The High Calling Of God A Scriptural Look At God s Ultimate Intention JW Luman
The High Calling Of God A Scriptural Look At God s Ultimate Intention JW Luman Managing Editor Barbara Samuel Research Editor Rabon Byrd Research Editor Lucina Paul Transcription Assistance Publisher: Covenant Ministries International c/o Barbara Samuel 5025 Solitude St. Croix, Virgin Islands 00820 Email: bbs1mermaid@gmail.com www.cmintl.org cmibibleresearchcenter@yahoo.com (870) 447-3050
Table of Contents Chapter 1 The Unveiled Face 1 The Hidden Wisdom Made Known Chapter 2 The Salvation of the Lord 37 I In My Father Chapter 3 What Does It Mean To Be In Christ? 71 You In Me Chapter 4 Zion 95 The Place Of The Revealing Of Christ Chapter 5 Zion 129 The High Thought Of God Chapter 6 Zion 159 The Condition Of The Heart Chapter 7 The Father s House 197
CHAPTER 1 The Unveiled Face The Hidden Wisdom Made Known God s High Thought I am going to be talking to you about God s absolute highest thought concerning His people. I truly believe this to be what Paul refers to as, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus in his letter to the Philippians. The High Thought of God His Ultimate Intention. The ministry of the Spirit is greatly diverse in bringing man to Salvation. There is the convicting of man concerning his sinful state, the drawing of man to the truth of Christ, the work of new birth, baptism, adoption. Jesus said, The Spirit of Truth, which procedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me (John 15:26), when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth He shall glorify me; for He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you. Many and diverse are the functions of the Spirit, but ALL of those functions and operations are of One Spirit and all are toward ONE ULTIMATE INTENTION. Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. John 16:7-8, 13 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 1
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 1 Cor 12:4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. John 3:3, 6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. All According To Intention The Ultimate Intention is not fully expressed in any one expression of grace. Yet each of them are necessary to, and are according to this Divine Purpose and Ultimate Intention. The Father, indeed everything that He has done, either in a natural creation or in the New Creation is according to HIS Divine Purpose. His Purpose is not realized in the natural creation; however, natural creation was created in view of His Divine Purpose. He had a purpose for creating man. The Purpose is not found in man, rather man must find that purpose IN CHRIST. However, there is nothing created of God: indeed, done of God: indeed nothing thought of God but what is in union with, and in the expression of The Living Word of God. The Living Word of God Who is in you! God is always working toward having in a people what He has finished and fulfilled in His Son. His desire for you and me is to have formed in us the reality of all that He has in His Son; the reality of 1 Who the Son is. 1 [Just a note to the reader: The WHO of the Son is the fullness and completeness of our Salvation] 2
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Heb 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? In Earth As In Heaven God desires that reality to be with us and revealed in us as it is in Christ (that we come to know as we are known). Then, that it be with us in earth as it is in heaven. By that I mean, that we live in earth as we do in heaven: not having those as two different places, but understanding that while we are IN CHRIST we are on earth. We are not OF the earth, but we are ON the earth. Yet while we are ON the earth, we are there IN Christ in the Divine Union, which is by the Spirit. And it gives Purpose to our being on earth. Otherwise, we do not have a purpose on earth, because there is no purpose in just being 3
on earth. There is no purpose found just in the earth NONE! It has to be found IN CHRIST. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Col 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 1 Cor 15:48-49 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Purpose Found In Christ Not in Christ theoretically: not in Christ as the Head of a religion. It has to be found in Him experientially, in the reality of Spirit union, in the reality of The Truth as The Truth is in Christ. I think Paul taps into this. Paul said in Galatians 1:15-16, But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Is that in reference to the womb of Old Covenant Israel or actually his mother in the flesh? I think it is possible that you can make that applicable to either one of them. Maybe the strongest theological application would be to the womb of Old Covenant Israel since in Galatians they have gotten involved in the Law and have come under the bondage of Old Covenant Israel again. Personally, I believe that Paul is also stating that he has come to realize that his purpose for existing in the flesh, his purpose for being birthed of a woman, his purpose as a man is only realized through God 4
revealing His Son in him. He separated Paul from his mother s womb with DIVINE PURPOSE. Do not be fooled, man was created of God in view of Divine Purpose; it is just that man himself is not the purpose. Nothing man is, nothing man can do or achieve N-O-T-H-I-N-G fulfills or satisfies the Divine Purpose, according to which, he was created. The purpose for which man was created is not found in man. He cannot arise to it, discover it in his inner self, he cannot ascend to it by means of any religion. The purpose, for which man exists, was determined of God, before man, in Christ the Son. It is in that Son that Divine Purpose is revealed. Col 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. Phil 3:4-6 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Gal 5:1-2 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Created With Purpose I believe Adam was created WITH Purpose. God did NOT find His Purpose in the creation of Adam. He did not intend to. He created Adam that Adam may find Purpose in God. Well, we know the whole creation fell short of the 5
