Don't Just Be a Christian in Word; Be a Christian in Word and Deed

Beloved, Christianity is not just another religion, as some wrongly believe. Jesus didn't come from Heaven to die such a painful and horrific death for us, be buried, and rise again on the third day, just to give the world one more empty religion. No, Christianity is THE LIFE OF GOD (or the fullness of God) MADE MANIFEST IN MAN. God lives in and through the believer (or Christian), and reigns through us. This is why Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV, emphasis mine). It is also the reason John said, “You are of God, little children, and HAVE OVERCOME THEM, because HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV, emphasis mine). Many Christians today may not understand the reality of the fullness of God in the believer because they cannot relate to it. They have been brought up to just attend “church” and perform some routine empty rituals and prayers, and so they think that is Christianity. Beloved, that is not Christianity. There is power in Christianity, and that power is THE POWER OF THE LIVING GOD. You can live and experience that power right here on earth and right now. In fact, Christianity is THE KINGDOM OF GOD CONFERRED OR BESTOWED ON MEN. Jesus said, “And I BESTOW UPON YOU A KINGDOM, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me” (Luke 22:29 NKJV, emphasis mine). And Paul said of this Kingdom, that “the Kingdom of God is NOT A MATTER OF TALK but OF POWER." (1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV). Indeed if you are already a Christian, you can begin to live this life of power that you were called to live, by following these three (3) simple steps:

1. KNOW and ACKNOWLEDGE every good thing that is in you and is yours in Christ. More importantly, know and acknowledge that Christ is in you (see Colossians 1:27); that God is in you (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 John 4:4); that the fullness of God is in you (see John 1:16; Ephesians 3:19); and that you are complete in Christ. (see Colossians 2:9-10).

Beloved, you cannot acknowledge what you don't know, so you first have to read (or hear), know and understand the Word of God and what it says about you and your life in Christ. Then once you know who you are and what is in you, according to the Bible, you have to acknowledge (i.e. accept or admit the existence or truth of) every good thing that is in you and is yours in Christ. This was also Paul’s prayer for Philemon when he said, "I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of YOUR ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE (AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT) OF EVERY GOOD THING WHICH IS OURS IN CHRIST." (PHILEMON 1:6 AMP, brackets and emphasis mine). Beloved, the life of God is in you (see 1 John 5:11-13; John 6:47); it is yours. The power of God is in you (Ephesians 1:19-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 2:13); it is yours. The righteousness of God is in you (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:22; Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 4:24); it is yours. The wisdom of God is in you (see 1 Corinthians 1:30; with 1 Corinthians 1:24); it is yours. Not only are you the son or daughter of God (see John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1), God Himself is fully present in you. (see John 1:16; Ephesians 3:19). The Bible says, “I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” (Psalm 82:6 NKJV). And yet because of your ignorance,  “you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” (Psalm 82:7 NKJV). Indeed, many Christians today are living in ignorance, and dying like men. They lack knowledge (of the truth of God's Word), and because of that they are living in defeat; they are perishing. (see Hosea 4:6).

Beloved, you are not a mere man, so don't behave like one. (see 1 Corinthians 3:3). You have to lay hold on (eternal) life and live the life of God (or eternal life) that ìs in you. Paul said, “Fight the good fight of faith, LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE, TO WHICH YOU WERE ALSO CALLED and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV,  emphasis mine). Truly, you have to know every good thing that is in you, and make an acknowledgement of that which you know. You must know who you are in Christ and acknowledge it. That is the first step to living and manifesting the life or fullness of God.

2. Be always CONSCIOUS (or aware) of who you are in Christ, and what good things are in you. Paul said to Timothy, "MEDITATE on these things; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY to them, THAT YOUR PROGRESS MAY BE EVIDENT TO ALL." (1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV, emphasis mine). Beloved, MEDITATION brings CONSCIOUSNESS, and thus PROGRESS. Staying conscious of who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ, and what you can do in Christ (which was also Paul’s prayer for the Church of Ephesus -- see Ephesians 3:14-19), can be achieved through constant meditation on the Word of God. (see Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 4:20-22; Acts 20:32). Give yourself entirely to the Word of God. When you meditate on the Word of God and know the truth, you will not focus on the lies of this world that are told through the philosophies of men, and through your own adverse circumstances or afflictions. When you know and are constantly conscious of the truth of God’s Word, you will come to understand like Paul, that every affliction is light and momentary (see 2 Corinthians 4:17); that every affliction comes not to stay, but to pass, and to work for your good. And so you will not look at these temporary afflictions. You will not look at what is seen. You will not walk by sight, but by faith (or by the Word of God). And so we all as Christians should heed to James’ admonition when he says, “My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS, knowing that THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE.” (James 1:2‭-‬3 NKJV,  emphasis mine). Indeed, no trial can overcome the child of God. All trials work to perfect us or bring us to maturity in the faith, to the stature of the fullness of Christ. And so we have to look at all trials through the right lenses. Face all trials with the right attitude. The Bible says, “And WE KNOW that ALL THINGS work together FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). “And we (believers) KNOW... “ Beloved, what do you KNOW? We know that ALL THINGS work together for OUR GOOD. What you know can build you up or break you down.

As believers, the Bible says that even though our outward man (or body) is perishing, our inward man (or spirit) is renewed day by day. (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). Whenever you look at that pain or sickness in your body, you are looking at the wrong thing. Whenever you look at the negative balance in your bank account, you are looking at the wrong thing. Stop looking or focusing on your outward man and start focusing on your inward man. Be conscious of the inward man, and see (or focus on) how he is faring, because the inward man is the real you, and he is doing REALLY WELL; he is healthy and prosperous (see 3 John 1:2; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 8:9), and he is blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). When you are constantly conscious of who you are on the inside, you will live the life that your inward man lives -- a life of victory, a life of prosperity, a life of abundance, a life of joy, a life of peace, a life of good success. Indeed the life of your spirit (which is the life of God) will manifest in your body as you walk in the consciousness of who you are in the spirit.

Beloved, this is so important that I will repeat it: Don't look or focus on your body and your outer circumstances; don’t focus on the negative report (or those things which your adverse circumstances tell you), because those things are temporary. You need to focus instead on who you permanently are (in the spirit). Focus on the things which are not seen. Paul said, "While we LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, but AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: for THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN are TEMPORAL; but the things which are NOT SEEN are ETERNAL." (2 Corinthians 4:18). Look at the things which are not seen. Look at who you are in your spirit. Your spirit is prosperous and always flourishing. It is renewed day by day. When you are conscious of this, of the good things God has blessed you with in the spirit, of how your spirit is being renewed day by day, (then in your body also) your youth will be renewed like the eagle's. (see Psalm 103:5). The Psalmist says, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance." (Psalm 16:6 NKJV). You need to have the same attitude, and say the same thing, because you have a good inheritance. The Bible says that in Christ, "WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE." (see Ephesians 1:11). It is a good inheritance. It includes every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). It includes all things that pertain to life and godliness. (see 2 Peter 1:3). Indeed it is a good inheritance that must be unpacked and possessed. As Paul puts it, this inheritance, this package of salvation must be worked out. (see Philippians 2:12). It must be unpacked and possessed. Just as God gave the children of Israel the (promised) land and told them to go in and possess it (see Deuteronomy 1:8), we are being asked to do the same thing -- to possess or lay hold on our inheritance in Christ. This is where we separate the real or practicing Christians from the lipservice ones (or those who just profess to be Christians, but are not Christians in deed or are not doers of the Word). Beloved, you have to be a doer of the Word. James said that only the doers of the Word will be blessed in what they do. (see James 1:25). Now let's move on to the third and final step to living and manifesting the life or fullness of God.

3. Confess, and hold fast your confession (of who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ, and what you can do in Christ). These are also called faith proclamations. And mind you, you don't confess to make the things you're confessing a reality; you confess because they are already the reality, and you believe them. And so you confess out of conviction.

