CHAPTER-1
Even before the world was created, God chose us in Christ Jesus

It is so exciting to know that almighty God, in His Wisdom saw you and me even before He created the world. Just as human father who loves his son very much, has great dreams about him, his future and so on and hence plans his place of education, his future residence etc. God planned everything for us as He saw us in Christ Jesus, even before the world was created.

And then, the Loving Father began to create the heavens and the earth and everything in it for us. The final act of His creation was Man when He said “Now, let us create man in our image and likeness and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth” Genesis 1/26.

The Loving Father God gave all Authority and Power (which was His own Authority and Power to create) to Man to subdue the earth and to rule over it. “You are gods, sons of the Most high of all you “says Psalm 82/6. Jesus confirmed this when He spoke to the Jews in John 10/34-35- “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said you are gods? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and Scripture cannot be broken)”.

Hence our Loving Father God created us to his sons i.e. sons and daughters of God who are called gods with a small “g”, and gave us His own authority and power to create, to rule, to subdue, and thus dominate the earth – all in Christ Jesus alone, because that is where He saw us, that is where we can be what we are supposed to be.
“He destined us in love to be His Sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of His will” (Eph. 1/5)
“And God saw everything he had made and behold, it was Very Good!”(Gen 1/31)

It is very important to know where He was us. The world of God tells us in Ephesians 1/4, that He saw us in CHRIST JESUS. He did not see us outside of CHRIST JESUS. Our identity is in Jesus Christ only. God recognizes us in CHRIST JESUS only, because that is where He sees us, even before the world was created. The great architect saw us as He drew His Divine Plan before Construction. His PLAN is PERFECT. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” ( Jeremiah 29/11).

And in that wonderful, perfect plan, God not only saw us in CHRIST JESUS, but He also saw how we must be in him. Ephesians 1/4-5 tells us, He saw us – as a Holy and blameless people before him. What is it to be Holy before Him? Both in the Old Testament and the New, we come across His Word which Commands us to be Holy as He is Holy. “You shall be Holy as I am Holy” 1 Peter 1/16.

What is the Holiness of God? The Holiness of God is seen in His greatest attribute which is Love. 1 John 4/8 tells us that God is Love.

What is the specialty of God’s Love?

We believe that there is only one God. (James 2/19) and Jesus revealed this one God to be three persons. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although Three persons, they are united in Love and hence only one.

So, the specialty of God’s Love is Unity.
And when God Commands us to be Holy as He is Holy. He expects us to be One and United, although different persons in the family, in society, in the Church, etc. etc.

Unity is Holiness.
“Even before the world was created, He chose us to be Holy”….. (United in Love)…..
And this unity as planned by God is in CHRIST JESUS only; because that is where He saw us… that is where “he chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and blameless before him”.
Such are the children of God. Sons and daughters of God cannot call Him Father and yet be disunited.
“He destined us in love to be His Sons through JESUS CHRIST according to the purpose of His Will”. (Eph. 1/5)

IN CHRIST JESUS ONLY, we are His children – “To all those, who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become the children of God”. (John 1/12)

IN CHRIST JESUS ONLY, we have Unity – “Even as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world…….”. (Eph.1/4)

“By this, it may be seem who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil; whoever does not do right in not of God, nor he who does not LOVE his brother. “Fore this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should Love One Another”. (1 John 3/10-11)

The prayer of Jesus before His Passion was nothing else, but this one request – “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their world that they may all be One; even as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou has sent me. The Glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be One even as we are One, I in them and thou in me that they may become perfectly One, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. (John 17/21-23)

His desire is again expressed in John 10/16, where it is written, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be One Flock and One Shepherd”.

A particular aspect of God’s Love which brings Unity is His unconditional Love. Loving us as we are. It is this unconditional love that is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit according to Romans 5/5.

If this Holy Spirit of Love is given to us, then it should become in us, a spring of water welling up to eternal life as seen in John 4/14 or as John 7/38 tells us – out of our hearts rivers of Love should flow out – The Spirit of Unconditional Love and forgiveness. This alone brings Unity – This alone brings Holiness. This alone is the Sign that we are in Christ Jesus. This alone fulfils the plan of God Seen in Eph. 1/10 – “to unite all things in Christ Jesus, things in heaven and things on Earth”.

This alone is the sign that we have eternal life – “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death”. (1John 3/14)

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, this life is in His Son (In Christ Jesus). He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life”. (1John 5/11-12)

If we are in Christ Jesus, we can be sure we have eternal life. What is the sign for us that we are In Christ Jesus? Perfect Unity. Unity in our families and Unity in the Church.

Notice: (1) There can be people who believe in Jesus, without being In Christ Jesus. Even the devil believes in Jesus (James 2/19).

(2) There can be those who confess Jesus as the Son of God without being In Christ Jesus. Even the devil confesses Him as the Son of the Most High God. (Mark 5/7)

(3) There can be those who may do good works without being in Christ – there may be those who can heal and do miracles without being in Christ Jesus. If this was not possible Jesus would not have said to such people “I never knew you; depart from me, you evil doers”. (Mathew 7/23). If these were In Christ Jesus, He would not tell them such words. If we are In Christ Jesus, we would have the mind of Christ “Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus”. (Phil2/5)

And if we have the Mind of Christ, then all of us will agree and there will be no dissensions among us, but we will be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

See 1 Cor. 1/10-13 “I appeal to you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there are no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarrelling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, I belong to Paul or I belong to Apollo’s or I belong to Cephas or I belong to Christ. Is Christ divided”?

How to be in Christ Jesus? By obeying His Word. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His Glory, Glory as the only Son from the Father. (John 1/1-2, 14)

JESUS is the Word of God. The name of Jesus is “The Word of God” (Rev. 19/13)

“All things were made through him (Jesus), and without Him (Jesus) was not anything made that was made. In Him (Jesus) was life and the life was the light of men” John 1/3-4

Hence as we obey the word and apply it in our lives, Jesus lives in us and us in Him, and We being to have a personal relationship with Him which leads us to know Him. “And be this we may be sure that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. He who says “I know Him but disobeys His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His Word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that are in Him (In Christ Jesus):- he who says He abides in Him (In Christ Jesus), ought to walk in the same way in which he walked”. (1John 2/3-6)

Go to Part II

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-2

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. (Eph. 2/10)

In the first part of this message we saw that “Even before the world was created God chose us In Christ Jesus that we should be Holy and blameless before Him. He destined us in Love to be His Sons in Christ Jesus. (Eph. ¼-5)

Now, we see that we are created In Christ for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in the good works.

Let us now begin to look at the good works – that God has prepared before hand and in which we should walk, while we also consider the good works that can be done outside of CHRIST – the works that will deceive us and take us away from Jesus – the good works that are called dead works in Hebrews 6/1 – the good works that are not satisfactory before the eyes of God as seen in Rev. 3/1-2 – “I know your works; you have the name of being alive and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your Works perfect in the sight of my God”.

In this same chapter speaking to the Church that has no Zeal for the good works that God has prepared Jesus stands at the door and says – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…” Rev. 3/20

Obviously Jesus is outside and not inside the church. Hence that church is not zealous, the works are dead – for the people in the church is not In Christ Jesus. They only have the Outward Form of religion mentioned in 2Tim. 3/5.

In Mathew 7/21 (Paraphrased version of the Living Bible) – Jesus says- “Not all who sound religious are Godly people. They won’t get to heaven, only those who obey my father in heaven”.

The Church as we know – is the body of Christ – and His Mystical body on earth now is to continue the same Works that His Physical Body did two thousand years ago. What did the physical body of Jesus Christ do, which the mystical body must continue to do to-day?

Jesus Christ came to save sinners and hence Jesus in His mystical body continues to save. This Salvation in all its fullness consists of total healing to spirit – mind and body of man. So Jesus healed then and He continues His healing to-day through His mystical Body. Jesus cast out demons in His day in the physical Body and He continues to do the same to-day through His Mystical Body.

On a Sabbath day 2000 years ago, Jesus stood up to read from the Book of Isaiah concerning Him where it was written – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of Sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4/18-19)

And Jesus did exactly that in His physical body. The Lord Jesus does exactly that in His mystical body (The Church) to-day also – for He said “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you”. (John 2/21)

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and I, I am with you always to the closed of the age. (Mathew 28/19-20)

“Go your way……whenever you enter a town….heal the sick in it and say to them, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you”. (Luke 10/3-9)

“Go and preach The Kingdom of heaven is near! Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases and drive out demons”. (Mathew 10/7-8.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the Works that I do: and greater WORKS that these he will do, because I go to the Father”. (John 14/12)

“Then they said to him,” What must we do to be doing the Works of God? Jesus answered them,

“This is the Work of God – that you believe in him whom he has sent”. (John 6/28-29)

The Good Works which God has prepared for us beforehand; which can be done by us Only in Christ Jesus are the works that Jesus did in His physical body. We begin to walk in those good works to-day when we begin to be in His Mystical Body.

The Great deception that is here amongst Christians, is to make them believe that they are in the mystical body and to draw their attention to good works which only cater for the physical needs of the human race. The gospel is watered down. In its place many so called Christians bring and promote other scriptures that are not given to us by the church (the Mystical Body) but written by good men. Books which convince people that they are on the good side because of their earthly works, preachers who twist and turn scriptures to prove that Jesus is not the only way are all from the Deceiver of the whole world mentioned in Rev. 12/9.

Only, those who Are in Christ Jesus can discern what is from God, because Jesus is God, Jesus is the life giving Spirit (For reference read John 8/24 and 1Cor. 15/45)

But those who are Outside of Christ are in the flesh. They are filled with the wisdom of the world and God’s word says in 1Cor 2/14 “The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned”.

These are controlled and led by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe and not according to Christ” Col. 2/8

But for those who are In Christ, they are in the Mystical Body of Christ (The Church) and they do the good works in Christ – which God has prepared for them to do.

“For in Him, the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily and you have come to fullness of life in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority”. (Co. 2/9-10)

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-3

“To the saints who are also faithful “In Christ Jesus; blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has Blessed Us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”. (Eph. 1/1-3)

In the third part of this message, “In Christ Jesus” we would do well, if we can look prayerfully into the scriptures, to see the tremendous Blessings that are available to us In Christ Jesus.

To the Sadducees who did not understand the blessings of resurrection, Jesus Himself replied – “Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12/24)

Jesus had to open the minds of His disciples to understand the scriptures. (Luke 24/45)

Let us also pray and ask Jesus Himself to open our minds to understand the tremendous blessings available In Christ. First and foremost, we should not loose sight of the eternal Truth that “even before the world was made God chose us In Christ”. (Eph. 1/4)

The reason for our creation, our existence, our works, our eternal life, are all based on this fundamental Truth – that we have been chose by God In Christ, we are created in Christ, we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph. 2/10), we exist for Jesus Christ alone – “None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord, so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are Lord’s”. (Romans 14/7-8) “And He died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him, who for their sake died and was raised (2Cor. 5/15)

“In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17/28). It is very important to understand that we have been created – not to be just an ordinary believer In Christ – not to be just a good person – devout, pious, and holy – but we are created to be “In Christ”. The very first part of the letter to Paul to the Ephesians 1/1 says, “To the saints, who are also faithful In Christ”. To them who are In Christ, tremendous blessings flow from the heavenly places – for they are seated with Him in the heavenly places In Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2/6)

What are the blessings?

1. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places – (Eph 1/3). These spiritual blessings include:

a) Eternal life In Christ Jesus – Read Colossians 2/9-10, 1John 5/11-12, John 10/10, John 17/3, John 11/25-27, Romans 8/1.

b) Since before the foundation of the world, God Chose us In Christ (Eph.1/4) and God created us In Christ for good works (Eph.2/10), When He created us, He created us in His Image and likeness (Gen. 1/26-28) and gave us His own authority and power to rule over the earth and subdue it and have dominion over it. We see in Colossians 1/15 that – “Jesus is the image of the invisible God;

“For Jesus and in Jesus all things were created in heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him”. (Colossians 1/16) – “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together”. (Colossians 1/17)

This is a delegated authority and could be exercised only In Christ. The evil one – Satan deceived the first parents and made them lose this authority. But now Jesus has defeated Satan on the cross and has restored to man the image and likeness; and In Christ, they are more than conquerors, (Romans 8/37) – for Christ Jesus gives His own authority and power to those who live in Him (Luke 10/19).

Hence those who live In Christ – will have His authority and power and will do exactly what Jesus came to do. Read John 14/12, Mark 16/16-20, 1John 3/8, Luke 4/16-19.

Why does Jesus call people to Himself? For this very reason as seen in Mark 3/13-14. He gives them the POWER!! Power to heal, power to cast out demons, power to speak to the mountains (Problems in life, sickness, calamities) and to see that they obey us. (Mark 11/23-24)

c) In Christ Jesus, we are called to become sons and daughters of God. John 1/12-13.

d) In Christ Jesus, we are called “gods” with a small “g” See Psalm 82/6 and John 10/35.

e) In Christ, we are called Ambassadors of Christ (see 2Cor. 5/20).

2. Apart from these spiritual blessings, we have emotional blessings: - What are they?

a) Peace of Mind – Jesus is the Prince of Peace as the book of prophet Isaiah tells us. And when we are In Christ – He keeps us in perfect peace. “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee”. (Isaiah 26/3)

b) That peace of mind brings the next blessing along with it – Good sound sleep!! “He gives to His beloved sleep” (Psalm 127/2)

c) Peace and Harmony in family relationships, in business partnerships, in communities, in churches, etc. – are all for those In Christ. When Jesus was born, the good news came first through the angels who sang – “And on earth PEACE among men” (Luke 2/14). And Col. 1/19-20 tells us – “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making Peace by the blood of His Cross”.

3. Physical healing is a blessing that is available In Christ. In the book of Exodus God tell us – “I am the God that heals you”. How does this God heal? Psalm 107/20 says – “He sent forth His Word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction”.

“He sent forth His Word” – Remember in the beginning God spoke His Word and created the heavens and the earth. John says – “in the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, all things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His Glory, glory as of the only son from the Father, and from His fullness have we all received grace upon grace”. (John ¼, 14, 16)

Whom do all these speak about? JESUS!!

Jesus is the Word become flesh. Jesus is the Word that heals. Jesus is called the Word of God in Rev.19/13. There is Healing in Christ for it is written – “Surely he has borne our grief’s and carried our sorrows………, He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53/4-5)
Peter quotes this scripture when he writes – “By His wounds you have been healed”. (1Peter 2/24). This healing is total and covers spiritual, emotional and physical areas of our life.

4. There is also Blessings available in the financial area of one’s life In Christ Jesus; for the word of God tells us in Philippians 4/19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours, according to His riches in glory In Christ Jesus”.

Our God is a God of Blessing – Not curses, He is a loving Father who blesses His children and who desires to bless His children. Listen to 3 John 2- “Beloved, I pray that All May Go Well with You and that you may be in health”. This blessing is made to Gaius who is living in Truth (Christ). So In Christ - All Will Go Well With You. This includes material blessings also, which was promised by God to Abraham and to His descendants. Read Deuteronomy 28/1-14 and Deuteronomy 7/12-16.

In short the blessings include:-

a) He will love you, bless you, multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock. (Deuteronomy 7/13)

b) Barrenness shall not be there among your or among your cattle. (Deuteronomy 7/14)

c) All sickness shall be taken away from you. (Deuteronomy 7/14)

d) Blessings in the city and blessings in the field. (Deuteronomy 28/3)

e) Your enemies who rise against you shall be defeated and they will flee before you seven ways. (Deuteronomy 28/7)

f) Blessings upon you in your barns and in all that you undertake. (Deuteronomy 28/8)

g) All the people of the earth will know that you belong to God and they will be afraid of you. And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity. He will not put you to shame. (Deuteronomy 28/11)

h) The Lord will open the heavens to give the rain for your crops. (Deuteronomy 28/12)

i) You will have so much – that you will only lend to many but you will never have the need to borrow. (Deuteronomy 28/12)

j) You will always progress upwards only. (Deuteronomy 28/13)

How to obtain these blessings:-

What God has prepared for those In Christ – no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived. (See 1Cor. 2/9)

Man stopped receiving these blessings the moment he cut himself away from the Tree of Life which represents Jesus Christ – the life giving spirit mentioned in (1Cor 15/45) and he began to experience the curse. But God so loved us that He sent Jesus to redeem us and bring us back to Him – so that we can receive all these blessings right now. Read this Scripture in Galatians 3/13-14. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, ‘cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree’ – that ‘IN CHRST JESUS’ the blessing of Abraham might come upon the gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith”.

How to receive these blessings:-

All that we got to do is to believe in our hearts and proclaim with our lips the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, Trust in Him, Live in Him by living according to the Word of God and all these blessing shall be ours.

May God our Father bless you In Christ Jesus, May His face shine upon you and may you find perfect peace and joy and fulfillment In Christ Jesus in the coming Millennium.

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER- 4

TRUTH REVEALED IN CHRIST JESUS ONLY:

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “if you abide in My Word (hold fast to my teaching and live in accordance with them), you are truly my disciples. And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free”. (John 8/31-32)

From the above words of Jesus, we can understand very clearly:-

1. That the Truth is revealed only to the Disciples of Christ.

2. Only those who abide In the Word are His disciples.

3. Jesus spoke these words to the believers making them understand that there is a difference between just believing with the intellect and Trusting Faith in Him, which makes one abide in the World. Many may believe in Jesus as they did in His time, but Jesus did not Trust them and so could not reveal the Truth to them (See John 2/23-25)

Hebrews 4/2 tells us – “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with Faith (trusting faith) in the hearers”. And so they did not understand the Truth – for the Truth cannot be revealed to those who do not abide in the Word.

4. Believers need to become disciples of Christ in order to be known and recognized by Jesus and Christians; for the Word of God in Acts 11/26(b) tells us – “and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians”. A person becomes a Christian in the eyes of God only when he or she begins to Abide in the Word. The enemy of Jesus, the devil, also believes in Jesus (See James 2/19) and acknowledges JESUS as the Son of God when he says in Mark 5/7 – “What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy one of God”. But this devil does not abide in the word of God, although he knows the word of God. He quoted Ps 91/11-12 to Jesus Christ Himself. Likewise, many can read, listen, study and preach the word of God and yet not abide in the word! Jesus spoke to those who study the word thus – “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life”. (John 5/39-40)

Five hundred and eighty years before Jesus said this in person, this same God spoke through prophet Jeremiah 9/6(b) –“they refuse to know me” and God continues to say to us through Jeremiah 13/17 – “if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride, my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive”. Colossians 2/8 says – “See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe and not according to Christ”. That is why Jesus said to those who believed in Him, “If you abide in my Word, you will truly be my disciples and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free”. (John 8/31-32)

Unfortunately, these believers do not seem to understand that they need to be set free. This can clearly be seen if we take time and read John 8/31-51.

Once again, let us emphasize the fact that believers cannot know the Truth – only those who Abide in the Word (In Christ Jesus) will know the Truth, for, Jesus is the Truth. He said in John 14/6 – I am the Truth. He also said in John 17/17 that God’s Word is Truth. And it is this Word which became flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us. Hence when we abide (live according to the Word of God) in the Word, we are abiding In Christ, and this makes us disciples. The Truth is revealed only to the disciples. He told them in Luke 8/10 – “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others (those who do not abide in the Word), they are in parables; so that, seeing them may not see, and hearing they may not understand”. Even in the book of Jeremiah 33/3 the Lord promises – “I will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known”. God also promises to reveal the secret treasures of the kingdom of darkness in Isaiah 45/3. As we Abide in Christ, the truth about the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan are revealed to us. This is what sets us free!

In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes – “I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”. (2Corinthians 11/3). It is worth considering why Paul is so alarmed when writing to the Corinthians. First of all, let us refresh our memory of some scriptures that tell us God’s plan for our creation.

a) Even before the world was created, God chose us In Christ – Ephesians 1/4.

b) We are created In Christ Jesus for good works- Ephesians 2/10.

c) All blessings of God come to us In Christ Jesus - Ephesians 1/3, Philippians 4/19, and Galatians 3/13-15.

d) Unity is In Christ Jesus - Ephesians 2/20-22.

e) Life in all its fullness in only In Christ – Colossians 2/10, John 10/10, 1John 5/11-13, John 1/4.

f) Our existence is only In Christ - Acts 17/28, John 15/1-11.
We were created in such a way that all things that God wants us to have, spiritually and otherwise, were available only In Christ represented by the Tree Of Life, and we could have access to it so long as we obeyed God’s Word. Disobedience to God’s Word would bring death which is a separation for God. The Lord very particularly mentioned the tree of Knowledge of good and evil which represents the desire of man to be independent of God. God warned him never to eat from that tree for that would bring death (separation from God). Genesis 2/17. The Truth of God’s Word was – there was Life eternally in Tree Of Life (Jesus) and there was death (separation from God) in the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil (autonomy of man).

Satan, represented by the serpent, defined as subtle and cunning, offers a better state to man by convincing him that he will be like God if he disobeyed God by taking his hand off from the Tree of Life – in other words, taking away his pure devotion to Christ (represented by the Tree of Life) and putting his entire devotion on self. (Genesis 3/5)

A big Lie entered into the world and man began to live under the Lie. He increased and multiplied under the Lie. Genesis 5/3 tells us that Adam became the father of a son in his own likeness. And generations and generations still live under the Lie.

Satan – who is called the God of this world by the Word of God in 2Corinthians 4/4, the Prince of this world by Jesus Himself in John 12/31, the deceiver of the world in Revelations 12/9, and the father of lies in John 8/44 – makes sure that those who are not In Christ are kept away from the Truth by blinding them as seen in 2Corinthians 4/3-4. He even dared to look Jesus in the face and told Him that the whole world – the entire human race, everything in the world, the authority and the glory – belonged to him as they all lived under his big LIE. 1 John 5/19 tells us that the whole world is under the power of Satan.

