As we really begin our search on "… and be found IN HIM" in earnest, I pray that the Lord will really challenge our hearts in this matter. For our being IN CHRIST is not a physical location, but a glorious relationship of oneness with God that we can NOW experience, but in discovering our relationship in Him, there comes responsibilities, for we are IN HIM by The Finished Work of The Cross. And if we are to truly be found in Him and rest in Him, there are judgments we must come to. We are looking at this in the "not…but" in the scripture.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - … we thus judge; if one died for all, then were all dead… they which live should NOT henceforth live unto themselves, BUT unto HIM which died for them, and rose again. *Our being "found in Him" has got to be understood in terms of THE CROSS – now in Him, NOT unto ourselves, BUT unto HIM. God’s love and judgment was set forth at The Cross, and we now must live according to that judgment.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Know ye not (we must come to "know") that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and ye are NOT your own? For ye are bought with a price. * The price was The Cross. What we have now is by That Finished Work. Therefore your responsibility is to glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

So may we always keep the REALITY of The Cross before us. ** The reality of our being found in Him will be dependent upon The Cross being real – not only to us, but IN US. Let The Cross have its perfect Work completed in us, and then we can enjoy fully our glorious New Life IN HIM. It is the Work of The Cross IN US that will make the divisions in the "not…but" understanding that we need to come to. It was so in the Lord Jesus, and now it must be so in us.

Philippians 2:5-8 – Let THIS mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. *We think being "sweet and kind" and feeding the poor is having the mind of Jesus, but HIS mind was much more than that! Even though He was God, He did NOT hold on to that, BUT made Himself of no reputation, took upon Him the form of a servant… He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of The Cross. His mind was one of obedience to the death of The Cross; and that is what we must set our hearts to attain: not my reputation, my honor and glory; giving up everything of "my life", and obediently (not begrudgingly) accepting God’s judgment of sin, flesh, man, me – coming to the end of all that, and then to be found ONLY IN HIM, and find all in Him.

Let us look now at some of Jesus’ own statements concerning His relationship with His father, and allow the Lord to challenge us – is THIS mind in us? Or are we trying to serve God with our own mind, own efforts, out of the flesh? We have already seen from our study on "The Place" that God’s judgment on worshiping Him outside of The Finished Work is vain, and He does not accept it!

John 5:19 – The Son can do nothing of himself; BUT what He seeth the Father do; for what things the Father does, these also doeth the Son.

Vs. 30 – I can of mine own self do nothing (when are we going to learn that?); as I hear (My Father) I judge, and my judgment is just; because I seek NOT MINE own will, BUT the will of the Father which hath sent me. The question to us is – are we seeking what WE want, or the will of the Father? You can’t "be found in Him" seeking your own will! Why? Because that is NOT the mind of The Son!

John 8:28-29 – I can do nothing of myself; but as the Father hath taught me (we want to be taught by man, and not the Father) I speak these things. He that sent me is with me; The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him. What do we do? Always the things that please us – or what pleases the Father? Jesus did this out of His relationship with His Father, not because of a set of rules He followed. Vs. 35 – The servant abideth NOT in the house forever; BUT The Son abideth forever. *Our relationship to the Father is in The Son, not as a servant of the Law. (The Jews sought to kill Him for these statements!) Vs. 42 – I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent Me.

The mind of Christ can perhaps be best summed up in Jesus’ prayer in the garden as He prepares to go to The Cross. Luke 22:42 – Father, if thou be willing (not Him), remove this cup from me: nevertheless NOT my will, BUT THINE be done. ** And we can see here that "the will" of the Father was THE CROSS. This is what Jesus came to do, and he submitted Himself to the Father’s will. Our being found in Christ will bring us to this: NOT mine… BUT THINE.

Our struggles as Christians are too often because of this very issue, and we try to "solve" them in the flesh and by the flesh, and that doesn’t work. The only true rest we can find is coming to have THIS MIND that was also in Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 – weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal, BUT mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds… everything that exalteth itself (me, mine) against God, bringing EVERY thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ… What has His obedience? He was obedient to the death of The Cross, and we must be too!

LESSON 3

During these days we are seeking to discover and experience, and enjoy the glorious relationship that is our Salvation – BEING IN CHRIST. And as we search the scripture to see this Truth, may our hearts turn fully to Him so that we find ourselves there – and no where else. And the Spirit will teach us this if this is our heart’s cry. Jesus said in John 14: 17 and 20 that in the day (light, understanding) that the Spirit of Truth comes (in you), ye shall know (understand, experience) that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. ** This is the glorious relationship of Oneness that is ours IN CHRIST, and this is so by the REALITY of The Finished Work of The Cross. As the reality of The Cross (The Truth) works in us, we know this Oneness.

And it is by this Truth, this reality, this understanding that we are NOW to live. Galatians 2:20 – Paul lived in the understanding it is NOT I, BUT CHRIST who lives in me. The life he now lived (in this understanding), he lived by the faith of The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (The death of The Cross). ** Notice Paul says "I live by THE FAITH of The Son of God" – not just faith "in" Jesus. This is "belief", but it also implies knowledge, and confidence and assurance of what Christ has done. And this is associated with The Cross.

At one time Paul lived by faith in THE LAW, and all the religious practices associated with that. But as Paul had Christ revealed in him, he came to know the glorious truth, and Paul lived by that knowledge. ** See how Paul sums up this faith, this knowledge in vs. 21 – I do not frustrate the grace of God (he saw that at The Cross); for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. ** In light of The Cross and that Finished Work, Paul came to the faith of The Son of God. He turned from the Law to find everything fulfilled by Christ’s death and resurrection. ?? Where is our faith? Are we "knowing" by The Spirit of Truth? Are we frustrating the grace of God by refusing the Truth of His death? If we are turning again to the Law and having "faith" in that, then to us Christ is dead in vain. And I believe that this is one of the reasons why so few Christians have truly found the REST and confidence and assurance that should be ours being IN HIM. The writer of Hebrews speaks of this in Hebrews 4:9 – There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. *But the rest for us must be HIS REST.

The writer here is exhorting God’s people to hold on to the Truth of their Salvation, and he reminds them of what happened to Israel when they would not enter Canaan. Hebrews 3:12-19 – Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God… harden not your heart… they should not enter into HIS REST… they could not enter in because of unbelief. ** We focus on "my" rest, or rest for us, but can you see here that God has a rest; a place that He has brought His people, where He is satisfied and finds His completion, and they enter in by belief into HIS rest. Now to Old Testament Israel this was a physical land, but to us this is The Finished Work of Christ and The Cross, and we enter into His Rest by the faith of The Son of God – believing in that Finished Work. We can come short of HIS REST – Hebrews 4:1-3 – We which believe do enter into (His) rest… this work was finished from the foundation of the world. And we know that is the Cross – The Lamb slain before the world. This comes from believing the gospel – not man’s words; but CHRIST CRUCIFIED.

The Old Testament history of Israel was only a type of this – speaking of another day. Hebrews 4:8 – Joshua (that is what is really being written of) didn’t give them this rest, but Israel entering Canaan by him was speaking of a greater day – the Day of Christ. This rest (which remains for us – vs. 9) is defined in verse 10 – For he that is entered into HIS REST (His – not mine) he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from Him. Where did God cease from His works? Where are they finished? At The Cross! Now He finds His Rest, His satisfaction, His dwelling place IN CHRIST and THE NEW MAN Christ brings forth . (see Isaiah 66). Vs. 11- Let us labor (set our hearts, effort) to enter into THAT rest, and not fall because of unbelief of The Finished Work of The Cross.

To BE FOUND IN CHRIST means that we have entered into HIS REST, that Finished Work of The Cross, and have ceased from our own works. "Religion" and religious activities (being "busy working for the Lord" in the flesh does not bring this rest. Matthew 23:1-5a – Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees (religious leaders) sit in Moses’ seat. You are to observe and do the Word, but not after their works; THEY bind heavy burdens on you, and will not move them. All their works they do to be seen of men…the Law and man administering the Law only brought grievous burdens, BUT Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 – Come unto ME, all ye that labor (under the Law, sin, flesh, old)… and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you… ye shall find REST unto your souls. My yoke is easy.

**His Yoke is THE CROSS – only there can we find HIS REST.

LESSON 4

These days may we continue to ask the Lord to open our spiritual understanding so that we may be FOUND IN HIM; in this wonderful relationship which is the reality of our Salvation. In the New Testament we read this phrase over 200 times – in Christ, in Him, in Whom, in the Beloved, etc.; yet most believers have never found themselves IN HIM. We want Him to "be with us" – especially when we have a problem. And someday we want to go "be with Him"; but the reality of being IN CHRIST, and Christ being IN US is something we have not yet come to. And this is what the scriptures declare! We are IN HIM.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – If any man BE IN CHRIST… ** This is our Salvation; this is the state, the realm, the nature of our EXISTENCE, our Life, and this is where we must find ourselves "to be" – continually. This is not a place or a realm that we "go to" and then leave, but we "BE" IN CHRIST now, and eternally. ( IN HIM we live, and move, and have our BEING (a state of existence).But we be in Christ NOT as an old creation, BUT as a NEW creation. And IN HIM old things ARE (not "going to") passed away; behold all things ARE become new.

In this study we are going to search the scripture to discover HOW we came to be in Christ, and what is found in Him. We see from this scripture that the New Creature that we "be" in Christ is NEW – different from the old, first – in nature and character. And for this to "be" – old things are passed away, and all things are new. *This is our problem: we want to find IN HIM old things, but they are NOT in this New Creation; all things are become New – that new is CHRIST.

We want to emphasize again the "not… but" understanding that we must come to, and which must be worked in us so that we can be found BEING IN CHRIST.

John 1:12-13 – As many as received HIM, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on His name (the faith of the Son of God), which were born NOT of blood, NOR of the will of flesh or man, BUT of God. (* This is why our Salvation is NOT "joining" a Church; we are joined to Him. Then we are to function on this earth as HIS BODY, The Church, the fulness of Him. ( 1 Corinthians 6:17 – He that is joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT.)

John 3:3-6 – Except a man be born again (anew) – from above, by Spirit… that which is born of flesh IS flesh; born of Spirit IS spirit. *We must understand this if we are to be found IN CHRIST.

Romans 8:5-8 – they that are after flesh mind the things of the flesh; after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ** TO BE (find your existence in the realm of flesh) carnally minded is death; but TO BE spiritually minded is life and peace. *The Carnal mind is enmity against God, and is not subject to the law of God. They that are in the flesh (having their "being" in the flesh realm) cannot please God. *This is why the Work of the Cross needs to take place in our hearts – so that all things of the first, old, flesh pass away, and now all things are New – Spirit, Life, subject to God. Here we have peace and rest.

1 Peter 1:23-25 – BEING born again (anew, from above) NOT of corruptible seed, BUT of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth for ever (the Living Word, which is Christ!)… flesh… falleth away… Word of Lord endureth.

**We as Christians need to comprehend what our "new birth" really is; what our "being in Christ" really means, and what has passed away, and what is NOW New. This is our Salvation.

Colossians 3:9-11 - … ye have PUT OFF (by The Cross) the old man and his deeds; and have PUT ON the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image (exactness) of HIM that created him; where there is neither Greek nor Jew… bond nor free; but CHRIST is all, and in all. ** In this New Creation, this New Man, it is Christ ALL – for He is in all. (Not I – but Christ). Now, because He lives, we who believe, live by Him, live as He lives, and we find our very being – NOT in the old, as the old; BUT now only IN the New, and AS the New. Old things are passed away; HE has made all things new (Revelation 21:4-5). We now see Christ as ALL.

Our problem remains to be that we have not "seen" the REALITY of what The Cross has done; and in our hearts the "old things" have not passed away. We see the type of this with Israel when they were delivered out of Egypt, and God opened the Red Sea. (Exodus 14) They passed through it, and were brought to the other side, and God closed up the Sea. They had left the old – even their enemies were dead. And now they were in a "new place" – with new food, water, guidance, strength. But their hearts were still in the old place, and they longed to return there, rather than walking (living) in the Truth of their deliverance by the Blood of The Lamb. And because of that unbelief, they could not enter into the land God had brought them to. That generation passes away, and a NEW generation is raised up with no memory of the first, of Egypt. They now are brought by a new leader (Moses is dead!) to pass over this Jordan. Now no Egyptians are pursing them; they pass over with the Ark of The Covenant in front of them.

Joshua 3:4 – The Ark would show them THE WAY by which to go; for ye have not passed THIS WAY heretofore. Now – new land, new captain, new food, new life – ALL THINGS TO BE NEW!!

NOT… BUT… - A Word Study in Hebrews

Note: Not – refers to first, law, Old Covenant, what is passing away, the realm of

Earth

But – refers to The Son, Jesus Christ (notice "but He…"), second, new,

Better, what is established, realm of Spirit, heavenly

Hebrews 1:5-8 – Unto which … But unto the Son… Thy Throne, O God is for ever and ever.

Hebrews 1: 11 – They shall perish; but Thou remaineth

Hebrews 1:12 – they shall be changed; but thou art the same.

Hebrews 2:5-6 – Unto the angels hath he not put … but one… testifieth… what is man…

Hebrews 2:8-9 - …now we see not yet all things put under him… But we see Jesus.

Hebrews 2:16 - … He took not on him the nature of angels, but He took on him the seed of Abraham.

Hebrews 3:5-6 – Moses was faithful… as a servant, But Christ as a son over his own house...

Hebrews 4:15 – We have not an high priest which cannot be touched… but was in all points tempted like as we.

Hebrews 5:11-14 - … you have need of milk and not of strong meat… but strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age.

Hebrews 6:1-9 - … Not laying again the foundation… but beloved we are persuaded better things for you.

Hebrews 6:12 – That ye be not slothful, but followers of them.

Hebrews 7:3 - … without father… nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Hebrews 7:16 – Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Hebrews 7:19 – The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did…

Hebrews 7:23-24 - … they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; But this man because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Hebrews 8:2 – (He) minister… of the true sanctuary, which the Lord pitched and not man.

Hebrews 8:4-6 – for if He were on earth, he should not be a priest… But now he hath obtained a more excellent ministry.

Hebrews 8:9-13 – Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers… (but) this is the covenant… I will put my law into their minds.

Hebrews 9:8-11 - …the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest… But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come…

Hebrews 9:12 – Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood hath he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9:24 – For Christ is not entered into the holy place made with hands… but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Hebrews 9:25-26 – Nor yet that he should offer himself often… but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Hebrews 10:1 – The law having a shadow … not the very image of the things can never … make the comers thereunto perfect.

Hebrews 10:4-5 – For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin… sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hath thou prepared me.

Hebrews 10:11-12 – Every priest offers sacrifices… which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.

Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… but exhorting one another…

Hebrews 10:39 – But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Hebrews 11:13 – These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them…

Hebrews 12:5-10 - … despise not thou the chastening of the Lord… but… not sons (vs. 8) … but for our profit.

Hebrews 12:18-24 – For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched… But ye are come unto Mount Sion… and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

Hebrews 12: 25-26 - … For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth… but now he hath promised saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth only, but also heaven.

=============================================================

NOT… BUT is a great divide that we see throughout the Bible. The coming of Jesus Christ and what He did by His Cross creates this division: the end of one system and the beginning of another entirely new one. By The Cross God says "no more; that is done with" to the first, and "yes, all things are new" to the second.

As we learn Christ and the work of His Cross takes place in us, this dividing takes place: one whole realm and system is finished and goes out, but it is to Him, to the New, to what God has established. The question to us is: are we living in the "not" or in the "but"? May The Cross and the revelation of Christ make that great separation in us so that we live in the good of "BUT Christ".

(Galatians 2:20 – "… not I, but CHRIST liveth in me…)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BETTER – A Word Study in Hebrews

The book of Hebrews is a series of contrasts between the good things of Judaism and the BETTER THINGS OF CHRIST.

Hebrews 1:4 – (He) … much better than the angels…

Hebrews 3:3 – This man (Christ) was counted worthy of more glory than Moses.

Hebrews 6:9 - … better things for you…

Hebrews 7:7 – The less is blessed of the better.

Hebrews 7:19 - … the bringing in of a better hope did… by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 7:22 - … Jesus made a surety of a better covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 - … he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 10:34 - … ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Hebrews 11:16 – But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly…

Hebrews 11:35 - … that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Hebrews 11:40 – God having provided some better thing for us.

Hebrews 12:24 - … to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We are discussing our Great Salvation, which really is our BEING IN CHRIST, and our being FOUND IN HIM – as One with Him, resting in the Finished Work of The Cross. And in order for this to be, the Bible speaks of a "KNOWING"; but this is not an intellectual learning of facts or scripture, or even an emotional experience. This knowing comes by the revelation of The Son. Christ must be revealed IN US in order for us to be found IN HIM. * God knows us in The Truth of The Cross, and this is the knowledge that we must come to.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 – When I was a child (with no true understanding)… but when I came to maturity (full knowledge) I put AWAY childish things… Now I know in part (in types, shadows, traditions of religion – all spoke of Christ, but were not the substance), but THEN shall I know even as also I am known. WHEN? Vs. 10 - ** When that which is perfect IS COME, then that which is in part shall be done away. When Christ, Who is the fulness, the Truth, the reality of all the types comes – IS REVEALED IN YOU, then you become fully acquainted with, come to full knowledge; you know as God knows – all IN CHRIST. ** We must understand that His Coming now is IN YOU; and it is not a physical appearing, but a spiritual revealing of Himself, to bring you to full knowledge.

Hebrews 9:26b-28 – He appeared once in the end of the world (the fulness of time, the end of God’s speaking in time past) to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself – The Cross. Christ was once offered to bear sins (Finished Work of The Cross); and unto them that look for Him (not for ourselves, our dead loved ones) shall HE APPEAR (this means "show Himself, reveal Who He is, how He is, where He is), the second ("time" is not in the original; meaning not "again", but as second, spiritual, eternal, heavenly, true) WITHOUT SIN…(He appeared as first, in first – flesh, earthy; to put away sin. But now He is shown apart from sin, victorious over sin and death) unto FULL SALVATION. ** His appearing now is IN THOSE who look intently for Him – not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, to reveal in them their Full Salvation, which is their relationship with Him and The Father by The Work of The Cross.

** Our Salvation is real and complete (full today), but most believers have not experienced the greatness and reality of it because Christ has not been revealed in them. They are looking for Him in the flesh, and He will NOT appear that way again! We must see Him AS HE IS.

1 John 3:2 – Beloved, NOW are we… * This is what we "be" by The Work of The Cross! If this was "now" for the Apostle John and the brethren of his day, is it not "now" for us? NOW we are children of God (those who are born again, from above) and it is not yet openly shown what we shall BE; but we KNOW (by the Faith of The Son of God – by which we now live) that when He shall appear (when He is revealed) we shall BE like Him… why? For we shall see Him as He is – in Spirit, in Truth – IN US!! ** The word "appear" here is a Greek word "phaneroo", and it means to make known, make manifest; but this word refers not just to Christ being revealed, unveiled; but this refers to those to whom the revelation is made. *When you as a child of God, one born of Him, truly come to have Christ revealed IN YOU, and you see Him as He is – something happens TO YOU! You now come to maturity – not just a child, but as a son. You are conformed to HIS IMAGE by the work of His death, burial and resurrection working in you. Now you FIND yourself IN HIM – not in the flesh, but as He is; and you are swallowed up IN HIM, and HE becomes all to you. THEN the world will know Him, because He has made Himself known in His Body, and by His Body – The Church. Now we come to FULL knowledge, FULL stature, the FULNESS of CHRIST.