Thus, the three steps we are discussing here all work together harmoniously and systematically. First, you read the Word of God to KNOW and ACKNOWLEDGE who you are, what you have, and what you can do in Christ. Second, you meditate and become conscious of every good thing which is in you and is yours in Christ. Third, you speak/confess those things as true and belonging to you in reality. You confess because you believe it in your heart. (2 Corinthians 4:13). You don't confess in order for you to believe it or to have it; you confess because the Bible says you already have it, and you believe from deep within your heart that it is true. Thus when you confess, you say things like: eternal life is mine, prosperity is mine, good success is mine, righteousness is mine, victory is mine, divine health is mine, power is mine, all blessings are mine, the whole world is mine. Hallelujah! Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:34). He said,  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS.” (Luke 6:45 NKJV,  emphasis mine). If you're a true believer (or Christian), you're a good man; you're the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). And so your words (which are spoken out of the abundance of your heart) will tell us if you are indeed a true believer or not. You have to choose to sanctify yourself (or set yourself apart to God) by speaking the truth, which is the Word of God (see John 17:17; Romans 12:1-2), rather than defile yourself with the words of this world. (see  Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:15).

Beloved, you have to understand the power of your words and always speak or confess  faith-filled words or words that agree with the Word of God. (see Amos 3:3). The Bible says, "By faith we understand that THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3 NKJV, emphasis mine). Indeed, words are the most powerful things in the universe. The whole universe was created with words; God called things that did not exist as though they did. (see Romans 4:17). And they came into existence. In fact, without words, the entire creation wouldn't exist. The Bible says that Jesus holds everything in place by the Word of His power. (see Hebrews 1:3). And so all of creation responds to words. Therefore, the words that proceed from your mouth are important in framing your world or charting the course of your life. Negative or fear-filled words will bring you defeat, and positive or faith-filled words will put you over the top. Many people have habitually spoken Satan’s words (or the words of this world which are contrary to the Word of God), and by so doing, they have put themselves in bondage. But God's Word (or promises) when habitually spoken out in faith from the heart will produce liberty, success and victory in your life. Indeed faith-filled words on your lips will give substance to all of God's promises for you; they will cause God's promises to manifest or materialize in your life. Begin speaking faith-filled words over your life from this moment onwards, and you will see yourself rising higher in life each day.

Moreover, the Bible says that we are to hold fast our confession (see Hebrews 4:14). In other words, we are to continually confess what the Bible says about us, and what we want to see happen in our lives (in the light of the Word of God). We are to confess with our mouth unto salvation (see Romans 10:10) -- salvation from diseases, poverty, and every power of darkness or negative circumstance. Begin to use your mouth today to chart the course of your life. The Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). Determine today never to walk or judge by what you see or hear. Don't speak what you see; speak what the Word of God says; speak what you want to see, because the Bible says that you will have whatever you say. (see Mark 11:23). Speak life. Speak God's blessings or promises. Imitate your Father God by calling those things which do not exist as though they did. (see Romans 4:17). Begin to call health where there is sickness or disease, call life where there is death, and call the abundance of provision where there is need.

Beloved, if you follow these three steps that have been discussed here, you will never be unfruitful in your knowledge of Christ. Indeed, if every so-called Christian were to follow these steps and become practicing Christians (or Christians in both word and deed), the sharing of our faith (or the preaching of the gospel) would be very effective and powerful, because our normal lives would be supernatural (or spiritual), and all men and women, seeing our works that result from the power we have, would crave to be like us and to be witnesses to Christ with us, to the praise and glory of God the Father.

"I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge (and acknowledgment) of every good thing which is ours in Christ." (PHILEMON 1:6 AMP, brackets mine). And I also pray that you will hold fast your confession. (see Hebrews 4:14). Amen. Remain blessed.

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The Holy Spirit in You and Upon You, Makes You No Ordinary Man

"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 NKJV).

Now, catch this revelation and understand the parallels between the life of Jesus Christ when He walked here on earth, and the life of the New Covenant believer today. I'm going to make this as brief as possible, because I want you to read it to the very end. Yes, it is that important. Beloved, Jesus, when He first made an entrance into this world as a Man born of a woman (see Galatians 4:4), was also born of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 1:34-35), just like every born-again believer today (see John 3:5-6, with Titus 3:5). And so Jesus was called the Son of God (see Luke 1:35), just like every believer today. (see John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:1). The Spirit of God (or the Holy Spirit) that overshadowed Mary to conceive and give birth to Jesus, remained in Him; in fact, the Holy Spirit was His seal of Sonship, just as He is our seal today. (see John 6:27; Galatians 4:6, with Ephesians 1:13, and 2 Corinthians 1:22). Thus, Jesus was as much the Son of God as He was the Son of Man, just as all believers are today. Yet, Jesus couldn't or didn't perform a single miracle (at least, there is no record of one in the Bible), until the Holy Spirit descended (or came) upon Him and remained on Him following His water baptism by John the Baptist. (see Luke 3:21-22; John 1:33). Indeed, Jesus didn't perform a single miracle until He was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power. (see Acts 10:38). The Bible says of this anointing, that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in bodily form like a dove (WHILE He PRAYED) and remained on Him. (see Luke 3:21-22, with John 1:33). And from that moment, Jesus received power, walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, and went about DOING GOOD and HEALING ALL who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (see Acts 10:38, with Luke 4:14); Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, and He was led by the Spirit. (see Luke 4:1). And yes, Jesus knew and acknowledged that the Spirit had come upon Him. He said, “The  Spirit of the Lord IS UPON Me, Because He HAS ANOINTED Me TO PREACH the gospel to the poor; He has SENT Me TO HEAL the brokenhearted, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY to  the captives AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT to  the  blind, TO  SET AT LIBERTY those who are OPPRESSED; TO PROCLAIM the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18‭-‬19 NKJV, emphasis mine).

Thus, after Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, He began His ministry (at age 30) -- see Luke 3:23). He didn't begin His ministry a minute sooner. From then, the Bible says, “And 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." (Matthew 4:23 NKJV, emphasis mine). Jesus, after being anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, went on to perform His very first miracle, changing water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. (see John 2:1-11). But until then, He walked here on earth as much a Man, as though He wasn't God. (see Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:15). The Bible says that this miracle of changing water into wine was the BEGINNING (or the first) of signs (or attesting miracles) that Jesus did. (see John 2:11). And He was able to perform this sign (or attesting miracle) only after being ANOINTED with the HOLY SPIRIT and with POWER. Thus, the Holy Spirit was the One who powered all the miracles Jesus performed while He walked here on earth as a Man as though He wasn't God.

Beloved, the Holy Spirit was the secret to Jesus’ power and ministry. Jesus in His previous 29 years of existence showed no such power. The Bible only says of Him while He was growing up, that “the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (see Luke 2:40 NKJV); and that, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (see Luke 2:52 NKJV). He had no notable accomplishments of His own at this point in His life prior to being anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus was only known in His hometown as Mary's Son, as the carpenter, as the carpenter's Son, and as brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. (see Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55). He was described in very ordinary terms. But now at age 30, Jesus began His ministry with such great power that those same people in His hometown who had considered Him an ordinary Man all this while, were now puzzled; and while they still disparaged Him, they couldn’t help but notice the change (or the transformation) in Him, and they expressed their bewilderment over what had become of Him; they queried if Jesus wasn't that (same) carpenter, if He wasn't that same carpenter's Son, if He wasn't that same Son of Mary whom they knew, if He wasn’t the same Man whose brothers and sisters were walking around town. (see Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55). They wondered where this same Man got these things (see Matthew 13:56) -- the, power, the knowledge, and the wisdom. And so they took offense at Him. (see Matthew 13:57). “But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except IN HIS OWN COUNTRY, among HIS OWN RELATIVES, and IN HIS OWN HOUSE.” (Mark 6:4 NKJV, emphasis mine). How true this statement is!