Jesus Himself, looking at the Jews who believed in Him and claimed to have Abraham as their father, told them straight – “You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with The Truth, because there is No Truth in Him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a Liar and the father of Lies (John 8/44). Jesus goes on – “But because I tell the Truth you do not believe me ------. If I tell the Truth why do you not believe me? He, who is of God, hears the Word of God (The Truth); the reason why, you do not hear them is that you are not of God”. (John 8/45-47)

“I am the Way, The Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”. (John 14/6)

Jesus is The Truth. In the face of Jesus, we see the Father, for Jesus is God. “He who has seen me has seen the Father”. (John 14/9)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the first – born of all creations; for In Him, all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions of principalities or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and In Him, all things hold together”. (Colossians 1/15-17)

In Christ Jesus alone the Truth is revealed In Adam-head of the fallen race – Satan keeps man under the Lie! “In their case, the god of this world (Satan), has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the likeness of God”. (2 Corinthians 4/4). When such people read and study the Word, Satan makes sure he blinds them from the Truth.

“Their minds were hardened, for to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a Veil lies over their minds”. (2 Corinthians 3/14-15).

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing”. (2 Corinthians 4/3).

“But when a man turns to The Lord the veil is removed”. (2 Corinthians 4/16).

Let us make sure we are not living under the Lie but we are set free by The Truth.

Await our next message! We keep you in prayer and we do hope you pray for us as well.

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-5

TRUTH REVEALED IN CHRIST JESUS ONLY (continuation of Part IV)

In Christ Jesus alone, The Truth is revealed. In Adam – head of the fallen race – Satan keeps man Under the Life!!

As we saw, the fourth part of In Christ Jesus, Satan is called by different names in the Word of God.

1. He is the god of this world – 2 Corinthians 4/4

2. He is the prince of this world or the ruler of this world - John 12/31

3. He is the father of all those who do not understand what Jesus says and cannot bear to hear the Word Of God – See – John 8/43-44

4. He is a Liar – He has nothing to do with the Truth, because there is no Truth in him – John 8/44

5. He is the Deceiver – Rev. 12/9

And all those who are deceived are his children John 8/47 – says “the reason why you do not hear the word of God is that you are not of God”.

Arch Bishop Fulton Sheen of the Catholic Church says the greatest Lie of Satan to intellectuals, religious people, theologians and Bible scholars are that He doesn’t exist. This makes it easier for the devil to keep them under the Lie. That is his greatest deception.

How is the World deceived?

The deceiver uses God – to bring about Evil. He also suggests Evil – to bring about Good. We must remember that the fruit of the forbidden tree of knowledge is both good and evil. Do not fail to recognize that this tree represents man’s authority – i.e. his desire to live his life independent of God. This was the same desire of Archangel Lucifer in heaven seen in Isaiah 14/11-14 for which he was thrown out. This is the same desire he plants into man. Apart from God man produces well. Hence his good works Deceive him, whereas The Truth – is found in Eph.2/10 – which says – “For we are His workmanship, created In Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”.

Hence Satan makes people do good works – to keep them away from the Real Good Works that God has prepared for them before hand – even before the world was created – when He chose them In Christ (Eph.1/4). Hence there is goodness in everybody, but that goodness is not the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God mentioned in Galatians 5/22, because the source of that good come from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil and not from the Tree Of Life – which is Jesus. This is a Deception; Satan keeps man under the Lie – that is good. The other fruit evil that he produces is explained as his weakness and Satan will quote the Word of God to say not to worry for God is Love!!

Who are the ones who are deceived?

1. All those who do not live in the truth and walk in the Truth are deceived. As we already saw; The Word of God is the Truth. And Jesus said – “If you abide in my Word (The Truth), you are my disciples and you shall know the Truth”. (John 8/31-32)

2. Those who only hear the word of God, or read and study the word of God without being a doer of the WORD is deceived says James 1/22.

3. Self-righteousness in a man deceives him. Galatians 6/3 says – “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Read Romans 10/1-4 – Man is deceived, if he says he has no sin 1John 1/8 Paul before his conversation thought of himself as ‘blameless before God’s law”. In Philippians 3/6 – he says “as for legalistic righteousness, faultless”.

4. Man is deceived when he thinks himself to be wise with the wisdom of this world – 1Corinthians 3/18

Romans 1/22 say – “Although they claimed to be wise, they become fools”.

5. Man is deceived by seeming to be religious when an unbridled tongue reveals his true conditions – James 1/26

6. Deceived, if he thinks, he will sow and not reap what he sows – Galatians 6/7

7. Deceived, if man thinks the unrighteous will inherit the Kingdom of God – 1Corinthans 6/9

The unrighteous are those, who do not submit to God’s righteousness In Christ Jesus Romans 10/3-4.

8. Man is deceived, when he thinks that contact with SIN will not have its effect upon him. 1Corinthians 15/33

9. He is deceived – when gone too far away from God on the path of error – Wisdom 12/24

10. Deceived by the Pride of his heart – Obadiah 1/3

11. Man deceived by astrologers and false prophets – Mathew 2/16, Jeremiah 29/8

12. Deceived by listening to the people of this world, Ephesians 5/6-17, Col 2/8

13. Being deceived, they themselves become deceivers, because gone from bad to worse – 2Tim 3/13

Satan the deceivers, also deceives the children of God who are carnal Christians.

Ways used by Satan to deceive them are:

He comes as the angel of light – 2 Corinthians 11/14

His ministers seem to us as ministers of righteousness - 2 Corinthians 11/13, 15

c) He brings a counterfeit gospel – Galatians 1/8

d) Uses teachings that pretend to be God – ward very often dwelling on things that pertain only to the development of physical and mental faculties keeping his victims away from the TRUTH revealed IN CHRIST - 2 Corinthians 11/14-15, Mathew 24/24

e) Uses false brethren - 2 Corinthians 11/26
These are the tares – the sons of the evil one shown in the parable. They are used for evil influences. See Mathew 13/38, John 8/44.

f) Deceives through counterfeit righteousness – Romans 10/3

g) Deceived through people who claim to be people of God, but who are called the synagogue of Satan in Rev. 2/9

h) Deceived through counterfeit doctrines. 1 Timothy 4/1-2. Such believers will not listen to the Truth, because they are not abiding In Christ. 2 Timothy 4/4 says – “They will turn their ears away from The Truth and turn aside to myths”.

They will gather around them, a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4/3.

All these are the result of not knowing the Truth, for the Truth is revealed only In Christ. Even those, who studied the Scriptures, did not know the Truth, for they did so without being In Christ. This is clear from what Jesus tells them in John 5/39-40 and John 8/43-44. This is also revealed in 2 Corinthians 3/14-16 and 2 Corinthians 4/3-4.

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life”. (John 5/39-40)

“Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the Truth, because “There Is No Truth in Him”. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a Liar and the father of Lies”. This Satan who is called the Father of those who are independent of God – the father of Lies keeps those outside of Christ in his Lie. These are all deceived and they become his instruments to deceive others.

“He who is of God hears the Word of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God”. (John 8/47)

2 Corinthians 3/14-16 and 2 Corinthians 4/3-4 explains how Satan keeps them blinded and how to get out of this blindness is given 2 Corinthians 3/16 – “When a man Turns to the Lord, the veil is removed”.

One of the signs of the end of times, which Jesus Himself speaks of, is mass deception and Satan will be after “The Elect”.

See Mathew 24/24 – “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the Elect”.

The Word of God is written by the Holy Spirit using men of God. And only the Holy Spirit can reveal to us what is written in the Word. Man’s wisdom is useless as far as the Word of God is concerned. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1/17 says – “Christ send him to preach the gospel – not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power”. Only to that In Christ will The Truth be revealed – because In Christ, the Holy Spirit who is the author of the Bible will reveal the deep things of God – but to those outside it will be in parables.

When the disciples asked Jesus as to why He spoke in parables, His reply was “To You (Disciples – i.e. those who are In Christ) it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God, but for those outside, they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. (Mark 4/11-12, Luke 8/10)

In 1 Corinthians 2/14 Paul speaks of the unspiritual man. The unspiritual man is one who is outside of Christ, because God’s plan for man is to be “In Christ” (Eph 1/4). The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him and he is not able to understand them, because they are spiritually discerned”. (1 Corinthians 2/14)

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER- 6

THRE GREAT DECEPTION

What is deception?

Deception is presenting something, somebody, as true, when it actually is false. We have the example of the mirage in the desert. From a distance, it seems there is water there and one can quench the thirst, if one takes the pains to go all the way to the mirage; only to find to one’s despair, that it was false and there is nothing there but dry land. All the efforts made to reach there makes one so exhausted, tired and more thirsty that the next mirage will again deceive the seeker of water; finally facing inevitable death.

The Word of God says in the book of Proverbs – “There is a way that seems right to a man but the end of it is the way to death” (Prov.14/12). Every man and women, consciously or unconsciously is seeking the right way. There are many personalities who offer to show the right way. There are many books, many methods, many religious practices, many institutions that claim to show the right way. However, the important question is whether any of these have found the way. There is Only One Person, in the history of the whole world who makes a claim to be “The Way”. His name is Jesus. He is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the only son of God who manifested himself in the flesh as the Son of man, born of Virgin Mary. This Jesus stands before the world to say. “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me”. (John 14/6)

“And eternal life means, knowing you, the only true God, and knowing Jesus Christ, whom you send” (John 17/3)

“I am telling you the truth; I am the gate. Whoever comes in by me will be saved; he will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness”. (John 10/7, 9-10)

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”(1 John 11/25-26).

“The testimony is this; God has given us eternal life and this life has its source in his son (Jesus Christ). Whoever possesses the son, possesses this life, whoever does not possess the son of God does not have life”. (John 5/11-12)

“To all those who received him and believed in him (Jesus Christ), he gave them the right to become God’s children”. (John 1/12)

“There is therefore no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8/17)

The great deception that is in the world today is to present other ways and other names promising life and blessings apart from the WAY – who is Christ Jesus represented by the Tree of life in (Genesis 2/19) and also mentioned in (Revelation 22/14).

The first parents were deceived by the great deceiver who deceives the whole world. He is mentioned as the huge dragon that was thrown out of heaven on to the earth – that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan along with all his angels.

How did he deceive the first parents?

