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Who Is This Man Jesus?
Who Is This Man Jesus?
Who Is This Man Jesus?
and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Certainly, the righteousness of Jesus is perfect and we have that by faith, but shouldnt we hunger and thirst for that righteousness to be evidenced in our lives while still in this earthly body? Remember, Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This scripture is quoted much for faith in healing, etc. Why not apply it in the pursuit of holiness and righteousness. Reach for the goal of holiness by faith and not by works, or self-effort. Matt 7:24 reads, therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. Between Matt 5:24 and 7:24 are keys to the kingdom. They are contrary to every soulish aspect of man. In Matt 10:38-39 (NIV) we read, Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Those same verses from the New American Bible (Cath trans, 1972 edition) read, He who will not take up his cross and come after me is not worthy of me. He who seeks only himself brings himself to ruin, whereas he who brings himself to nought (nothing) for me discovers who he is. God has an eternal purpose for your life. Eph 3:11 reads, His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (a demonstration of a perfect man for the perfect body of Christ) Paul prayed in Eph 3:14-21 for the saints to be filled to the fullness of God. Let us look to our example. John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9 say He is the only begotten Son of the Father. It is not to stop there. Heb 2:10 says, In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Rom 8:19 says, The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Jesus bridged the gap between the heavenly realm and the earthly realm and now creation waits for the full number of sons to be revealed (Rev 6:11). There shall be a new heaven and a new earth and man is being prepared for that (Rev 21:1). LET US FOLLOW JESUS. But you say, I cant. The Greek word for I is ego or self. The only thing holding you back from following Him is self (flesh).
Jesus Christ, while on earth, died completely to the soulish nature (self). The soulish nature includes not only the outward acts and gratifications of the flesh but also the mind, emotions and will. So much was His death to the soulish nature that He said in John 5:19 The son can do nothing by himself. Jesus calls all His disciples to deny their soul life. What does this entail? 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) says, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what one had and does (both physically and spiritually) comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. We are called to die to the soulish nature. We can seemingly die to the outward desires of the flesh but what about the carnal mind (ego)? God used me. God is using me. There is certainly a place for giving examples of Gods love, healing and grace. But as a general rule we must walk away from the times that God uses us (better no man knowjust God). Matt. (6:14) We must get so caught up in God that we seek no earthly acclaim in any manner or fashion. In fact, we must avoid it like the plague. Let it not trap us from reaching that which God is calling us to in Christ Jesus. You say that in John 10:30 Jesus said, I and the Father are one. And that means He was God and knew it. Let us compare scripture to see if we can shed light on this passage, I and the Father are one. Look at John 17:11, I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your namethe name you gave meso that they may be one as we are one. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. To further emphasize the fact that Jesus was not acting as God or proclaiming equality with God at that time read John 14:28, You hear me say, I am going away and I am coming back to you. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. What Jesus was saying is this: I am in total spiritual union with the Father and He with me. He always hears me and I always hear Him. Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, while walking as a man, died completely to self (the soulish nature). His words Follow me call us to do the same. John 5:39-40, You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. Yes, we must study the scriptures to
show ourselves approved unto God. Through this study men are enlightened by the Holy Spirit with inspired revelations and teachings. But that is all they are: revelations and teachings. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with revelations and teachings but they should only be leading us to something greater. BUT THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY! What is it? It is complete, utter, total denial of self in every aspect. JESUS SAYS FOLLOW ME. Who is this me that Jesus is talking about? I suggest that it is none other than that man (or woman) with the crucified soul life. It is the nature of man to hang on to the last vestige of his soul life, glossing it over with premises and arguments to prove that he is right. But only by death to the soul life can we completely fulfill Gods purpose for our lives here on earth. Paul said in Php 3:13-14, Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind (not just those things we did before we received Jesus, but those things that happened just yesterday) and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. IN Christ Jesus. Jesus IN us. NOT Jesus AND us. Rather Jesus IN us. We tell people to stand on the Word by quoting scriptures such as By His stripes we are healed. But what does it really mean to stand on the Word? Let us stand on the righteousness of Christ in our lives. Jesus is the Word. We must be so filled with the righteousness of Jesus in our lives, yes, even to the fullness of God (as Paul prayed in Eph 3) that no sickness, disease, or evil of any kind can dwell in these vessels. I believe this is truly standing on the Word of God. We are saved by grace and not by works. Only the grace of God can cause this death of self to come about. The Word says, He who endures to the end shall be saved. I believe this refers to our continuing deliverance from the things of this world. Since we are saved by grace and salvation (or deliverance) is a daily, continuing process, there is nothing we can do of ourselves to bring it about. What we must do is present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The full power of God can only be released after the complete death of self. As long as Satan can keep us from the full meaning of the words of Jesus Follow me he continues to have dominion over the world. Let us give in to God that every enemy shall be defeated. The greatest love there is comes from God. Jesus said, Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life (soul life) for his friends. I must re-emphasize (a) Jesus was ALWAYS God, but without conscious knowledge of that fact for at least a major portion of His walk on earth. (b) We have no power of ourselves to die to self or
accomplish any good thing. It is only the Holy Spirit in us that can bring Gods purpose in our lives to completion.
AS A PARALLEL
JESUS Born of God Grew in wisdom and stature to perfection (Heb 5:8; Luke 2:52) Declared the Son of God (Psalm 2:7; Heb 1:5, 5:5) YOU Born again or born from above Transformed by the Holy Spirit into His likeness Manifestation of the sons of God (Rom 8:18)