We must "find" Him where He is, and "how" He is, and then "find" ourselves in the REALITY of that Finished Work – where we "be", how we "be".

Colossians 3:1 – If ye then BE… This comes out of the knowledge and understanding of BEING IN CHRIST. * Look at Colossians 2:6-7 – As ye have received Christ, so walk ye IN HIM: rooted and built up IN HIM… Vs. 10 – and ye are complete IN HIM. Therefore don’t let men deceive you, judge you by satisfying the flesh and vainly trying to worship God according to the flesh, but not after CHRIST. Vs. 20 – If ye be dead with Christ… We must know this so we are not dictated by the ways of the world. Now – Colossians 3:1-4 – If ye be risen with Christ… we are! We are NOW risen with Him (as One with Him – above the world)… seek things above… where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God – in the fulness and authority of HIS FINISHED WORK. Set your affections where you ARE – not on the earth, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. * "WE" be dead – but our Life is Christ – One with God IN HIM. Vs. 4 – when Christ, Who IS our Life shall appear (that’s the same word "phaneroo": when He, Who is Life makes Himself known to us, and in us – as Life, as Spirit, as Truth) THEN shall ye also appear (as One with Him) in glory.

Now, by the revelation of Who He is – IN YOU (His appearing in you) you appear, and manifest HIS LIFE – Not I, BUT CHRIST! Now I am found ONLY IN HIM!!

LESSON 6

We have been seeing in the scripture the glorious Truth declared that we are IN CHRIST: that this is "the place" where we have been brought by The Finished Work of The Cross. But the question the Lord keeps challenging me with, is the question I challenge you with: "Where are you FOUND"? In the circumstances of our daily lives – in the good or in the bad times – where are you found? In Christ, or in the situation? Resting in Him, above all things of this earth realm, or struggling in the flesh, and being dictated by the happenings of the world? We know where the Father "sees" us, but where and how do we see ourselves?

A vivid example of what I mean is in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus here is teaching His disciples what life with Him is all about. He told them they would go over to the other side of the sea. He was in the same ship, and He was in the same storm, but (Vs. 38) He was in the back of the ship ASLEEP! He had entered His rest despite the storm of the earth overwhelming the ship. They had NOT entered His rest, but disturbed Him and said, "Master, carest thou not that WE perish? ** Their thought was for their OWN LIVES. This is our problem, and we can’t enter into His Rest if we are concerned for our mortal lives. The disciples brought the storm into their own hearts, rather than finding themselves IN HIM – in the ship, in the storm. So He arose, rebuked the wind and calmed the sea, and told the disciples they had NO FAITH. ** They were to trust HIM – not themselves, the boat, the storm; and as they saw HIM at rest, enter into His rest, but they would not.

** Verse 41 – What manner of man is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him?

Here is the issue – The Lord is a different manner of man than we are. (Jesus said in John 16:32 – in this world (earth realm) you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!) HE is the One who has victory over this earth realm, and "our" victory lies in Him, and finding ourselves IN HIM – not in our own selves, and in the situations of this world.

We must know "who" and "what" we are IN CHRIST (know even as we are known). Luke 9:51-56 – This must all be seen in light of The Cross. He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem where He would die. The people did not receive Him, so the disciples figured they knew how to deal with the situation. Will you command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them even as Elijah did? ** We want to use "spiritual" means to serve our fleshly walk. Jesus rebuked them: "Ye know not (that’s our problem) what manner of spirit ye are of. You are of Me, and I didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them." * Christ is a different man, a different Spirit. He doesn’t function like we do, and we now (if we are to be found IN HIM) need to know the manner of Spirit, the manner of man we NOW are, and NOT function in ourselves but IN HIM. There must be a putting off the old man, and a putting on The New, which is Christ.

The Bible sets forth two men, and makes clear the distinction between them. And the question for us is: what "man" do we find ourselves in? By whose Spirit are we motivated in our daily lives? These two men are Adam and Christ. Adam was the head of the first creation, and Christ is the Head of the Second.

1 Corinthians 15:47-49 – The FIRST man IS of the earth, earthy. (Adam means "red", made of dirt). Didn’t God form Adam of the dirt of the earth? That’s what he IS, and all that he ever will be! He comes from dirt, and will return to dirt. * The whole first creation is of the earth – earthy. The SECOND man is THE LORD from heaven. ** The second man is NOT of the earth, not me or you – but The Lord from heaven, and all that is of the second is of HIM. As is the earthy, such are they that are earthy; and as is the heavenly (The Lord) such are they that are heavenly (of Him). We have borne the image of the earthy, NOW we shall bear the image (likeness) of the heavenly – The Lord!

Verse 45 – The first man Adam was made a living soul (he had earthy life). The LAST Adam (Christ) was made a quickening spirit. He BECAME the last Adam, and brought him to the Cross, so that now He could give us life, spiritual, eternal Life.

Adam never brought life, but death – by ONE MAN. Now ONE MAN brings LIFE. Romans 5:12-19 – Note the contrast – one man – sin, death; one man – grace, life. Vs. 12-14 – by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men; all have sinned. *Adam was a figure, a type, a shadow of him that was to come. That’s Christ! He is God’s idea of man. Vs. 15-18 – by the offence of one many be dead, MUCH MORE, the gift of grace by ONE MAN, Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many. Vs. 17 – death reigned by one man’s offence; MUCH MORE they that receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign IN LIFE by ONE, Jesus Christ. ** Vs. 19 – By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Christ) shall many be made righteous. And what was He obedient to? The Cross! He bore the judgment for all men.

Whether we like it or not, God sees us in one of two men. It is not whether "we" are good or bad, but we must come to God’s understanding concerning these two men: Adam and Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 – For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so IN CHRIST shall all be made alive. ** This scripture does NOT say all shall live. It says those IN CHRIST – resting in Him, finding their life in Him – ALL IN CHRIST shall be made alive. IN HIM is Life!

So the question for us remains – where are we found – in Adam or in Christ? One is unto death, the other is unto Life.

LESSON 7

My heart’s desire for us these days is that we would search the scriptures and there see the Truth of our being in Christ; that we would understand the glorious Salvation that the scriptures declare to be ours NOW – in Christ – not according to man’s doctrines, not according to our songs, but according to the Word, and then live in the Truth of what Christ has already done by The Cross. May that reality be real in us. We seek to FIND the Truth, and then BE FOUND IN the Truth – in Christ.

Ephesians 4:21-24 – Paul urged the brethren to come to the fulness of Christ (vs. 13), and then not walk (live) as Gentiles (not in relationship with God), in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened… through ignorance… and the blindness of their heart (vs. 20). But ye have not so learned CHRIST (** we are not learning "things", or the Bible, we are learning Christ – all that He is, and has done, and He becoming all things to us.) IF ye have heard him, and have been taught by him (not by man’s teachings) (vs. 21) **AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS. This is what we must desire – not what I think or want, but the Truth as it IS IN JESUS.

And let us remember what "the Truth" means: the unveiled reality lying at the basis of, and agreeing with the appearance; the manifested true essence of a matter. Jesus, by the Cross, manifested the REALITY of all God’s plan. He fulfilled all the types, and showed the substance of all those types to be HIMSELF. That’s why He is called "The Truth", and He only brought forth The Truth, and we now must learn The Truth as it is in Jesus and His Finished Work by The Cross. (Colossians 2:3 says "IN HIM are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge", so if we want to know The Truth, we must find it IN HIM, and allow Him to be revealed to us as the reality of the scripture and our Salvation.)

Being taught The Truth as The Truth is in Jesus works His Work in us. Ephesians 4:22-24 – Put off the life of the old man, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. *This is the learning of Christ. We can’t know Him in the old man, as the old man; but we must have our minds renewed to know Him in the REALITY of The New Man that we now are IN HIM. *Notice: put off… be renewed… put on – work of The Cross!

I want to now just look at some of our "Christian beliefs" and challenge us as to their "truth" in light of The Truth as it is in Jesus.

• We say we "get saved, filled with the Holy Ghost, and we are on our way to heaven." Is that what the scripture declares? In light of The Cross and that Finished Work – is that where you are now? We sing, "When we all get to heaven…" My question is – where are you now? And when will we all get there? We say, "when WE die"; but is that The Truth in light of The Cross; is that the reality Jesus manifested by The Cross?

• We say when someone dies that they go to "a better place", but the scriptures declare that "better place" to be IN CHRIST! Read Ephesians 1 – IN CHRIST is where we have all spiritual blessings, where we are accepted, where we have redemption, our inheritance. Do you want any "better" than that? And this is so NOW for those who have trusted IN CHRIST. (vs. 12)
• RE: "better" – Read Hebrews – Christ is declared there to be "the better" – better than angels, than Moses, better hope, better covenant, better promises, better country, better resurrection… "Better" is not a place we go to, but the reality of our living relationship with Christ NOW, fulfilling all God’s plan – IN CHRIST. The question for us is – do we find Christ to be the better, and live in Him NOW?

• We say when someone dies that they are "going home"; but is that where they came from? Let’s see what the scripture says about who goes "home". John 3:13 – no man has ascended up to heaven, but HE that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven. Ephesians 4:9-10 – He that ascended is the one that descended into the earth; He that descended is the same that ascended up far above… that HE might fill all things. ** JESUS, The Son is the One that left His "home", His oneness with the Father, and came to this earth to Finish God’s Work by The Cross, and He is the One that goes "home". John 16:28 – I came forth from the Father and I go to the Father. John 17:5 – Father, glorify me with thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. *Vs. 24 - I will that they also, whom Thou has given Me, be with Me where I am. ** HE has brought us into HIS relationship with His Father; we now live in "His Home." Hebrews 2:9-10 – He was made lower - for death, that He might bring many sons to glory – His Oneness with His Father!

We are searching the Scripture to find the Truth as it is in Jesus. We must go to The Word looking not for "truths", but for HIM Who is The Truth, and find all "truths" in Him, Who is The Living Word. And by coming to know the Truth of what He has done, we find ourselves there, and live BY that Truth, and IN that Truth. May we not be like the Pharisees that Jesus rebuked. John 5:39-40 – (Ye do) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of ME; And ye will not come to Me that ye might have life.

**If we search the scriptures, but not find HIM to be the fulfillment of it, then our search is in vain. John 8:31-32 – If ye continue in MY word (not man’s wordS), then are ye my disciples (in truth), and ye shall KNOW (understand, experience) The Truth, and THE TRUTH shall make you free. *And Jesus clarifies that for them: Vs. 36 – If THE SON therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ** It is the KNOWING of this Truth that the Son is that we are seeking, and then God would have us "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free (by the Work of The Cross – Galatians 5:1) and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." And Paul here is speaking of bondage to the Law. We must learn the Spirit of the Word; not just the letter, for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3:6b)

So we want to know – and experience daily The Truth of what Christ HATH DONE, and be found in the reality of that. It is important that we understand why The Son came to this earth, and what He accomplished; for God’s plan included us – those who would believe ON HIM. In our last lesson we saw that Christ is NOW seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, having been raised in and as the Resurrection, but He is there having accomplished something, and having brought a people there with Himself. He did this by The Cross.

Hebrews 2:9-17 – He was made lower than the angels (for a little while) for the suffering of DEATH. But now He is crowned with glory and honor. By the grace of God He tasted death for every man. Now He has brought (vs. 10) many sons unto glory (into His relationship with His Father); for He that sanctified, and they who are sanctified (us-believers) are all of One – HIM! He was made like us (flesh and blood), that through death (that’s the wisdom of God – The Cross, The Truth manifested there), HE might destroy him that had the power of death (the devil), and deliver them who through fear of death were in bondage. He was made – not as an angel, but as the seed of Abraham to be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Can you see that what He did was to deliver us – from sin and death, and make us to be sons of God – as One with Him? And His being seated in heaven, having accomplished God’s plan is the security of our Salvation. If we ever doubt the Truth of our Salvation, we can be confident of it because Christ has been raised back to heaven, and we can be assured of our relationship to The Father in The Son.

The Son FULFILLED the ministry of the High Priest, and we can see that by looking at the type that is set forth in the scripture. Consider first the garments of the High Priest, and most especially the ephod and breastplate he wore. Exodus 28:9-12 and 21, 29 – Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel when he goes into the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually. *The High Priest represented God’s people, and he brought them before the Lord continually. (see drawing)

And then we must consider the ministry of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. *This was once a year when the High Priest would go behind the veil with the blood to make an atonement for the people and himself. We read this in Leviticus 16. Now he is clothed only in linen (speaking of the righteousness of the Lord) and he makes the atonement for sin. Vs. 6 – a bullock for a sin offering, for himself and for his house. Then he puts the incense and the blood upon the Mercy Seat. But then (vs. 15-17) he kills the goats of the sin offering and sprinkled the blood for the people and their uncleanness. *Vs. 17 – He goes in to make an atonement, and then he comes out having made an atonement for himself, his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. ** Israel waited – until he came out again. They would hear the bells on his garments as he dressed again, and they would know they were accepted of God because the Priest was accepted. (Because he lived – they lived also!) It was the High Priest who made the atonement, and in the type it was done once a year (vs. 34) but they knew their Salvation was secure for that time.

But now, consider the Great High Priest this was all speaking of! Hebrews 8:1 – WE HAVE such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne… in the heavens. And Christ, The Son is of a greater priesthood. Hebrews 7:16 – (He) is NOT after the law of a carnal commandment, BUT after the power of an endless life. Look at the difference with "this man" – Vs. 23-28 – Jesus continueth ever (not like the Old Testament priests( so he has an unchangeable priesthood, and NOW (vs. 25) ** HE IS ABLE to save them to the uttermost that come unto God BY HIM, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.

He became us, but now He is made higher than the heavens, but the sacrifice He did ONCE, when He offered Himself. Have we found Him to be this greater High Priest, and are we living in the Truth of that sacrifice that was acceptable to God – forever?

LESSON 9

I pray that we are being strengthened by knowing the Truth of our Being in Christ. Our Salvation is a glorious thing – NOW; and it is marvelous to comprehend what is ours IN CHRIST. And as we are seeking "to be found IN HIM", we must understand that this is God’s Plan. Many people think that God has a plan for "them"; but that is a self-centered view of Salvation. God’s view – to which we must come (not man’s view) is ALL IN CHRIST.

We could diagram this simply as:

IN

CHRIST

GOD - ALL

THINGS

This is God’s Eternal Plan, and we have got to be found IN HIM. Look at this in Ephesians 1 – here Paul is speaking of "in Christ". Ephesians 1:9-11 – Having made known the mystery of HIS WILL according to HIS good pleasure, which HE hath PURPOSED in Himself… He might gather together (to head up, consummate, unify) all things IN CHRIST… IN HIM… IN WHOM we have an inheritance… according to the purpose of HIM who worketh all things after the counsel of His Own Will.

** It is important to understand that the "fulness of times" came at the Cross. (see Galatians 4:4 – God sent forth His Son – to die); and now the administration of the Spirit is gathering all things IN CHRIST. We are NOW living in this administration. *If you have not seen "the fulness of times" (old, shadows, law, flesh) come in Christ then you are still looking for that day "to come", and you will not see all things in Christ by His Spirit. We now live in Eternal Time – IN CHRIST.

We must know God’s Eternal Plan: what He has purposed and done by The Cross, for the Church (His Body) is the instrument to make this known in the earth. Ephesians 3:10-11 – NOW… might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God according to the Eternal Purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. ?? Do you want to find "your purpose"? It can only be found IN CHRIST!! Here the mystery of God – which had been hidden – is made known.

Colossians 2:3 – In Whom (Christ) are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Not man’s wisdom, but God’s. To find out God’s heart, mind, plan, we must find them where HE put them – IN CHRIST. And except God’s ways and purposes be revealed IN CHRIST, by His death, burial and resurrection (The Cross – the power of God unto Salvation); they remain hidden, and man will try to interpret God’s working. This is the danger that Paul is warning the Colossians of. Vs. 4-8 – Lest any man should beguile you with enticing wordS (not the ONE WORD which is Christ)… As ye have received Christ (and Him crucified) so walk ye IN HIM, rooted and built up IN HIM… Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy, and the tradition of men… and not after CHRIST.

We can see here what started to come into the early Church, and what is prevalent in the Church today – man’s philosophy, intellectualism, human tradition, man’s teaching of the material rather than the spiritual. Paul said you don’t need that! It will cause you to be led astray and held captive to it, and you will disregard The Truth as it is IN JESUS. Here is Paul’s argument: Colossians 2:9 – For IN HIM dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (The Amplified Bible says: For in Him the whole fulness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form (giving complete expression of the divine nature.) ** We don’t need to look to a man, or his doctrinal teachings to know Who God is, or what He does. We only have to look to Christ; for the expression of God’s nature is IN HIM. And – even better… Vs. 10 – YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM! (The Amplified Bible says: And you are IN HIM, made full and having come to fulness of life (IN CHRIST you too are filled with the Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and reach full spiritual stature). Our fleshly relationships do not bring us to this. ONLY coming to a true oneness IN CHRIST does. He brings that fulness of Life to us, not man. And we as The Church are to express that fulness on the earth.

We see here the fulness that God has put in His Son, and by comprehending our union – IN CHRIST, we experience that fulness in our daily lives. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – Paul is preaching here The Cross of Christ. God has not chosen wise men after the flesh, but the foolish and weak things of the world to confound the wise… that no flesh should glory in his presence. (This is clearly shown by The Cross). *Vs. 30 – But of Him (born of God) are ye IN CHRIST JESUS, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (The Amplified Bible says: But it is from Him that you have your life IN CHRIST JESUS, whom God made our wisdom from God (revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of Salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as) our Righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God) and our Consecration (making us pure and holy), and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty from sin.) This is the fulness of who and what God has put in Christ – wisdom, etc. But these are not so much "things", but the nature of the Lord, and HE becomes these "things" to us. And these are not something that we can obtain apart from HIM. This is what HE IS, and God’s plan was to have ALL THINGS in Christ, and we now receive them by our union with Him.

Here’s the purpose – Vs. 31 – He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord; not in man or self, but only IN HIM. And as we find all things IN CHRIST, and HE is made all things TO US, we will only glory IN HIM! (That’s where God put His Glory anyway!)

My question to us is: are we finding ourselves complete IN HIM? In order for us to attain that, we must follow the order of The Cross. Paul states that for us in Philippians 3:7-9 – I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ… I have suffered the loss of all things… that I may win Christ and be found IN HIM… May that be our heart too!

LESSON 10

I pray that we are allowing the Spirit these days to gather ALL THINGS for us – in our hearts, our understanding IN CHRIST. The only way The Church could ever function in true unity and oneness would be by this: that all of our doctrines and traditions (that separate us) would be seen to be fulfilled and complete IN CHRIST, and then His Body would hold Him to be The Head and fulness of HIS Church.

We want to look more closely now at the "all things in Christ" that the scriptures declare to be God’s plan.