glory (purpose) of God. God s glory did not fall: His glory did not disappear. God s Purpose was not changed. Man simply fell short of it, but Christ did not fall short of it! The Obedient Son did not fall short of it. We need to be challenged by Purpose. I think, according to Philippians 3:10-14, Paul found the Purpose for being in Christ. The Purpose of Salvation is that He might reveal His Son in us. The Purpose of His bringing us to Zion (a spiritual union) is that Zion is the place where The Son is revealed. Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. Zion It is the spiritual condition that results from The Son being revealed, because Zion speaks of this spiritual condition. I think Paul also saw that mankind s Purpose is only found IN CHRIST, and specifically in The Son of God being revealed in us, giving Purpose to our existence. Yes, that Purpose coming to be found and realized in the Son Himself (in Christ), in the revealing of Him. In all things then God is working towards His Ultimate Intention. My desire for you and for every believer with whom I have to do is that none come short of the glory of God. Your Salvation has not come short of the glory of God. God did not bring you to a place where He had no glory. You and I do not have a partial Salvation in Christ and someday we will get the real thing. No, we are not in a waiting place, and going to glory one 6
day. However, whether you live in the comprehension of glory may be the question. Ps 48:1-3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Coming Short of Glory Whether we are coming short in our hearts is the question. It is in our hearts where that is going to take place. The best definition of that I think was given by Paul in Ephesians 4:13, Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Paul prays that we come unto a MAN PERFECT, that is, fully mature. It is the measure of the stature of the fullness of The Son of God. I think that is not falling short of the glory. I think trying to find the Purpose of Salvation in anything other than that is falling short of the glory. That is why I get in trouble with people when I say the Purpose of the Church is NOT world evangelization. The purpose of which I am speaking is not found (fulfilled) in church or individual activities. All of our activities should come out from Purpose, but I find NO Purpose in activities. 7
Activities Out From Purpose I drive down the road in accordance with Purpose. I find no Purpose in driving down the road. I find high gas prices and bad drivers but I find no Purpose other than trying to avoid an accident while driving down the road. I do not FIND Purpose: I do those things in view OF Purpose. We gather in view of Purpose. Purpose has to be found IN HIM. Do not come short of the glory! Do not do that in your heart! You are the only one that determines whether you will do that or not. Do not do that corporately: but what are we corporately except gathered together individually in One Person, and in One Purpose? That is what makes us corporate. Otherwise, we are not corporate at all. We are just a bunch of individuals. Individuality our individualness is swallowed up in HIS Oneness. That is only if the reality of our union with Christ is working in our hearts: only if that reality is working in our hearts. Do not come short of the glory. That is what man did: that is what man does. That is what Adam does do not do that! 1 Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor 12:12, 20, 27 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Old Testament Type We are talking about God s Highest Thought for His people. We find it in the Old Testament in the type of Zion. We see this in Psalm 132:13, For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. CHOSEN talk about a word that is full of meaning! We must understand that Zion represents a spiritual condition of Jerusalem: a spiritual condition of God s people; a condition that is brought to its fullness and its full intention in the Person of The Lord Jesus Christ whose Body, whose Dwelling Place, whose 8
City we are. Yet have WE come in our hearts? Oh yes, Hebrews 12:22 says, But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. You ARE come to Zion, but is Zion the contemplation of our heart? Is Zion the solemnity of our souls? Have we found rest in Zion? Psalm 132:13-14, he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. God says I HAVE DESIRED IT. Do you really think that God s Highest Intention, thought and desire for His people is less than His desire for Himself? Do you really think that God desires to be in one place, and have us in another? Do you really believe that is the point and present condition of Salvation? Do you believe that is the intent of God? It is the habitation of God This is My rest, I have desired it ZION. 2 Sam 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. 1 Kings 8:1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. Isa 33:20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. Ex 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 9
Mystery Made Known I want to deal briefly with the Mystery of God made known THE UNVEILED FACE. It is in view of what we are dealing with and I want to challenge you in this regard. Let us look at some scriptures. 1 Corinthians 2:6, Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought. Perfect here means, maturing. The wisdom of this world he has spoken of this in the first chapter. The wisdom of this world, which The Cross brings to be seen as foolishness. Now it would be perfectly correct to read this verse as the princes of this world that have been made nothing: that have come to nothingness. Why? Because the wisdom of God made manifest at The Cross made them NOTHING. Whether they wanted to come to nothing or not, they were brought to nothing. The wisdom of the princes of this world, the wisdom of principalities and powers are shown by The Cross to be absolutely foolishness, and have no place in the wisdom of God. It is not that they are going to be brought to nothing: they HAVE already been brought to nothing! 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Spirit Reveals Have you really listened on the radio or television to the wisdom of man? Have you listened to what they are saying? What a bunch of NOTHING! But we must realize we are listening to the world. They think this is wise 10