Now, what made such a dramatic difference in Jesus’ life? What brought such a transformation -- such power -- that offended people who knew Him prior to this day? I will tell you what: it was the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came upon Him and remained on Him, Jesus received power; He was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with POWER. (see Acts 10:38). He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Holy Spirit. (see Luke 4:1). The Holy Spirit made all the difference. Jesus was no longer just the sinless Man and carpenter walking the streets of Nazareth of Galilee; He was now a Man anointed with the Spirit of God and the POWER of God, a Man filled with the Holy Spirit. The fullness of God was in Him bodily. He was God manifested in the flesh. The Holy Spirit had equipped Him and strengthened Him with the power He needed for ministry as He represented God as a Man here on earth. And so Jesus’ Words were now God's Words (see John 12:49-50); His works were God's works (see John 5:19-20; John 14:10-11). He spoke boldly, taught as one having authority (see Mark 1:22; Matthew 7:29), and performed all His deeds in the name (i.e. the authority, power and identity) of God the Father, as He went about doing God's will. (see John 6:38). That is the difference the  Holy Spirit makes and made in Jesus’ life. And Jesus wanted His disciples (those of us who believe in Him) to have the same experience, to have the Holy Spirit come (or descend) upon us, and fill us, so that we will receive power (see Acts 1:8) to be just as Himself, to be witnesses to Him, doing the same works He did and even greater works than He did (see John 14:12); so that (as Paul admonishes us) whatever we do in word or deed, we will DO ALL IN THE NAME (i.e. the authority, power and identity) OF THE LORD JESUS, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (see Colossians 3:17 NKJV). This is what it means to be a witness to Jesus.

And so, before Jesus ascended into Heaven, even though He had breathed on His disciples and spoken to them to receive the Holy Spirit (see John 20:22), and thus His disciples had been born of the Spirit at that point (just like Jesus when He was originally born of the Spirit through Mary), and just like all of us when we also believed in Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 12:13; John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5), Jesus still told them not to begin their ministry yet, but to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit (the Promise of the Father) comes upon them and they are “ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH.” (see Luke 24:49 NKJV). He said, “But YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER when the Holy Spirit has COME UPON YOU; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NKJV). This became a reality for the early disciples on the Day of Pentecost.

Beloved, the Holy Spirit brought power to the early disciples, and they became Spirit-filled men who were so bold and powerful that (in the words of the unbelieving Jews) they “turned the world upside down.” (see Acts 17:6). The Holy Spirit belongs to you also if you're a  believer. The Holy Spirit is already in you through the born-again experience. But Jesus wants Him (the Holy Spirit) to come upon you also, and fill you, so that you will be ENDUED WITH POWER from on high, and BE A WITNESS to our Lord Jesus Christ, in your immediate locality and all around the world. Jesus said that God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (see Luke 11:13). So if the Holy Spirit hasn't come upon you yet, ask our Heavenly Father in prayer; and Jesus Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 3:11; John 1:33) will send Him upon you. You can also ask any Spirit-filled believer to lay hands on you to receive the Holy Spirit. (see Acts 8:18). Indeed, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and fills you, and you yield (or surrender) to Him and walk in the consciousness of His presence, exercising His power, you will never be an ordinary man; you will be a man in whom the fullness of God dwells and manifests, and to whom all things are possible. And your works will testify of you that you are truly the son of God, thus bringing glory to God the Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ. May this be a reality in your life. Remain blessed.

To learn more, order my glorious book, "Spirit Life"

The Unveiling of What God Did to Ensure that the New Creation Man (the Believer) Will Not Fail or Fall Like the Old Creation Man Adam

Beloved, the Bible teaches that God created the First or Old Creation man Adam in His own IMAGE and LIKENESS (see Genesis 1:26), but not in His own NATURE. In other words, God created Adam to look like Him in external physical appearance or external physical characteristics, but not innate or inherent constitution. Thus, contrary to what many believe, Adam was not a son of God (or born of God) the way Jesus Christ and all of us who believe in Him are. Adam did not have eternal life; nor did he have the Holy Spirit indwelling him. But all true children of God have eternal life (see John 5:24, 26; 1 John 5:12-13); and we also have the Holy Spirit (who is also known as the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of God’s Son) in our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba, Father." (see Romans 8:9, with Galatians 4:6). That Adam did not have the Spirit of God (or the Spirit of Christ) in him means that Adam was not God’s. (see Romans 8:9). Many people have been erroneously taught that the Old Creation man – Adam – had the Holy Spirit indwelling him. But the Bible never said anything like that. The Bible calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ. (see Romans 8:9). Nowhere in the Bible is the Holy Spirit called the breath of God or the breath of life. People often confuse the breath of life mentioned in Genesis 2:7 with the Holy Spirit; but they are not the same. The Bible reports concerning the great flood in Noah’s day, that “all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. ALL IN WHOSE NOSTRILS WAS THE BREATH OF the Spirit of LIFE, all that was on the dry land, died” (Genesis 7:21-22 NKJV, emphasis mine). Of course, the Spirit of life is God the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:2). And so clearly, the breath of the Spirit of life is a reference to the breath of God the Spirit. His breath is in every living creature. This verse is thus saying that all creatures that had life as we know it, perished in the flood in Noah’s Day. And life as we know it proceeded from the breath of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Life). Every man alive today has the breath of the Almighty (see Job 33:4; Job 27:3) or the breath of the Spirit of life (see Genesis 7:22) or simply, the breath of life (see Genesis 2:7) in him; that is what is keeping us alive. That is what keeps every living creature alive. For man, it is called the human spirit, or the spirit of man; it is not called the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit. And so Adam did not have the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God.

Now, the Bible further teaches that the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God (see Romans 8:14), and that the sons of God do not and cannot sin because we are born of God and the seed of God remains in us. (see 1 John 3:9). Obviously, Adam did not measure up to this standard or meet any of these requirements either. As an earthy (or natural) man (see 1 Corinthians 15:47-48 KJV), there is no way Adam could've been led by the Spirit of God, because the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, and cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (see 1 Corinthians 2:14). Besides, Adam sinned. Need I say more? I hope you understand the point we're making here. You see, the fact that Adam wasn't born of God or wasn't the son of God doesn't mean that God created him as a bad or corrupted person. The Bible says Adam was created a very good man. After God made Adam, He saw everything he had made (including Adam), and “indeed it was very good.” (see Genesis 1:31). Therefore, God gave (the very good man) Adam free will and gave him the option to receive eternal life (and thus become the son of God) by simply eating of the tree of life that was in the midst of the garden of Eden. (see Genesis 2:8-17). That tree of life was Jesus Christ. Adam had to make the choice to believe in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life, or reject Jesus Christ and suffer eternal death. In fact, God has today given each one of us the same privileged choice He gave Adam; He has given us the option to eat of Jesus the (tree of) life and become sons of God. (see John 6:53-54; with John 14:6, John 3:16, and John 1:12). But unfortunately, many today reject the opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ and become the sons or children of God (see John 1:12), just as Adam did. Adam was the first man who rejected the opportunity to eat of the tree of life and become the son of God; Adam opted instead to become the son of the devil by obeying the devil (the serpent) and eating of the (forbidden) tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam chose Satan the author of death (see Hebrews 2:14) over Jesus the author of life (see Acts 3:15). By obeying the devil instead of God, Adam became the slave of the devil (see Romans 6:16). By eating of the (forbidden) tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam became the son of disobedience (see Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 3:6) or the son of the devil. (see John 8:44). Thus, Adam missed a great opportunity to have received eternal life and become the son of God.

Unfortunately and sadly, many of the translators of the New Testament inserted their own word “son” in Luke 3:38 thereby calling Adam “the son of God” and thus confusing many believers. The truth is that the word “son” is not in the original Greek text. The correct translation should’ve been “Adam of God,” which is how the Berean Literal Bible correctly renders it. However, we will not argue about long genealogies (in heeding to Paul’s advice to Timothy and Titus – see 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9); and so it must be pointed out here that calling Adam “son of God” is not wrong when one understands it correctly as meaning that Adam originated directly from God or was the first man God created. As the first man God created, Adam is figuratively called God's son, not because God literally gave birth to him the way God gave birth to Jesus and to us believers, but because Adam has no biological father or mother in the natural sense, and therefore traces his parentage or lineage directly to God. You would similarly notice that, in Acts 17:27-28, humanity is collectively referred to as the “offspring” of God (in a generic sense), simply because God created us all. In the strict or legal sense of sonship, however, the Bible says that humanity can be divided into two broad categories: the sons (or children) of God and the sons (or children) of the devil. (see 1 John 3:10).