The devil presented something as good and holy, helping them to God – ward, when actually the end of its death represented by the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This tree brings death because it is a sign of all those who want to live their lives away from Jesus Christ and yet feel holy, pious and religious. Hence any organization, institution or places of worship which does not give the rightful place to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lord is deception. All that the devil wants to achieve in this world is to keep people away from Jesus Christ. He does not mind people becoming holy, pious and religious minded as long as they keep away from his enemy Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He even deceives Christians by making them church minded and yet keeps them away from Jesus. He has managed to blind people to such an extent that they are unable to know the truth. The truth is revealed to us through the Word of God and the official teaching of the Majisteriam. Pope John Paul II has said that any church which does not proclaim the Gospel is not the true church. The Gospel is Jesus Christ who is the head of the church. The Christians are members of His mystical body. Hence the church is Jesus himself. The Vatican II says “The church exists to evangelize (proclaim the Gospel). Pope John Paul says --- “There is no true evangelization, if the name, the kingdom and the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is not proclaimed.

The work of the Holy Spirit in a believer is to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16/4). Hence anybody or any organization, speaking about the church and yet not publicly proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, is like a mirage in the desert. People who are spiritually thirsty can never find the living water of the Holy Spirit to quench their thirst. Such churches can only uphold their rituals, traditions, doctrines etc. Presenting an outward form of religion and denying the power of the Holy Spirit, as seen in (2 Timothy 3/5). The power they deny is the heart of Christianity – the fact of the risen Savior Jesus Christ working in the lives of his disciples (Who are called Christians) in (Act 11/26) and the indwelling and the overflowing of the Holy Spirit who enables the believer to witness Jesus Christ through their word and power. Very often, many become guilty of quenching the Holy Spirit, as seen in (1 Thessalonians 5/19-20). Such people are said to be controlled by the natural desires, who do not have the Holy Spirit (Jude 20). These people are deceived and are used by the deceiver to deceive others. They present Christianity as an empty, lifeless religion, filled with activities and religious services, which give no place to Jesus Christ. They are earthly minded, catering to the needs of the worldly people and yet deceived into believing that they are zealous for God. This type of Christianity as preached and practiced fails to reveal the power of the Holy Spirit.

Such was the man, Paul, who was called Saul of Tarsus. Before his conversion, He boasts about himself when he said, “If anyone thinks he can trust in external ceremonies, I have even more reason to think in that way. I was a Pharisee and I was so zealous for God that I persecuted the Church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the law, I was blameless”. (Phil 3/4, 6) And it was to this good, sincere, religious persona, that Jesus appeared in a light, saying to him “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by hitting back like an ox, kicking against his owner’s stick”. (Act 26/14) And, it is this Paul, who cries out, when he says – “My conscious ruled by the Holy Spirit, also assures me that I am not lying when I way how great is my sorrow, how endless the pain in my heart for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish, I myself were under God’s curse and separated from Christ. My brothers, how I wish with all my heart that my people might be saved! How I pray to God for them! I can assure you that they are zealous for God; but their zeal, is not based on true knowledge. They have not known The Way in which God puts people right with Himself and instead, they have tried to set up their own way, - and so They Did Not Submit themselves to God’s way of putting people right. For Christ has brought the law to an end, so that everyone who believes (in Christ, Jesus) is put right with God”. (Romans 10/4).

Can you see The Deception here, dear friends in Christ? Was Saul zealous for God? “Yes”. Was Saul a sincere man? “Yes”. Did he uphold his religion, its traditions, its rituals etc? “Yes”. Did he obey all the laws? “Yes”. Did he go against all the people who, he believed to be in a position to God and his institutionalism? “Yes”. And yet, was he kicking at Jesus Christ? “Yes”.

Today this deception continues. There are many such Sauls going about, upholding the law, the rituals, the ceremonies, the traditions and even a church, that does not publicly proclaim Jesus Christ; ending up with the same fate of Saul of Tarsus – kicking at Jesus Christ by opposing, criticizing and condemning those whom the Lord has called to proclaim His name and His mighty deeds. Such people do not even know that they are deceiving the majority of the people. Let this word of God be a warning to all those who are spiritually open to the Holy Spirit. “My children, the end is near! You are told that the enemy of Christ would come; and now many enemies of Christ have already appeared and so we know that the end is near. Do not believe all who claim to have the spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere. This is how you will be able to know whether it is God’s spirit – anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ came as a human being has a spirit who comes from God, but anyone who denies this about Jesus does not have the spirit from God. The spirit he has is from the enemy of Christ; you heard that it will come, and now it is here in the world already. These false prophets speak about matters of the world, and the world listens to them because they belong to the world, but we belong to God. Whoever knows God (Jesus Christ) listens to us; whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This, then, is how we can tell the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error”. (1 John 2/18, 1 John 4/1-3, 5, 6)

Jesus Christ himself says about those whom he will proclaim before the father and whom he will also reject before the father. “I assure you that whoever declares publicly that he belongs to me, the son of man will also declare him before the angels of God. But whoever rejects me publicly, the son of man will also reject him before the angels of God”. (Luke 12/8-9)

Remember:

1. He who has the Holy Spirit will proclaim Jesus Christ publicly, because the spirit is given for that purpose (Acts 1/8, John 16/14)

2. The church exists to proclaim the gospel (Jesus Christ). (Vatican II – church in the modern world)

3. If the church does not proclaim the gospel, it is not the true church (Pope John Paul II)

4. “Woe to me if I don’t preach the gospel (St. Paul)

The scriptures, the official teaching of the true church, the teachings of the fathers of the church all point out the real church. Any church devoid of these becomes man-made organizations and institutions. These types existed even before Jesus Christ came and they rejected the Savior of the world. So also institutions and organizations continue to reject him.

The greatest Deception is to feel Jesus, talk Jesus and be zealous for Jesus and yet have not Jesus at all!! Many are deceived because they are so church-minded that unknowingly they have rejected the Savior who is the Head of the church. Like Saul of Tarsus, who was zealous for his religion, ended up kicking at Jesus, many zealous for church continue to kick at Jesus.

As Arch Bishop Fulton Sheen has correctly put it – The church has cut off the Head from the Body!! Today it has become a Religion and not JESUS.

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-7

KINGDOM OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS

Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ of Nazareth stood before the people of this world; and began to preach, saying “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. (Mathew 4/17)

Before Jesus began His ministry, there was one, who came to prepare the way of the Lord. He is John the Baptist, who came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. (Mathew 3/2)

It is very important to note that both Jesus and John began to preach under the Anointing of Holy Spirit. John; is said to have come is the Spirit and power of Elijah, who was an anointed prophet (Luke 1/17). Jesus came, and was baptized in the river Jordan. The Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove (Mathew 3/16). And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue as his custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and gave it back to attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”. (Luke 4/16-21)

Anyone, studying the scriptures, with an open heart and mind, will immediately be led by the Holy Spirit into the truth, that, the whole plan of God in creation, was to have, a Kingdom People, filled with Kingdom Power, and Kingdom Authority; who will manifest Kingdom Love on this earth. For that purpose; that purpose alone, God created us In Christ Jesus (Eph1/4). And God prepared beforehand, kingdom work for us to done In Jesus Christ (Eph 2/10). There was not religion in God’s plan. There were no thousands of denominational churches in God’s plan. There was only the Kingdom of God in God’s plan. And that Kingdom would manifest all the characteristics of God; such as, love, joy, peace, unity, power and authority. For this purpose, God created us in His image and Likeness. The Greek word used here, when translated, gives us the message; that God duplicated Himself. We are supposed to be the duplicates of God! Hallelujah! He went so far as to call us gods. (Psalm 82/6, John 10/34-35)

Unfortunately, the plan of God was temporarily hindered, due to the disobedience of the first parents. The entire human race stands before God as the sons of disobedience, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in them (Eph.2/2). As children of disobedience, the human race is deceived, by the enemy of God - Satan, who is known as the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12/9). Because; anyone who is not in Christ, has been led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Him (2 Corinthians 11/3). The deceived; not knowing that they are deceived, try to stand before God through their own effort; just as the first parents did; when they, sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3/7). This was the first time, when man invented religion. And it was unacceptable to God, because God replace those aprons with a blood covered skin of an animal, promising a savior who would come to fulfill this action (Genesis 3/15-21). God was not satisfied with religion. He wanted to see a Kingdom people, with Kingdom Power and Kingdom Authority. That would be possible only if the human beings He created in His Image and likeness (His duplicates, His representatives) were to have an unbroken, undivided, affectionate relationship with Him. The moment the relationship between man and God was broken that plan was shattered. We are the offspring of those unfaithful, disobedient parents. Today the human race has invented religions that do not help them; that cannot enable them to have this unbroken, undivided affectionate relationship with God. Because, the whole plan of God; which consists of creating us in His image and likeness; giving us His Kingdom Power, Kingdom Authority, Kingdom Love and all the resources of the Kingdom, is centered on Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, there is no Kingdom; there is no Power nor Authority, nor any meaning to Life. The deceived man sincerely tries to get all or these apart from Christ Jesus. And the deceived continue to deceive others by leading them into a pious, holy life apart from Christ. This is the religion man has made to satisfy himself and to become self-righteous. To make things, worse, even those who call themselves Christians have founded different denominational churches, which give no importance to the undivided, unbroken, affectionate relationship to Christ Jesus, who alone is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities – all things were created Through Him And For Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. He is the Head of the Body, the Church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything, He might be pre-eminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1/15-20)

And today the deceived Christians are calling themselves the church, without a relationship with Jesus Christ. The head was nothing to do with the Body. Can the body exist without the head? Without a continuous undivided, unbroken, affectionate relationship? And yet; that is the present, unfortunate, frightening situation that is facing this generation and the coming generations; if the real church, (a body of believers who have an unbroken, undivided relationship with the head who is Christ Jesus), does not stand up to proclaim the Kingdom of God for which she exists in the world. The mandate given by Christ Jesus to His church is to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Anything else the so called Christians proclaim, anything else they hold so dearly, such as customs and traditions, rituals and ceremonies, sacrifices and feasts become just an empty religion and unacceptable before God – Just as the fig leaves apron, the first parents had; because Jesus Christ is nowhere in the picture.

Into this hopeless situation comes Jesus Christ saying “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mathew 4/17)

Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13/8), speaks the same message to us as He spoke 2000 years ago. For He is not a Historical religious leader, who came 2000 years ago, dies and gone; He is the Risen Christ, The living of God, The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The Great I Am, who stands before us in all His Glory and Power and Authority, speaking to us – “I have come that you may have life and life in all its abundance”. (John 10/10) The life that He offers is Kingdom life, Kingdom Power, Kingdom Authority and Kingdom Love. It is a life of quality. It cannot be possessed by anyone who refuses to accept His invitation. In order to possess the Kingdom, one needs to possess Jesus Christ, because Jesus is the Kingdom of God. In the Bible, different terms are used to describe the Kingdom. They are “Kingdom of Heaven” “Eternal Life” and “Kingdom of God”. In 1 John 5/11-12 it is written “and this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life (Kingdom of God), and this life (Kingdom) is in His Son (Jesus Christ). He who possesses Jesus Christ possesses the Kingdom of God; he, who does not posses Jesus Christ, does not possess the Kingdom”.