Hebrews 1:1-3 – God used to speak in different ways through many things, but at the end of those days (they ended at The Cross), God has spoken unto us IN SON, whom he appointed heir of all things … He is the image of God, and upholds all things by the word of his power – by The Finished Work. (The Law etc. had many parts, many things; they all spoke of Him. He now fulfils all of those things.)

Hebrews 2:10 – For it became him, FOR whom are all things and BY whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory… ** God’s plan is NOT for us – but HIM!

Colossians 1:15-19 – He is the first born … all things were created by him and FOR HIM…(** Look at the emphasis on "Him" and "He" – not on "me". We’ve made the gospel "men" centered, but God’s plan is centered on His Son.) He is before all things and by him all things are made up (consist)… that in all things HE (not me) might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that IN HIM should all fulness dwell. *This was God’s plan and what pleases Him.

John 1:3,4 – (In the beginning was the Word…) All things were made by Him… IN HIM was life; and the life was the light of men. *Life (eternal, spiritual Life) is only IN HIM. But that Life has been given to us. How? Where?

1 John 5:11-13 – God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is IN HIS SON. He that hath the Son hath life… these things I have written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know (experience, understand, manifest) that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name … ** This is God’s Plan – Eternal Life for us ONLY IN HIS SON. This is the essence of our Salvation, being born anew, being in Christ, having His Life.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creation: old things are passed away: behold all things are become new. And all things are of God… where? IN CHRIST! In the NEW creation that He has brought forth by His death, burial and resurrection. HE makes them new; of a different character and nature than the old. ** We need to settle this – the first creation, world, man, order were created by God but are not of God. Only in the New Creation are all things OF GOD. The first creation man is NOT reconciled to God, is not born of God, does not have eternal, God-like life. But the New Man is reconciled to God, and has been made one with Him – BY Jesus Christ. God reconciled the world unto himself IN CHRIST (all things in Him) and has given us the word of reconciliation. This is ONLY in Christ.

Look at what Peter says regarding these "all things" in Christ:

2 Peter 1:2-4 – Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God (not man’s knowledge; God’s plan and purpose) and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power hath (past tense) given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness… How? Through the knowledge of HIM (not us, or things, or heaven – but HIM). We are given precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (that is being "of God") Now – IN HIM, and by the knowledge of HIM we come to know that now HE is my Life, and we live by HIM and with HIS nature – not "me" and "mine".

This is what we have received by being IN CHRIST. This is what God planned; not a people living by themselves, for themselves, but a people living with HIS LIFE, and taking on HIS nature.

Romans 8:28-29 – And we KNOW (it always comes down to our "knowing") that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS purpose. ** We like to say all things work together for "our" good, but the scripture does not say that. Everything works for the good of HIS purpose, HIS plan; towards gathering all things in Christ. Notice Vs. 29 – He predestinated a people to be confirmed to the image of HIS SON. God didn’t just plan a "place called heaven" where everybody would "go" when they die. He purposed a people who would receive HIS LIFE, and be conformed to the image of His Son – not "many", but ONE. All things work towards that; and sometimes there will be great tragedy and destruction, and a taking away of all of the first. But God continues working towards HIS purpose, which is ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, and we must come to know this. "Our" good will come to us when God is satisfied as to His good pleasure, and that is only IN CHRIST.

I would encourage you to read Ephesians 1:1-14 and see the "ALL THINGS" that are ours IN CHRIST – all spiritual blessings, chosen us in Him, adoption to Himself, we are accepted in the Beloved, we have redemption, forgiveness of sins, we have an inheritance, etc. And this is all according to God’s pleasure which He purposed in Himself – ALL THINGS IN CHRIST. May we find all things IN HIM!

LESSON 11

I pray that these lessons will help us to give the Lord His rightful place in all things. Contrary to what is generally preached, Salvation s NOT centered on us; not on "me" and "mine", but in God’s view it is centered on HIS SON, and we need to settle that in our hearts. It must come down to CHRIST, and the scripture must teach us – HE, HIS, and HIM.

Ephesians 1:17-23 - Paul’s prayer for the church is for the knowledge of HIM… that we would know the hope of HIS calling… riches of HIS inheritance in the saints… greatness of HIS power to us… God raised HIM from the dead and set HIM at right hand… put all things under HIS feet, gave HIM to be head over ALL THINGS to the Church which is HIS Body…

** The "all things" to God and for God are found in His Son by The Finished Work of The Cross. Ephesians 4:10 – He descended and ascended that HE might fill all things… And we now by the ministries HE has put in HIS church are to come (vs. 13) to the measure of the stature of the fulness of CHRIST. ** Vs. 15 – That we by speaking the truth in love may grow up into HIM in all things, which is the head, even Christ. ** "We" are not filling up heaven, but "HE" is filling His Body with Himself, and we as HIS Body are growing up into HIM – to be an expression of HIM on this earth, and this must be in all things.

We are seeing that the "all things" of God are found in Christ, and for us to "be found in Him", resting there and having no life but Him, we have to find all things there too. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says "For ALL the promises of God IN HIM are yea, and IN HIM amen, unto the glory of God by us. But I believe that most Christians are not "found in Him" because we’ve never come to a true, scriptural understanding of what is IN CHRIST. Our carnal understandings have perpetuated our Christian myths that we’ve made traditions, and we don’t want to let them go. They have become the basis of our Christianity rather than Christ, and we are found in them, and find our satisfaction in them rather than finding all things summed up and fulfilled IN HIM. I pray that the Holy Spirit will help us make this division so we can see in Christ what is truly IN HIM, and then be found in that truth.

*If we are looking "in Christ" for things that are NOT in Him, we will either get frustrated or disappointed in our Salvation; or we will pervert the Scripture and deceive ourselves into believing lies. But here is a Scripture that will help us make this distinction. 2 Corinthians 4:18 – the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. *Our problem is that we are looking in Christ for temporal things (most of the things we consider "blessings"), and they are not there. Vs. 16 – Our outward man (flesh, self, physical body) does perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. *We are looking for the outward man "in heaven", yet man is temporal; but Christ, The New Man, our inward man, spiritual life, is eternal. We must see CHRIST as the fulfillment of all things and live in Him!

This understanding will help us correct many of our thoughts concerning the Lord.

Hebrews 8:1,2 – He is the minister of the TRUE tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man.

Hebrews 9:21-24 – The earthly tabernacle and blood of sacrifices (law, etc.) were patterns of things in the heavens. Christ is NOT entered into holy places made with hands which are figures of true, but into heaven itself…

** So in light of that, does Jesus enter into our Church buildings? No – He appears now IN US, in the TRUE Tabernacle, the heavenly – not in the temporal.

Our problem is we’ve made our Christianity an outward show: how we dress, we "go to" Church, where we don’t go. But that is only the outward man.

Romans 2:28-29 – For he is NOT a Jew (speaking of one who is in Covenant relationship with God) which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision (sign of Covenant) which is outward in the flesh. BUT he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is NOT of men, BUT of God. ** This is where the true Work is done – in the heart, in bringing an end to "me", and changing and conforming "me" into the image of Christ. But too much of Christianity is only in the flesh, and knowing God in the letter and not by The Spirit, and we look for the praise of men, and not God.

Look at Jesus’ rebuke to the religious people of His day:

Matthew 7:21-23 – NOT everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven (we must see that not as a "place to go to", but the rule of heaven, the sphere of the eternal), but he that doeth the will of My Father… many will say didn’t "WE" do wonderful works in thy name? He will tell them – I never knew you; depart from me. * The will of the Father is The Cross! What is sad is that many Christians find themselves in "our good works" – the wonderful things "we" do in His Name; that does not mean we have a relationship with Him. "OUR good works" are not found in Him, but the will of the Father is. We must allow the Spirit to teach us the difference between the works of the flesh, and the works and life of the Spirit, and find all things in the Spirit – in Christ. (Remember 1 Corinthians 15:47-50 distinguishes first and second; earthy and heavenly. Flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God (His rule).

One more problem we need to Lord to correct for us:

We think we can take our earthly relationships "to heaven" when we die, but they are NOT there!

Mark 12:18-27 – This is the question of a man dying and the wife marrying the seven brothers to bring forth seed. They wanted to know whose wife she should be in the resurrection. Vs. 24 – Ye err because ye know not the scriptures… (isn’t that our problem?) The "resurrection" is a whole other realm! He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the Living. May we truly find "our life" and ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, in The Spirit, in the Truth of HIS FINISHED WORK.

LESSON 12

As we are seeing that God purposed to have all things in His Son, we must come to understand our Salvation in that light. The reality of our Salvation is our BEING IN CHRIST, but unfortunately many believers have never come to that understanding. We get "saved", and we love the Lord and want to serve Him, and believe that "some day" we will go to be with Him, but most of us have never come to know and experience that we are IN CHRIST NOW. That is our Salvation! We have defined "our" Salvation as God forgiving me my sins, and then I won’t go to hell when I die, but our Salvation is MUCH MORE than that – it is a relationship NOW of BEING IN CHRIST and having HIS LIFE NOW.

There is the "out" aspect of our Salvation – out of sin, world, death; but most of us have not truly experienced the "in" aspect, and that was always God’s plan, (Exodus 15:17 - …bring them IN and plant them IN the place…) This has been fulfilled IN CHRIST. Colossians 1:13-14 – Who hath delivered us (out) from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of HIS SON (His rule – that’s the place) IN whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sin. ** All that Salvation is – is only IN CHRIST, and by believing on Him and having a relationship with Him, we have "our" Salvation. ( 2Corin. 5:17 – If any man be IN CHRIST he is a new creature…)

We have tried to understand our Salvation only in terms of what "we do". But few truly experience the true joys of the reality of BEING IN CHRIST, and the greatness of what He has done by HIS CROSS. Most of us "come to the Lord" through a simple presentation of the gospel, and according to Romans 10:-9-10 – confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart, you shall be saved. By that we say we are "born again", and that is wonderful, but now that we have believed, we must come to know and experience what this Salvation really is – NOW – on this earth, and manifest the reality of this Salvation that others may believe IN HIM.

The Apostle Paul’s desire was just that, and it is Paul who declares this wonderful reality of BEING IN CHRIST. Philippians 3:9-11 – "… and be found IN HIM, not having mine… that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ** This is an experiential knowing, not a "book learning", but experiencing in our own lives what He has done by The Cross. ** This is the only way we are IN HIM; and this is the only way we can know Him and be found IN HIM – not by what we do, but by allowing The Spirit of God to work in us that Work of The Cross. The Amplified Bible says: "(For my determined purpose is) that I may know Him (that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly), and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection (which it exerts over believers), and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed (in Spirit into His likeness even) to His death (in the hope) that if possible I may attain to the (spiritual and moral) resurrection (that lifts me out from among the dead (even while in the body). ** This was not to be "someday when I get to heaven", but the reality of being IN CHRIST now, and this needs to be our hearts’ cry – TO BE FOUND IN HIM… TO KNOW HIM!

But I want us to see an order here of comprehension that will enable us to experience this reality, and I believe this will help us. God’s order for Salvation is death-burial-resurrection, and Christ has fulfilled that order by The Cross. We now must experience that same order so that we can know Him and be found in Him. ** But this is not "my" death, "my" burial and "my" resurrection; but HIS. Note that wording in Philippians 3:10. We must believe in, and be found in HIS death, burial and resurrection in order to manifest HIS LIFE, and as we do we continually experience and manifest the reality of being IN CHRIST.

Here’s the thing we must see: even though "resurrection" comes first in verse 10, then sufferings, that is all dependent upon "being made conformable unto His death". * The death comes first! (Wuest says, "Being brought to a place where my life will radiate a likeness of HIS death…) And we will never truly experience the reality and greatness of our Salvation, of our being IN CHRIST until we do. Our first knowing of Him must be in death… then life. And I believe this is the reason many Christians have never really enjoyed the reality of being in Christ. We believe we are "born again", and are "new creatures", but we are not being made conformable to HIS death, so therefore we are not experiencing HIS LIFE – NOW.

May the Lord help us through these lessons to come to a scriptural understanding of being in Christ. Along the way we will have to lose (and count as dung) many of our traditional beliefs… but may we go on and win Christ. We want to learn how we came to be "in Christ", and the first term we have to deal with and understand is BAPTISM – not according to man’s traditional, religious understanding, but according to the truth as it is in Jesus. Jesus had a baptism that He had to be baptized with, and we do also. This is NOT a baptism into a "church" or of a baby being given its name in a religious service, but it is God’s way and God’s order by which we are IN CHRIST. It is a BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH, and it is the reality of being in Christ to which the Church must come in order to manifest His Life. May God open our spiritual eyes to see The Truth of our Salvation!

LESSON 13

If we are to be FOUND IN CHRIST (discover where we are in the reality of our Salvation), we need to have a true, clear, scriptural understanding of how we came to be "in Christ", "born again". We are reminded again of the "not… but" division set forth in the scripture.

John 1:11-13 – His own received Him not, but as many as received HIM… which are born, NOT of blood, nor of the will of man, BUT of God.

John 3:3-8 – Except a man be born again (from above)… born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God… that which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

Zechariah 4:6 – NOT by might, nor by power, BUT by My Spirit saith the Lord.

** Our being "born again", being placed "in Christ" according to God’s plan is a Work of The Spirit, not a work of man or of the flesh. "We" can join a church, or "become a Christian", but that will only make us religious. In order for us to truly be found IN CHRIST it takes a Work of the Spirit to show us this reality, this relationship of oneness with Christ, which is our Salvation. And the Spirit works to show us (reveal to us, and manifest through us) this glorious reality.

John 16 – (Jesus in chapters 14-17 was preparing His disciples for His leaving them to go to THE CROSS, but comforting them with the Truth of what would happen by His death, burial and resurrection). Vs. 12-15 – The Spirit would show them what would now be. The Spirit of Truth shall glorify ME – not us, but Christ! He shall receive of mine – the ‘all things’ of the Father – given to and in The Son, and The Spirit will take those things and shew (reveal) it unto you. ** We must understand that these are what pertain to His death, burial and resurrection, and the NEW relationship this NOW will bring about.

Look at John 14:20: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Vs. 23 – My Father (and I) will come unto (you) and make our abode with (you). * This is the reality of what The Cross has done, and the glorious relationship of our Salvation. And we can only know this by The Spirit showing us the "things" of Christ, glorifying Him, teaching us The Truth, and the Spirit will reveal Christ to us in The Truth of HIS CROSS. Now the Spirit has many workings, but He will always work according to The Eternal Plan of God that was purposed in Christ by His Cross, and it is His Working IN US this same Work of The Cross that makes our Salvation real and enables us to discover the reality of our being in Christ. We must ask the Spirit of God to teach us The Truth as it is IN JESUS.

So we are saying that we are IN CHRIST by the Work of the Spirit of God, The Spirit of Truth, and He is teaching us the all things of God in Christ. Note: One Spirit – bringing us to One Body.

1 Corinthians 12:13 – For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit, and this gives us a scriptural understanding of what it means to be "in Christ". One Spirit baptizes all into one body, and there is no flesh differences for all have been made to drink into One Spirit, and this is he that is truly joined to the Lord – not many in flesh, but ONE – IN SPIRIT.

But I want us to consider the word "baptized" in this scripture, and see that we have to change our concept of "baptism" to be conformed to God’s Work of His Spirit. "WE" have baptized people into "our" church, or "our" beliefs" and all that has done is SEPARATE us – NOT make us one! So, we have "our" religious bodies (churches) fighting each other and causing confusion, and we may be united to each other, but are not one body, and in this way are not truly joined to the Lord. Man’s baptisms and NOT the same as The Spirit baptizing us into Christ, for the Spirit’s Work would be according to the Truth of The Cross, and only by that baptism can we be One Spirit in One Body – The Body of Christ.

We want to look at "baptism" in this context, and ask The Spirit to open our understanding so that we can see things God’s way and not man’s traditional, religious ways. Most of us only understand "baptism" in one of its meanings – to be immersed, or submerged in water for a religious purpose, or to be washed; and the Bible certainly does speak of this. (Remember Naaman? - 2 Kings 5, and the Jews baptized, confessing their sins.)

But to help us understand our "being in Christ", we need to consider another meaning of baptism, and that is "to be identified with". It is the Work of The Spirit to bring us to this type of baptism – not an outward show, but an inward identification with Christ, and that is in His death, burial and resurrection. Jesus had a "greater" baptism that He had to submit to, and so do we.

Luke 12:49-50 – I am come to send fire on the earth… But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! And it was – AT THE CROSS. And this is how we must also be identified with The Lord.

This was Jesus’ answer to the sons of Zebedee desiring to sit in His kingdom. Matthew 20:20-23 – Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with… ** This is identifying with Him in His death. We first must be found THERE!

LESSON 14

The purpose of these lessons is to edify the Body of Christ; that we would see the scriptural truth of the reality of our Salvation, and be found in that reality of being in Christ.

Our problem as Christians is not that we don’t love the Lord or have a desire to serve Him, but our problem is not knowing, not understanding what God has done in Christ. And all that He will do, is based upon what He has planned and fulfilled IN CHRIST (all things); and we now must come to know as God knows, and accept all Christ has done. Unfortunately many Christians are the same as the Jews of Paul’s day:

Romans 10:1-4 – They have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. They are ignorant of God’s righteousness (Christ, by His Cross) and go about to establish their own righteousness (all "our" religious doctrines, traditions), and have NOT submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness… * It all must come to HIM, and we must find everything summed up and complete IN HIM. But we see the problem – not according to knowledge. We must know God’s righteousness, God’s plan, God’s will – all fulfilled in Christ, by The Cross.

This has brought us to consider the term "baptism" from the scripture, not man’s view, and this "knowing" was what Paul saw as the problem for Christians of his day, and still is for us today.

Romans 6:3 – Know ye not (do you not understand) that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS DEATH… ** If we have believed, and been "saved", and placed in Christ, and are identified with Him, the truth of that is that we have been baptized into His death. *This is the basis of our relationship with Him. We are NOT baptized into a Church, a belief or even His Life – but into His Death. This knowledge must come before we can experience His Life. Look at the order in verse 4 – buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from (out from) the dead… so we also should walk in newness of life. *Baptism into death precedes newness of life.

We will consider Romans 6 more in future lessons, but I want us to consider other scriptures regarding "baptism" so the Lord will teach us His Truth, and that the work of being baptized into His death would take place in us, so we will walk in newness of His Life.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 – I would not that ye be ignorant (without knowledge; we have to know!) how all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea… all drink same spiritual drink and eat same spiritual meat… and that Rock was Christ. *This is in type – when a people came out of Egypt, by God’s Mighty Hand, delivered by the blood of the Lamb, they were all baptized unto Moses. They were all placed into Moses and identified with him. And God sees all of Israel summed up and headed by Moses. *This is a type of our Salvation – we IN HIM. ** But there is something essential that we must see here – how did God view Israel? Exodus 4:22-23 – Thou shalt say to Pharaoh, thus saith the Lord: Israel is My Son, even My firstborn. God did not view them as "many sons" but as One Son – out from the dead, born of Himself. We view our Salvation as individual (I am saved, and I go to heaven), but God sees a corporate view – many IN one, functioning as His Son. Why? Because of this "baptism" and now eating and drinking of CHRIST.