Moreover, before Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, the Bible emphasizes that Jesus Christ was God’s one and only begotten Son (see John 3:16; John 1:14). This exclusive declaration of the Bible refutes any claim that Adam was also God’s begotten son. In fact, for anyone to maintain against the backdrop of this truth, that Adam was also a begotten “son of God” is for that person to claim that John 3:16 and all the other Scriptures that speak of Jesus as the one and only begotten Son of God are lies. But the Bible says, “Let God be true but every man a liar.” (see Romans 3:4). I choose to let God be true; I choose to believe the Bible (the power of God), and not the wisdom of man. (see 1 Corinthians 2:5). If Adam were, in truth, the son of God as many falsely believe, Adam wouldn't and couldn’t have sinned (or fallen) the way he did in the garden of Eden, because he would've been born of God and the seed of God would've remained in him, and so he couldn’t and wouldn't sin (see 1 John 3:9), just as Jesus didn’t and couldn’t sin. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15; 1 John 3:5; 1 John 3:9).

The Bible says that Adam was earthy (or natural), and so were all those born of him (see 1 Corinthians 15:47-48 KJV). Today all those who are not in Christ are still in Adam; they are still earthy; they are still in the flesh; they are still sinners, and they are still dead because they have Adam’s fallen or sinful nature (see Genesis 3, with Genesis 4:1; Genesis 5:3, and Psalm 51:5, with 1 Corinthians 15:22). Don't expect to see Adam in Heaven, because Adam is eternally dead. In Adam, all die or perish; in Christ, all live or are saved. (see 1 Corinthians 15:22). This is a present tense reality. The first Adam brought ETERNAL death; the Second and Last Adam (Jesus Christ) brought ETERNAL Life. And so the truth of the New Creation man’s legal identity as the SON OF GOD who lives in the Spirit and is to walk in the Spirit, presents the single most significant difference between the New Creation (the believer) and the Old Creation headed by Adam. The New Creation folks (or believers) headed by Jesus Christ (the Second and last Adam) are the children of God (see John 1:12; Galatians 3:26), whereas the Old Creation folks (or unbelievers) headed by the first man Adam are the children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), the children of disobedience (see Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 3:6), the children of the devil. (see John 8:44; 1 John 3:8-10). Therefore, it is not WHAT people do but WHO they really are (in their spirit) that determines whether they sin or not, and whether they will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus and God the Father or in Hell with Adam and the devil; it is a question of identity. Your identity today as a goat (sinner – child of Adam and the devil) or a sheep (righteous – child of  the God and Father of Jesus Christ the second and last Adam) is what will determine whether you will go to hell or to heaven if you should die right now. (see Matthew 25:31-46). Hence the Bible says that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of only one sin: the sin of not believing in Jesus Christ. (see John 16:9). This is the truth many people don't seem to get. In Adam, all die; in Christ, all live. (see 1 Corinthians 15:22). Every man today can and must come out of Adam and death, into Christ and life, by simply believing in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “For as by one man’s (or Adam’s) disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s (or Christ’s) obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 NKJV, brackets mine).

That the New Creation man (or the believer) is the son of God whom God Himself gave birth to out of His own will (see John 1:12-13; James 1:18; 1 John 5:1) is the greatest and most amazing and glorious thing that ever happened to man. And thus John declares, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” (1 John 3:1 NKJV). God, by choosing to give birth to us as His own legal children through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and by the Word of truth (see James 1:18, with 1 Peter 1:3), has elevated us (from once being hopeless sinners) to being partakers of deity or the divine (God) nature. (see 2 Peter 1:4). Therefore, as a believer, you are not a mere man (see 1 Corinthians 3:3), just as Jesus wasn’t a mere man when He walked here on this earth; you are a god-man (see Psalm 82:6); you belong to the class of God or the God-Family; you are a member of the household of God, and you are a fellow citizen of heaven with all the saints. (see Ephesians 2:19, with Philippians 3:20). And so you can imitate God your Father. (see Ephesians 5:1). Today all believers belong to a whole NEW HUMANITY created in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 2:10, 15) and born through His resurrection to be called the CHILDREN OF GOD. (see 1 John 3:1). God Himself gave birth to us out of His own will! (see James 1:18, with 1 Peter 1:3). And there are multitudes of us that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. (see Revelation 7:9). God gave birth to all these multitudes of children through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, by the Word of truth (see 1 Peter 1:3; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) – children who are just as Jesus is in this world (see 1 John 4:17), who are eternally righteous (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; with Daniel 9:24), and who can come boldly to God’s throne of grace at any time (see Hebrews 4:16), stand in God’s presence without any sense of guilt, sin, or inferiority (see Hebrews 10:1-3), call God “Abba, Father” (see Galatians 4:6), and fellowship with Him and with His Son Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3-4). Hallelujah!

As a believer and a child of God, you have a legal right in the Father's presence; you have the same rights in the Father's presence as Jesus Christ (see Romans 8:17). And God is legally responsible for taking care of you and supplying all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19; Psalm 23:1; Psalm 34:9-10), because you have been legally born into His Family. The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with your spirit that you are the child of God. (see Romans 8:16). Therefore, trust God to fulfill all His fatherly responsibilities to you, because He is a good and loving Father.

Beloved, your true legal identity as the  son or daughter of God – and all the rights and privileges that come with it – has been made possible solely by the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just as it was only when the veil of the temple was torn that access to the Holy of Holies was granted permanently to all (sinful) men, it was only by the tearing of the veil which is Jesus’ flesh that access to God’s Holy presence was made permanently available to all of us by the blood of Jesus. (see Hebrews 10:19-20). Today, the believer is a completely new creation or new creature (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) who is able to fellowship permanently with God, because we have become eternally righteous (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), perfect (see Hebrews 10:14), sanctified (see Hebrews 10:10), holy (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:5, 9) and sinless (see 1 John 3:9), having been washed and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus from the empty way of life handed down to us from our ancestors. (see Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 1:18-19). We as the new creation are superior to the old creation. We have been created in Christ Jesus and are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). We have been created as world-overcomers (see 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4), as more than conquerors through Christ who loved us (see Romans 8:37), and as kings and priests to our God and Father (see Revelation 1:6). We have been created to reign in life or live a life of victory (see Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:57) and a life of favor. (see Ephesians 1:6; Romans 5:2; Psalm 5:12). We have been created to have the power or ability to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (see Philippians 4:13). Hallelujah!

As a new creation, you were created, not as a natural man or earthy man like Adam, but as a spiritual or heavenly man like Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:46-48; 1 Corinthians 3:1). Your citizenship is in Heaven (see Philippians 3:20). Therefore, the mystery surrounding you is that you live simultaneously in Heaven and on Earth, as you sit in Heaven together with Christ and in Christ on the right hand of God, on the right hand of power – on God's very throne – (see Ephesians 2:4-6), at the same time as you live in this world without being of this world. (see John 17:16; John 15:19). Furthermore, as a new creation man or woman, not only do you bear the image and likeness of God, but also, you have the very nature of God (see 2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 4:24). And so the Bible says you are to imitate God. (see Ephesians 5:1). You have been created according to (the inherent or innate constitution or character of) God – in true holiness and righteousness. (see Ephesians 4:24). In other words, you are holy and righteous by birth; and there is nothing you can do to change that. (I am talking here to sincere believers who will stand steadfast in the faith till the Lord returns or till you're called home by the Lord). Jesus Himself is your righteousness and your sanctification. (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Having been born of God, you have the seed (sperma) of God in you and are, therefore, incapable of sinning or committing the treason of the Old Creation man Adam (see 1 John 3:9). As God’s own son, you also have the mind of Christ, and so you have the wisdom of God and you know the mind of the Lord. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). Jesus Christ Himself is your wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:30), just as He is the wisdom of God. (see 1 Corinthians 1:24). And because Jesus in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (see Colossians 2:3) resides in you (see Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20), you have full access to divine knowledge and wisdom; and you will have the exact knowledge of God's will as long as you walk in the Spirit. (see Colossians 1:9-13).