Jesus Christ, who is the Kingdom of God, is a gift from God so that, the human race, the children of disobedience trying to please God with religion and with so called churches which have become like religion, may be saved from eternal damnation. The gift does not become a gift to anyone who does not accept it in humility. No one can earn it; for, a gift cannot be earned. It can only be received, like a child. Jesus said, “Unless you become like a child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God”. (Mathew 18/3-4)

Jesus Christ was a threat to the Pharisees, the scribes, the priest and to the religious leaders of His time. They could not accept His teachings because it did not fit in with their outlook. They wanted to hold on to their customs and traditions. They wanted to be the leaders of the people. They wanted the respect of the people. They wanted their positions of authority. They loved to go about in their long robes in the market places loving the praises of men. (Luke 11/43) And so, Jesus was a threat to them. He challenged them. When Jesus spoke, He spoke with authority and not as the scribes. Hence the devils came out screaming, healing took place, and every one who heard him was astonished. On the contrary, when these religious leaders spoke; nothing happened. And so they were jealous of Him and, they wanted to throw him down the cliff. (Mark 1/21-28, Luke 4/29) History repeats itself. Unless, and until Jesus Christ is given His due place in the hearts of people, in the lives of people and in the life of the church; they will fail to be the Kingdom of God. They will become empty, lifeless religion with meaningless rituals, filled with lifeless prayers and sacrifices, looking for social acceptance. And like Saul of Tarsus they will find themselves persecuting Jesus Christ and Kicking at him. (Acts 26/14-15) And yet they are convinced that they are living for Christ. What a Deception? Until and unless the Christians come out of their blindness, the world will be in a perpetual darkness.

It is note worthy that Jesus Christ preached ONLY the Kingdom of God (Mathew 4/17, Mark 1/15). During His ministry on earth, he spoke in parables concerning the Kingdom. These can be read from the 13th chapter of Mathew, Mathew 5/3, Mathew 18/4, Mathew 5/19-20, Mathew 23/13, Mathew 19/14, Luke 9/2, Luke 14/15-24 are also passages where Jesus speaks only of the Kingdom. Jesus, who came in to this world, bringing His Kingdom, invited many people to be his disciples, in order to be in His Kingdom. And to those, who were prepared to receive Him, to accept Him and to become His disciples, He gave the Kingdom. “The father is pleased to give you the kingdom”. (Luke 12/32) To these He gave power and authority to cast out demons and to heal the sick, while they went about preaching that the Kingdom of God is at hand. (Mark 3/13-15, Mathew 10/7-8, Mark 16/15-18, Luke 10/3-9)

Just as Jesus and John the Baptist began to preach the Kingdom of God after they had been anointed by the Holy Spirit; the disciples (The First Church), also began to preach the Kingdom of God after they received the Holy Spirit. Nobody and no church can preach the Kingdom of God unless they themselves are in the Kingdom now. And if they are in the Kingdom now, they will have the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, with the same mandate given to the first church – “go and preach that the Kingdom of God is at hand”. Anybody who does not do that, belongs not to the body of Christ (The Church), but to an organization, called, by the name church, when actually, it is only an empty religion severed from Christ. “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace”. (Galatians 5/4)

Such people become busy bodies, trying to uplift society, when God’s word says, “The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking” (Romans 14/17). They try to have money power, influence and politics, endeavoring to bring Justice into this world, through human resources, when the word of God says, “The Kingdom of God does not consist of talk but in POWE”. (1 Corinthians 4/20) “Not by might nor by power, but by my SPIRIT says the Lord of hosts”. (Zechariah 4/6)

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual Kingdom consisting of people who have consciously and purposely place themselves under the Kingship of Christ Jesus,

By obeying every word he has spoken in the Bible. Jesus, in turn, seals them with his divine power, the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1/13). And they in turn, go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Kingdom of God, to proclaim release to the captives and to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4/18); doing exactly what their Lord and master Jesus did as seen in (John 14/12). These can look at all the problems of life today and speak with authority just as David who was Anointed by the Spirit, looked at Goliath and said – “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled”. “And that all these assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord”. (1 Samuel 17/45-47) These are the Kingdom of people. This was the first church about whom it is written, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also”. (Acts 17/6) Where is this church today? Unless we are in Christ Jesus, there is no Kingdom, there is not Power, and there is no Church that Jesus Christ recognizes. Will His verdict to the present setup be – “I never know you; depart from me, you evildoers”. (Mathew 7/23)

Let us preach not religion, not theology, not philosophy, not an organization called the church; but let us preach Jesus Christ, The Risen Lord and the Power of His Resurrection; and let us pray together for the Kingdom of God to come. His Kingdom comes in to the lives of people who are in Christ Jesus for; the Kingdom of God is in Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER- 8

HOLY SPIRT TO THOSE IN JESUS CHRIST

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, cursed be every one who hangs on a tree – that In Christ Jesus, The blessing of Abraham might come upon the gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith” (In Christ Jesus) (Galatians 3/13-14).

The word of God, very clearly teaches us, that the entire human race, having descended from Adam, (Genesis 5/3) and being In Adam (Romans 5/12), are under a curse, because Adam was cursed by God, (Genesis 3/17-19), and in Adam, the entire human race is under the curse. Being under the curse, the human race cannot abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them. Hence the law itself becomes a curse for them, because, sinful man, in his weakness cannot keep the law. Hence the word of God says – “for all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, curse by everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them” (Galatians 3/10). Also (Galatians 5/4) tells us – “you who are severed from Christ, (alienated; cut away from Christ), you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace”.

Since the fallen human race, cannot by themselves, keep the law, because their heart is hard as stone, God needs to give them a New Heart, and He needs to put His Spirit within them, to enable them, to walk in obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36/26-27). In order to receive this new heart from God, man’s present heart of stone has to be destroyed and removed. The weapon God uses for this purpose, is the word of God which is likened to a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces; is likened to fire, that burns and melts away the impurity (Jeremiah 23/29). The word of God is also likened to a two edged sword which pierces to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrew 4/12).

It is also very important to note, who can use this weapon effectively, that will bring conversions, healings and deliverances. In the days of his flesh, Jesus Christ of Nazareth preached this word of God in a way, contrary to the already existing preachers in His time. These were the Pharisees, scribes and teachers of the law, who also preached. When Jesus preached; - “they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had Authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, what have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? And the unclean spirit convulsing him and crying with a loud voice came out of him” (Mark 1/22-24, 26).

In our previous message (In Christ – part VII), we had pointed out from the scriptures, that both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, came preaching the Kingdom of God in the Power of the Holy Spirit. It is this power that Jesus promises to all those who are willing to be His disciples (called the Christians in acts 11/26); when Jesus said to them – “And behold, I send the promise of my father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are Clothed with Power on high” (Luke 24/49).

“As the father has sent me, even so I send you. And He Breathed on them, and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20/21-22).

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works than these will he do” (John 14/12).

The early Church, went forth in the power of the Holy Spirit, and preached as Jesus preached, with authority and power. Healings, miracles and deliverances took place. The Holy Spirit came upon those who received the message with gladness of heart (Act 10/44). At the same time nothing happened to those who did not receive the message. “For Good News came to us just as to them, but the message which they heard did not Benefit them, because it did not meet with the faith in the hearers or as the margin in the old RSV would say, they were not united in faith with the hearers” (Hebrews 4/2).

In the present day too, there are those, who have made an all out commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and have become His disciples, and they too, like John the Baptist, like Jesus Christ of Nazareth, like His early disciples – (The First Church) - go about preaching, with the same authority and power, and the hearers who receive it with gladness of heart filled with the Holy Spirit as in (Acts 10/44), while others disbelieve or does not receive the full message, and so get nothing as in (Hebrews 4/2). At the same time there are those, who preached like the Pharisees and scribes with no authority or power softening the message in order to please the itching ears of the listeners (2 Timothy 4/3) often; knowingly or unknowingly preaching either a lie or an half truth and hence do not experience the workings of the Holy Spirit and yet claim to have the Spirit when the signs of His presence are not seen. About such people Paul wrote – “For we are not, like so many, Peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak In Christ Jesus”. (2 Corinthians 2/17)

Now the word of God, very clearly tells us, as to who receives the Holy Spirit. “In Him you also, who have heard *The Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation had have believed in Him, (In Christ Jesus) were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire permission of it, to the praise of his Glory (Ephesians 1/13-14)

“Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us In Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1/3).

From these verses of scriptures it is very clear that all the blessings are obtained in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1/20), especially the spiritual blessings – the greatest of them being the blessing of the Holy Spirit; is received only In Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1/3, 6, 7). It is also noteworthy that all the epistles written in the Bible are addressed to those who are In Christ Jesus. As an example (Ephesians 1/1) tells us – “Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints (believers in Christ) who are also faithful In Christ Jesus”. At the same time the letter of Jude again written to the church tells us that there are many who are like waterless clouds, carried along by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, Twice Dead, uprooted, wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars for whom they nether gloom of darkness has been reserved forever, who are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loudmouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage, scoffers following their own ungodly passions, setting up divisions, worldly people, “Who Do Not Have The Holy Spirit” (Jude 12-13, 16-19).
In order to receive the Holy Spirit, the word of God, in (Ephesians 1/13-14) tells us that,

1. We need to first, hear the word of truth – (not half-truth or LIE that seems to be the truth – but The Truth. Because Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” – free from your ignorance, free from your spiritual blindness, free from your spiritual pride and arrogance. It is the gospel of your salvation, preached with authority and Power of Jesus Christ and heard with humility and faith that enables one to be set free.

2. Having heard the word of truth, one needs to believe in Christ Jesus; receive Him as Lord and Savior and abide in His Word. That is to Be IN CHRIST.

3. Then, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit

4. This Holy Spirit is given as a guarantee in those In Christ Jesus, as an assurance of their full inheritance (full inheritance with Christ – Rom 8/17) – As seen in (Ephesians 1/13-14)

It is through listing to the Word Of Truth, preached with authority and power; and exercising ones own free will to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that one is saved. It is a fact that Jesus Christ died for the entire human race. But each individual needs to hear and decide for themselves to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, in order to enter into Salvation. As one great saint has said; “The God who created, you, without your permission cannot now save you, Without Your Permission”. Exercising one’s free will to decide, to receive and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is very important to Salvation, as we know Salvation is a free gift of God (Ephesians 2/8-9, Romans 4/1-8, Titus 3/5-7). A GIFT becomes a Gift, only when it is accepted personally. A Gift cannot be bought. A Gift is freely offered; it is not forcefully pushed into anybody. A Gift that is freely offered must freely be accepted without payment. Salvation is a free Gift of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the Gift of God (John 3/16). Salvation cannot be obtained by Good Works. You either reject it, or receive it in faith. God has placed a condition for salvation – “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved; for man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved” (Romans 10/9-10). “To all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, But Of God” (John 1/12-13).