** Notice it says "spiritual" meat and "spiritual" drink. Jesus sums that up in John 6: Except you eat MY flesh and drink MY blood, you have no life.

Paul saw the whole "story" of Israel’s deliverance and baptism unto Moses being fulfilled in the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 – by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body (Christ)… have been all made to drink into one Spirit. *This baptism was not to wash them from their sins, but to bring them to the oneness of the Spirit, to function as one body – Christ.

Galatians 3:27 – As many of you as have been baptized into Christ (notice that phrase – INTO Christ – placed into, identified with) have put on Christ – not ‘religion’ or the name of a Church, but HIM. In this understanding, this baptism into His death, you put off all of the old, first, neither-nor (verse 28); for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. *Baptism into His death will work this in us.

But now – what about John the Baptist’s "baptism"? Most of us use that as an example for our Christian water baptism, but let us look at the scripture. Who was John baptizing, and for what purpose? Matthew 3:1-3 – John preached repentance, the Kingdom of heaven at hand, preparing the way of the Lord. Vs. 5-6 – Jerusalem, Judaea, were baptized of him (not in him) in Jordan confessing their sins. ** This is Jewish ceremonial washing. John here is summing up all the Old Testament and God’s dealings with Israel while declaring that One was coming AFTER him with a GREATER baptism – verse 11-12. Look at John 1:30-31 – After me cometh a man preferred before me… but that He (Jesus) should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. ** Jesus’ 3 ½ year ministry was declaring Himself and confirming Himself to Israel. We need to reread the Gospels in light of that!

So Jesus comes and submits to John’s baptism, ceremonial washing (that could never make them perfect). John recognizes the discrepancy. Matthew 3:13-14. Jesus answers (verse 15) – Let it be so now; this FULFILS all righteousness. Jesus came to fulfil – not cleanse for a time – a greater baptism! But look what happened when He did. Verse 16-17 – out of water, heavens opened, Spirit comes. THIS is my beloved Son – One Son!!

Do we know THIS BAPTISM???

LESSON 15

I pray that the Lord is expanding our understanding of the Biblical term "baptism" and we are seeing the necessity for coming to that understanding if we are to be found in Christ. God’s view of baptism is much greater than our traditional, religious view. A Christian’s "water" baptism can be a glorious, life changing event if it is done with God’s understanding; and that is – being baptized into Christ’s death. Otherwise it will only be a religious exercise, doing nothing internally in us.

I am admonished, as the writer to the Hebrews admonished believers of his day:

Hebrews 6:1-2 - …let us GO ON to perfection… not laying again…the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands… ** These were the Jewish rituals and beliefs which were keeping them from advancing in The Word and knowledge of CHRIST. He, and The Truth as it is in Jesus (His death, burial and resurrection) is our perfection. *The ceremonial washings were part of the Law and customs for a time, but NOW – a greater baptism has come. Hebrews 9: (Speaking of the worldly tabernacle and ordinances) Vs. 8-10 – The way into the holiest was not yet made manifest… a figure for the time then… could not make him that did the service perfect… which stood in meats and drinks, and diverse washings (baptisms), and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Until the time things would be amended, made right.) When is that time? Vs. 11 - But CHRIST being come… *That time has come, and NOW, by Christ and in Christ the fulfillment and greater of all those things HAS COME.

And this is so in the case of John and his ceremonial washings. The greater One comes, therefore the greater baptism comes; The One that brings us to perfection, for out of that baptism only One Son comes forth: He must increase, I must decrease; Not I, but Christ. And as we come to understand our baptism into His death, this will take place in us, and we as Christians will be united rather than separated by our doctrines.

So we know that "baptism" or religious washing was known to the Jews, but NOW to the believer there must be a change, and now baptism must be in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Why? Because The One of Whom all things spoke has now come, and ONLY IN HIM and BY HIM (by His Cross) has He made all things right.

Acts 2: Peter here is speaking (vs. 14) to the men of Judaea and Jerusalem. He is explaining to them what is happening (Vs. 1-13) Pentecost was FULLY come (in Christ, by Christ risen all things are fulfilled), wind from heaven, filled with Holy Ghost, Spirit giving utterance. He explains this from the prophet Joel (vs. 15-21) and by David (vs. 25-31), and he is telling them THIS has all been FULFILLED by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. *Note: Vs. 32 – This Jesus hath God raised up, we are all witnesses. The filling of the Holy Spirit was the witness that this Jesus – who they had seen put to death, was NOW raised up and exalted, and did this (vs. 33). ** Vs. 36 – Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. So the Jews ask, what shall we do? (Vs. 37) And Peter answers (vs. 38) – Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. *We think the "gift of the Holy Ghost" is speaking in tongues, but the greater gift is the witness and understanding that the same Jesus that was crucified is now risen and exalted, and both Lord and Christ.

But we must see here that the Jew now longer needed the ceremonial baptism washing for sins, but he must NOW be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, Who has fulfilled the scripture by His death. (Interesting: the word "in" – baptized IN the name, in the original is "on", and it means ‘superimposed", and also "resting". This is an identifying on Him, and as we are baptized in His Name, we are baptized in His death, resting.)

Now – Vs. 40-41 – Israel received his word and was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, and out from THIS baptism – in His Name, into His death, comes The Church. Vs. 42-47 – They continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (Christ and Him crucified and risen)… all that believed were together, had all things common… one accord…. Singleness of heart, praising God… And The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved. *Notice the order: Jesus was preached as risen Lord and Christ, baptized in His Name, continue in this doctrine, oneness – The Church. ** The Church comes out of being baptized into His death and raised in His resurrection; The Lord adds. "We" try to baptize to add to "our" Church, but the Lord adds by baptizing us into His Name. Then – only One – Him, oneness; Not I, but Christ, His Body, The Church – The fulness of HIM.

One other reference regarding baptism now: Acts 8 – The baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. Vs. 26-40 – He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was going home reading Isaiah the prophet. He could not understand and asked Philip to sit with him. **Vs. 32-35 – He was reading of the death of the lamb (from Isaiah 53), but didn’t know who this was speaking of. *Philip began at the same scripture, and preached unto him JESUS. He declared His death and fulfillment of the scripture by The Cross. In this understanding (vs. 36-38) the eunuch desired to be baptized. Look at the criteria: if thou believest with all thine heart… What? I believe that Jesus Christ is The Son of God. The eunuch was baptized in His Name, into His death. He probably was "washed" in Jerusalem but had no understanding, but now, in the knowledge of The Lord’s death, he believed and was baptized in Jesus’ Name. This is not merely saying words, but identifying and resting in His death, and now only being found IN HIM -–the risen Lord!

LESSON 16

We are seeking to be FOUND IN CHRIST by coming to understand how God has put us there; by comprehending The Work of The Spirit by which we are made One with Him when we believe and receive Christ as our Salvation. We are looking at this "greater" baptism – Not what "we" do, but joining us with what He has done – by His Cross.

Colossians 2:8-13 – Beware of man’s traditions; we must find all in Christ. IN HIM is all fulness, and you are complete IN HIM. In Whom you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands (not man’s doing) in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh. (** There always must be a putting off of the flesh, old, first)… How? By the circumcision of Christ. That is HIS DEATH! WE are buried WITH HIM in baptism (you bury a dead person; we are baptized into HIS death) wherein THEN we are also risen with Him through the faith of God, who raised HIM from the dead. We are dead in our sins, but by being baptized and buried into His death, we are given life with Him, having our trespasses forgiven.

This is the spiritual BAPTISM – into His death, putting away flesh, the body of sins and being buried. Then – being raised in New Life with Him. This is how God dealt with man and the issue of sin, and as we are baptized into Christ, into His death, this works in us – putting off the old; putting on the New – CHRIST. (Galatians 3:27 says As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on CHRIST.)

Let us look more closely at this "baptism" relating to sin.

Acts 2:38 – On the day of Pentecost Peter told them they must repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins… * "Remission" means forgiveness, but we need to understand how. It also means to cause to stand apart, and to release one’s sins from the sinner. How is that done? By death – HIS death, but for that to work IN ME, and affect me, I have to identify with His Death. *Jesus’ death for all mankind satisfied God’s requirement for sin, but I now can only be released from my sins as I identify with and enter into HIS death.

To help us understand this better, let’s look at Romans 6 where Paul is dealing with the issue of sin, and there are two phrases we must comprehend. Romans 6:1,2 – Shall we continue IN SIN, that grace may abound. How shall we that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein? * There are two states: dead IN sin, dead TO sin. Paul is saying that we – as believers are dead TO sin. Why? Vs. 3 – As many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into HIS DEATH. This is what the believer is supposed to know! Therefore – since we are put into His death, and buried with Him, by this baptism into His death we are dead to sin.

*Notice that it always says HIS death, and not "my physical" death. Now – why are we buried with Him by baptism into death? Vs. 4 – that like as CHRIST was raised up from the dead… even so we should walk in newness of life. Vs. 5-10 – If we have been planted together (baptized into) the likeness of HIS death, we shall be also in His resurrection. By His death our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For He that is DEAD is freed from sin. We can only be free from sin by experiencing HIS death. (Reference Hebrews 2:14,15 – Through death He destroyed the devil who had the power of death, and delivered man who was in bondage to fear of death.)

Romans 6: 8 – If we be dead with Christ, … we shall also live with Him (but not separate from Him; with His Life!) Vs. 10 – In that He died, He died unto sin once, but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. ** Vs. 11 – LIKEWISE reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. * This is done by our being baptized into His death – to sin, and now being alive to God – only through Jesus Christ. This is His resurrection, Newness of Life.

In order for us to be alive unto God, the issue of sin must be settled and the body of sin must be put off. This is what our being baptized into His death does.

1 Peter 3:18-22 and then 1 Peter 4:1,2 – Christ suffered for sins, that He might bring us to God. Peter gives them the example of Noah and the ark as a figure of the baptism that now saves them. This does not just put away the filth of the flesh, but brings the answer of a good conscience toward God. How? By the resurrection of Jesus Christ! We must now have the same mind; that he that suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. That he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God – alive unto God through Christ!

I would encourage you to go back to Genesis chapters 6 to 9, and read again God’s dealings with Noah. Genesis 6:11-14 – all flesh was corrupted, and God would destroy ALL flesh with the earth (first creation). How? Make thee an ark… Noah and his family, and the clean beasts went into that ark as God commanded them, and they were taken into God’s judgment of the earth and flesh by the flood. But in the ark (God’s thought and provision) they were lifted above the waters, and came through that judgment. Look at Genesis 7:22-23 – every living substance in the earth died, and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And they came forth in newness of life, into a new creation. But we must see that they were baptized into the death – they didn’t escape it! But they did so in God’s provision, and ONLY those who did – lived.

And as we allow The Holy Spirit to work His death in us, we also will walk in Newness of His Life, and be found ONLY IN HIM.

LESSON 17

Throughout these lessons we have been dealing mainly with the issue of death: Christ’s death, and our being baptized into His death. But let us remember that death is not the end and ultimate issue with God. The issue with God is LIFE – His Life, Eternal Life – in Christ.

Romans 6:4 – Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; THAT (here’s the purpose, this is the reason why we are placed into His death) like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we should walk in newness of life. This is what God is seeking in a people – that we would live in His Life, New Life, Eternal Life. When? NOW – here on this earth! ** We have made "me going to heaven" the issue of our Salvation, but God desires a people LIVING in the reality of a relationship with Him through Christ here on this earth. (This is living in the heavenlies!)

Philippians 2:15-16 (vs. 13)- For it is God which worketh IN YOU both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure… that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth THE WORD OF LIFE… * We that have Life in Christ, and Christ as our Life should be walking in that light and manifesting it to others – here – now – in this earth; not one day when we die and go to heaven.

This is why the issue of death must be dealt with and settled, and out of that comes newness of Life – in Christ. Jesus set forth this principle in John 12:24-25 – EXCEPT a corn of wheat fall into the ground and DIE, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ** He is that seed wherein there is Life, but in order for that Life to be multiplied – in many, He had to die. *The issue for us is – will we embrace that death (His death) so that His Life many be manifested in us? Vs. 25 – He that loveth his life (flesh, self, I, first) shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

This is why we must be baptized into His death – losing "our" life, life of the world and in the world, so that HIS LIFE can come forth in us.

John 5:24 - He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me HATH everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. IN CHRIST we are passed from death, unto Life. This is not when we physically die, but when we BELIEVE – in Him, His death.

We saw the word "except" in John 12, meaning there is NO OTHER WAY: this is how God planned and purposed things, and I want us to look at two more "excepts" that Jesus spoke of.

John 3:3 and 5-6 – EXCEPT a man be born again (born from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God… EXCEPT a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. * This is the only way a man can enter the kingdom of God. But we must put off the first birth, flesh and be dead to that to enable the new birth to bring life to us. Nicodemus doesn’t understand this, and Jesus immediately tells him about HIS DEATH – Vs. 13-18 – We must believe and be baptized into His death so that we have Spiritual, Eternal Life.

John 6:53-57 – EXCEPT ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinks my blood, HATH eternal life… As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me… he that eateth of this bread shall live forever. *This is partaking of HIS DEATH – and out from that comes life; we live by Him, forever.

God’s order is New Life, New Birth coming out from His Death; our becoming dead to the first birth – of the flesh, old creation, and now living in Christ and by Christ, which is Eternal Life. And don’t forget eternity is NOW – not in the future, but a present reality we are living in.

We see this order clearly set forth in Paul’s writings, and we must ask the Lord to work this order in us. Many Christians who have repented and consider themselves "born again" unfortunately are not walking in "newness of life". And the reason is we have not been fully baptized into His death – for out of His death, only His Life comes forth.

Galatians 2:20 – Paul FIRST came to understand he is crucified with Christ (baptized into His death). Now he knows he lives, but it is not Paul (flesh, first, old, under law), but CHRIST lives in him. The life he NOW lives in the flesh (here on this earth) is by the faith of the Son of God who died.

** The understanding of Christ as my Life can only come out of the understanding that I died with Him. Now – not I, but Christ. Paul lives by this faith – notice not faith ‘in’, but ‘of’ the Son of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17 – We judge (come to a decision) that if one (Christ) died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live (by Him, with His Life) should not live unto themselves, but unto Him, which died for them… Therefore – if you be in Christ, you are a NEW creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become NEW.

If you still see "yourself" alive, living unto yourself, you will never experience the joy of The New Creation, for IN CHRIST, He makes ALL things NEW!!

LESSON 18

I trust that from these lessons we are seeing that in order for us to be found IN CHRIST, in the reality of our Great Salvation, we first must be found in HIS death, and the greatness and fulness of HIS death. Out from that we can be found in Newness of Life. We think we are "born again", and then have to die to "go be with Jesus", but the scripture declares a different order. We must accept Christ and His Work of the Cross, and have that working in us first. We must bear His death, and come to see His death as our death, and become dead to all of the first creation/world/order; and then we can by our New Birth, a Spiritual Birth, walk (live) in newness of Life. And once we come to the Lord it is a work of the Spirit working this reality in us. This is God’s order.

2 Corinthians 4:10-14 - Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus (HIS death) that (here’s the purpose) the life also of Jesus might be made manifest… For we which live are always delivered unto death… that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh – here – now! Death worketh in us, but life in you.

The scripture declares a "putting off" and then a "putting on" and it is always in that order. This is not what "we do", but by the Work of the Cross by The Spirit, the Truth of His death, burial and resurrection works in us. * You can’t walk in Newness of Life until you put off the old.

Colossians 3 – Paul begins declaring the reality. Vs. 1- If you BE risen with Christ… Vs. 3 – For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Vs. 9-11 – Ye have put off the old man and his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him… Christ is all…

** We think that when we "put off" our bad acts and sins, that is Salvation, but the Work of The Cross goes deeper than that. The old man (first, flesh, worldly) is done away, and now you put on a NEW Man. That is not you – but Christ! YOU are dead!

Ephesians 4:22-24 –Ye put off the old man, which is corrupt… and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the New Man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. That New Man is Christ. We don’t put off the "bad me" and keep the "good me" – "me" is put off, and He is put on.

I want us to look in the scripture to help us see this order that God had established, and fulfilled in Christ, and now must be working in us. Perhaps the best example of this is when God told Moses to build the Tabernacle. Exodus 25:8-9 – This is where God would dwell among them, and Moses was to do ALL according to the pattern of the Tabernacle. Vs. 10 – Make an ark…** God starts here; this is His end, His goal, and He does all according to that. This speaks of Life, Glory, New Creation, Covenant, His dwelling place, where He communes with man. BUT when man was to approach God, he didn’t start there! He had to come first to the brazen altar which was at the entrance of the Tabernacle. And it was here that sin was dealt with and death – the sacrifice needed to be made here – first. And remember that in the Tabernacle, there was only One entrance; and that brought you to the brazen altar. Here you identified with the death of the sacrifice, and if you didn’t, you had no relationship with God at all. (Jesus comes and says, I AM the Way…no man cometh to the Father but by Me.) That is, by way of His death – then we experience His Life, Oneness with the Father.

God established this pattern with Abram in Genesis 12:1 – Get thee OUT of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, UNTO a land that I will shew thee. * This first required a separation from all of the old – creation, birth, knowledge, traditions, religion. *God would not bless Abram in his "old place", but he had to come into the land that God would reveal. We know that Abram was not obedient to this (vs. 4-5) and brought lots of the old things with him. It was only AFTER Lot was separated from him (vs. 14) that God could begin to show him the land. (vs. 15-18) He had to be separated from ALL of the first, and lift up his eyes to see this, and then ARISE and walk through it (live in it).

*Consider this dealing of God with Paul’s declaration in Galatians 1. Paul was raised and profited in the Jewish religion, but **(vs. 15-16) – when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach him… ** Although Paul had the scriptures, and was very religious, he had to put all that off – be SEPARATED from all of that (what was gain to him – Philippians 3 – he counted as loss, as dung – that he might win Christ and be found in HIM).

*Notice also the revealing (showing) of HIS SON in me. This is what pleases the Father, but if we are not separated, and put off our first birth, and the religions of man, The Son can not be revealed in us. We may still "preach Jesus", but never know Him in Newness of Life – as our Life – Not I, but Christ.

And we must also consider what God’s dealings were when He changed names. A name symbolizes a nature, character; who a man was. Abram and Sarai’s names were changed (Genesis 16) when The Lord appears to them and confirms His covenant with them regarding a son.

Remember Jacob? Genesis 32:24-32 – Jacob, the supplanter, the deceiver, became "Israel" – a prince with God" after he wrestled with the man all night. But notice he was NO MORE Jacob, but Israel, who has power with God and he bore in his body the hollow in his thigh (weakness of his flesh).

And lastly, consider Saul – the zealous, religious Jew. Acts 9. Saul was struck down, and the Lord Jesus was revealed to him. Saul was blind, until by his obedience (to the Lord's death) he had his sight restored, and he was baptized (vs. 18). This man now becomes Paul, and look at what he preaches – Vs. 20 – Christ! Paul now walks in Newness of Life; having come to understand the Lord’s death, and being baptized into it, he realizes – as a New Creation, it is Not I, but Christ. This is God’s order.

