old wine skin of the reformation in respect to who the born again person has become in Christ. When you think about it, if it were possible for God to forgive a sinners their sin only, it would actually not do the sinner any good, because he/she would continue sinning due to the fallen nature within them. The fact is that the fallen, sinful, satanic nature in un-regenerated man must be taken out and replaced with a new nature. Man must be recreated. According to 2 Peter 1:3-4 we read, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

The corruption that is in the world is the satanic nature. However, the born again person is delivered from the old nature and becomes a partaker of God's divine nature which is zoe, life as God has it, or eternal life. Jesus said, "Whoever believes in the Son of God should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting (eternal) life." (John 3:15-16) and "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24) All who are born again, have been delivered out of death, the satanic realm, into the realm of life as God has it, where there is no judgment.

To be born again is actually and literally being birthed out of Satan’s family and being placed into the family of God. Look at the following scriptures... 
Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 
Romans 6:14 For sin (Satan) shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

When one confesses Jesus as Lord and accepts Him as Savior, God immediately gives him His very nature. He no longer has Satan’s nature, he is no longer a sinner, beggar, or even a servant, but a child of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12) and "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:15) also "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God." (1 John 3:1) The new believer is a child of God with God's divine nature. He is no longer a child of the devil with his fallen, sinful nature. PTL

Believers must understand that they have been given the nature of God and that eternal life in them now. It is not a destination nor some reward that is received when a believer passes from this life. Eternal life, the nature of God, makes us righteous, we love as God loves, we have the God kind of faith, we are His children, we are heirs and have rights and privileges in Christ as sons and daughters that unfortunately, we have barely appropriated. So let us make this faith declaration together...

“I have confessed Jesus as Lord; I have taken Him as my Savior; God has completely removed the satanic nature from me; God has given me life as He has it which is His divine nature. Healing, provision, long life, strength, success and victory are mine because they are all a part of my New Creation Life in Christ." Amen.

We all need to meditate on these truths until they burn in our very being, so if sickness, disease, sin, or Satan himself tries to come upon us, we can declare with all certainty that God dwells in this new creation; He is my Father and I am His child and I refuse to let these thing in my life, in Jesus' name!

It's in the Name

I would like to give you something to think about. "The measure of the Lord's ability to work in and through a believers life, is measured by the value that the believer places upon His name." Now at first glance most will begin to quote some scripture such as, Matthew 28:18 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." and  Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name..." These are certain true, but what do verse of scripture like these really mean to you? What value do you place in and on the name of Jesus?

Observe the following scriptures, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18) 
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."  (John 14:13-14) 
"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24)

If you do not believe what Jesus said in these verses to be true then and now, then you have placed little value on Matthew 28:18, Acts 4:12 and Philippians 4:9 not to mention most of the Bible. How can I make such a statement and know that what I am saying is true? Has Jesus lost His authority? Is there another name by which men can be saved? Is His name no longer above every other name? Absolutely not! In fact the promises that Jesus made concerning the believers use of His name is not only for the early church but also for all believers until His return. As staggering as that may seem, He has given the believe the power of attorney to use His name. It is ours to use and when you really meditate on that, the reality is, what is already ours does not require faith.

With this in mind let's look at and consider these scriptures,  
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)
"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11) 
"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
(Ephesians 5:20) 
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17)  
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14)  
"And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23)

These are certainly not all the scriptures that emphasize the name of Jesus, but we can see that the name of Jesus touched every phase of the believers life in the early church. His name was upon their lips, in their hearts, it filled their thoughts, answered their prayers, it was in their preaching and teaching, it healed the sick, raised the dead and basically made what seemed impossible simply possible all the time. My prayer is that every believer begin to truly believe and act upon the Word of God. I pray that we permit the Lord to open the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the riches of His glory and that we operate in the power of the name that is above every other name, the name of JESUS.

Which is Easier?

Not to long after the birth of Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and says, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." (Matthew 2:13) So Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt. After the death of Herod the king the angel of the Lord appears again to Joseph in a dream saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." (Matthew 2:20) and so he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. Luke adds something that is interesting to this account, "And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." (Luke 2:40)

 Next, Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary take Jesus, who was twelve at the time, to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. (Luke 2:41-42), and again we see something very interesting concerning Jesus,  He was "...in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." (Luke 46-47) Luke records once again, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) Point being, we see that from childhood Jesus increased in wisdom.

As we look through the Gospels, we see that the religious leaders who were in office during the time that Jesus walked the earth as the Son of Man were always looking for a way to discredit Jesus. Every time they did so, the wisdom of God in Jesus defused the entire situation and put the religious leaders to shame. Jesus certainly did not respond to their evil with any malice in His heart. He responses to them was because He was "...grieved due to the hardness of their hearts..." (Mark 3:5)  One particular time, Jesus got into a boat and went into His own city, "Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house." (Matthew 9:1-7)

There are a few lessons that we can learn from this situation. One of them is that many Christians for some time have been taught erroneous doctrine that have caused them to not believe God's Word. However, their are many other Christians who believe that God has not changed nor His Word. What He did through Jesus and the early church still applies today. Jesus tells the scribes that their hearts think evil. But look at the wisdom of God in operation. Of course it would be easier to say to someone "Your sins are forgiven you" because things are "easier said then done." But are they? Although the scribes do not respond to His question, Jesus says to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." The paralytic responds to Jesus' Word, "And he arose and departed to his house."

