|
The Mystery..Christ in You the Hope of Glory
or
There are five major steps and measures of Christ in you:
I. The first measure of Christ is the Light, Christ, that is in all men that come into the world. Everyone also has the Holy Spirit of God, because it was poured out on all mankind at Pentecost, , and the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, . His Spirit is chained down, subject to your selfish spirit that rules you. This seed of God is waiting to be sought, listened to, and grow. From the seed of Christ, which is chained down within a man, Christ must increase, while the rebellious spirit of man decreases - until finally Christ appears within a man, to be seen, to be witnessed, to bring salvation, to bring the Kingdom, to bring glory to the purified believer. Step I is the seed, chained down.
- John 1:4-5
In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
- John 1:9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
- Acts 2:16-17
this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.'
This was Pentecost.
- 1 Cor 12:7
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,
The deficit sects look to an outward God in a far-off heaven, and heed the words of the Bible instead of the Light and Word (Christ) within them. The Quakers preached Christ within, and the Protestants severely persecuted them; yet what they preached was plainly stated throughout the Bible, as below:
That they should seek the Lord, if happily they might feel after him, and find him, though he is not far from every one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being,
I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph 4:6
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; ( love, peace, joy, patience, gentleness, kindness, etc. Gal 5:22-23) .
When you bear (produce) much fruit,
My Father is honored and glorified,
and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
II. When we believe in the name of Jesus, we begin to seek God. We may read the Bible to the point we have it memorized, but we are still right where we started, just with more knowledge about him, not of him. We are still in the flesh, still with our carnal minds which are enmity to God, with a faith in the historical accuracy of Jesus' life. Just the belief in his name is enough for us to be able to access the grace of God. But to receive this changing, purifying grace, we must: come to him, listen to him, and obey him. When we hear Him, or see what He shows us, and we obey Him because we believe who is communicating with us to be the Son of God, we have received Christ. Now we have laid the sure foundation of faith that will survive the storms to come, (for those determined to live a godly life will meet with persecution.)
- Romans 10:8;
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith which we preach.
You must have faith in the word which is within you, in your heart and mouth;
faith enough to listen, and faith enough to obey the heard commands.
- Luke 6:47-8
For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and does them,
['does them' means to obey the spoken words, (commands) of Jesus, heard by the listener],
I will show you what he is like:
He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock;
and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock.
But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation,
against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great.
('does not practice doing My words' - means to not obey- to not follow his orders).
- 1 John 2:27
But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you,
and you do not need any man to teach you:
but as the same anointing teaches you of all things,
and is truth, and is no lie,
and even as it has taught you,
you shall abide in him.
- Rev 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
He stands at the door of everyone's heart knocking for their entire life, waiting for them to listen.
Notice he says if you hear my voice, (not someone reading the Bible, not an altar call),
if after you hear his voice, if you open the door - by acknowledging his voice as the Son of God - receiving him with honor,
then, and only then, he will come in give you food and eat with you.
And where is in?
It isn't church, it isn't your house, it isn't Bible study - he comes into your HEART!
Inside our hearts is where all the changes have to take place. He has to circumcise our hearts to make us pleasing to him,
making a new heart, giving us a new mind, giving us new deeds and words,
making us a new creature -
until then you, the old fleshly creature, has to die, on the cross, the inward cross of self-denial in your heart.
This is true inward religion - not outward observances of water, wine, baptisms, singing, sermons, prayer groups, etc.,
which are all the actions of the unredeemed, unchanged, fleshly man.- God must be worshiped in Spirit and Truth.
- Eph 4:21
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus.
- John 14:17
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
- Rom 1:19
What may be known of God is manifest [revealed] within them for God has shown it to them.
(Paul is saying, whatever is to be learned about God is to be revealed within a man.)
Do you not yourselves know that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are disqualified?
- Mark 4:24-5
Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.
- John 6:27
Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes,
but strive and work and produce rather for the food which endures unto life eternal;
- John 6:51
I am this Living Bread that came down from heaven.
If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever;
and also the Bread that I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
- Rom 7:15
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Here we become cognizant of our lack of control over our own emotions and passions, as Paul's first described condition of all new believers: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Once you receive Christ, as He who speaks to you and shows you your condition, while listening and watching, he begins teaching you, encouraging you, assuring you, and making changes in you. As you listen, hear, and obey - his words cause the seed to grow within you.
III. When he deems you ready, you enter tribulation. This is part of the cross, to destroy the sinful nature within you through suffering.
This produces patience, forgiveness, faith, long-suffering, trust, humility, and even hope; for even pain can be reassuring of his love:
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff comfort me."
This is the Ministry of Condemnation that destroys the carnal mind, which is enmity with God for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
From Letter 58: The teachers without exalt the carnal mind, but the teacher within destroys it.
From the voice of the Lord: "Trust him. He will lead you and watch over you continually. He will never leave you." You are in Christ at this point.
- 1 Pet 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. [Tribulation is not a hard day at the office, a car wreck, or some natural difficulty; it is unmistakably, supernaturally imposed.]