LESSON 19

I trust that through these lessons we are learning the depth of The Cross, and the NECESSITY for The Cross to have its full work in us. We must remember that Christ and Him Crucified is the power and wisdom of God – (1 Corinthians 1:23,24). We must now embrace His death so that we may find our Life again – anew – IN CHRIST.

Look at Paul’s idea of The Cross: Galatians 6:14-15 – God forbid that I should glory save (except) in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. In Christ all that matters now is a New Creature.

*The Cross – Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection is God’s means for bringing forth His plan, and the only way we can be free from this world, self, flesh, first creation is that way too. The Cross should then become glorious to us, for we have the assurance that Jesus’ sacrifice there fulfilled God’s requirements, and He was satisfied. This Work – of death, burial and resurrection in Newness of Life now takes place in us by The Spirit, so that we can manifest the reality of our Salvation.

We have to identify with Christ first at The Cross in His death, because this is where He first identified with us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us (at The Cross) who knew no sin; that (here’s the purpose of The Cross) WE might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM.

Hebrews 2:9 – Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels (as man) for the suffering of death… that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Vs. 14-18 – As children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, the devil, and deliver them who feared death. He took not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham. He was made like unto his brethren… to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Romans 8:2-4 – For what the law could not do… God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (at The Cross) that (here’s the purpose) the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. That is for those who are born of The Spirit, and have put off the flesh, the old man – by the working of His death in them. Now they live by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:7-8 – He made Himself of no reputation… was made in the likeness of men… in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of The Cross. And we must too! Vs. 5 – Let this mind be IN YOU.

* This is why He came, and this is the Will of the Father He fulfills.

Hebrews 10:5 – When He cometh into the world; sacrifice thou would not, but a body hast thou prepared for me. Vs. 9-14 – I come to do thy will… WE are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL… for by one offering (at The Cross) he HATH perfected forever them that are sanctified. * The offering of the body of Jesus Christ was for all, and at The Cross, He became all man – all flesh, old, first, sin. This shows us the GREATNESS of The Cross in God’s plan! We don’t need to look for another way.

John 12 – This is all in anticipation of The Cross. (Vs. 24 – except a corn of wheat die…) Vs. 27 – Now is my soul troubled; what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause (The Cross) came I unto this hour. Vs. 31-33 – Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out (remember Hebrews 2:14?) And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. ** This he said, signifying what death He should die. When He was lifted up on The Cross, He died not only FOR all man, but AS all man. * Unfortunately we often quote this scripture meaning that WE will praise God, and "lift Him up", so others can be drawn to Him, but that is NOT what the scripture says or means. The ONLY place and WAY the Lord Jesus was lifted up was at The Cross, and he drew all men to Himself, and they died with Him.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For the love of Christ (manifested at The Cross) constrains us… that if ONE died for all, THEN were ALL DEAD. ** Jesus’ death was for all man – of first creation, and when He died, God saw all mankind dead. This is a depth to The Cross that few of us have really come to. But the fact of The Cross remains to God whether I accept it or not! And in God’s mind and plan, by The Cross all of the first creation were judged and brought to a death. They are now dead to God. Vs. 15 – And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.

So the question then is: if all man died at The Cross, then how can we now live? The first man, Adam, flesh man may breathe, and move and have a temporal earth life, but he is death to God; there is no eternal Life in him.

So – we must be BORN AGAIN, BORN ANEW – not of the flesh as if it were a second birth, but a NEW Birth, a birth from The Spirit, by The Only One Who is Life. (Remember born of the flesh is flesh, but born of the Spirit is Spirit – John 3:6)

John 1:11-13 – Speaking of The Word (Jesus Christ). Vs. 4 – IN HIM was Life (all things in Him)… As many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God (born of God), to them that believe on His Name (and are baptized into His death – realizing He died for all, and outside of Him all are dead). By believing on Him, and receiving Him (into your heart– as Life, as ALL) you are born – not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but OF GOD.

** In order for us to truly appreciate our New Birth, we must comprehend the fulness of Jesus’ death; that we no longer live a flesh life, but a Spirit Life, because now we are born of God – having HIS LIFE, Eternal Life, Abundant Life – NEW LIFE. As this understanding comes we will manifest this New Birth, New Life – which is CHRIST!

LESSON 20

We are seeing that in order for us to be FOUND IN CHRIST, we first must be found in His death, which is a death to the first creation, flesh, old, sin, I. And now we must be found in Newness of Life by the reality of our NEW BIRTH. We want to look at what the scriptures declare this to be. No one is challenging our sincerity in "coming to the Lord", but most Christian’s lives are not manifesting the REALITY of our New Birth.

Let’s go back to Paul’s statement in Galatians 2:20. See where it begins: I am crucified WITH Christ – baptized into His death. Paul came to identify with HIS death, and Paul came to see that he (flesh man, religious man under the law) was dead! Nevertheless (Paul hasn’t lost anything; but he has gained everything) NOW he lives, but NOT Paul, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME!

** This is the profound simplicity of our New Birth – CHRIST LIVES IN ME. This is Life from above, by the Spirit, New Life. *This is not "me" living better, or happier, or going to Church; but this is CHRIST living in me, and "me" living only BY Him and IN Him. Our emphasis in understanding our New Birth has been on "me", rather than "HIM."

"… and THE LIFE that I NOW live…" This is coming out from the REALITY of the New Birth; Paul comprehending not I, but Christ. * Notice the phrase "the life" – doesn’t Jesus say "I am THE LIFE"? (1 John 5:12 – he that hath the Son hath life. That is what we receive in our New Birth – Christ, Life.)

"… In the FLESH…" ** This is NOT when WE die and go to heaven to be with Jesus, but the manifestation of this new Birth IN US here on this earth. How did Paul live this life in the flesh? "… I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (at The Cross). *Notice "faith of" – not just believing "in"; but this implies a knowledge and assurance, confidence in a Divine Truth. Paul lived by the confidence of what Jesus had done, that Finished Work of The Cross! The question for us is – do we have THAT assurance?

The Work of the Spirit in us today is to show us the Truth and the depth of The Cross, and work that in us, so that we would reckon ourselves dead indeed unto all of the first, and NOW alive unto God through Christ. And then we could live here – in the flesh, in this world, in the reality of our New Birth. ** This "New Birth" must not be understood as "me" living again, but Christ being my Life, and giving me Life, and "me" now living His Life. And in order for us to receive our "New" Birth (notice not "again" as the same as the first, earthy birth – but different in nature and quality) we must believe on the Lord Jesus – Who He is, and what He has done.

Let’s look at John 11 concerning the raising of Lazarus, and I believe there are some points here that will help us better understand New Birth and New Life. We should realize that when Jesus performed miracles He was always speaking beyond that circumstance, and ultimately He was revealing Himself. (Reference John 6 – feeding of multitudes: I AM The Bread of Life; John 9 – healing blind man – I AM The Light of the world). And this is also the case with Lazarus.

John 11:4 – This sickness is NOT unto death, BUT for the glory of God, that THE SON OF GOD might be glorified thereby. *Not Lazarus – Christ! Too many times "our" healings glorify us, and not the Lord! Jesus could have "healed" Lazarus, but the Lord would reveal Himself to be more than a healer, and give Lazarus a New Birth and a New Life – but first he must DIE. (Vs. 11-15) Jesus knew that Lazarus believed, but He was doing things so others would also. Vs. 21-22 – Martha didn’t want Lazarus to die, and believed Jesus could have saved him.

Vs. 23-27 – Jesus speaks of a greater, better Life! ** Vs. 24 – Martha speaks as we generally think – that "we" will rise again (like us – only better) in a resurrection – someday. But Jesus reveals I AM THE RESURRECTION and THE LIFE; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. *The one who believes in Jesus as The Christ has the resurrection and the life, because that is WHO HE IS! When we believe in Him, and are born of Him, we are raised up in His Resurrection and have His Life. And now, with this New Birth, this New Life in us – we shall never die!

Vs. 27 – This comes by believing that Jesus is the Christ, The Son of God, who came into the world, and gave Himself for us, that we might have His Life – now.

Remember Jesus said this was for God’s glory? He tells them to take away the stone on the grave (vs. 39-40) so that they may believe (vs. 41-42). Vs. 43-44 – Jesus speaks to the one who was dead, and calls him OUT FROM the dead, unto NEW LIFE. But Lazarus would now be loosed from the grave clothes so he could manifest the New Birth, New Life he has – out from death into Eternal Life!

Just another thought concerning Lazarus and Jesus revealing Himself. Lazarus was a Jew, and we must consider that Jesus was speaking to the Jews, and showing them that He was the fulfillment of God’s prophecy of Resurrection to Israel. Ezekiel 37 – Due to their failure to walk in obedience to God’s ways, Israel was dead to God and scattered, and were as the valley of dry bones. The question is – can these bones live? God said He (vs. 5) will cause breath to enter them and they shall LIVE. (read through verse 9-10) Ezekiel prophesied to those slain, that they may live… and they stood up upon their feet, a great army. Vs. 12-14 – I will open your graves, and cause you to come OUT OF your graves, and I will put MY SPIRIT IN YOU, and you shall LIVE, and I shall place you in your own land. Then shall ye know that I THE LORD spoke it and performed it.

** Israel was waiting for a resurrection. JESUS CHRIST IS THEIR RESURRECTION! He raises them out of their graves, and gives them Life, and now they can live by Him and in Him, by a New, Spiritual Birth. He is New Birth, Life and Resurrection to Israel, and He is all that to us too! May we be found IN HIM!

LESSON 21

We are talking about being found in Christ in the reality of the New Birth, in the truth of our New Life, so that we walk in Newness of Life.

1 John 5:11,12 – God hath (A Finished Work) given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath (the original says, "is having" – a present, continual holding on, possessing, wearing) The Son hath life; and he that hath not The Son hath not life. So for us to have life, we must "have" The Son, and we "have" Him, and possess Him by The New Birth – being born of Him, by Him, in Him, by a Spiritual Birth, and now we have Life, but this is The Life of The Son. And now we live by Him and in Him, Who is our Life. He gives us HIS Life when we are born again, and that is Eternal Life, Oneness with the Father.

Remember we said that God planned all things in Christ? Now, by that New Birth, by receiving The Life of The Son, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings IN CHRIST. Ephesians 1:3 – Paul goes on in this chapter describing this New Birth, New Life, and what we now have received. Vs. 4-14 – Chosen in Him, we should be holy and without blame, predestinated us unto the adoption, He made us acceptable in the beloved, we have redemption through his blood, forgiveness of sins, He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom, we have obtained an inheritance, that we should be to the praise of His glory. ** This is what we have received by our New Birth, but Paul prayed (vs. 18) that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened, that ye may KNOW… what IS…. And this is our greatest need also – to know what God hath done IN CHRIST so we could be the witness of that in this earth.

And we are finding that in order for this new Life, by a New Birth, to be manifesting itself effectually IN US, we have to put off ALL of our first birth, first life, the old creation man and his works. Jesus spoke of this, and it is interesting to note that it is recorded in all four of the gospels, stressing to us the importance of this. John 12:25-26 – He that loveth his life (self, flesh, old man, worldly) shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. Matthew 16 – This is when Jesus is telling them of His death and resurrection, and what that will accomplish. Vs. 22-23 – Peter didn’t want this to happen, but Jesus knows this is of God, and The Cross is God’s wisdom – for Him and for His followers. ** Vs. 24-26 – If any man will come after me, let him deny himself (not "bad things I do" – but ME!) and take up his cross, and follow me. (Being baptized into His death) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. * If we are willing to give up "me", self, world, earth life – we will find Christ as our Life!

But this is only done by the working of His Death in us – DAILY, and then finding our Life only IN HIM, and finding HIM only to be our Life. And in the reality of The New Birth and New Life, ONLY ONE LIVES, and we now are found IN HIM, but not having anything of our own. Our problem as Christians is we are trying to be in two creations, and trying to "live" two lives, but we can’t do that. We need to be dead to the first, and only alive in and to the second. We talk about "me" going to heaven, or "me" going to go be with Jesus, but God doesn’t mix creations. Didn’t Jesus tell Nicodemus (John 3:3) Except a man be born AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God? The whole first creation man and world is shut up from the kingdom of God, but by our New Birth, a Spiritual Birth, by being born from above, we enter into that eternal realm of God – IN CHRIST.

We would do well to settle this whole issue in our hearts. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:47-50 – The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the LORD from heaven. ** The second man is NOT ME, but The LORD; not a spiritual me, but a heavenly man, and that is The Lord from heaven. We now live in Him, and by Him, in the Body that is raised in resurrection, in power, in glory! The earth are earthy; the heavenly are heavenly (born of Him, from heaven, living in the heavenlies) We have borne the image of the earthy – in and by our first birth. But NOW – IN CHRIST, by our New Birth into the Body that is raised up in His Resurrection, we bear the image (likeness, because He is our Life and nature) of the heavenly. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

This is how we need to see the New Birth – the putting off of the first man, creation, system, world; and now bearing the image of the heavenly, the second man, who is the Lord from heaven. This is the New Creation that we are part of by our New Birth. And note: we think of ourselves as "new creatures", but there is only ONE New Creation, and that is what comes forth IN CHRIST, in His Resurrection, having His Life. The emphasis must always be on Him – not me; on One – not many.

Just a final thought here about this New Birth and new Life. God set forth the principle for this in the beginning in Genesis in the first creation, but Christ has perfectly fulfilled God’s thought in the New Creation. Genesis 1:11,21,24 – Everything was to bring forth after his kind. God saw this principle was very good. And notice the SEED. Every creature brought forth what it was, according to the seed that it was, because the life of that creature was in the seed. (Example – cattle brought forth cattle, and not ducks, because they possessed the "cattle" life). So MUCH MORE so – in the New Creation, which is God’s ultimate thought, everything there is after his kind, but whose kind is that; whose life is that? "My" kind, "my" life? NO! In The New Creation, there is only ONE Life and only ONE SEED, and that is CHRIST! And God is looking for an increase of that SEED, that Life, a bringing forth of HIS KIND, His nature. God sees that as good – not I, but CHRIST! Our New Birth is to bring forth His increase.

LESSON 22

I pray that the Lord is helping us to see the difference between the first creation and the first man that we are by our first, natural birth, and the New Creation that we are by our New Birth. ** We can not be found IN CHRIST in our natural birth life, but we can only be found in Him by our New Birth and as the New Creation that He brings forth in His Resurrection. He is that Second Man, New Man, and it is HIS LIFE that we receive in our New Birth. Now we are to walk in that New Life.

Re: First and second – Hebrews 10:9 – I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. And we know this was done at THE CROSS, when He became the first man and brought an end to all of the first creation and God’s dealings with that creation; and brings forth and establishes a second, a New Creation, and with that a new way of God dealing – IN HIS SON, by His Son. He no longer needs the types and shadows of the Old Covenant Law, but now requires everything to be spiritual and in the Truth of the Second.

Remember what Jesus told the woman of Samaria? John 4:23-24 – The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. This is NOW because Christ has come, and we no longer can worship God in the flesh and by the flesh, according to the first creation, but now the only true worship is in Spirit, in the Second – in Christ.

To help us see better the position of the natural man, Adam, the first man, let us go back to Genesis and consider what is set forth here.

Genesis 2:7-8 – The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground (he was of the earth – earthy), and breathed into his mouth the breath of life (temporal life) and man became a living soul. This is the first creation man – earthy, soul, flesh. God put the man whom He formed in the garden he planted. ** We must see that this "garden" represents not a "place", but a relationship, for this is where God communed with man, and had fellowship with Him; and that in the midst of this garden was the Tree of Life (vs. 9). God’s intention was always towards LIFE. That was found here, but we know that Adam and Eve did NOT eat of the Tree of Life, but rather of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ** This first man NEVER came to God’s Life, but only temporal, soulish, flesh life – with a knowledge of good and evil.

And because of this God sent this first man, Adam AWAY from the garden of Eden. Genesis 3:22-24 – This man was driven out from this relationship, to till the ground from when he was taken, BUT God set cherubims and a flaming sword to keep the way of the Tree of Life. But this man, Adam could not partake of it. * Can you see that Adam, this natural, first creation man is NOT in communion with God? He has been driven away from that "place", but the way of the Tree of Life God has kept and maintained. And this of course, is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus by His Cross, Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life, and NO MAN comes to the Father BUT by HIM! The first man can not come, but by Christ, In Christ, the Second Man comes and enjoys the relationship and oneness that God had desired. *Our first birth keeps us away from God, but by our New Birth, our Spiritual Birth we are brought nigh to Him and made acceptable in the Beloved. We come now by the Way of the Tree of Life – dead to the first, but alive unto God in Christ! ** And note: this is the way of The Cross, and the nature of Christ and Him crucified. This was always kept as God’s plan, and the only way to fellowship with the Father.

?? Can we truly see now why Jesus told Nicodemus you MUST be born anew, born from above in order to see and enter into the kingdom (rule) of God? If you do not come by this Way, you remain separated from God and from Eternal Life (which is knowing God by His Son.)

Natural man can still be "religious" and attempt to know God, but all he has is man’s wisdom, and he bases his religion on what he perceives to be good and evil. That’s the tree he ate from; not the Tree of Life! And natural man attempts to experience God through the natural world and the fleshly senses, but God’s Truths are not learned that way. 1 Corinthians 2:9 – Eye hath NOT seen, NOR ear heard, neither have entered into the heart OF MAN the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. What God prepared and kept throughout the ages was His wisdom and power (vs. 6-8) which had been hidden. And this was Christ crucified – this is the Way of The Tree of Life. Natural man might "preach Christ" and might preach The Cross, but he can only do so with man’s wisdom and enticing words. ** But it takes God REVEALING these things to us by His Spirit (vs. 10-13) for us to know (experience, and live) what He hath prepared for us. (That is The Cross – death to first, Life in second). Vs. 14 - *The natural man receiveth NOT the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

*If we are not born of the Spirit, born anew, the things of God are still closed to us, and we only have man’s wisdom to try to understand them. And man’s wisdom will NOT embrace The Cross. He will try to make "me" like Jesus, and make "me" better, rather than bringing "me" to an end, and allowing His Life – Newness of Life to come forth in me. But if we are born again, we have received His Spirit, and (vs. 15,16) can know the mind of the Lord, for by our New Birth we HAVE the mind of Christ. And He will show us what God hath prepared and fulfilled BY HIS CROSS.

LESSON 23

The Lord is challenging us during these days as to what birth we are found in – our first, natural, flesh birth; or our New, Spiritual, Eternal Birth? What motivates us – life in the flesh, in this world; or LIFE IN CHRIST, eternal in the heavens, abundant Life that we now have by our New Birth? Are we living in the temporary realm of the earth, or are we living in the heavenlies, in the REALITY of our Salvation, in the REALITY of our New Birth?

Contrary to what most Christians are taught and believe, the Bible DOES NOT declare that we are "born again" by God’s Spirit "waiting to go to heaven to be with Jesus". This is NOT the reality that Paul declared to The Church.

Colossians 3:1-4 – If ye then BE (this is what we "be" when we are born again, born from above) risen with (as One) Christ…** When God raised Christ out from the dead, He raised His Body, which is the Church with Him. (see Ephesians 1:20-23) Then Ephesians 2:4-10 – God quickened (given us life) us (The Church, His Body) together (as One) with Christ, and raised up as one (not "me" as an individual, but as a member of HIS Body when I am born again), and made (one) sit as one (together) in heavenly places IN Christ Jesus.