Jesus tells us, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) Today, as it was for Jesus then, it should be no more difficult to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk." The problem that many Christians have with such things as these, is something that has not changed since the fall of man. It is a lack of faith in the integrity of God's Word. Although the disciples that Jesus chose and named apostles observed His ministry for over three years, they too dealt with the same issue prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. They did not believe. Not only did Thomas need tangible evidence of the resurrection (John 20:24-25) but Jesus rebuked all the disciples after His resurrection due to the unbelief and hardness of heart. (Mark 16:14) Even though Jesus foretold the apostles of His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21); even though Mary Magdalene and the two disciples that Jesus met on the Emmaus Road told the apostles that Jesus was alive (Mark 16:9-13); it was a lack of faith in God's Word (Jesus' Words to them) that caused them to easily dismiss the will of God.

Sadly enough in many sections of the church today the same thing happens. There is an unpersuadableness, a lack of true Bible faith in the Word of God. Look at how the multitude responded to what Jesus did for the paralytic, "Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men." (Matthew 9:8) What a drawing card for those who do not know the Lord. Letting God perform the supernatural through His children as evidence of His great love and all that Jesus did for humanity. However, the only way that these things can be a part of the church today, is the doctrines of man that have created doubts and unscriptural mind sets must be dealt with and put to an end. They must be replaced with the revelation knowledge of the Word of God. Let us pray the prayer that Paul prayed for the church and believe, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:17-18) and then be a doer of the Word...

Who Was That Masked Man

From 1949 - 1957 a television series was aired entitled "The Lone Ranger." Although this was an old western TV show, for five decades reruns have appeared off and on since it originally aired. The Lone Ranger worn a mask that covered his eyes and he traveled about with a companion known as Tonto. Together they sought justice for those being oppressed by "the bad guys." The mask that he wore concealed his identity and at the end of ever show someone would always say, "Who was that masked man" and naturally someone would respond, "Why he's the Lone Ranger."

The word mask or masking is defined as "a covering to conceal something from view." This definition in many ways describes Jesus not only to those who saw Him during His ministry as the Son of man on the earth, but unfortunately to many in the church today. According to Matthew, "Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him — from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan." (Matthew 4:23-25)

Although Jesus went about doing these things, Israel, His Covenant people did not recognize Him, yet they claimed to believe the very words that spoke of Him, the Torah, or Law (the Pentateuch), the Nevi'im, or Prophets, and the Ketuvim, or Writings or Hagiographa. In every sense of the word, Jesus was masked to them because they did not recognize Him. The apostle Paul tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Although this may seem very obvious at first glance, it has a far reaching meaning than most believers today truly understand.

This statement is found in a letter that Paul wrote to the believers in Rome contrasting Jew and Gentile in the light of Jesus Christ. (I am not going to do a commentary of the Book of Romans, but only address the issue of Jesus being masked to many in the church today) We need to understand, at the time the letter to the Romans was written, what we call the New Testament had not come together. When Paul says by the Holy Spirit, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" he is referring to what we call the Old Testament. This is a very important key today for the church. Contained in the Word of God in both the Old Testament and the New Testament is knowledge and truth that builds faith, because both Old and New Testaments are the Word of God.

We must remember, when the church was launched into the world, Christ was preached from the very books that Israel considered most sacred, and yet to them Jesus was masked. Why? They did not see God's Word as being alive but only words written on stone. This caused them to receive God's Word externally where it became nothing more than ordinances and rituals to be worked out in the natural. This does not take away the fact that there was knowledge and truth contained with God's Word. What this does reveal is that knowledge and truth contained within God's Word are a matter of the heart not the flesh.

If we were to review Hebrews chapter 11, we will find that many people under the law of Moses found heart filled faith in the same God that most of Israel never found. The thing that should shake us to the core, is how could these people under the law could exercise faith and do such great exploits when the church is not under law but grace? How is it that the majority of the church today follow Israel's footsteps by living their Christianity externally through ordinances and rituals? The answers are quite simple.

Unfortunately, many church leaders and Bible teachers have masked Jesus to others because they only see God's Word as a book of words in which to do works without faith, rather than a book of life that builds faith to do good works. They have allow various doctrines to persuade them that the wonderful things that God has done in the past are not for today. However, let's look at what the writer of Hebrews tells us, "For indeed the gospel (the Word of God) was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) Here we see the problem as to why Jesus is concealed from most Christians. God's Word must be mixed with faith. In other word, as Abraham did (who by the way did not have God's Word written in a book that he had at his disposal) Christians must do also, "And not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform." (Romans 4:20-21)

Although mixing God's Word with faith is how Jesus is unmasked, this is not as easy as it sounds. Many Christians today who truly love the LORD just do not know where to begin. They have been trained most of their lives to doubt God's Word through a barrage of smoke and mirrors that sounds theological correct. Why would they do this? They have accepted these things from church leaders and Bible teachers whom they trust and respect. It is difficult for most people to change their belief system when they have repeatedly been  trained to think and believe in the opposite direction. However, like everything else pertaining to God, especially His Word, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8) So let's start by preparing our hearts (soil) to receive God's Word (seed) on good ground. (See Mark 4:1-20)