It is children, who receive from the father. When he becomes the children of God, the father of God gives His children the Holy Spirit. This is clearly stated in (Luke 11/13) “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gift to your children, how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. (His Children) “It is also clear that there are two types of children and two types of fathers. Speaking to the believers of Jesus – mind you; not to the unbelievers, but to the believing Jews in (John 8/31-47); Jesus, finally tells those who claim to be the descendants of Abraham that they are the children of the devil. “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because their no truth in him” (John 8/44) Again, in (1 John 3/10) it is written “by this it may be seen who are the children of God and who are children of the devil”. “You son of the devil” (Acts 13/10). Again (1 Peter 2/10), two types of people are mentioned – those who are God’s people and those who are not God’s people. Hence, on one side there is God the father and His children, who are In Christ Jesus and on the other side there is Satan, the father of his children who are not In Christ. It is through the undiluted word of God that is preached, uncompromisingly, with authority and power, that people are delivered from the dominion of darkness (Satan) and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1/13). These who have come out of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1/13). And in Christ Jesus these receive all the blessings of God especially the promise of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3/14).

Until and unless, a human being listens to the Word of Truth, the gospel of their salvation, and exercise their free will to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord; they will remain in darkness; they will belong to this world – [a system under the power of Satan (1 John 5/19), which is ruled and controlled by Satan (Luke 4/5-7).] Jesus Himself acknowledges, that Satan is the ruler of this world; the price of this world (John 12/31, John 16/11); the God of this world (2 Corinthians 4/4), the deceiver of this world (Revelations 12/9), who controls and enslaves those are not In Christ Jesus.

God’s word calls this system in which those who are not In Christ belong; as the World. And these worldly people do not have the Holy Spirit, says God in (Jude 19). The worldly people cannot receive the Holy Spirit, says Jesus in (John 14/17). Jesus does not even pray for the world as seen in (John 17/9) and Gods word speaks to us very strongly in (1 John 2/15-17) where it is written, do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not the father but is of the world (Satan)”

From the above it is very clear, that everybody in this world do not have the Holy Spirit. One needs to come out of this world; come out from following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Walking with these worldly people, following the desires of body and mind makes us children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2/2-3) And so we cannot receive the Holy Spirit unless, we repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, having come out of this world filled with a crooked generation. This is what Peter advised the listeners who heard his first speech in (Acts 2/38-40).

The Good news is that the promise of the Holy Spirit is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him (Acts 3/39); to everyone who is prepared to repent and turn away from the world; to everyone who is prepared to receive and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (John 1/12-13); to everyone who prepared to believe in their heart and confess with their lips that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10/9-10); to everyone who is prepared to acknowledge before men without being ashamed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Luke 12/8)

Making a general statement, that all have the Holy Spirit; and whether or not they are in the world, in Adam, a sinner, who has never heard the gospel, who after having heard it, has not made a good surrender to Jesus accepting His Lordship – is the greatest Deceptive Message, that is attractive to the worldly people who are under the power of the prince of the air, which helps them to continue in their sinful, worldly, ignorant state, not knowing that they are under the power of Satan (1 John 5/19).

It would do well to listen very carefully to the apostle, whom Jesus loved, as, though the Holy Spirit, he is warning us when he says – “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore, we know that it is the last hour”. (1 John 2/18) The Antichrist – Spirit working in the people who are not In Christ Jesus, will teach things contrary to what is written in the scriptures.

The scriptures clearly teaches us that

Salvation Is Only In Christ Jesus! (Acts 4/12)
HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS (Galatians 3/14, Ephesians 1/13-14)

The coming of the Holy Spirit in one’s life is the beginning of the Kingdom of God in one’s life. That is why the Holy Spirit is given as a guarantee or (the advanced payment) as some manuscripts would say; in full assurance that one will acquire the fullness of the Kingdom. For this one needs to Repent, Surrender to the Kingship, the lordship of Jesus in one’s life. To believe that all have the Holy Spirit, will lead people to a state of self-contentment and self-righteousness and blind to Sin and to the Deception of Satan.

“If anybody is thirsty, let him come to me” says Jesus in (John 7/37)

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If, anybody opens, I will come in” (Revelations 3/20)

“If a man loves me, he will keep my world, then, we will come (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to him and make our home with him”. (John 14/23)

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of Sins and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 2/38)

Repent – Turn away from Sin, World and the works of the devil.

If – (condition) – you are thirsty……..….

If – (condition) – you open the door…..….
If – (condition) – you keep my word….….

And receive Jesus Christ (Be in Christ) you become God’s child (John 1/12) and the Father gives you His Best Gift to Seal you for His Own, which is the Holy Spirit.

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-9

WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY MY LORD?

“They have taken away my Lord and, I do not know where they have laid Him”. (John 20-13)

This is the honest, sincere Cry of a person looking for her beloved, Lord Jesus Christ. In the days of His flesh on this earth, many sincerely followed Jesus Christ: to listen to His teaching, to receive healings and deliverance from Him and to receive all kinds of favors from Him. But; when His teachings became hard to listen to, many of His disciples drew back and no longer went about with Him. “Many of His disciples, when they heard it said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it”? After this, many of His disciples drew back and no longer went about with Him” (John 6/60, 66). These people thought; that they were true disciples; but they proved themselves wrong! Then there were the twelve disciples, to whom Jesus asked; “Do you also wish to go away”? (John 6/67). Representing the twelve; Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God? (John 6/68-60). “And Peter also said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to Prison and to death” (Luke 22/23). But; when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus; all these disciples ran away; and Peter, who made all these wonderful proclamation had no difficulty in denying his master three times saying ‘I Do Not Know Him!” (Luke 22/57)

And now, when these disciples cam to the tomb, looking for Jesus, and not finding Him there; they went back to their homes (John 20/10). But this one person stood outside the tomb weeping and saying – “they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him” (John 20/13). Because, she loved her Lord so much, she waited, and waited; until the Lord came to her and called out to her with all His love and affection “MARY” (John 20/16). But the others; not finding Jesus there, went back to their old life saying – “I am going fishing. They went out and got into the boat; but, they caught NOTHING” (John 21/3).

Since they did not know the scriptures (John 20/9), they could not believe, nor experience that their Lord and Master had risen from the dead and was living among them; because, they did not, yet, Have The Holy Spirit. And so, the only thing they could do was to look for His dead body in the tomb! Hence, the Lord’s messengers had to ask them, “Why do you seek the Living among the Dead”? (Luke 24/5). And so, they had nothing to rejoice about. Some of them were sad discussing together about the things that happened to Jesus; how they have hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel etc. (Luke 24/13-24). They only option left to them were to go back to their old work! Fishing; Fishing, and catching Noting!

It is very heart breaking for us; who honestly, sincerely and faithfully looking for Jesus among the Christian churches today and not finding HIM there; have to ask the same question – “Where have you taken my Lord? “If you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him”? (John 20/15).

And the answer comes back to us from the Lord “Why Do You Seek the Living among the Dead”? (Luke 24/25)

Although, many do not listen to, and accept this truth; it is a fact that, sincere seekers and lovers of Jesus Christ, cannot find Him in many so called churches that call themselves the church and yet do not show forth anything of Christ! They do not speak about Jesus; they do not lift up the name of Jesus; they do not proclaim Jesus Christ of Nazareth in their so called gospel preaching; they do not have the power of the risen Lord; they do not exercise the authority of Jesus Christ and they do not have the Love and unity that Jesus Christ prayed for!

On the contrary; what we see, is disunity, disharmony, fighting for leadership, looking for the respect of men; going to any extent to hold on to their worldly authority (which is not from Christ), putting burdens after burdens on people (when Jesus came to take away the burdens), putting fear into people, taking advantage of their ignorance, denying and speaking against the work of the Holy Spirit among sincere believers; criticizing, joking and making fun of healings and miracles that the Lord is doing through HIS PEOPLE, presenting Jesus Christ in horrible and frightening looking creatures which they acknowledge as another way to God! Oh! Where have you taken my Lord? If Jesus Christ is alive; His mystical body (The Church) is alive and will be alive.

When the first disciples; who had not yet received the Holy Spirit, began to look for Jesus, they could not find Him; because they looked for Him in the dead place. If you, then, look for this same Jesus in the dead places, you will not find Him there; For He Is Risen, He Is Alive and He Lives among His People, who have risen and is alive in Christ Jesus; who alone belong the mystical body – The Church – who go about in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ; speaking the name of Jesus, lifting up the name of Jesus, proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, unashamedly and without fear and the Lord Jesus Christ moves along with them confirming their – messages with signs and wonders, miracles and healings and showing forth the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mark 16/16-20, John 14/12). Look for, this Jesus Christ, among such people. You will find Him there. You will find His love, His joy, His peace and His power there and there alone. Other wise; if you look for him among the dead, who have no such power, no such love, joy and peace; you will go back sad, miserable, sick and unwanted and finally, you will go fishing and Get Noting!

Before Jesus came to this earth; there was a system; which held on to the commandments of Moses. They had their traditions, philosophies, theologies and ideologies. The people who belong to this System, held on to their rituals, festivals, sacrifices, fasting and prayer methods. They claimed to be the descendants of Abraham and yet they tried to kill Jesus!

And Jesus said to them – “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. You do what your father did. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because; you cannot BEAR to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God” (John 8/39-41, 44, 47). “None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory” (1 Corinthians 2/8).

This Anti – Christ system, continued to exist, even after the crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. On Pentecost day, when the Holy Spirit came upon the hundred and twenty, gathered in the Upper room, Jesus began to manifest Himself through this mystical body – THE CHURCH. And the same Anti Christ system began to persecute Him by persecuting His mystical body. And the leader was none other than the great religious man – Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul) – who, with all his religious piety, holiness, sincerity and faithfulness to the commandments of Moses, ended up persecuting Jesus Christ of Nazareth; so much so, that Jesus Christ had to ask him – “Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute Me? It hurts you to kick against the goads”. (Acts 26/14)

This Anti – Christ system exists even today! In a very Deceptive way, this system exists among the so called Christian churches; who give more importance to their traditions, festivals, rituals, ceremonies, theologies, philosophies, doctrines, rules and regulations, liturgies and prayers – Other Than Jesus! These speak of the Church; but they never speak of Jesus! They don’t seem to have known the Risen Lord personally! They seem to have gone looking for Him among the dead, and now go about fishing Without Jesus, and so get nothing. Unfortunately, they do not even know the basics of Christianity in an experimental way. They have nothing to proclaim to the people about Jesus; and they do not lag behind in condemning, criticizing, accusing and persecuting the real followers of Jesus Christ who belong to the mystical body – The Church, and so the people are forced to ask them this question, “Where have you taken my Lord”? And Jesus, who condemns such churches as Dead Churches (Rev 3/2), even goes as far as to call them “Synagogue of Satan”. (Rev. 3/9). He asks the honest seekers – “Why do you seek the Living among the Dead”? (Luke 24/5).

“He has risen from the Dead, He is not here” (Mark 16/6). Flee from the tomb as they did (Mark 16/8) and meet Jesus with His disciples who are in perfect fellowship (Mark 16/14) In Christ Jesus.