Beloved, as a new creation and the child of God, God has sealed you with the Holy Spirit to guarantee that you belong to Him forever (see Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22), and that Satan cannot steal you, kill you or destroy you. Thus, He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (see 1 John 4:4). God Himself lives in you, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 John 4:4, with Colossians 3:3). And so you and God are one; wherever God goes, you go, and wherever you go, God goes, because you are joined as one spirit with God. (see 1 Corinthians 6:17). God has also promised never to leave you nor forsake you. (see Hebrews 13:5). You are, therefore,  a true champion and a spiritual giant in this world, just as Jesus Christ. (see 1 John 4:17). You just have to know and walk in (the consciousness of) this truth.

Now, unlike the First or Old Creation man, you as a New Creation man were created in the Spirit, so you are in the Spirit, (see Romans 8:9). The Bible says that, “they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (see Romans 8:8). This does not apply to you because you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit (see Romans 8:9); so you can please God. The Spirit of God dwells in you (see Romans 5:5); you live in the Spirit and are to walk in the Spirit (see Galatians 5:25 NKJV) and NOT in the flesh. (see Romans 8:13). You as a spiritual man (or new creation man) cannot survive or live in the flesh (or Sense realm), just as the natural man cannot live in the Spirit. The Bible says that “if you live according to the flesh (or the dictates of your five senses), YOU WILL DIE; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, YOU WILL LIVE.” (Romans 8:13 NKJV, brackets, and emphasis mine). In other words, your natural habitat is the Spirit realm. (see Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:25). The new creation man cannot survive in the flesh or sense realm, just as a fish cannot survive on dry land. Walking in the Spirit thus simply means walking according to who you are in your re-created spirit (as revealed by the Word of God), and not according to your flesh (that is, your senses, the desires and dictates of your body, or who you see yourself to be in the physical realm); it means walking by faith and not by sight. (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). As a believer, all the capabilities and power of God has been imparted to you (in your spirit) through the new birth, so it behooves you to lay hold on it and imitate God (by walking in the Spirit or walking in love).

In fact, as a new creation man or woman, you are such a completely new and different creature from the Old creation man that, you even have a new body (see 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; Philippians 3:21), which you will receive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. (see 2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 3:21). But, for now, you will still live in this old body of corruption (see 1 Corinthians 15:42, 50; 2 Corinthians 5:1), having this treasure in earthen vessel, so that the excellence of the power (you have) may be of God and not of you. (see 2 Corinthians 4:7). Indeed, it is because you still live in this old body of corruption that you are admonished to make a conscious effort to walk in the Spirit (or in harmony with your re-created spirit). It is also because you still live in this old body of corruption that the Bible urges you to (make a conscious decision and effort to) present your body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, and to not be “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV). And so this verse, in saying “be transformed,” is not talking about transforming your spirit, because your spirit is already transformed and is as perfect as Jesus (see Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 10:14; 1 John 4:17); this verse is talking about transforming your bodily conduct, mindset and manner of life so that your thoughts, speech and actions will conform to the righteous and holy nature of your re-created spirit, so that you can enjoy (in the body) the victorious and glorious life that your re-created spirit enjoys.

The transformation of your bodily conduct, mindset and manner of life is accomplished when you’re in full possession of your inheritance among the saints in the light, when you are mature, having attained to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, when you are walking worthy of your calling in Christ. And the good news is that you can begin that transformation today (if you haven’t already) by starting to renew your mind (with the Word of God). It must also be noted that the mind that has to be renewed (in the context of Romans 12:2) is the mind of your body (and not the mind of your spirit), because the mind of your re-created spirit is already renewed and is actually the same as the mind of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). Thus you have to renew the mind of your body to conform with the mind of your spirit; and thankfully you have the Holy Spirit to help you accomplish this through the study of the Word of God. The Bible says, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV). The renewing of the mind of the body is done through reading and meditating on the Word of God (with the help of the Holy Spirit) to the point where the mind of the body aligns with or conforms to the mind of the Spirit, to the point where we know the things that have been freely given to us by God. The mind of the body has to agree or conform to the Word of God. The Bible says, “how can two walk together except they be agreed?” (see Amos 3:3). How can you walk with God while you're in this body, except the mind of your body agrees with the mind of God (which has been revealed in His Word)? Indeed, you have to renew your mind with the Word until Christ is formed in you – in your body. (see Galatians 4:19). When your mind is renewed, you won’t be what James calls “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (see James 1:8); you will not doubt God, because you will have one mind with Him. Thus, the transforming of our bodily conduct, mindset and manner of life is fully accomplished when we consistently and continually put the knowledge and wisdom from the renewed mind of the body into practice, or when we become doers of the Word, as James 1:22 commands. The will and desire of your spirit – which, according to First Corinthians 6:17, is now joined as one with the Holy Spirit – has to rule or gain the ascendancy over the will and desire of your body, even as your body (or fleshly desire) wars against the Spirit for control and dominance. (see Galatians 5:17). And so your part is to subdue your body (by the Spirit) and submit it to the will of God as an instrument of righteousness to God. (see Romans 6:13). You have to crucify the body (or the flesh) by the Spirit (see Romans 8:13), so that you will LIVE, so that you will enjoy the victory which is in Christ. In other words, you have to die daily in order for you to live the victorious and glorious life that is in Christ. Paul said, “I affirm by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY.” (1 Corinthians 15:31). The only people who are truly able to exercise authority over the devil and live the victorious life are those who choose the way of the cross and dying daily. In this regard, Paul also said, "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV). Crucifying the flesh or disciplining your body and bringing it into subjection is not something God does for you; it is something you do for yourself; and yet, you cannot do it by your own strength or effort. You cannot crucify the deeds of the body by self-will. You have to do it BY (the help of the) Holy Spirit who is in you. (see Romans 8:13).

Beloved, you will not live at your full potential in this life until you consistently discipline your body and submit your body to the leading of the Holy Spirit. You will not bear the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) unless you abide in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit – love – is the evidence that you are walking in the Spirit, and are thus a spiritual man and not a mere man. (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Walking in the Spirit, therefore, is an all-encompassing lifestyle that involves walking in love (see Ephesians 5:2), walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), walking in the Word of God or in the truth (see 3 John 1:3-4; Matthew 4:4; Ezekiel 36:27), walking in the light (see 1 John 1:7), walking in newness of life (see Romans 6:4), or walking in Christ (see Colossians 2:6). May you walk in the Spirit now and always. Remain blessed.

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A Miracle Happens When the Natural Man Comes to Christ

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9 NKJV).

Beloved, many believers are confused about the verse quoted above, but they shouldn’t be. First John 1:9 is talking about when the natural (or unregenerate) man first comes to Christ. The natural man (or the man who has not yet accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior) is a sinner, regardless of how much good he does. In fact, he was born a sinner  (see Psalm 51:5), and is thus programmed to sin, because he has the devil working in him (see Ephesians 2:2-3). When Adam fell into sin (see Genesis 3), we were all still in Adam’s loins. So we all became sinners through one man’s (or Adam’s) disobedience. (see Romans 5:18-19). By virtue of us being “in Adam,” all die. (see 1 Corinthians 15:22, NKJV). So sin entered the world through Adam, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. (see Romans 5:12-14). Hence, the natural man has Adam’s sin nature in him. The natural man has no fellowship with God, which is why John is inviting him into fellowship with God. (see 1 John 1:3). The Bible says the natural man is alienated or cut off from God. (see Colossians 1:21-23). The Bible calls the natural man a child of disobedience and a child of wrath. (see Ephesians 2:2-3; Colossians 3:6). And so when the natural man comes to Christ, he must first acknowledge that he is a sinner. He must confess his sins or confess that he is a sinner who needs forgiveness. And when that confession is made sincerely from the heart, God is faithful and just to forgive that man his sins and to cleanse him from ALL unrighteousness. Notice that God chooses His words very carefully. He says He will cleanse that man of ALL unrighteousness. ALL means ALL. This is a one-time thing. When ALL is cleansed, there’s none left to be cleansed. Even a child can understand this. And yet, Satan has blinded many people's understanding on this.