and important. They look for a way to reveal their ignorance. Worldlyminded people attempting to solve the problems of the world (humanity) by a wisdom, which God has shown to be foolishness: what a colossal waste of time! 1 Corinthians 2:6, Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect Do you realize you can only speak wisdom among those who are maturing? yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. We are talking about the Mystery Made Known The Unveiled Face. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. The all things are the all things IN CHRIST. All means full, complete, whole. It is talking about the allness of God in Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. All things these are hidden from the carnal mind, but revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. Reference: 2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Heavenly Vision There is something that Paul said when he was talking to King Agrippa. The Jews were trying to kill him, and he was called before the King and he related his story of the Damascus road. He related his story and called it the heavenly vision. Acts 26:19, Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: Paul said Jesus spoke to him and said in Acts 26:16, But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee. I WILL APPEAR UNTO THEE. It is not showing you a bunch of things: but the things in the which I WILL APPEAR UNTO THEE. The 11
allness of Christ! The all things of God revealed in The Person the very Face of His Son. I have appeared unto thee I shall appear unto thee. (refer to 2Corinthians 4:6) This is the wisdom of God. It is God s wisdom that this be the way it is. None can look therein except they look in the face of Jesus Christ! You cannot look in His face as one in whom He does not dwell; but only as one in whom He does dwell. This is the wisdom of God revealed, comprehended in the face of Jesus Christ. Acts 9:3-6 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. 2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Salvation By Faith Now Galatians 3:23, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. We must come to see our Full Salvation Salvation By Faith. Consequently, we have to 12
come to understand what Faith is. Romans 10:17 says, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The word of God there is RHEMA (Strong s #4487). In this setting Rhema is understood to be that which has been uttered by the Living Voice. It is speaking that which we have both heard and seen in the face of the Son of God. Jesus said, The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. (John 6:63) and The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father who dwelleth in me (John 14:10), also I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him (John 8:26). The true Rhema is speaking with words what we have heard and seen in The Living Word Who is revealed in us. Jesus said, My sheep know my voice. (John 10:4) It is not just somebody getting excited and saying that is The Rhema of God. You know Name it and claim it ; Memorize it and do it. No that is not Rhema. It is the voice of The Living Word, and it is you speaking. It is our preaching and our teaching, but not in the wisdom of man s words but that wisdom which is of God through the revealing of His Son, because whatever has been hidden is revealed in His Son. It is not revealed anywhere else. It is revealed in His Son Who is in you. 1 Cor 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Faith Perfected By Seeing So out from that you could say Paul s words were Rhema when he said in Galatians 1:15-16, But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Faith cometh by hearing. Moreover, as surely as faith comes by hearing and it does, there must be that hearing: faith is perfected, brought to completion by SEEING. You must SEE what you hear. The hearing is for the turning of our heart. You are not going to see except you believe what 13
you hear. You are not going to see The Word while you are arguing with Him. You are not going to see The Word while you are being disobedient to Him. People ask me all the time why can t God reveal His Son in me? Have you heard? Are you obedient to that which you have heard? For there must be the hearing. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rev 1:12-13 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 2 Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? The End of Our Faith Then Peter starts talking about the end of our faith. 1 Peter 1:9, Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:13, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is 2 to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Not only that, John, having heard The Word, believed The Word that he heard, embraces The Word that he heard, or he would not have seen the Word that he heard, the Voice that he heard. It is in the seeing that the soul is transformed. It is in hearing that our hearts turn to see. Believing but there is very real danger in hearing and then not turning to see, because that opens us up for the imagination of our heart. We visualize in our imagination what it is we have heard. And I want to tell you the center of our imagination is 2 The Literal translation is, the grace that is being brought unto you in the revelation of Jesus Christ. Not something that will be brought, but the reality being made known through the inward revealing of Christ. 14
always US. Therefore, we take what we heard, and we try to make application of it to ourselves. We use the right words, but we see the wrong man! Christ revealed is the end or goal of our faith. Having the mind of Christ is the goal of faith. 2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. Col 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Faith Revealed = Christ But in Galatians 3:23-26, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. There is a synonymous relationship here between faith which should be revealed and CHRIST bringing us unto Christ. that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Sonship is a realization that can only come in the face of The Son. Union with The Father is something that can only come in the face of Him Who is One with The Father, Who is The Word of The Father, and Who in 15