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-10

IS JESUS THE PROBLEM? [PART –A]

“I am afraid that as the serpent Deceived Eve by his cunning; your thoughts will be lead Astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. [2 Corinthians 11/:3]

This letter is written by a very devout Jew by birth, Saul of Tarsus, who later on became St. Paul – The Apostle of Christ Jesus. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he writes from his own experience. Speaking about himself, he writes that he advance in Judaism beyond many of his own age among his people, so extremely zealous was he for the traditions of his fathers [Galatians 1:14]. Being a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia brought up in that city at the feet of Gamaliel the great teacher, educated according to the strict manner of the law of his fathers and being zealous for God [Acts 22:3], he obeyed all the laws of Moses. He was circumcised on the eighth day, belonged to the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee; as to the righteousness under the law of blameless. Yet will all his zeal, sincerity and faithfulness he was spiritually blind; Hence he ended up kicking at the very God who created him, who saved him and who called him, because he did not know the name of his God – the name that is above every other name – Jesus Christ. He was so blind spiritually; that in persecuting the Church – The Body of Christ – he was persecuting Jesus Christ Himself. Once upon a time he though he did not realize that Satan was very cleverly leading his thoughts ASTRAY from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Being a very religious person himself; he knows fully well that Satan uses religion to lead people away from Jesus Christ. That is the reason he cries out from the bottom of his heart when he looks at his own brethren, his kinsmen by race as he writes in Romans 9:1-7.

“I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying: my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself be accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen by race. They are Israelites, and to them belong the son ship, the glory, and the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the Word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his descendants. My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of righteousness that comes from god and seeking to establish their own; they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For they don’t understand that Christ has died for them to make them right with God. Instead, they are trying to make themselves righteous by their own methods and customs; but that is not God’s way of Salvation”. [Romans 9:1-7, 10:1-4]

In the process of rejecting Jesus Christ – The Righteousness of God. Paul himself says, he formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted Jesus Christ [1 Timothy 1:13]

This is the sad state of affairs of many sincere, faithful, holy religious people in the modern days too. That is why St. Paul, who himself was deceived wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3 for all those who will ever live after him, writhing the concern.

“I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be lead astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”? [2 Corinthians 11:3]

Satan’s arch enemy is “Jesus Christ Himself. He is not bothered with anyone who exalts himself; or any deity who is exalted as god, because he knows they are not gods. Instead he encourages devotion to such gods because that will keep them away from a pure and sincere devotion from the real God, Jesus Christ. He has succeeded to such an extent that he is able to prevent even Christians from speaking the name Jesus – the Only Name Under The Heavens given among men by which we must be saved [Acts 4:12]. And so very cunningly, Satan puts into the minds of people good desires and thoughts to bring unity among all religions when he fully knows that God has no religion! In that process, he brings in a common word –God- which can be used by every religion that rejects the real and true God, Jesus Christ. The word – “God” – is a compromise when it is not referred to Jesus Christ. God can be anything or anybody, any deity or Idol. Money too can be a God. Any created thing can be God and Satan promotes such Gods. His main works in this world is to blind the minds of the people to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ who is in the likeness of God [2 Corinthians 4:4] and he uses religion as a veil to blind their minds.

The first time Satan put his blind on Eve was when he managed to take her focus away from Jesus Christ [represented by the Tree of Life], to self-dependence [represented by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil] and to self-righteousness [Religion – represented by the fig leaves]. Ever since, as the human race increased and multiplied, religions also increased and multiplied. Not one of these religions acknowledges Jesus Christ as God.

The cunning serpent – Satan, knows full well that God created man Not To Be In Religions; but even before the world was created, God chose us to be In Christ Jesus [Ephesians 1:4]. Satan also knows that, man was given the image and likeness of God, the very life of God, the authority and the Power of God [Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:7] and that man was crowned with glory and honor of God [Psalm 8:5-6]. And God called his people Gods [Psalm 82:6, John 10:34-35]. Satan also knows; that, as long as man remains In Christ Jesus his kingdom of darkness will be over them because, all that God gave to man can be exercised only In Christ Jesus. Apart from Jesus Christ, man is dead spiritually; is sick, in poverty, in tribulation, suffering all kinds of calamities. In this situation Satan is able to overpower them, make them slaves to sin and keep them under his control. In order to do that Satan promotes religion which gives them a false sense of well – being and encourages them to go to all types of gods to solve their problems when in fact he himself receives all the worship.
St. Paul, who went through all these experiences, writes with authority – “Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols. What pagan’s sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light so it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” [1 Corinthians 10”14-20, Corinthians 11:14-15]

Today; we are living in the church age, the church is The Body of Christ. The church is Jesus Christ himself. Just as Jesus Christ walked on this earth through the body he took from Mary’s womb in order to dispel the darkness and destroy the works of the devil [1 John 3:9, John 1:5]. That same Jesus is alive today. He is the same yesterday, today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. This Jesus continues to walk on this earth through another body – The Church – to dispel the darkness and to destroy the works of the devil. This Church, The Body Of Christ – consists of believers who are the true disciples Of JESUS CHRIST, who live according to the Word of God [John 8:31-32], who are filled with the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:1-4, Ephesians 5:18], who are lead by the Holy Spirit [Romans 8:14], who are clothed with power from on High [Luke 24:49] who do exactly what Jesus did [John 14:12], who have all the signs of the believers mentioned in [Mark 16:16-18], who are proclaiming Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God [Acts 28:23] and making disciples of all nations according to the command given by their master in [Mathew 28:18-20]. And the Lord Jesus Christ, works along with them confirming their messages with signs and wonders [Mark 16:20]. This is the Church. This is the Body of Christ. This is Jesus Christ himself walking on this planet earth even in the 21st Century!

The Church is not a religion, but Satan has managed to put in into the minds of the people to make them believe that Christianity is religion. Remember; religion does not acknowledge Jesus Christ nor proclaim Him and so today we have people who do not proclaim Jesus Christ nor mention His name and yet call themselves Christians. They cannot be the Church. They unfortunately and unknowingly are blinded and enslaved in a religion that does not proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus was the problem to Satan even before the world was created. Jesus became more of a problem to Satan when man was created in the image and likeness of God. The only way to keep this problem away from him was To DECEIVE man and take away his sincere and pure devotion to Christ, by leading man’s thoughts ASTRAY from Jesus [2 Corinthians 11:3]! And to make Christians believe that Christianity is a religion and that all the religions are the same and all religions leaded to God. This is the righteousness without Jesus – The True Righteousness OF God – The deception that Paul and his brethren were in [Romans 10:1-4] which made them persecute Jesus Christ and His Church. And so very cunningly, Satan has divided the Christians into thousands of bits and pieces, which call themselves Church when actually they are projecting a religion without Christ.

IS JESUS A PROBLEM EVEN FOR CHRISTIANS?

In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-11

IS JESUS THE PROBLEM? [PART –B]

IS JESUS A PROBLEM EVEN FOR CHRISTIANS?

“Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all”?

“Get some sense and quit your sinning for to your shame I say it, some of you are not even Christians at all and have never really known God” [1 Corinthians 15:34, Living Bible]

Sin is separation from God. God created us to be in Christ Jesus. A person who names himself as a Christian is In Christ Jesus because he abides in His word. That leads him to be a disciple of Christ [John 8:31]. It is these Disciples of Christ who live according to the word of God and hence proclaim the name of Jesus Christ who are called Christians in God’s word [Acts 11:26]. It is the gathering of such disciples that is the Body of Christ – The Church and the Church is commanded to preach Jesus Christ.

“And he sent us to preach the Good News every where and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the Judge of all living and dead. And all the prophets have written about Him, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through the name”. [Acts 10:42-43]

Pope John Paul II says:-“When we say that the Church is Catholic we mean she is missionary, apostolic and evangelizing. If she does not have these qualities she is not the True Church” [Hail: 1983]

“There is no true evangelization, if the Name, The Kingdom and the Life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is not proclaimed”. [EN:22]

The 2nd Vatican Council section on “The Church in the modern world” says, “The Church exists to proclaim the gospel”. The Gospel is Good News. Jesus Is The Good News. In the proclamation of the Church, first importance must be given to Jesus Christ as the word of God says; “I passed on to you right from the first what had been told to me that Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said he would, and that he was buried, and that three days afterwards he rose from the grave just as the prophets foretold”. [1 Corinthians 15:3]

Inspite of all these truths seen in the Word of God, in the teaching of the Church, in the proclamation of the Popes and other sincere and faithful Christian leaders belonging to different Christian denominations, it is very sad to see that, majority of people who call themselves Christians do not even utter the name of Jesus. This matter is going from bad to worse as these Christians not only fail to proclaim Christ; but are too busy to twist and to turn and misinterpret the Vatican councils, to prove that the name of Jesus must not be proclaimed. Can anybody have the right to go against the word of God; to keep away from the great commission of Jesus Christ as seen in Mathew 28:19-20?

As we have already seen in [PART-A] of this article, the only goal of Satan is to keep Jesus Christ away from people. Are there so called Christians unknowingly siding with Satan? The word of God says, “Yes”.

“Note this: I will force those supporting the causes of Satan while claiming to be mind [but they aren’t – they are lying] to fall at your feet and acknowledge that you are the ones I love”. [Living Bible, Revelation 3:9]

IS JESUS A PROBLEM EVEN TO THESE SO CALLED CHRISTIANS?

He seems to be a problem to them; but, unfortunately, they are not aware of it! That is the Great Deception we spoke of in (Part VI) of these series. That is the reason why the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul tells us:-

“I am afraid that as the serpent Deceived Eve, by his cunning; your thoughts will be led Astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ”. [2 Corinthians 11:3]

The next verse tells us how a person can be Led Away from Christ:-
1. People preaching another Jesus rather than the one found in the Bible.
2. Receiving a different spirit rather than the spirit of Truth who alone can lead into the Truth revealed in the Word of God.
3. By accepting a different Gospel from the one the apostles preached.
4. By submitting oneself to this Deception in Ignorance. [2 Corinthians 11:4]

“Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey". [Romans 6:16]

And Satan has his ministers to come and preach as seen:-“Yet I am not surprised! Satan can change himself into an angel of light, so it is no wonder his servants can do it too, and seem like godly ministers. In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve”. [Living Bible 2 Corinthians 11:14-15]

Why does Jesus Christ become a problem to the majority of Christians?

The most important reason is this: They have been born and baptized into a Church, but have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ! And even if they have heard, they have not understood it. And if they have understood it, they have not fully accepted it. What happened to the Pharisees and scribes 2000 years ago happens too many in this century also. Because of their religion that demands certain rules and regulations to be obeyed, rituals and ceremonies to be observed, they lived according to the letter of the law and rejected Jesus Christ because of their self-righteousness. History is repeated today in this century. Because of self righteousness, the righteousness of God – Christ Jesus – is rejected [Romans 10:1-4]. Just as this happened to Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul) and the other Pharisees and scribes through their ignorance; the same happens to these so – called Christians today through their ignorance, self-righteousness and hard – heartedness.