From that point forward after the natural man comes to Christ to confess that he is a sinner, and thus accepts and confesses Jesus as his Lord and Savior, that man is forgiven of ALL sins; he is eternally forgiven; he has eternal (not temporary) redemption (see Hebrews 9:12; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:13). God, who is faithful and just, fulfills His promise and cleanses him from ALL unrighteousness. He is born again, or born from above (see John 3:3, 7) or re-created according to the righteous and holy nature of God. (see Ephesians 4:24; 2 Peter 1:4). God Himself gives birth to him out of His own will through the Word of truth. (see James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23), and He becomes the begotten son of God (see John 1:12, James 1:18, 1 John 5:) who is accepted in the Beloved (see Ephesians 1:6). He becomes a member of God’s Family -- an heir of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. (see Romans 8:16-17). He becomes Jesus’ brother, and Jesus is not ashamed to call him a brother. (see Hebrews 2:11). So from the moment a person comes to Christ, he is a new creation. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). He is a partaker of God's divine nature. (see 2 Peter 1:4). He has the life of God. (see 1 John 5:11-12). He has eternal life. (see 1 John 5:13, John 6:47). And He has fellowship with God and with Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 John 1:3). He dies to Adam and his sin nature, and is made alive in Christ and receives His righteous nature, so that just as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all are made alive. (see 1 Corinthians 15:22). Just as by one man's (or Adam's) disobedience you were made (or became) a sinner, even so through one Man’s (or Christ's) obedience, you are made (or become) righteous. (see Romans 5:19). Hence, even though there are sinners in the natural world (unbelievers), there are no sinners in Christ or in the Body of Christ. In Christ, all are saints. (see 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 2:19). All are righteous. (see Romans 5:19). And sin cannot change that. This is why First John 3:9 says, "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." This is a spiritual fact. It is a spiritual reality. You can't understand it with your natural mind. God sees the believer as so righteous that he cannot sin. In God’s eyes, as Jesus is, so are we in this world. (see 1 John 4:17). God sees the believer as righteous and sinless as Jesus. God sees the believer as His own righteousness. We are the righteousness of God in Christ. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Just ask yourself this question: how pure is the righteousness of God? Well, that is you, my dear believer.

A believer is the righteousness of God in Christ. It is God Himself who has established the believer in righteousness, just as He promised long ago that He would do. (see Isaiah 54:14). And when God justifies, who is he that condemns? (see Romans 8:33-34). Jesus Himself is the believer's righteousness (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). This is why every believer should have dominion over sin. Sin shouldn't have dominion over the believer, because the believer is not under law, but under grace. (see Romans 6:14). Satan is the author of sin. He has been sinning from the beginning. (see 1 John 3:8). Sin exists in Satan’s kingdom (of darkness); it doesn’t exist in God’s Kingdom (of Light). And the Bible says that the believer has been rescued or delivered by God from the power of darkness, and been translated or conveyed into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. (see Colossians 1:13). So Satan (and sin) has no power over the believer. Satan (and sin) used to be our master before we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. But now, since we are in Christ, we are in the Kingdom of Light and we are seated in the heavenly realms (on the right hand of God) with Christ and in Christ (see Ephesians 2:4-6) “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:21 NKJV). The believer is now a master over Satan and sin. We have transitioned from being slaves of Satan and sin to being Masters over Satan and sin, thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. All believers need to catch a revelation of this truth.

When the believer catches a revelation of who he truly is, when the believer comes to know that he is truly righteous in Christ, that is when he is empowered to live a righteous life free of sin's dominion. The believer has to know his true identity. He has to become righteousness-conscious and not sin-conscious. He has to be "Christ-in-me"-conscious. Sin-consciousness is for the unbeliever. The body of Christ hasn't caught a full revelation of what Christ did and has done for us. Many are yet to catch the revelation of what we have become in Christ. This is why so many believers are so preoccupied with sin-consciousness and are living in sin. Every time they hear someone preach about the believer’s righteous identity, the only thing they think about is, "What about sin?" People are still in bondage to sin and sin-consciousness. But it shouldn't be that way. The blood of Jesus that washed us from our sins (see Revelation 1:5) is more powerful than sin, and the Bible says it (continually) cleanses us. (see 1 John 1:7). This is like standing under the waterfall of Jesus’ precious blood; it never stops cleansing you. Christ who is in you is greater than all the sin in the world (see 1 John 4:4), and He is in you to help you live a life of dominion over sin. Acknowledge Him always. Be conscious of Him. Christ is in you; that is the hope of glory. (see Colossians 1:27). It is the glory of the believer. It is the secret of Christianity. Without that revelation, you can call yourself a believer or a Christian all you want, but you are nothing. Satan will never be scared of you, and he will rob you and make a mockery of you. Satan is only scared of believers who truly know who they are. Satan cannot condemn a believer who knows that he is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He can never condemn a believer who knows and believes that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (see Romans 8:1). He cannot condemn a believer who knows that no one can bring a charge against God’s elect  (see Romans 8:33). You can be that believer. Renew your mind with the Word of God. (see Romans 12:2). And by the way, it is just stupid for a believer to live in sin. Sin is beneath the dignity of a true child of God.  Sinning is submitting to Satan. (see Romans 6:16). No true child of God wants to submit to Satan by sinning, because we're masters over Satan. You just need to have this revelation!

Unfortunately there are many ministers behind the pulpit today who don't have the true revelation of the gospel. They themselves don't even believe (the good news) that they have received the remission of sins through the one-time sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and so they themselves are not saved, since salvation is for only those who believe the gospel. (see Mark 16:15-16). Jesus told the disciples “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (see Luke 24:47 NKJV). That is the core message of the gospel. And so Peter, in response, preached on the day of Pentecost saying, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV). “Repent” simply means change your mind. In another sermon, Peter proclaims: “For Christ also hath ONCE suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18, emphasis mine). And Paul adds, "In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RICHES OF GOD'S GRACE.” (Ephesians 1:7, brackets and emphasis mine). Peter and Paul could boldly preach this gospel because they believed it. They believed they had received the remission of their sins in the name of Jesus. Thus, Peter and Paul were no hypocrites. They believed the gospel and preached it. But today, there are many preachers behind the pulpit who don't believe the gospel. How can you preach repentance and remission of sins to unbelievers when you yourself don't believe you have received it? How can you preach salvation to all nations when you yourself don't believe you're saved? Such is the sad state of many preachers today in our churches, and they are sadly self-deceived. They have been ordained by men, but they are certainly not ordained by God. They themselves live in sin, so all they preach about is sin, condemnation and death. Paul said such people walk as enemies of the cross of Christ  (see Philippians 3:18). Jesus said, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13 NKJV). Indeed, such preachers are not saved; nor are they saving any souls. They must as well just become shoe repairers. Perhaps then, they might at least save some soles.

Beloved, all true ministers have been called to be ministers of the new Covenant. (see 2 Corinthians 3:6). We have been called to be ministers of the Spirit and of righteousness, and not ministers of death and condemnation. (see 2 Corinthians 3:7-9). We have been called to be ministers of reconciliation. And we are to preach the message of reconciliation, that God is no longer angry at us; that He is at peace with the world and has forgiven us all our sins because of the propitiation of the blood of Jesus Christ; and that He is calling on us to accept His offer of reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was and is the culmination of God's peace project. He is the Prince of Peace, and He has brought peace between God and man. Hence, the angels who announced the birth of Jesus were  joyous, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, GOODWILL toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJV, emphasis mine). And Paul declares that, "having been justified by faith, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1 NKJV, emphasis mine). The Bible further states that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES TO THEM, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:19 NKJV, emphasis mine). This is the message we are to preach. It is the message all the early apostles preached. John preached that Jesus Christ “Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (I John 2:2 NKJV). Paul, in preaching the message of reconciliation also said, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to  be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:20‭-‬21 NKJV). Now, this sounds like good news to me. We are being implored to accept Christ's sacrifice for our sins and accept that we have become the righteousness of God in Christ. We are to accept that just as Christ became sin without committing any sin, we have also become righteous (through faith in Christ) without doing anything righteous. And so living in the consciousness of this truth, we can now practice righteousness. This is the good news. It is also summarized in Paul’s letter to the Romans as follows: “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are JUSTIFIED FREELY by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21‭-‬24 NIV, emphasis mine). Thus, the good news is not the depressing and scary fact that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23), and that the wages of sin is death. (see Romans 6:23). In fact, that is the bad news. But the good news, which immediately follows the bad news, is the liberating and joyful fact that all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (see Romans 3:24), and that the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (see Romans 6:23). Hallelujah! I know, without a doubt, that most of you have been going to church for a long time, and yet, this is the first time many of you have actually heard the gospel (or the good news). The question then is, do you believe this good news? Unfortunately, many so-called Christians today don't believe it. But this is your chance to believe it, and be saved.