fact is the revelation of The Father. That is just a fact. The word children in verse 26 should be translated as SONS, because it is speaking of a relationship. Faith is always bound up with a relationship. I quiver when I hear the world and the worldly church throw that term around, of what faith are you? I m of the Baptist faith. I m of the Pentecostal faith. We communicate that way with one another. I say, Oh God and I pray the Lord would give me utterance to speak clearly more clearly the Truth as it is in Christ. We are to be of the faith of the Son of God! Gal 4:6-7 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. John 10:30 I and my Father are one. John 14:9-10 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 1:1, 18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 16
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. The Hearing of Faith These Apostles only had words with which to communicate The Word. It is important how we translate words because hearing comes first. Faith comes by hearing. If you are not hearing the words of faith, if you do not have the hearing of faith you are not going to see Christ. You will go into the imaginary world of illusion, and you will dream up an imaginary object of what you have heard. Then when you hear that word, you will see that imaginary thing, or that imaginary place. You will relate it to that imaginary concept. In years past, I did many Bible conferences, and I have had everybody all jumping up and down. However, that usually does not happen when you are seeking Jesus. Generally, you are falling on your face saying Oh God! Yet when they would share in their sharing services on what I had said it was as if we had not even been in the same building! When I said the revelation of Christ, I meant Jesus Christ in you. They meant themselves, for they saw themselves as the Christ of God. I would think no wonder they want me to come; no wonder they get so excited. However, when and if they were confronted with what I did mean, there was not any shouting in the building! There was probably not a return engagement either. Yet in the process my prayer was, Oh God, maybe out of a thousand, ten have heard and will turn to see your True Son. The hearing of faith is important! Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Ezek 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. 17
Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last. Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Union So, Galatians 3:25-27, But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. We really need to take a strong look at this UNION into which Christ has brought us with the purpose that God s High Thought concerning us be fulfilled in us. There is a union necessary to that, and Jesus says it is a threefold union. He says in John 14:20, At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. I AM IN MY FATHER. Have you ever thought about that as being the UNION of your Salvation? Have you thought about the real union into which you have been brought? How did we get there? We got there through BAPTISM. 1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Baptism Into Death Years ago, The Lord was dealing with me about baptism baptized into Christ and in my heart, I was arguing with The Lord because I had understood that we were baptized into Life; that we were baptized into the 18
Spirit. Something in me kept saying, No, you re not! Your baptism is into DEATH that you might drink freely of the Spirit. Your baptism is into death. As I was considering this, I said, that does not work, because 1 Corinthians 12:13 says you are baptized into the Spirit. Something in me said, Are you sure about that? I checked my Bible, and I was wrong. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Then I went to Romans 6 for the definition of baptism. Romans 6:3-4, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Paul is saying that our baptism into Christ is in fact baptism into His Death, the Death of the Old Man. We are not baptized into His Life (the Life of the Spirit) and then later on die (I speak now of Life in Christ). First, we are baptized into His Death, the death of the Old Man as described here in Romans chapter six. Then, like as Christ was raised up out from among the dead, just so we should walk in newness of Life. That is to say, that we should live in union with Christ Who is the New Life. The Union is between our soul and the Spirit of Christ. Paul says, that we who were baptized into His Death were then quickened together with Christ, raised together with Christ as His Body and seated together with Christ in heaven as One New Man. The New Man is not waiting on a resurrection; the One New Man is the result of the Resurrection and the Life. Paul is saying newness of life means that there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female for ye are all ONE. What One? One New Man who is neither Jew nor Greek, nor bond nor free, but ONE NEW MAN who is CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Col 3:10-11 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 19
One New Man The New Man is CHRIST, and you by Spirit union are His Body. This is where Paul is going in these verses with this mystery. The hidden wisdom of this mystery, that which is revealed in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ is not simply that Salvation is not just for the Jews, though the Jews thought it was. There is more to it than that. It is not just that Salvation is for the Jew and the Gentile. The point is, the wisdom of it is, that Salvation is NEITHER Jew NOR Gentile but ONE NEW MAN. Therefore, it does not make any difference what you were before baptism. That is what Paul is saying it does not make any difference what you were because after that baptism there is neither nor it is CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL! Eph 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. Eph 2:15-16 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. Mystery of God The Mystery of God revealed is not just, (as most of the secular theologians say) that all can be saved. No, that is not really the hidden wisdom of the Mystery of God. The Mystery of God in true Salvation is not an old man saved or unsaved. The Mystery of God is that Salvation is a New Creation neither Jew nor Gentile. That is the reason the Mystery of God is bound up with The Cross, and the hidden wisdom is bound up with the Cross. When we are preaching The Cross, we are NOT preaching ourselves. When we 20