*This is where we are by our New Birth; given Life, raised and established as One in the heavens – in Christ. We must see that we are HIS Body – members of HIS – not "my" body in heaven. This came by The Resurrection, and in The Resurrection we have our New Birth. So we don’t have to wait for a Resurrection; we have found Christ TO BE our Resurrection, and we live in Him.

So… since this is where and how (as One) we "be" – Colossians 3:2 – Set your affection (heart, desire, attention) on things above (that’s where you are by your New Birth!) not on things on the earth, For ye ARE DEAD… (*Remember we said we’ve got to be baptized into His Death (that I died with Him) before I can walk in Newness of Life.)… NOW your life is hid with Christ in God. Christ now is your Life, an when He is revealed IN YOU as Life, as all things, then you are found as one with Him – in glory! That’s not a place, but the reality of our New Birth – CHRIST IS MY LIFE!!

Now – in light of this union with Christ, the scripture tells us (vs. 5 through the end of the chapter) to mortify our members which are upon the earth… PUT OFF… old man and his deeds, … and PUT ON the new man… Christ is all, and in all. And the challenge to us is – are we living out from the heavens, or still in the earth and manifesting our flesh birth rather than our Spiritual Birth? Are we still finding ourselves in Adam, or in Christ? 1 Corinthians 15:22 says in Adam ALL DIE, even so in Christ shall all be made ALIVE. If we are in Christ, and have been made alive by Him, with His Life, are we still living dictated by the flesh, or above that – by The Spirit?

This can only be so in us as we recognize the Truth of our Salvation and what our New Birth really is, and walk in the reality that it is not I, but Christ. This is what we as Christians need to KNOW.

1 John 4:13 – Hereby KNOW we that we dwell (have our life) IN HIM, and HE IN US (this is the reality of our New Birth, giving us Newness of Life!) because He has given us of His Spirit. *Our "Spiritual Birth" means that God has given us His Spirit – that we, by His Spirit may live His Life. Where? *Vs. 17 - … as he is, so are we in this world. (And this is all in the context of His love being manifested in us.)

Too often we as Christians believe that God’s Spirit was given to us to empower "us" to do great works and miracles, rather than understanding that The Spirit of Truth has come to teach us all things in Christ and to enable us to live His Life here on the earth. And the Bible has a great deal to say about the difference of living in the flesh and by the flesh and in The Spirit and by The Spirit. *We can be "born again" and still live by the flesh, and that is true, even though we hate to admit it. But our actions and manner of living (everyday – not just when we "go to Church") will expose where we are dwelling – in Adam, in the flesh, or in Christ, in and by His Spirit.

Romans 8:5-13 – They that are after the flesh do mind (set your affections) the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. To be carnally minded is death (flesh = death. That is God’s determination. We need to come to that also!) but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Carnal mind is NOT subject to the law of God. *But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. (That’s what happened by our New Birth). Vs. 11 – If the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He shall quicken your mortal bodies (give life to us on this earth) by His Spirit… we are debtors NOT to the flesh, to live after the flesh… but if you through the Spirit do mortify (make to die – by embracing His death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

*By our New Birth we have HIS SPIRIT dwelling in us, therefore…

Galatians 5:16-26 – Walk (live, find yourself only) in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Flesh lusts against the Spirit… These are contrary the one to the other. *Vs. 19-23 lists the works of the flesh in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit (what the Spirit produces – in us). The question is – what are we producing? Vs. 24 – They that are CHRIST’S (Those who are joined to Him, and have His Spirit, giving them His Life) have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (they bear His Death, and it is evident in how they live on this earth). ** Vs. 25 – If we live in the Spirit (and we DO by the reality of our New Birth) let us also walk in the Spirit… Let us walk in the Truth of our New Birth, manifesting The Life of Christ by His Spirit!

LESSON 24

We are seeking to come to a greater understanding of our Great Salvation, and be found daily living, and functioning in the reality of what God has done in Christ. And I pray that as we search the scriptures together towards this end, we are finding ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, and finding CHRIST to be our definition of Salvation.

** Too many Christians have a "self" centered concept of their Salvation, but God’s view of everything is in and of His Son. We focus on "I" am saved, and "I’m" going to heaven, or "I’ll" see the Lord, rather than allowing the Lord to show us HIS Salvation, and that HE IS SALVATION. Look at what the scriptures declare Salvation to be: (Salvation means deliverance and preservation.)

Psalm 3:8 – Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.

Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my Salvation… The Lord is the strength of my life…

Psalm 35:3 - … I am thy Salvation.

Psalm 38:22 – Make haste to help me, O Lord my Salvation.

Psalm 40:16 - … Let such as love thy Salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

Psalm 62:1,2 – Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my Salvation. HE ONLY is my rock and MY SALVATION, I shall not be greatly moved.

Psalm 98:2 – The Lord hath made known HIS Salvation, I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and song; HE also is become MY SALVATION. (Interesting – Jehovah is God’s name in relation to man and to redemption. God is not Jehovah to a tree; He created trees but has no other relationship to them. We can know God as Jehovah, and HE becomes Salvation to us. He’s not just creator to us, but so much more!!)

Isaiah 46:13 – I bring near my righteousness: it shall not be far off, and MY SALVATION shall not tarry; and I will place Salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. ** God put Salvation in a special "place" for His people! And we know that this "place" is not a physical location, but IN CHRIST. This is where we have all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), Life and our Salvation, but we must come to understand that HE IS our Salvation. The psalmists and prophets spoke of it, but Jesus came and fulfilled that. We now have their "much more".

It is interesting and sad that most Christians today only know Him as "the Way" to be saved, ("Come to the Lord so you won’t burn in hell."), but never go on to know Him in the completion of the scripture in John 14:6 – I AM The Way, The Truth and The Life, no man cometh to the Father but by Me. He is The Way, but He is the Truth of it (the reality manifest; made known) and The Life of our Salvation. And until you truly know HIM in HIS death, HIS burial, and HIS resurrection, you don’t really know your Salvation. But when you do, then HE becomes the "all things" of your Salvation, and you find everything in Him.

This is God’s idea of Salvation, and what He has made known by The Cross. How sad that Christianity has lost God’s view of this, and added and substituted so many other things, and we’ve called that "Salvation", but it is not. God’s view of our New Birth in Christ and by Christ is that HE defines our Salvation and HE becomes the allness of it. Not I – but Christ!

1 Corinthians 1:30,31 – But of Him (born of Him, born again, born anew) are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that… he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. * Our Salvation is glorious, but not because of what "we got"; it is glorious because of what the Lord is, and all that He is, is made unto us real, and working in us. This is the Salvation that God promised Israel. He said He placed it in Zion, and they, just like us, must find it there – IN CHRIST, and now He becomes all things to us. *But we must look TO HIM for all things. Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto JESUS the author and finisher (the beginning and completion) of our faith.

This comprehension does NOT allow for anything of "mine" – not my righteousness, my good works, not even my life. I lose all of that, but find everything that God planned Salvation to be, all fulfilled IN CHRIST.

2 Peter 1:1-3 - … to them that have obtained like precious faith with us (the early apostles preached Christ and Him crucified, not man’s doctrines) through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ (that’s The Cross). Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the (the Amplified Bible says "full, personal, precise and correct") knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. ** Isn’t that what is lacking in The Church today? The full, CORRECT knowledge of God and Jesus? We’ve substituted our doctrines, and don’t know Him.

According as HIS divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. This is what man continues to seek, but we are looking for this as "things" rather than looking for all things IN HIM. Verse 3 tells us how we receive them – through the knowledge of HIM… And that is a full, personal knowing and experiencing OF HIM. We want to experience eternal, abundant Life… we must know HIM as that Life. This is the same with our Salvation, Redemption, righteousness – ALL THINGS. In our New Birth, by that Resurrection Life we have received the Salvation God planned for His people. Let us continue to seek to know HIM and find all things IN HIM!

LESSON 25

I pray that during these days we are allowing the Lord to show us HIS SALVATION, and that we are finding HIM to be Salvation. If we are to be found in Christ, and daily live in that reality, we must put aside man’s concepts and doctrines on Salvation which put MAN at the center, and come to see God’s Salvation with CHRIST in the center, and the fulness of Salvation. "Our Salvation", and "our being born again" is NOT so "I" can live forever, but that God would have a people through whom He would make Himself known - here on this earth, manifesting Life in the heavenlies. God’s purpose must be kept to the forefront as we consider what our New Birth really is, and what Salvation is really for – for GOD, and not us!

1 Peter 1:3-5 – Peter is speaking to the Church. According as God’s abundant mercy hath (Finished Work) begotten us again (given us New Life, Life from above) unto a living hope (expectation) BY (here’s how it was done) the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (The Church was raised in Life, as One with Him, as His Body when Christ was raised out from among the dead.) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. (Man’s doctrines can not change the Truth of what Christ has done – and thank God for that! We just have to ask God to show us what is The Truth.) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed…

Vs. 18-19 – They were redeemed not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb… *No redemption, no salvation without The Cross!

Vs. 20 – That was God’s mind – Christ as lamb foreordained before the world.

Vs. 23 – The Church was BORN AGAIN not of corruptible seed, (what belongs to the old, first, man) but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.

Now, we say we "know this", but WHY? Why were we "born again? What is God’s purpose?

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye ARE a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (a people for a possession) THAT (here’s the reason!) YE should show forth the praises OF HIM who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You were not a people, but NOW the people of God: no mercy, NOW you have mercy.

** God’s purpose was so that He would have a people called by His Name who would manifest HIS virtues, HIS glory, HIS honor, HIS praise in the earth. THEY would make Him known to the rest of the world, so others would come to Him.

We see this in Israel when God first brought them OUT of Egypt. This governed His dealings with Israel, and God’s intention comes to be fully realized by the Church which is in the world today for this purpose.

Exodus 19:3-6 – Ye have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle’s wings, and brought you UNTO MYSELF… *Do we realize that our Salvation, our New Birth is to bring us to God? It’s not so "we" can live forever, but that we are brought nigh to God! Now IF you will OBEY my voice and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all the people… And ye shall be UNTO ME a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. (Isn’t that what we read in 1 Peter 2?) God’s idea in redeeming Israel was to make Himself known. And take special note that it is "unto Me" – unto God, not for themselves.

In the Old Covenant Israel was given the Law that they had to obey, which was outside of them, and we know that they failed to walk in obedience to it, but God always kept His intention to have a people, and the prophets spoke of a day when this would be realized in a NEW Covenant.

Isaiah 60:1-3 – Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of THE LORD is risen upon thee. The darkness shall cover the earth, but THE LORD shall rise UPON THEE, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. The Gentiles shall come to thy light (the Light that The Lord is – to them, in them) and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (*Arise…rising – in New Life, in resurrection.)

Isaiah 62:1-3 – For Zion’s sake (God’s full thought of His Salvation in a people, and a people walking in the reality of that Salvation) will I not hold my peace… I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and THE SALVATION thereof (of Zion, God’s Salvation) as a lamp that burns. (God’s people have light – He is that Light, and we are to make HIM known.) And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a New Name… (HIS Name – not ours!!) thou shalt be a crown of glory… and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Vs. 7 - …give him no rest till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Vs. 11,12 – Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy Salvation cometh; HIS reward is with Him… And they shall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; and called Sought out, A City not forsaken.

** This "city" is NOT a place we are going to – someday; but it is the people of God manifesting their Salvation, their redemption, their new birth – out from heaven, but showing forth His Life and Light in the earth. John saw this in the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Revelation 21:1-3 – The first was passed away, and the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven (and most of the Church is waiting to go up!) Look now at the fulfillment of what God planned; a people walking in the reality that God is dwelling with them, and they are His people, and He is their God. Vs. 23-24 – The city had no need of natural light (when are we going to realize that?) for the glory of God lightened it, and THE LAMB is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it…

** God has made HIS SALVATION to be known in a people who have THE LAMB (Christ crucified) as their ONLY Light and Life. They are to show forth His glory and honor so that others will see that Light and glorify Him. Our Salvation is not for us, but for Him – that’s why we have been born from above!

LESSON 26

I trust that we are asking the Lord to help us BE FOUND IN CHRIST – in the Truth of HIS Salvation. The Church has a glorious inheritance and calling, but we must focus on the Lord and not on us! My prayer for us is the same as the Apostle Paul’s: that we would know what is the hope (the expectation) of HIS calling… (Ephesians 1:18) We should be growing now in knowledge of what the Lord expects of us; what should our "New Birth" be accomplishing and bringing forth in manifestation? And we are saying that although we get tremendous benefits, this New Birth is not for us primarily, but for the Lord – that He would have a manifest presence here in the earth.

Psalm 79:9 – Help us, O God of our Salvation, for the glory of thy name (not ours); and deliver us, and purge away our sins for thy name’s sake. And God will do all of that – but not primarily for "us", but for His Name’s sake. * We need to realize that when we are "born again" we take on HIS NAME, and we are to exalt HIS NAME, not ours. He works IN US – for His Name’s sake.

We saw from 1 Peter that we are here on the earth for that. The Church, which is His Body is here to make HIM known. Ephesians 3:10-12 – NOW the Church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (That’s the Cross, and the Work of the Cross brings forth The Church by The Resurrection, in Newness of Life – HIS Life.) And when people see those of us who are "born again" they should be able to see that NEW Life, a different Life. The world should be able to know that we are of a different birth, manifesting a different Life. The scripture speaks of this in terms of ZION.

Psalm 87 – Zion is God’s highest thought for a people living in relationship to Himself. For us this place is IN CHRIST. The Lord loves "this place", it’s where His foundation is; glorious things are spoken of this city of God (a people). Of Zion it shall be said this and that man was born in her, and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count… this man was born there… ** This is "the place" God would have His people born from (ye MUST be born again), and when they are, they are to be known by their birth there. In the natural we expect a person "born" in the West Indes to act like a West Indian – manifesting that life style, culture, language, history, etc. So much more, for those of us who are born in Zion, born from above, born again IN CHRIST, and we should be known as being born from there, and manifesting THAT Life. But remember, this for us is not "a place" or location on the earth; for us this place is CHRIST, and we now, having been born there, have HIS Life, and are to manifest HIM.

How can this be so? Because all who are truly born in Zion are born of ONE SEED – not many, but ONE, and that Seed, which is CHRIST. And I believe that most believers do not really have a complete, scriptural understanding of how we are born again. We focus on "me", and fail to fully comprehend that the Life is in and of THE SEED.

1 Peter 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. ** This incorruptible Seed is The One who was The Word in the beginning, The Word was with God, and The Word was God (John 1:1) – and that SEED is Jesus Christ.

** We are not "born again" by a church or a man, but by receiving THAT Word, THAT Seed into your heart, and believing on His Name. John 1:12,13. This is what it means to be born of God, and that Seed brings forth LIFE. (John 1:4 – In HIM was life) But we must understand it is HIS Life and not my life. And every seed has his own body ( 1 Corinthians 15:38) and the Body that Christ as The Seed of God brings forth in Life is THE CHURCH – HIS BODY, not our bodies.

Before we are born again we could see ourselves as many different bodies, coming from many different seeds, but once we receive Christ and Newness of Life we need to comprehend that all who are IN CHRIST are of ONE SEED. (In Christ there are NOT many, but only ONE – and HE is the One!)

This was set forth in the scripture when God dealt with Abraham. Paul clarifies it in Galatians 3:16 – To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. Not to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is CHRIST. ** God promised to bless and multiply the SEED, but that would be an increase of one, not many seeds. God’s promises were relating to this One Seed. Vs. 19 – (the law) was added…till the seed should come to whom the promise was made… That seed was Christ, and all the promises of God are yea and Amen – IN him. *We think God makes promises in the Bible to "us". No – they are IN HIS SON, and if we are found IN HIM, then all those promises can be true for us, but only because of The Seed that we are born of. We are joint heirs with Him, having His Life and His inheritance.

By our being born of THIS SEED (Christ) we need no longer be under the Law, and NOW we are children of God. Galatians 3:26-29 – Being born of seeds of man and woman doesn’t make you a child of God; only by faith in Christ Jesus. As you have been baptized into Christ (His death) you now have put on Christ (as your only Life). Now by this Seed there is neither/nor: Jew/Greek, Male/female; for ye are all ONE IN CHRIST JESUS. * His Seed only brings forth HIS LIFE – not man’s, not many – only ONE. "And if ye be Christ’s (born of Him, His Seed), then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." And this is our confidence and assurance – God has fulfilled all promises to HIS SON, and will remain faithful to HIM. May we be FOUND IN HIM!

LESSON 27

As we are considering the Truth of the New Birth, we are focusing now on THE SEED by which we receive this new Life; and that Seed is CHRIST. Our New Birth is not "me" living again, but our receiving New Life, His Life. This was the Eternal Plan of God, all accomplished by the Cross, and now the Father is looking for an increase of that Seed. Where? In those who have received Him, in those who have experienced that New Birth – in us – NOW!

James 5:7 – Be patient, brethren unto the coming of the Lord (*the word "coming" is parousia – a presencing, a being present – and that is NOW IN US!) the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit (singular) of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. ** God is waiting for HIS fruit – the increase and coming to fulness of HIS SEED – in the earth, in us. Remember, the increase is NOT of us, but of HIM, and there will be times of planting, and watering in the earth of that Seed (Christ) until He is made present, and His nature is manifested in us, and by us.

This is all done in us – those who have received that Seed, that New Life, so that we would be the witness in the earth of Who The Lord is. Our Oneness, in Newness of Life is what Jesus prayed for in John 17:21 – that they all may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou has sent me. Vs. 23 – I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect (fully mature) in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. *It is by our New Birth manifesting a New Life, which is Christ, that the world will know Who The Lord is. That’s why we are born again by The Seed of God, and we are to manifest this Oneness of New Life – the Life of Christ.

But remember, this "Life" is not just something the Lord gives – apart from Himself; but this is His nature and character, and this is what we receive when we are Born Again, and this is what the Father is looking for.

2 Peter 1:3-8 – His divine power HATH given unto us all things that pertain to LIFE and godliness, through the knowledge of Him, that has called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption… If these things be IN YOU and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. *By receiving that Seed which is Christ, as our New Birth, we are partakers of the divine nature - not only of divine, eternal Life, but the nature and character of the Lord, and we must allow Him to bring forth HIS FRUIT – in us. The Lord would NOT have us be barren and unfruitful, and in God’s mind if we are NOT bringing forth HIS NEW LIFE, that’s just what we are! This divine nature is the fruit God desires to see in us.

I must emphasize that this is NOT something that we do: but we must allow that Seed to take root in us and then grow, manifesting HIS LIFE in us and through us. Several years ago there was a phrase that surfaced in Christianity: What would Jesus do? And we made big exhortations to each other, wrote books and tried to determine that in every situation we would stop and think: what would Jesus do? Then … I’ll do that! That may sound good, and appear to be very religious and pious, but do "we" really now what Jesus would do? And are "we" capable of doing that? Just think of a few instances recorded in the Bible for what Jesus did in certain situations, but I also want us to see why. * Jesus was always motivated by God’s will and glory.