Christians today just need to believe the Word of God and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. There is a big problem of unbelief in the church today, which is quite unfortunate, because without faith, it is impossible to please God. (see Hebrews 11:6). Just as the message that was preached to the Israelites did not profit them or do them any good because it was not mixed with faith (see Hebrews 4:2), so is the gospel of Christ not benefiting many people today because they are not mixing it with faith. In fact, I find it difficult to use the word "believers" to describe all Christians, because many so-called Christians don't truly believe the good news of Christ. Unless they can sense something that sounds like bad news in your preaching, they won't accept it. They just want to hear you preaching about sin, condemnation and death, about how they are all going to burn in hell if they don't stop sinning. But that is not the good news. That is not the gospel of Christ. The gospel of Christ doesn’t just name the problem of sin; it offers Jesus Christ as the solution. So the truth is that sin is not the problem in the church today; faith is. You know why? Because Jesus has taken care of the sin problem already; people just don't want to believe it. People crave for something they can also do to "earn" their salvation so that they can boast in themselves. The natural man is predisposed to pride, and is driven by a lust for achievement through self-effort. So, No, they don't want to accept salvation as a gift by faith. They prefer to work for it. And that's all the problem I see in the church today, and I believe God sees the faith problem also, as revealed in His letters to the 7 churches. (see Revelation 2 - 3). It is only by (faith in) the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of our testimony that we overcome. (Revelation 12:11, with 1 John 5:4). When we believe right, we will definitely live right. Knowledge of the truth of the gospel makes the believer truly free (see John 8:32) -- free from every form of bondage and oppression of the devil, including the dominion of sin.

I admonish you, therefore, to believe what Jesus has accomplished for you at the cross, and be saved. And yet, I know some of you wouldn’t believe or accept this message. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who 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.” (I Corinthians 1:18‭-‬25 NKJV). Today, you have heard His voice, may you not harden your hearts. (see Hebrews 4:6-7). If you believe in Jesus Christ and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, He will come to live in your heart, and you too will have eternal life. “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11-12 NKJV). If you desire to receive Jesus and make HIM your Lord and Savior today, pray this prayer from your heart: “Almighty God, Your Word says that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness. Today I acknowledge and confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and I thank you for sending your beloved Son, Jesus Christ to die for me and to bear the judgment for my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified for my sins and was raised from the dead for my justification. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and Savior. And I thank You that I have received eternal life in the name of Jesus. Amen.” 

If you prayed this prayer sincerely from your heart, I’m happy for you. Welcome to God’s Family. I encourage you to join a local church that preaches the gospel of grace so that you can grow further in your knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. You’re now God’s beloved child. You're now a new creation in Christ. The devil had a hold over your old man because of sin, but he has no hold over you as a new creation – because of righteousness. I thank God that you have been born again as a new creation in Christ. Stop regarding yourself according to the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 5:16). You are no longer a sinner. There is a permanent change in your spirit. You have the life of God in you. You have the new nature of Christ in you. You have His ability in you. You are no longer held back by the past and you can live for the future in Christ, according to all His promises. You are an overcomer. (see 1 John 5:4-5). You can experience the overcoming life by walking in faith and by allowing Jesus to live through you. (see Galatians 2:20). The victory that overcomes is your faith. Remain blessed.

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What Happened Within Those Three Days and Three Nights Jesus Spent in the Heart of the Earth

Beloved, the Bible says that Jesus Christ was made sin on the cross (see 2 Corinthians 5:21); all the iniquity of humanity was laid on Him (see Isaiah 53:6). Therefore Jesus died as sin and as a subject of Satan. He died as man’s Substitute bearing the punishment man deserved for his sins. And since man was destined for hell, Jesus our sin-bearer, having suffered on the cross and died as sin, was cast into hell as man’s Substitute. And so He spent three days and three nights in hell, in the heart of the earth (see Matthew 12:40); He descended into the lower parts of the earth (see Ephesians 4:8-10); He went (to prison) and preached to the spirits in prison (see 1 Peter 3:19); He was counted with those who go down the pit, and was laid in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths (see Psalm 88:4, 6). But His soul was not left in hell (see Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27). Jesus was in hell for three days and three nights bearing the full punishment for our sins. And once the demands of Justice had been met, once He had suffered enough to pay the full penalty for man’s disobedience, He was justified (or made righteous) in the Spirit (see 1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus was born again (or created anew) in the Spirit, as God declared: “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” (see Acts 13:33; Psalm 2:7). This means that Jesus was born out of both spiritual and physical death (the realm of Satan and sin) into life (the realm of God and righteousness). He is the firstborn from the dead (see Colossians 1:18), the firstborn over all creation (see Colossians 1:15), and the Head of the Body, the Church, the New Creation, the New Humanity (see Colossians 1:18). The Bible says that once Jesus was made alive by the Spirit (see 1 Peter 3:18) in that awful darkness of hell, He met Satan the strong man head-on, and tied him in his own house, and plundered his house, just as He had alluded to during His earth walk. (see Mark 3:27; Matthew 12:29). Paul describes it colorfully for us, that Jesus disarmed principalities and powers (that is, Satan and his angels) and made a public spectacle of them (that is, put them to public shame), triumphing over them in it. (see Colossians 2:15). Hebrews 2:14 also adds that in this battle, Jesus – who Himself became a Man and died for this very purpose – destroyed the devil who (once) had the power of death; Jesus stripped the devil of his power and brought him to nought (or left him paralyzed), defeating him right in his own camp before his own army and releasing those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (see Hebrews 2:15). Thus, Jesus the New Creation Man – and Spiritual Man – took back (for the entire new humanity) the dominion over the earth, which Adam the First or Old Creation man – and natural man – handed over to Satan by his disobedience in the garden of Eden.

Indeed, Jesus possessed “the gate of His enemies” (see Genesis 22:17) and took “the keys of death and hell.” (see Revelation 1:18). Then He preached to the spirits (of men who formerly were disobedient) that were imprisoned there in hell (see 1 Peter 3:19-20); He preached to them the gospel of grace – repentance and remission of sins in His name (see Luke 24:47) – and those prisoners or captives who believed were freed. (see Ephesians 4:8; Isaiah 42:7; Luke 4:18). And once this was accomplished, Jesus ascended out of hell with the freed captives (see Ephesians 4:7-10), and was raised bodily from the dead in a transformed and glorified body (see Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:3-5). The Bible says that God did not leave the soul of Jesus in hell, just as He had promised in His divine contract or covenant with Him (see Psalm 16:10); neither did God allow Jesus’ body to suffer corruption or decay (see Acts 2:27). Therefore, having been delivered up to death for our sins (or our offenses), Jesus was raised when we were justified (or declared righteous); He was raised for our justification. (see Romans 4:25). Hallelujah!

Just as the first Adam sinned (as man’s substitute or representative to make all of us sinners), Jesus the second or last Adam was crucified and died as man’s Substitute or Representative to make all of us righteous. (see Romans 5:18-19). That Jesus was our Substitute means that in the eyes of Justice, we (believers) were all crucified with Him and died with Him when He was crucified and died (see Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-6); we were all buried with Him when He was buried (see Romans 6:4-6); and we were all raised with Him when He was raised (see Romans 6:4-8). Then we were all made to sit together with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 2:4-6) at God’s right hand, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (see Ephesians 1:20-21). The Bible thus explains that when Jesus was born again or created anew in the Spirit as the Son of God (see Acts 13:33), we (believers) were created IN Him (see Ephesians 2:10). Jesus became our new world or habitat – for we were created in Him to live or abide in Him (see John 15:5-7) and walk in Him (see Colossians 2:6) – so that whatever we do in word or deed, we are to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through Him. (see Colossians 3:17). Hallelujah! May you continue to walk in Him. Remain blessed.