truly understand our baptism, we understand the Mystery of God. There is only ONE LIFE that comes out of the death of all and that Life is Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 1 Cor 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Mystery New Creation Paul preached that when the Mystery of God was revealed in Christ, it became clear that Salvation was not a Jew or a Gentile. This only confused the natural minded Greeks who looked for perfection in man and it greatly upset the Jews who claimed Salvation was only for the Jews. Paul never said (nor do I) that Salvation was not for the Jews and Gentiles. He said that Salvation was not a Jew or Gentile, but rather One New Man in Christ who was Christ all and in all. Paul understood by the Mystery of God revealed in Christ, that Salvation involved a New Creation altogether and that this New Creation was a result of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. This is why He said that the preaching of the Cross was the Hidden Wisdom of God made known. Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. 21
Acts 19:23-28 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Acts 9:23-24 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 2 Cor 11:32-33 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. The Wisdom of God Now, the Mystery and hidden wisdom has to do with this. Ephesians 3:1-3, For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words. Dispensation is the administration of the Spirit because the administration of grace is the administration of the Spirit. Paul s ministry was on your behalf. The revelation that Paul always speaks of is of Jesus Christ CHRIST IN YOU, because therein is the wisdom of God 22
made known, since Christ crucified is the wisdom of God. When you see HIM, you see the wisdom of God: you see that it is not Jew, not Gentile. You see HIM the wisdom of God. We think the wisdom of God is something He says. No, it is WHO He is. Our soul comes FACE-TO-FACE not with the wisdom of man, but with the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:24-25 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Cor 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Mystery of Christ Ephesians 3:3-5, How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Not even to the prophets of those other ages was the Mystery made known. They did not comprehend the Mystery of the Salvation that they prophesied. They did not! For the Spirit of Christ that was in them did not reveal it to them, but spoke of that which was to be revealed only in the Person of Christ Himself. They did not understand, but Paul is saying it was not known, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. They spoke of a city, but the Mystery of that city was not revealed as it is now revealed. They spoke of Salvation, but the Mystery of Salvation was not revealed as it is now revealed. They said that Israel would be the light unto the Gentiles, but the Mystery of that was not revealed as it is now revealed in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6-9, 23
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. When Paul says all men he means all to whom he speaks, all who hear him, to make all whom the Lord has given to him see. He says the same thing in Colossians 1:25-27, Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. In other words, He preaches the same gospel to all who will hear, that all who will hear may turn to see the mystery of God revealed in the Face (Person) of Christ. 1 Peter 1:10-12 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Isa 52:1-2 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. Isa 62:1-2 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation 24
thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Isa 46:13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. Jer 3:23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. The Fellowship of The Mystery What is the FELLOWSHIP of the Mystery? 1 Corinthians 1:9, God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. That is the name of the fellowship of the Mystery. The fellowship of the Mystery is the fellowship of Jesus Christ: it is our union with Him. It comes from baptism into His death; whereas right out of this, the Jew dies, and the Gentile dies. They are NEVER going to have fellowship with God or one another! Somebody ought to enlighten our politicians about that! The Mystery is that the result of baptism is a dead man. The result of being made to drink into one Spirit (the resurrection) is ONE NEW MAN, who is CHRIST all and in all. That is bound up with the realization that we are HIS Body. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 2 Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. 25
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 1 Cor 12:12-13, 27 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Eph 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Likeness of His Resurrection It is so that we should live in the likeness of His resurrection. Well, the likeness of His resurrection means that we should live as to the nature and character of His resurrection. The nature of His resurrection is NOT raising up a better Adam. That is not the character of His resurrection. The nature of His resurrection is NOT raising up an old humanity and bringing it back to life. The nature of His resurrection is NOT me living again. The nature and character of His resurrection is SPIRIT Spirit, Spirit, Spirit. Romans 6:4-5, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. That is not living as resurrected old men : not living unto ourselves. No, but in the REALITY OF NEWNESS. 2 Cor 5:15, 17 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 26