John 2 – The marriage at Cana. They had no wine. He tells them to fill the waterpots with water (those were pots with water for cleansing!) But now it is good wine! *Vs. 11 – this beginning of miracles manifested forth his glory; disciples believed on Him.

John 6 – Feeding of the five thousand. He took five loaves and two fish, gave thanks and distributed it to all – and 12 baskets of fragments were left! *Vs. 14 – This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. *Vs. 51 – I am that living bread that came down from heaven… the bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.

John 9 – Man born blind. Vs. 3 – Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Jesus spits on the ground, made clay and anoints the blind eyes. He washed and came seeing. *Jesus here not only reveals Himself to the blind man as the Son of God (vs. 35-38), but he reproves the Pharisees who think they see, but are blind to Him and refuse Him.

John 11 – The raising of Lazarus. When Jesus heard his friend was sick, He didn’t go heal him. *Vs. 4 – This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified hereby. *Vs. 25 – Jesus reveals Who He is – NOT what He does, but Who He is – I AM the resurrection and the Life.

Clearly we can see from these scriptures that Jesus did things very differently from what we would do, and He was motivated by a desire to reveal Himself and that God’s glory would be manifested. We in our own selves are not capable of knowing what Jesus would do, and God doesn’t want us to "play act" like how we think Jesus would be. (He was meek, but He also cleaned out the Temple!)

The only way we can function according to the mind of Christ is to let HIM rule and reign in us, and live HIS LIFE IN US. And if we would submit ourselves to the Truth of our new Birth, this would take place. Jesus spoke of this in John 15:1-9: I AM (it always starts with Who He is) the true vine… every branch that bears not fruit he taketh away; he purges every branch that bears fruit, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in Me, and I in you. We CANNOT bear fruit of ourselves, but only if we abide IN HIM. *We are only the branches – He is the Vine, the presence of the Seed, but HIS FRUIT (His nature and character) is to be seen in us. *Without HIM we can do nothing!! ** Vs. 8 – Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Why are we Born Again by the Seed of God, which is Christ? That by abiding in Him we bear HIS nature and Life. We can’t do it, but Christ in us, and us in Christ can! Herein is the Father glorified!

LESSON 28

Hopefully through these lessons we are coming to see that God’s Eternal Plan is NOT focused on getting "me to heaven" and filling up heaven with "us" (although that is what most of Christianity preaches); but that God would have a people living out from the heavens, having been birthed in the heavens, manifesting His Life, and glorifying Him here on the earth. This is the purpose for us being IN CHRIST.

Habakkuk 2:14 sets forth a promise. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. How was that to be done? By A PEOPLE living in divine relationship – IN CHRIST, who is the glory of God. (Colossians 1:27 – Christ in you, the hope of glory). ** We now, as born again believers, having Christ in us are to fill the earth with this knowledge; that Christ is Life, and has fulfilled all that God planned. And this is why we have to come to knowledge, and manifest The Truth of Christ on this earth.

Notice 2 Thessalonians 1:10 says When he (The Lord) shall come to be glorified in his saints… not only glorified by us, but IN US – that He would be made known, shown to be Who He is – IN US. We are the vessel on this earth to do that, and we are to make Him known – everywhere, every way. (2 Corinthians 4:7 – We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.) 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 – Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge BY US in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ… to one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life. *We are NOT to be the stink of flesh, but the sweet knowledge of Christ. This is why we are IN CHRIST – but here in this earth; born from above, living a heavenly life now, making Christ known in the earth.

But this is NOT an outward professing and declaring, but the very nature and character of the Life of Christ being formed in us – changing us, enabling us to be the witness of Christ living in this earth – IN US. And this is what that Living Seed, that Living Word has been planted in our hearts for. ** This is an INWARD work, not an outward show.

Paul was burdened for the Church in this regard, and it remains the burden of the Lord for us today. Galatians 4:19 – My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be (fully) formed in you. He is talking to born again believers; but now, having received that Life, that Seed – Christ, the Lord desires the increase of HIM, unto the fulness of HIM in the saints. And that is my desire for us – that truly CHRIST would become totally our Life, changing us; and that in our daily functioning it would be not I, but Christ!

May we truly see that this is God’s plan, and that He is ALWAYS working towards this goal. Understanding this should help us understand God’s dealings with us now – as born again believers.

Romans 8:28-29 – And we know (because we have come to the Truth as it is in Jesus) that all things work together for good (not "our" good, but God’s plan, what God has determined) to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ** Everything for us now, as those born of God will be worked according to HIS purpose – not ours! And HIS purpose is given in verse 29 – For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ** We now, who have received Life from Him – His Life, are NOW to be changed – in our character and very nature into the exactness and likeness of the Son. (The Amplified Bible says, "…to be molded into the image of His Son (and share INWARDLY His likeness.) This is an inward work, in our hearts, mind, soul, spirit – so that we would manifest HIM – His Life, His nature, His character – here in the earth.

And this molding and conforming can only be done by The Seed being planted in our hearts, and taking us through His death, His burial and then His resurrection so we walk in Newness of Life – His Life. (See Romans 6:5 – If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.) Hopefully we have settled this question of the Seed. There is only ONE SEED by which we can be born from above, and that Seed is Christ. This is the incorruptible Seed, so there is nothing wrong with the Seed (in Him dwells all things that pertain to life and godliness.) So then, why are we barren and unfruitful manifesting His Life, His fruit? The trouble is in the ground in which the Seed is planted, and that is our hearts. ** It is the condition of our hearts which will determine if WE are changed, and if WE are conformed to HIS image, and bring forth the fruit of HIS increase.

Matthew 13 – the parable of the sower and the seed. You must notice there is NO difference in the seed; the difference is in the ground. And the increase of the Seed, the fruit is to be seen in the ground. Vs. 1-8 – The sower sowed seed, and what happed to it was determined by the ground. Vs. 4 – Seed fell by wayside – fouls devoured them up. Vs. 5-6 – stony places without much earth – sprung up, but they were scorched by sun, and having no root, they withered away. Vs. 7 – some fell among thorns, which choked the seed. Vs. 8 – seed fell into GOOD ground and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold. *That’s why the seed was sown – to bring forth fruit – the mature, full increase of the seed. Notice here the hundred fold – the fulness of the Seed is what God has purposed!

Jesus explains this parable to the disciples. The ground is the person who has received the seed, and that determines if the ground bears fruit. Vs. 19 – Seed received by wayside; doesn’t understand it so the wicked one catches away what was sown in his heart. Vs. 20-21 – Seed received in stony places - hears the word and joyfully receives it, but he has not root in himself, so he endures for awhile, but then trouble comes because of the word and he is offended. Vs. 22 – Seed received among thorns – the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches chokes the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Vs. 23 – Seed received into the good ground – hears the word, and understands it, and brings forth fruit – hundred fold, sixty fold, thirty fold.

The question is: what kind of ground is our heart? That determines the increase of The Seed!

LESSON 29

We are seeing that we have our New Birth by the Living Word of God, that Seed giving us New Life, and that the Father desires the increase of that One Seed – not many seeds, but One Seed, which is CHRIST; Christ in you. And we have seen that there is nothing wrong with the Seed, but the problem is in the ground, which is us – our hearts, and it is the condition of our hearts that will determine how much of HIS LIFE comes forth. When we turn our hearts to Him totally, the Lord will do this work in us.

1 John 3:1-3 – Behold, what manner of love the Father HATH bestowed on us (that HATH been done by The Cross), that we should be (named and called and counted) the sons of God. The word "sons" there is the Greek word for children – born ones, but does NOT imply full maturity and character. Beloved NOW are we the children of God – by the New Birth; by the Seed of God, which is Christ, we are NOW those begotten of Him. And it doth not yet appear (it is not yet made clear) what we shall be. * The believers have not yet manifestly shown what this New Birth, this New Life in them really is – to the world. BUT we know that, when He shall appear (and is manifested), we shall (as God’s children) resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He really is. Any man who has this hope (expectation) in him purifies himself.

What will cause us to be like Him, and manifest His Life? HIS APPEARING, and being made manifest as He really is. But we must understand where this appearing NOW takes place – not outside of us, but IN US. In those who have received HIS LIFE, He is now appearing, making Himself known as He now is. And that is NOT a fleshly, natural man, walking the earth; but now He is Spirit, He is resurrection, He is Life. (** See Hebrews 9:28 – He is appearing NOW to those who look for Him the second – as The New Man, NOT as the first, old, flesh man. He appeared that way ONCE to put away sin, at the Cross, for all. But now, His appearing is to and in those who have embraced Him in His first appearing. Now those who look for Him will see Him as He now really is – the second, the Lord from heaven, as Head of His Body, The Church.

This is also substantiated by the word "appear" in 1 John 3:2. That word is "phaneroo" in the Greek, and it means to make known, but denotes the act of divine revelation. And this is not just something exhibited, but this refers to those to whom the revelation is made. * He is made known not only to us, but IN US, and when He appears there – in us – we are changed. And He must be revealed as He is (not as I think He is) in us before we are changed. And we are changed into HIS IMAGE. (Remember Romans 8:29 – God predestinated a people to be conformed to the image of His Son). God doesn’t just want "us" to change, but He wants us conformed to the image of His Son. That is the increase of His Seed. *When we see Him (not with natural eyes, but by spiritual revelation) we shall be LIKE HIM. He is revealed as our Life, our all, and we now submit ourselves TO HIM – in us – as everything, and we live by Him and as His Body.

And this is an issue we need to settle, and in His appearing, we will come to understand the difference between bodies and Body. I guess most Christians still believe that "in heaven" we will all get "glorified bodies", but we do that because we have not seen Him as He really is. And we need to keep the focus on HIM and not us. ** Remember – He is The Seed. 1 Corinthians 15:38 says that God has given to every seed his own body, and Paul relates this to Christ and the resurrection of the dead (those who have died with Him, and now are raised IN HIM- in newness of Life. Vs. 42-44 – sown in corruption; raised in incorruption: sown a natural body; raised a spiritual body. *Notice this is the body that God has given to HIS SEED, which is Christ. In the Resurrection, as The Resurrection HE HAS HIS OWN BODY, and Paul describes this Body in Ephesians 1:22-23 (This is what God did when he raised Christ from the dead) Put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church which is HIS BODY, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. ** This is HIS BODY – not ours, and it is The Body of His Glory; how He makes Himself known today. This is NOT a glorified, natural body, but a Spiritual Body, a New Man, that has been raised out from the dead, and by our New Birth – from above, we are members of HIS BODY, the Church, the expression of HIS fulness here on the earth.

And in the knowledge of Christ, and the working of the Cross by The Spirit in us, we are changed into His image, manifesting His Life. But we still want to hold onto the concept of "me" getting a glorified body "in heaven", rather than seeing the more excellent Body we are members of. I believe part of this is due to our misreading the Bible, especially Philippians 3:20,21 – And we must see this in the context of what Paul is writing. He is speaking of all that he counted loss that he may win Christ, and that was confidence in the flesh and the Jewish religion. Paul here only wants to be found in Christ by His death, burial and resurrection. *Our conversation (citizenship, life by New Birth) is IN HEAVEN (in Christ) from whence we look for our Saviour, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body… ** Notice it does NOT say bodIES (plural). Paul sees the vile body of humanity, Adam, the body of religious man that is corruptible; but is being changed and fashioned like the glorious Body of His Resurrection – NOT I, BUT CHRIST! ** This doesn’t say we will get "glorified bodies", but that we – as those born again shall be changed and fashioned like Christ who NOW has a Body of glory, manifesting His Life. How shall this be done? According to the working whereby HE is able to subdue all things unto Himself. This is the working that is taking place IN US – He is appearing in us, revealing Himself, and subduing everything to Himself, His Life. And we now are changed to be an expression of HIM. We are HIS Body, where HE is glorified. May we be found IN HIM!

LESSON 30

I pray that we are coming to The Truth of our Salvation AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS – not in man’s doctrines or religion, but The Truth as it is by HIS CROSS, for it is that Finished Work that has secured our Salvation for us. Remember this was all in the heart of God: it was His desire, what He planned, and it is all centered on HIS SON – not on us! We now – as those who know Salvation by His Cross, are to manifest on this earth what Jesus hath done, that Finished Work. And we now are to be found in HIM, in the Beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased. This is not you or me, but Christ. This is The One (Matthew 3:16,17) who was baptized into death, then the heavens were opened unto HIM (not me) and the Spirit of God descended upon HIM, and the voice from heaven said, "THIS is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

HE is the Beloved Son, the ONLY ONE who pleases the Father, but most of the Church world is like Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8) who are still trying to build different tabernacles FOR Him. May we be overshadowed by the Lord to know there is only One Son, and may we hear Him; may we also lift up our eyes and see no man save JESUS only!!

We see from this scripture God’s heart for His Son, and now we want to look at several other places in the scripture to help us understand God’s heart towards The Seed, that Seed by which we are born again, and that Seed which the Father desires an increase of. There are lessons here for us to learn.

God first established the pattern of this in the first creation, the natural world. Genesis 1:11 – the fruit tree would bring forth fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth. *Everything will bring forth its own kind according to the seed that is in it. So what is the lesson for us? If we are born again of the Seed, which is Christ, we should bring forth HIS LIFE. His Seed IN US can only produce HIS LIFE. We should not be bringing forth "our" life, or more of us – but His Life. And that is the fruit of the Spirit, which is the nature and character of Christ. Galatians 5:22-23 – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. And notice this is fruit – not fruitS (plural). This is Christ formed in us, manifesting His nature. God sees this as good, according to what He planned, but if we are not bring forth His kind, His nature, that can NOT please God!

Leviticus 19:19 – Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind; thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed; neither shall a garment mingled with linen and woolen come upon thee. God does NOT want mixture!! The Seed that is sown must be ONE KIND. The lessons here for us are many: We in Christianity have mingled the gospel – with traditions, myths, lies, the ways of the world. If this is what we "sow", what can we expect to reap? This is why the Church today lacks the power that the early Church had. Paul determined to know NOTHING among them save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1,2) And we as Christians are "wearing mingled garments" – that of the world, self; but we should be clothed upon ONLY with Christ. When people see us, they should see HIM.

Isaiah 5:1-7 – Here we see God’s heart towards Israel, which He says is the vineyard of THE LORD. (When are we going to realize that everything is HIS and for HIM, and not for us?) We can see God’s love here – this is His well beloved. This vineyard in a very fruitful hill was all planned and prepared by the Lord. He fenced it, gathered out the stones thereof, planted it with the choicest vine (didn’t Jesus say I am the True Vine?). He built a tower in the midst of it, and a winepress. Why? Vs. 2 – He looked that it should bring forth grapes… All of this was so that the vine that He planted would come to maturity and bring forth the choice grapes of that Seed. The winepress shows He expected that, and His purpose would only be fulfilled in the production of that choice fruit.

BUT…. It brought forth wild grapes – not after the choice vine that was planted. Vs.4 – He asks Israel what more could He have done to His vineyard. He did everything, and He looked that it should bring forth the fulness of that Seed. What does He do because it failed to produce that increase? (God knows the difference between HIS increase, HIS Life, and our nature and life!) Vs. 5-7 – He took away the hedge so it was eaten up, and broke down the wall so it was trodden down; He laid it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged, but briers and thorns shall come up, and He will command no rain upon it.

*This was what He prophesied would come to Israel for failing to bring forth the Life of the Vine He planted. God’s desire is for this fruit, and He will not settle for less. Can’t you see the condition in our hearts when we refuse the Work of the Lord in us – bringing forth HIS LIFE? If God would do that to Israel, what about us who are born again by That Seed?

As we are learning the Truth of our Salvation as The Truth is in Jesus (by His Cross) we are seeing that this doesn’t end with our being born again. That is necessary (John 3:3) but now that we are, God desires us to grow, and He is looking for the increase of that Seed (Christ) in us. Notice what this "growth" is – Ephesians 4:15 – But speaking the truth in love (** there is no growth if there is no truth) may grow up into Him in all things… the head, Christ. This is HIS increase, and His Body coming to the measure of the fulness of Christ. HE NOW IS THE MEASURE and not us. We must learn this!

So we are born again, born ones – children of God; but now the Father desires that we grow up into HIS SON, and manifest HIS LIFE throughout the earth. And we are seeing that there is a difference between a child and a son to God. A son demonstrates a relationship of maturity with the Father, showing the nature and character of the Father, but the child does not. We are going to begin to look at the process now by which a child becomes a son, and here again are many lessons for us.

Sadly today when you think of "The Church" we would have to admit that the word that describes them best is "child". Look at how children are described in Ephesians 4:14 – children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness… This is the reason ministry was given to the Church; that we would grow up in Him, and function not as children but as The Body of The Son – in maturity.

Most Christians, in this childish understanding, are waiting for "one day that they will go to be with Jesus", but look at what the world is waiting for.

Romans 8:19 – For the earnest expectation of creation (the earth world) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ** The world is waiting for US to demonstrate the Truth of our New Birth, our New Life in Christ – here, NOW! Vs. 20-23 – The earth realm is subject to vanity waiting for us to manifest this New Life and deliver them from the bondage of corruption. We are here on this earth to walk in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free (Galatians 5:1), and in so doing, manifest our Salvation and our relationship in Christ. There is nothing else that will set them free! But we need to be walking not as children, but as sons – in a mature understanding of who that Son is – not I, but CHRIST! Vs. 23 – we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the ADOPTION… And this is the word that describes this process – Adoption, and it means "son placement", "placing as sons". We are going to look at the scriptures to help us understand this, because the Bible’s definition of "adoption" is different to our natural understanding. To us, adoption means bringing in someone from outside the family, and giving them the name and calling them now a child in that family. But Biblically the term "adoption" is for one who is already in the family, who is a child, but now will be recognized as a son, who takes a mature position in the family, and will manifest the name and nature of the family – the Father’s Name.

But we must remember that God only recognizes ONE SON – The ONLY Begotten Son, Jesus Christ; so we experience adoption by having THE SON REVEALED IN US. It is the placement of THE SON in us, and we being found only IN HIM that causes us to walk as "sons of God". We will discuss this more, but for now let us just see that this was God’s Eternal Plan for us in Salvation – not just new birth, but coming to this.

Ephesians 1:5 – Having (a Finished Work) predestinated us unto the adoption ("of children" is not in the original) by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. This does not mean that God brings in children from outside His family, but that His children, those born of Him – in Christ, were predestinated to son placement; The Son being recognized in them, and they living in THAT relationship with the Father. This is what God planned; He is pleased with this, bringing us to Himself in the very relationship that The Son has with The Father! This is MUCH MORE than just New Birth, and this is the Truth of our Salvation as it is in Jesus.

So if we fall short of this, and never experience this, where does this leave us? Do we go to hell and not heaven? No – but we never come to the fulness of our Salvation if we just remain as children.

Galatians 4:1-3 – The heir as long as he is a child differeth NOTHING from a servant, though he be lord of all: But is under tutors and governs UNTIL the time appointed of the father. When we were children, we were in bondage under the elements of the world. We now, in Christ, are heirs of all that God promised in Salvation, but we never truly experience it as long as we are a child. And we remain in bondage to the law, religious traditions, and the flesh UNTIL the time appointed of The Father. At that time The Son is revealed and takes His rightful place – IN YOU, and you begin to function not as a child, but in the authority of The Son. And that pleases The Father!