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Understand The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ and Its Significance

Beloved, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus’ High Priesthood is not according to the order of the Levitical priesthood, but according to the order of Melchizedek. Thus, it is important to know the differences between Jesus’ perfect High Priesthood and the “imperfect” Levitical priesthood. Under the Old Covenant, priests came from the tribe of Levi, and the first high priest in that order of priests was Aaron, whom God Himself appointed. (see Exodus 28:1-3). These high priests were sinful men who had to offer animal sacrifices, first for their own sins and then for the people’s. They themselves had to be covered by the blood sacrifices before they could intercede on behalf of the people, for they were imperfect. Besides the daily sacrifices offered by the priests, year after year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to offer sacrifices. These sacrifices were only good for covering the sins of the nation for a year. It was a temporal solution, for it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (see Hebrews 10:4). These Levitical high priests were not just imperfect with regards to their own sinful nature and the imperfect sacrifices they offered, but also by the fact that they were prevented by death from continuing in office. (see Hebrews 7:23). Their sacrifices also couldn't make anyone perfect. (see Hebrews 7:11). And so, to fix this problem, God Himself became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ (see John 1:1-5, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16) to become our great High Priest forever (see Hebrews 4:14) and offer Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, to put away sin once for all. (see Hebrews 9:12, 26). He had to be made "fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (see Hebrews 2:17). He had to become a Man also because "every high priest is selected from among the people." (see Hebrews 5:1). However, Jesus' High Priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek (see Hebrews 5:1-10), which is a perfect and eternal priesthood. It is not after the order of Aaron (or the Levitical priesthood), which was temporary and imperfect.

Levitical priests inherited their office by law and only held the position temporarily until death, but God swore to make Jesus our High Priest forever. (see Hebrews 5:5-6). Since Jesus wasn't a Levi, His Priesthood required a change in the law. (see Hebrews 7:18-22). Jesus became a priest by oath sworn by God Himself declaring Him a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. And because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a New and better Covenant (see Hebrews 7:22). Since the Old Covenant (of law) was tied to the sacrifices made by the Levitical high priest, the people's fate was linked to the acceptability or right standing of the high priest before God. Hence the high priest had to secure good standing before God through sacrifices for his own sins before he could offer sacrifices for the people to also be in good standing before God. And since the high priest’s standing before God was never stable because of his sinful nature, the people's standing before God was never stable either. So God changed the priesthood of the Old Covenant and replaced it with the perfect and better priesthood of Jesus Christ, confirming with an oath to make His priesthood permanent and everlasting so that our right standing before God will also be permanent and everlasting. Today we can be at ease because our High Priest is God's own sinless Son, in whom He is well pleased (see Matthew 17:5). We can be certain of God's acceptance and blessings in our life. No wonder Paul says in Ephesians 1:6 that we are accepted in the Beloved. We cannot lose our right standing before God because Jesus is our eternal High Priest. Jesus' priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, which is a priesthood of righteousness and peace. Hence, Jesus came to make peace between God and man and to establish us in righteousness through faith (see Romans 5:1, with 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:22; Isaiah 54:14; Isaiah 53:11). For those of us who believe in Him, Jesus is our righteousness forever (see 1 Corinthians 1:30, with Daniel 9:24)), and thus blessings are perpetually on our head, because the Bible says blessings are on the head of the righteous (see Proverbs 10:6). We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (see Ephesians 1:3). Hallelujah!

Jesus has a permanent priesthood, and is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them (see Hebrews 7:23-25). Also, since Jesus our High Priest is sinless and perfect in every way (see Hebrews 7:26-28), He offered His own blood once for all for our eternal redemption. He did not need to sacrifice the blood of goats and bulls. He is the One John the Baptist introduced twice as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (see John 1:29; John 1:36). He Himself became our perfect sacrifice, entering the Most Holy Place once for all with His own blood; and God has accepted His sacrifice as sufficient in itself for our ETERNAL redemption (see Hebrews 9:11-12). This means that we were not redeemed for just a year or until our next sin; we were redeemed for eternity. The Bible says that Jesus, having been perfected, became “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (see Hebrews 5:9). So we can be secure in His salvation. We have also been made holy forever through Jesus' sacrifice (see Hebrews 10:10). We have been made perfect. (see Hebrews 10:14). Jesus our High Priest has done what the Levitical priests couldn't do. The Levitical priests could never make anyone perfect (see Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 10:1); they could never sit down because their work was never done, and their sacrifices could never take away sins (see Hebrews 10:11). But when Jesus our great High Priest "had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He SAT DOWN at the right hand of God." (see Hebrews 10:12, emphasis mine). To me, this is by far the most distinguishing characteristic affirming the superiority of our great High Priest Jesus Christ's priesthood to that of the Levitical priesthood. He is sitting down. Just reflect on that picture for a minute. And be reminded that the Levitical priests never sat down because their work was never finished. They just kept offering more and more sacrifices because the sacrifices they offered were only good for the time until they committed the next sin. So they kept at it, going on and on, never sitting down. There wasn't even a single chair in the Tabernacle or Temple for them to sit down, because it would be unnecessary since their job was never done. The only seat there was the Mercy Seat of God in the Holy of Holies, which no one dared sit on. No priest ever sat down. But Jesus offered one perfect sacrifice, and sat down, because the work was finished. Did I hear you say, "Amen!?" Jesus accomplished what the entire Levitical system could never accomplish: He sat down. "For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:14 NIV). And this one sacrifice was the sacrifice of Himself. Jesus did it all. As far as our salvation is concerned, the work is finished, and Jesus is sitting down. You have to believe it so that you can also sit down with Him and rest with Him. The Bible says that “we who have believed do enter that rest.” (see Hebrews 4:3). There is nothing to add to the salvation Jesus has purchased for us. "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." (Hebrews 4:10 NKJV). All of us who  claim to believe in Jesus as our Savior must also cease from our own works; we must cease from working FOR our salvation. Salvation has been given to us by grace, and it is to be accepted (or received) by faith. (see Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10). Through Jesus' one perfect sacrifice, God has reconciled us to Himself and made peace with us forever (see Colossians 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Romans 5:1), so that now we can come boldly and with confidence to the throne of grace (which is the throne of God) whenever we like, without fear or trepidation (see Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16). ALL our sins – past, present and future – are forgiven. (see Colossians 2:13). “All” means ALL. Jesus’ one time sacrifice took ALL of our sins away. All our sins are forgiven or remitted once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. “And where these (sins) have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary." (Hebrews 10:18 NIV, brackets mine). Thanks to our great High Priest Jesus Christ, today we no longer need an endless line of priests who aren't perfect, offering sacrifices that aren't sufficient, in a sanctuary that isn't permanent. "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But He has appeared ONCE FOR ALL at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed ONCE TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF MANY; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but TO BRING SALVATION to those who are waiting for Him." (Hebrews 9:24-28 NIV, emphasis mine). Hallelujah! This is the good news we are all commanded to preach to the world.

Today God doesn't want us to approach Him through anyone else but Jesus our great High Priest. "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5 NIV). When we believe in Him and depend on Jesus Christ as our High Priest, He brings us to the Father. Jesus Himself said, "my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and BELIEVES in Him shall HAVE eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (see John 6:40 NIV). This is our hope in the New Covenant. "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession." (Hebrews 3:1 NASB). “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23 NASB). “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). The throne of grace is the new Holy of Holies. For the Old Creation man, it was a throne of judgment which they approached in fear. But for us the New Creation men, it is a throne of grace which we approach boldly in faith and with confidence. Jesus said that as we come boldly to the throne of grace with our needs, the Father will give us whatever we ask in His name. (see John 16:23-24). “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to ENTER the Holiest BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, by a NEW AND LIVING WAY which He consecrated for us, THROUGH THE VEIL, that is, His FLESH, and having a High Priest over the house of God, LET US DRAW NEAR with a true heart in full assurance of FAITH, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV, emphasis mine). Amen!

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