Do you have life? Or, are you just living?
God had an idea to make man after His own image, after the image of Spirit and after the likeness of the Word. However, it wasn’t until God breathed upon the image that man had life and became a living soul.
Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7 KJV And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: …So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
{Christ is the Word. As described in Revelation 19:13,16: … His name is called The Word of God. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”}
John 1:1-4,14 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word became flesh so we might have life in God through Christ in Spirit.
Matthew 7:14 KJV Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Don’t look for shortcuts to God! Easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced. The way to life (to God!) is power and Spiritual that requires total obedience. [notes from the MSG version]
Matthew 10:39-40 KJV He that findeth his life (of the world) shall lose it (by death): and he that loseth his life (born-again) for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you (apostles of God) receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me (God).
Give the Word of God to those that are of unrighteousness and if they don’t receive it and have a change of heart, don’t take it personal they are rejecting GOD, NOT YOU.
Matthew 16:24-25 KJV Then Jesus said unto his disciples If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Life is only given by denying self and losing your life in Christ. This means we can’t choose what we want to lose. If it all don’t die, you are not dead to self.
Romans 6:4-5 KJV Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
We put flesh to death by water baptism in Jesus name. Raise up a new creature in Christ Jesus, being in His likeness which is Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 KJV For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 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.
2 Corinthians 5:15-15 MSGOur firm decision is to work from this focused center (Spirit of Christ Jesus): One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
When life is given in the newness of Christ, we no longer live for self. We live to do the will of the Father.
Romans 8: 6, 8-9 KJV For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
What is the meaning of carnally?
Relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites: carnal desire. 2. Worldly or earthly; temporal: the carnal world. 3. Of or relating to the body or flesh; bodily:
When being honest this is what the world consists of. People with strong sexual desires, building riches in temporal earthly possessions, and all about self/flesh. “This is what I want.” “This is what pleases me.” me, me, me.
It’s imperative that you become a new creature in Christ Jesus, putting on the mind of Christ. This is the only way to receive life and have peace. Why settle for just living when you can have life more abundantly? John 10:10 … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
2 Corinthians 4: 10-12 KJV Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
2 Corinthians 4:10-12 MSG What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!
Galatians 2:20 KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Colossians 3:3 KJV For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
1 John 5:11 KJV He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:18-20 AMP We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually (by way of habit) sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
God wants us to KNOW HIM, and the only way to know Him is to be one with Him. Having the same Spirit that dwelled in Jesus. Being born again in Jesus name and being filled with the Holy Ghost, you become a new creature, there is no more “you”. You have been put to death with Jesus and resurrected a Spiritual being. Just like Christ whom raised from the dead as Spirit. Your flesh will try to rise and that is what being tested is. For we are tested by the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Test and trials come to make you strong in the Spirit. Testing takes you from faith to FAITH, from glory to GLORY with God. With the Holy Ghost you receive power. The same power that is with Christ. This is the power that strengthens you to be able to deny sin and die daily to the flesh that tries and destroy you.
Romans 1:17 AMP For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith.”
Acts 1:8 KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
To be in Christ is to be fruitful, as the Spirit is known by. You must recognize the root of the fruit is seed; The spiritual seed is God. A seed must die first to bring forth life. Fruit is nutritious and reproduces after its kind.
Be careful to not mix fruitful with one whom has fame and/or has temporal possessions.
Having identity in Christ
No one in the old testament could get it right with what being Spiritual entails. The Holy Spirit only fell on those of the Old Testament. They were oracles used to prophesy the word of God. So, God had to send The Word to make it possible to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must be transformed as The Word was transformed from flesh to Spirit.
Romans 12:1-2 KJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.
Jesus came in the identity of God. God is the Word, Spirit, life, authority, righteousness, holy, and love. We too must put on the identity of God through Christ Jesus.
Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. ~God
Identity is the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. ~ you should be identified as being Spiritual.
Identity is a transformation that leaves an object unchanged. ~Born Again from flesh to Spirit
Identity is serving to establish who the holder, owner or wearer is by bearing their name. ~Obedience in Jesus name
Life identified by the fruits of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 AMP But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish, concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 MSG But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance (excitement) about life, serenity (peace). We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates (infuses) things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal (arrange) and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
Here’s a thought, someone can be a participating believer and not have the Holy Spirit. A person can also “act” the fruits of the Spirit without being the fruit of the Spirit. We can meet generous good people all day. However, they are not born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. So, what is the evidence of life?
to be continued …