To help us understand the Lord’s feeling about this, we can look back to Genesis. God called out Abraham and made a promise to him concerning a seed, and Abraham got tired of waiting on God and produced Ishmael. (Genesis 16) but that was NOT the seed and the son that God wanted, but HE produced the son, and would establish His covenant with Isaac. (Genesis 17:15-17) Now there were two ‘sons’ in the household, but there came a time that the rightful son (to whom God’s covenant was made) would be recognized and take his rightful place. This process begins (Genesis 21:8) when the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast the same day. He recognized THIS SON. But here is the consequence of this recognition: Genesis 21:9,10 – Cast out the bondwoman and her son, he shall NOT be heir with MY SON. The child of flesh and the mother must go – there is only One Heir. God only recognizes HIS SON, HIS BELOVED, and by our Salvation and Adoption, we can be found in Him, and experience this glorious oneness with The Father by THE SON.

LESSON 32

As we continue in our study to be found in Christ, may we develop a greater love and appreciation for God’s Word and His Eternal Plan of Salvation. And may HE teach us The Truth as it is in Jesus so we walk in it.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – When you received The Word of God, which you received of us, you received it NOT as the word of men, but as it is in truth, THE WORD OF GOD, which effectively worketh also in you that believe. It is this Work – His Work IN US that we are considering these days, whereby we have been baptized into His death, been born again by that Word, His Seed – Christ, and now are growing up into Him and coming to an understanding of Sonship. **This can only come by receiving NOT man’s word, but The Word of God in Truth, and submitting ourselves to HIS WORK IN US, changing us and conforming us to the image of His Son. This is the fulness of God’s plan of Salvation – His increase.

We are now looking at our coming to the position of a son, and this is by adoption, and we must understand the difference between a child and a son.

We must receive Christ, The Living Word in order to be born again, and become a child of God. John 1:12,13 – As many as received HIM (not a religion), to them gave He the authority to become the children (that is the word in the original – "born ones") of God…which were born not of blood or the will of man, but OF GOD.

But our being born again is not just that we will "go to heaven when we die and be with Jesus". God’s plan of Salvation is much more than that!

1 Corinthians 1:9 – God is faithful (to His Eternal Plan – in Christ), by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. This means a relationship of oneness, participation in the Life of THE SON. This is not just "me and Jesus", but that our communion with Him is sharing His very Life, and HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER. WE now participate in HIS sonship with His Father.

Isn’t that what Jesus prayed in John 17 – for us? John 17:20-23 – that they all may be one; AS thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ONE IN US; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (** Our "oneness" is not with ourselves, but with The Son and His Father; as they are One, so we are One in them – that we would be the testimony of who the Lord is – here on this earth, as we function as The Body of The Son – in relationship to His Father.)** The glory the Father gave The Son is the glory He has given us (think about that!); that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect IN ONE, that the world may know that you have sent Me.

This is talking of believers coming to perfection, completeness – Oneness with The Father in The Son, enjoying His relationship with The Father, and manifesting this in the world, so that the world may see The Truth of God’s love and His Son. Jesus prayed this to His Father as He was preparing to go to the Cross, for it was by The Cross that this Eternal plan would be fulfilled. Do you think The Father denied The Son His request? It is this relationship of Oneness with The Father by The Son that is our inheritance, but this is not for a child, but for a son who has experienced the adoption, and this is what pleases The Father – the recognition and placement of The Son. We try to be one with each other, and it doesn’t work; but if we were one with Christ, we would be one with each other!)

Paul equates Israel under the Law as a child, differing nothing from a servant though he be lord of all. Galatians 4:1,2 – They were kept under the law UNTIL faith would come; the Law was to bring them TO CHRIST. (Galatians 3:23,24). * This was for a time: UNTIL the time appointed of The Father. Then what did He do? Galatians 4:4,5 – When the fulness of the time was come (** we are NOT waiting for that; it has come) God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. God didn’t just want "children" under the Law, trying to keep rules and regulations (which they couldn’t keep!). He sent HIS SON to bring them out from that bondage into a relationship of SONSHIP with Himself. This was His Plan, that they would take on His name and nature and function as HIS SON – in the earth.

Now the Law was outward; commandments written on a stone, but NOW there would be an inward work that would bring them to this perfection and oneness with The Father than He desires. Now the Word works IN YOU. Galatians 4:6-7 – And because ye are sons (that’s how God desires you – not just born ones – children) God hath sent forth The Spirit of HIS SON into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Now, by the Spirit of HIS SON IN US, we can truly know God as our Father, as our Daddy, intimately, affectionately, in fulness, in Truth, in full assurance of that relationship. And now we are taking on His Name, His Nature, His Life, and living only to do His Will. That is characteristic of a Son; not seeking his own, but all for his Father. A child does not demonstrate this relationship – he wants things from his father, but is more concerned with his own desires and wants, rather than his father.

Now, this is by The Spirit of The Son working in our hearts, revealing The Son, and by adoption bringing us to son placement, but it is THE SON REVEALED IN US that does the work. And now we are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God THROUGH CHRIST. *There is no inheritance with The Father except by The Son, but now by the adoption we come to see that we are joint heirs with Christ, and we are to manifest this relationship to the world. And it is this manifestation of the sons of God (those walking by the Spirit of THE SON in them) that the world is waiting for. (Romans 8)

And now by the adoption taking place and bringing us to This Son placement, Paul admonishes believers not to turn back – as children to the Law, the weak and beggarly elements they were in bondage to. Galatians 4:8-10 – days, months, times etc. They now – by the revealing of The Son in them should be walking as sons, manifesting The Life of The Son, and standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ HATH made them free. And we should also!

LESSON 33

We are seeking to understand our glorious Salvation, and be found IN CHRIST, living NOW in the wonderful relationship with the Father that The Son has brought us into. The Bible speaks of this as perfection, coming to maturity, coming to the reality of SONSHIP. Coming from a child to a son, and this is the problem for many of us. But God would bring us by adoption to this truth.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12 – We know in part… But when that which is perfect IS COME, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake, understood and thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

If we remain a child (one born of God but not coming to the Son recognition) we only know and speak in part, but not in fulness. But when the Perfect One (Christ) comes, all that was in part – the Law, first, flesh – shall be done away. This is HIS APPEARING IN US, bringing us to the understanding of Sonship by God revealing HIS SON IN US, and we now growing up into Him in all things.

** God knows us IN CHRIST, BY CHRIST; by the Finished Work of The Cross, but sadly most Christians do NOT know as we are known. We (still being children) are still trying to know God in the flesh, and each other by the flesh, and we are trying to worship God in the flesh. This is all imperfect, and only in part. In order to come to God’s fulness of Salvation, the child must be put away, and by the revealing of HIS SON – in us, in Truth, in The Finished Work, we now function by the Spirit, and can know as we are known of God – we are IN HIS SON!

One of the areas in which we see this discrepancy is in our understanding of bodies vs. Body. May God bring us to this greater knowledge by the revealing of His Son. We have physical bodies while we are on this earth to serve God; but these bodies are not eternal, and must submit themselves to the greater BODY WE ARE. * In Christ we are not many – individual bodies, or even individual bodies of believers (churches). * The Church is not "we" but "HE" – HIS Body. Ephesians 1:22-23 – HE is the head over all things to the Church, which is HIS BODY, the fulness of HIM (not me and you) that filleth ALL in all. We as believers must present our individual bodies and submit them to His Body.

Romans 12:1,2 – We present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (And when you understand the Truth of The Cross, you will willingly lay down "your" life and self, and put on His Life). And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God. We should not function as the world – as flesh, as separate, as bodies, but we must function AS ONE – One Body – HIS Body. *Vs. 5 – So we, being many, are one body IN CHRIST, and every one members one of another.

This transforming – coming from bodies to Body comes by the renewing of our minds as God reveals His Son in us, and by the Spirit of His Son in us we realize we are One, all having One Life – HIS Life, and we begin to function as that One Son. This is how we prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. God didn’t plan just to have a bunch of little children running around "playing" with spiritual gifts; He planned a manifestation of One Son – by the Church, here on this earth, demonstrating the Father’s love so others may come to know Him. By adoption, by God recognizing HIS SON IN HIS HOUSE, we come to know ourselves as God knows us – as The Body of His Son, and we walk in the recognition that it is not I, but Christ.

Let’s just look at a few scriptures to help us better understand this adoption, and the necessity for us to give God’s Son His rightful place in HIS House.

Galatians 1:15,16 – When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him… This is what pleases the Father – God recognizing HIS SON in us, His House. Notice the "separation" – from the old, tradition of first, religion, flesh. Why does God do this? So we will preach and manifest HIM – not us. It was out from this revelation of HIS SON that Paul came to understand that he lived and had his being IN CHRIST, and came by adoption to give The Son His rightful place in Paul – as all. (For me, to live is Christ!) ** If you have not had The Son revealed in you, your preaching will be about man, and maybe "Jesus"; but once The Son is revealed, HE is the gospel, and the power of God unto Salvation.

Romans 8:14-17 – This is after Paul talks about not walking after the flesh, but after the Spirit, and that the carnal mind is enmity against God. (vs. 11-13- The Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells IN YOU, and gives life to your mortal (fleshly, temporal) bodies. But if we live after the flesh, we die, but if by the Spirit we bring to death the deeds of the body (our natural life) we shall live.) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (not by "me", human thought or desire), they are the sons of God (those coming to maturity, manifesting the nature of the Father, as One with Him). Ye have received the spirit of ADOPTION (by the Spirit of The Son dwelling in you – Galatians 4:6) whereby we cry, Abba, Father. He causes us to know God as our Father, and to know that we are born of Him, and have His Life. The Spirit bears witness that we are the children of God. By our New Birth we have received His Spirit, who witnesses to us of this Sonship relationship. We never had this before, but now as The Son is revealed in us, we understand our relationship – we are as children, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ.

Now, coming by adoption, we can better understand God’s dealings with us.

Hebrews 12:5-11 – The exhortation speaks to us as sons (mature ones – in The Son). Despise not the chastening of the Lord (correcting, training). The Lord chastens those He loves. If ye endure chastening God deals with you as sons. If you be without chastisement, then ye are bastards (without Him as Father) and not sons. We must be in subjection to the Father of spirits and (truly) live. He does this for our profit, that we might be partakers of HIS holiness. *He is conforming us to the image of HIS SON. This chastening is grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are corrected by God. May we truly submit "ourselves" to the Father as He reveals His Son in us – to His glory!

LESSON 34

If our hearts are truly set upon being found in Christ, we must come to know even as we are known. And by our New Birth, and God’s plan of Salvation, God knows us IN CHRIST. This is where we must be found – IN HIM – not in this world, our flesh, the situations and conditions that change, but IN CHRIST. This is the Truth of our Salvation; it is not a place we are going to, but a relationship of Oneness that we should be living in continually. This is what we must come to know, and this is what the Spirit of God will show us as we turn our hearts to Him.

Jesus spoke of this in John 14:16-20 – Jesus prayed that the Comforter would come after the Cross to abide with us forever. * He – as they knew Him would be leaving them, but the Spirit of Truth would come to dwell in them. And in that day they will know the truth of the relationship that He has brought us to – by His Cross. Because He lives, we shall live also (as He does). We will KNOW – I am in (one with) my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. * This is the relationship that the Spirit of God would bring us to – Oneness with the Father, in and by The Son.

This is NOT Jesus AND me; this is me in (as one with) Him, and He in (as one with) me. And this is the glorious Truth of sonship by adoption that God would bring us to. How is this done? By God revealing HIS SON BY HIS SPIRIT IN US. John 16:13-15 – The Spirit of Truth HAS COME to guide us into all Truth. He will not speak of Himself, but what he hears of the Father (Eternal Plan of God) he speaks. He will glorify Jesus; He will take of Jesus and reveal it to us. This showing is the revealing of The Son in us – inwardly, teaching us our new relationship – of oneness with the Father in The Son, and giving THE SON His rightful place in us. And this is ultimately what our Salvation is all about, and what Christ fulfilled by His Cross.

Hebrews 2:9-11 – Jesus was made lower (as man, for a while) to taste death for EVERY man. (Do we know that? By The Cross God counted all mankind as dead.) But this way He was able to bring many sons unto glory – unto union with the Father, oneness with Him. This is our Salvation, and He brings us to that by His Cross. *Note: Vs. 11 – He that sanctifieth (Jesus) and they that are sanctified (believers) are all of one (born of Him, one Seed, one Life); for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. *He knows us this way – do we know ourselves as ONE with Him? And if He knows us as brethren – of Him, can’t we truly accept each other that way? (We "call" each other "Brother" and "Sister", but do we know them as He knows them – as HIS own?)

The "sons" here is speaking of maturity, coming to perfection, recognizing the One Son that God recognizes in His house, and the "many" now functioning as One, as the Body of the One Son, bringing honor and glory to the Father. This is what the Spirit would bring us to. This is what God wanted to bring Israel to, and what He desires to bring us to also.

Romans 9:1-5 – Paul prayed that his natural brethren (the Jews) would come to Christ, to know the Son of God as their Salvation, and be brought BY HIM into this relationship of Oneness with the Father that Paul now knew. *The Law never brought Paul to that, but having THE SON revealed in him did! *Vs. 4 – The Israelites, to whom pertaineth the adoption… The Jews had the law, covenant, promises of God – but as children, they were to come to the recognition of THE SON, and find IN HIM the fulfillment of all the Law and the prophets. This could only be done by The Son being revealed to them and in them, and they now recognizing HIM to be Who God made Him to be – Lord over all. This Son is the One Who is now on the Throne.

Hebrews 1: God spake in time past by the prophets, but at the end of those days has spoken IN SON; He is the brightness of His glory, and having by Himself purged our sins (by The Cross), sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. God didn’t call the angels (messengers) My Son, but all the angels were to worship Him. Unto THE SON He saith, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever.

• It is THIS SON Who is now on the Throne, The One who died and rose again, and it is THIS SON that we have our Life now in. We are to hold Him above all else, and give Him His rightful place – in us, God’s household, in the earth, and the heavenlies. The Father has given HIS SON this position, and we now must recognize Him in this way, and we now live with God as our Father in and by THIS SON.

But the scriptures show us that "we" want to assume the place that He has been given. May we understand that God has chosen HIS SON as King, as Lord, and He is revealing Him as such in His House, that we may receive Him as such, and find ourselves IN HIM, by allowing Him to rule and reign in us. Look at the types:

1 Samuel 16:1 – The Lord rejected Saul (man’s choice for King) from reigning over Israel, but provided Himself a King. ALL of Jesse’s sons ran out and tried to get themselves anointed and recognized as King, but the Lord did not choose them. They were all rejected (and so are we!) David had to be revealed to them as the son God had chosen, and he was anointed. (vs. 12) This had to be done IN the household, the recognition of THE SON chosen to be KING. And eventually David became King over Israel. 2 Samuel 5:1-3 – Even when Saul was King – in time past – YOU were the captain over Israel. They came to recognize God’s choice of the son to be King over all of Israel.

1 Kings 1 – When David is dying, Adonijah plots to become King; but he is NOT the son that the Lord appointed to be King. Vs. 13 – Solomon thy son (the Beloved) shall reign and sit upon the throne, so why does Adonijah reign? So Zadok the priest anoints Solomon King (vs. 39-4) and all the people rejoice in him. And even Adonijah (vs. 53) has to submit himself to the King that God had chosen.

The flesh will always try to rise up and assume HIS place, but may God teach us the Truth – He has raised ONE SON – HIS SON, HIS Beloved, and He now rules and reigns, and we now live by Him and in Him – by the adoption.

LESSON 35

As this will be the last lesson in our series "…and be found IN HIM", I trust that we are seeing that we can only be found IN HIM by THE CROSS. We MUST BE FOUND IN THE TRUTH OF WHAT THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS HAS DONE. And this is not when "I die physically" but by my coming to know HIM in HIS death. This was the Apostle Paul’s desire.

Philippians 3:10 – That I may know HIM, and the power or HIS resurrection (HE is my resurrection), and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being made conformable unto HIS death. May that also be the cry of our hearts.

We have learned that when He died, all died. But by accepting Christ and His death, we now can be born again in Newness of Life, and live by Him Who is Life. Now, as one with the Lord, born of Him, we are to grow up into Him in all things. This has brought us to the adoption, by which God recognizes HIS SON in the household, and He takes His rightful place. *We must remember that "adoption" in the Bible is NOT like man’s adoption where a child outside the family is brought in. Adoption in the Bible, in the Lord, takes place within the family, to those who are born of God, and hereby they KNOW (with an assurance and confidence) that God is their Father.

Romans 8:15-17 – It is the Spirit revealing THE SON in the household (we are that house – Hebrews 3:6), bearing witness to our relationship with God in Christ. * The adoption is the sealing of the household, because it is the Spirit revealing The Son in us – in the Truth of the Cross, enabling us to understand and live in the reality of that Finished Work. And this affects how we live NOW.

Ephesians 2:19-22 – NOW therefore… how? By the Cross. Vs. 13 – but NOW in Christ Jesus… ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Vs. 16 – He reconciled both unto God… by the Cross… Vs. 18 – For through HIM we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Vs. 19 – Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God… Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom all the building…groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of GOD through the Spirit.

We are the household of God, He lives in His House, and we are NOT strangers to this household, but One with Him in His Son. It is by THE SON being revealed in His household that we now can function with the assurance of what He has done. And as we live by The Son and in The Son, our lives will manifest this. *We aren’t waiting and hoping for this day – when we die, but by HIS DEATH, we have this NOW.

Hebrews 4:14-16 – Seeing then that we have (not "going to have – someday") a great high priest that IS passed into the heavens, Jesus… let us hold fast our profession… Let us therefore (because of HIM being revealed as He is, and us coming to know as we are known) come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

*We as Christians should have that boldness and assurance, based upon what Christ has done, but until this Son is revealed in us, and takes His rightful place in us, we still doubt and fear. But by the adoption, this should cast aside all doubt, and this is the witness we are to be to the world.

Hebrews 10:19-23 – (And this must be seen in the Truth of The Cross) Vs. 10,12-14 – We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this man, after that he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God… For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

NOW – having therefore (vs. 19) brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way… having an high priest over the house of God, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled… Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).

It is by God revealing HIS SON in His household, in the Truth of The Cross that we have the boldness to come to The Father, and we can stand in the full assurance of faith – IN HIM. This is what the Father desires to do in us by the spirit of adoption, sealing our relationship with Him by and in The Son.

One last thought about this Son, who is passed into the heavens, who is seated at the right hand of God, on the Throne, and who NOW rules as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Look at the nature of this One. Revelation 5:5-6 – In the midst of the Throne stood a LAMB as it had been slain. Vs. 8-9 – All fell before the LAMB… Thou art worthy to open the book, thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by the blood… Vs. 12 – Worthy is the LAMB that was slain. Vs. 13 – Every creature…saying blessing, and honor, and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the LAMB forever and ever.

The Son is the King upon the Throne, and it is the nature of THE LAMB by which He rules and reigns, for it is by His death that God has brought a people unto Himself, and it is this nature that rules His Kingdom. May this Son be revealed in us, and may we turn our hearts to see Him, and as Paul said in Philippians 3:9 – "…and be found IN HIM, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." And there it is not I, BUT CHRIST!!