- Rev 1:9
John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Act 14:22
Establishing and strengthening the souls and the hearts of the disciples, urging and warning and encouraging them to stand firm in the faith, and [telling them] that it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
- 1 Peter 4:12-13
Do not think it strange the fiery trial you are undergoing, but rejoice that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
- In 1 Peter 1:5-7
[you] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
- Rom 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- Hebrews12:6-8
For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes...You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline.Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons.
- Heb 13:13
Let us then go forth to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him.
- Luke 22:31
Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him, that he might sift you like grain.
- Rom 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
- 2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution.
- Hebrews 12:11
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
- 1 Peter 4:16-19
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
- Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
IV. After you have suffered sufficiently, Christ tests you. Passing the test(s), you receive as reward, the next measure of Christ: the fruit of the Spirit: love, peace, self-control, gentleness, etc. This occurs , having put to death the great majority of the sinful nature by aid of the Spirit, until you are led by the Spirit and assured of salvation to come with the Return of Christ. Here we are in Paul's second state of Christ: it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin which is at home in me and has possession of me. . And the sin gets less and less as we await the return of Christ in his glory with his Kingdom. This is further discussed as the Interim Reward. You will hear him tell you, " an open door that has been placed before you that no one can shut;" and you are in Christ. As you remain obedient to the words you hear Christ speak to you, you will later be led out of darkness to light; the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts.
- Rom 7:17
it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin which is at home in me and has possession of me.
- Gal 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
- Rom 6:6
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
- Rom 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
- Rom 8:10
But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
- Rom 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
- Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
- Gal 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness,
goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, sexual restraint).
- Gal4:6
because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- Mat 10:19-20
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
- 1 Cor 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
- 1 Cor 14:25
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
- 2 Cor 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
- Gal 4:19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you
- Eph 1:12-13
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, [the word of truth is not a book], the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise. This is to hear God [the word of truth] tell you, in whom you believed, the good news of your coming salvation. If you think the word of truth is the Bible, then you think you have found eternal life searching the scriptures; but your faith is incorrectly in the Bible as the word of truth. This scripture speaks of the interim reward of seeking; like when you hear the Lord say to you, "I have placed before you an open door which no one can shut," and when you receive a measure of his Spirit.
- Eph 3:16
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being
- Col 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- John 6:56
He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I in him.
His flesh is Words spoken to you. His blood is the Spirit by which the Words are spoken: gentleness, kindness, peaceable, easily accepted, easily understood, direct and applicable to your condition; not sarcastic, harsh, bitter, condemning, or questioning.
- John 6:57
even so whoever continues to feed on Me shall live through and because of Me.
V. And the last step in Christ is when he returns in glory with his Father to establish his Kingdom in your heart. We reach Paul's third state he describes in Galatians: I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. This is the completion of your salvation - salvation from the world, the evil in the world, sanctification, separation, the state of no longer being subject to temptation, to sit down in Christ, to have fellowship with Christ, the Father, the Holy Angels, and the spirits of men and women past made perfect. Here we are translated into the Kingdom of Heaven. We are with Christ in our consciousness, sight, and awareness. In this state you also fellowship in the Spirit with other believers, not in the flesh.
- John 14:20-23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [home in the heart of those who obey]
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
On that day [when he appears in you] you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
- John 14:3, 17:15,24
I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.
This is the return of Christ. The world does not see it. He returns with the Father. They become one with us - union.
It is a personal experience. This is not the resurrection. He is talking about becoming one with the disciples.
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you will keep and protect them from evil.
So, Jesus wants to keep us in the world, but to protect us from evil, while in the world- to be sanctified.
Father, I desire that they also whom you have entrusted to me may be with me where I am,
so they may see my glory, which you have given me - your love gift to me - for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
We are physically still in the world, but our consciousness and sight translate to the Kingdom of heaven, a higher dimension.
God is in this same higher dimension; in him we live and move and have our being; who is over all, in all, and through all.
And there we have fellowship with the Father and the Son.
So with obedience to the cross, we can enter pardise while alive on earth, to be there forever, even after the second death.
- Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Heb 9:28
Unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation
(He, who has been hidden, is revealed; the revelation of Christ, within the purified believer.)
- 1 John 3:2-3
When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
- Col 3:4
When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
When Christ appears in you, bringing his kingdom, you will appear there also - in the kingdom within you - in glory.
This mystery .. is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- 2 Cor 4:6
For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
- 1 John 3:6
Whosoever abides in him, sins not: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
- John 14:20-23
Judas said to him, (not Iscariot), Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will obey my teaching: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our home with him. (He only appears to those who he has taught, and have obeyed him, to become pure.)
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him,"
- Revelations 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
- 1 John 3:8-9
He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.
- Col 2:11-12
In whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.
- Col 3:1
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
- John 17:21
So that they all may be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that you have sent me.
- John 17:24
Father, I desire that they also whom you have entrusted to me may be with me where I am, so they may see my glory, which you have given me - your love gift to me - for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
- Col 1:13
Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
- Rom 6:22
But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God,
you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life.
- Luke 1:74
unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Perfect love expels all fear. )
This web site's purpose is to show how to become
free from sin
by benefiting from the changing power of God through the cross,
which leads to union with God in his Kingdom.
|