Another reason for Jesus becoming a problem to such people is: - Fear. The greatest example for this is none other than Peter. Although Peter told Jesus “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” [Luke 22:33]; When Jesus was seized and led away to the High Priests house; Peter kept a safe distance away from Jesus, so that he may not be recognized with Him and he sat with those who shouted- “Crucify Him” [Luke 22:54-55] and he also denied Jesus three times [Luke 22:56-60]. All because of Fear. Although he made great proclamations privately to Jesus; he could not make that proclamation publicly to the people because of Fear. In the same way many Christians today make proclamation because of Fear – may be Unknown Fear; Fear of being rejected by people and authorities. This also was the case of many believers in the days of Jesus.

“Nevertheless many even of authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” [John 12:42-43]

And so they have an out ward form of religion but deny Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit [2 Timothy 3:5]

“Then he said to them, “You were a noble pious expression in public, but God knows your evil hearts. Your pretense brings you honor from the people, but it is an abomination in the sight of God” [Living Bible, Luke 16:15].

It is to be noted that Peter and other believers denied Jesus, because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit, but the moment they received the Holy Spirit, they proclaimed Christ boldly How is that those who claim to have the Holy Spirit are not able to proclaim Jesus Christ? Yet another reason for Jesus becoming a problem to many is that want an easy life. They seek a comfortable Christianity contrary to what the scriptures tell us: - “Enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life and those who find it are few”. [Mathew 7:13-14]

Many seek the Broadway looking for the respect of people, love and praise from people, recognition by the authorities as seen in [John 12:42-43] and they loved their own lives contrary to the scripture which says: “Unless you hate your own life, you cannot be my disciple”. [Luke 14:26]

And they, clinged to their own possessions and pleasures so much, that they are afraid that Jesus will make a demand on them Hence they finally reject him. This rejection of Jesus in individual lives of many believers is unknown to many of them; for it sprouts from the unconscious level of mind. Outwardly; there is definitely a sincere and faithful proclamation that they belong to Christ; yet, inwardly they are unaware that Jesus has no place in their hearts. This is clear from the words of Jesus recorded in [mark 7:6-7]

“These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the percepts of men”.

The following examples taken from scriptures may help an honest seeker who would like to know how one can reject Jesus unknowingly in the unconscious level of the mind. The first letter of St. Peter tells us that to those who trust in Jesus; He is precious. But for those who do not trust Him; he is a stumbling block.

“To you who therefore who believe He is precious, but for those who do not believe, the very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner, and a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall; for they stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” [1 Peter 2:7-8].

Peter very clearly tells us that many will stumble because they do not obey the Word of God. One of the ways they stumble is mentioned in [Mark 7:8-9]

“You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the Tradition of Men. You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition”.

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit both advices and exhorts his listeners in [Colossians 2:6-10]

“As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanks – giving. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to Human Tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority”?

Paul himself; once upon a time rejected Christ Jesus because of the credentials he held on to; such as mentioned in [Philippians 3:4-6] which were:-
1. Confidence in his circumcision ceremony.
2. In belonging to the people of Israel.
3. Of being the tribe of Benjamin.
4. A Hebrew born of Hebrews.
5. According to the law, a Pharisee
6. So zealous for God; that he persecuted the church.
7. So righteous, because under the law, he was blameless.
8. As far as education; he sat at the feet of the great teacher Gamaliel [Act 22:3]

It is only when Paul considered all these as useless and worthless that Christ Jesus came into his life [Philippians 3:7-9] Even Nicodemus, a Pharisee, ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus got the shock of his life; When Jesus spoke to him straight to his face and told him that he will never see the Kingdom of God with all his religion, rules and regulations and Tradition unless he is Born Again by the Holy Spirit [John 3:3-5]; by accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master [John 1:12-13].

Today, many so-called Christians seem to be in the footsteps of the Pharisees like Nicodemus and Saul of Tarsus (St. Paul).

Another way of Jesus becoming a problem to many is seem in the life of Zacchaeus. He wanted to see Jesus. At the same time he did not want Jesus to see him not interfere in his life. So he found a comfortable Christianity on top of the sycamore tree from where he could see Jesus and still hold on to all the injustice in his life. But Jesus had to deal with him, in order to bring him and his entire household into salvation [Luke 19:1-9].
Similarly; in case of the Samaritan women, she wanted to see the messiah and drink from the living waters that only he could give; yet not prepared to separate herself from her sinful pleasures. And so unconsciously; she was preventing him from coming into her life with all kinds of excuses; until Jesus dealt with her sin and enabled her to come to repentance. The moment she gave away her sinful pleasures; she found the Lord Jesus.

Yet another example of the rejection of Jesus is seen in [Mark 5:1-17]. Here, Jesus had set the entire town free from a demoniac who was a terror to them. But when they saw that two thousand pigs were lost in the bargain “they began to beg Jesus to depart form their neighborhood” [Mark 5:17]

Similarly; many want favors from the Lord but not the Lord Jesus Christ himself; because if he remains too long; he may make demands – is the Unknown Fear lurking in the hearts of many believers.

Yet another way of rejecting Christ Jesus is spoken of by Jesus himself in [Luke 10:16] where, the real Disciples of Christ who preach the word of God uncompromisingly is rejected, criticized, condemned and persecuted:

“He, who rejects you, Rejects Me and he who Rejects me; rejects him who sent me”,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who have been send to you” [Luke 13:34].

To Saul of Tarsus who persecuted the disciples Jesus said: “Saul, Saul, why did you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goods” [Acts 26:14]

To those who claimed to be God’s people but persecuted the Disciples of Christ, Gamaliel said: “You might even be found opposing God”! [Acts 5:39]

And so too; Jesus Christ is indeed a problem to the so-called Christians who claim to be the people of God. Hence Jesus Christ is denied and put down much more by Christians than anybody else. Whether, the same voice – “Away with Him, We Want Barrabus” [Luke 23:18] is still lurking in the atmosphere, is a question to be pondered.

To such people, the voice of Jesus will be heard one day: “If you Deny Me before Men, I will Deny you before my Father” [Mathew 10:33].
In Christ Jesus

CHAPTER-12

HOW TO BE IN CHRIST JESUS

Through the last eleven messages in this series, we have been trying to put forward the abundant blessing of God in Christ Jesus, available to anyone who is prepared to receive them In Christ Jesus. For the Word of God says: - “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me” [John 7:37]. Jesus did not say, “Let all come”; but He said, “If Anyone is thirsty; let his come. Or, on another occasion Jesus said, “If Anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come Into Him and eat with him and he with me” [Rev. 3:20]. Or, in Isaiah 55, it is written – “HO, everyone who thirsts, come - Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him, while He is near” [Isaiah 55:1-6]. All the blessings of God are available In Christ Jesus only [2 Corinthians 1:20]; because, Jesus became a curse for us, that In Christ Jesus we may receive the blessings of God [Gal 3:13-14] or, it is written Jesus became sin for our sake, so that we may become righteous before God in Christ Jesus [2 Corinthians 5:21].

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come”. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

In order to receive all the blessings of God in Christ Jesus; we need to, first understand how man forfeited all these blessings. He lost everything that God gave him because, man, of his own free will, chose to disobey and disbelieve God. Instead, man chose to believe and to obey what Satan offered; there by, facing all the consequences of that decision; the worst consequence being, slavery to the devil.

“Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death or of obedience which leads to righteousness”? [Romans 6:16]

This is the reason why Jesus spoke the truth to the good religious people of his time, when he told them that they were slaves and they needed to be free. In order to experience freedom in Christ, they needed to know the Truth [John 8:32], which is the word of God [John 7:17]. But, in order to know the Truth, they need to Be IN CHRIST JESUS and to be His disciples. How does this happen? Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free”. [John 8:31-32]

It is very important to understand that Jesus Christ himself is the Word of God became flesh [John 1:14].

“In the beginning was the word [Jesus], and the word [Jesus] was with God, and the word [Jesus] was God. He [Jesus] was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him [Jesus] and without him was not anything made that was made. In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men” [John 1:1-4].

“And the word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we have beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Son of the Father. And from his fullness have we all received grace upon grace” [John 1:14-16].

“And the name by which He [Jesus] is called is The Word of God” [Revelation 19:13].

From the above verses, (quoted from scripture), it can be clearly understood that Jesus Is the Word of God and hence, if anyone abides in the word (lives according to the word), he abides In Christ Jesus. This makes him a disciple of Christ [John 8:31-32]. Only disciples are Christians [Acts 11:26]. Only disciples receive all the blessings from God because they are In Christ Jesus.

Now; coming to the most important question; is It Possible to Abide in the Word of God (live according to the word of God)? The answer is Yes and No. Some will find it difficult and others will find it easy to ABIDE in the Word of God.

WHO WILL FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ABIDE IN THE WORD OF GOD?

All those born In Adam; the sinner, the enemy of God, the spiritually dead man who cannot know and experience God, who possess the wisdom of this world which is a corrupted wisdom, that came from Lucifer the fallen angel [Ezekiel 28:17] and hence cannot understand the things of God. Such people will find the Bible boring, and meaningless. They will have no taste for the Word of God. Although, such people may be holy, pious, religious, and sincere in seeking God; their spiritual state prevents them from enjoying the Word of God and hence they will find it burdensome to obey the Word of God. This prevents from being In Christ Jesus who is the Word of God. To such people Jesus said: - “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” [John 3:3].

This could also be the case of all those people who call themselves Christians on the basis of their baptism, but have never heard the Gospel; Or, if at all they have heard it, they may not have given a positive response to the word of God and hence they still remain in a state of Spiritual death; because, it is only through the Word of God (JESUS) that one is born anew.

“You have been born anew, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding Word of God” [1 Peter 1:23].

It is also noteworthy from the Word of God, that many who heard the word did not benefit anything at all; because they did not receive that Word in faith nor did they put it into practice.

“For, good news came to us, just as to them; but the message which they heard did Not Benefit Them, because it did not meet with faith in the hearers” [Hebrews 4:2].

“Be Doers of the Word” and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” [James 1:22].

“We have much to say which is Hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing” [Hebrews 5:11].

It is very important to understand, that all human beings born into this world are born with a Heart of Stone, as the Bible calls it; because this heart is closed to God and to his word. And this heart becomes harder and harder as people become more and more religious. That is why the Pharisees and the scribes who were religious rejected Jesus, The Word of God. Since the Word of God is God himself; we cannot separate God from his Word. For that reason we cannot have a religion without the Word of God. To do so is to keep God away from our lives and yet to be religious which is deception. This is the reason why Jesus looked at that religious man, Nicodemus and said emphatically:-“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you are born again, you will never enter the Kingdom of God” [John 3:5].

You must be born again through the living and abiding the word of God [1 Peter 1:23].

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

“A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you, a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to observe my ordinances”. [Ezekiel 36:26-27].

From the above verses, we can notice that being born again is a work of God within us, when, we allow him to work in us. That is why Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him” [Revelation 3:20].

Hence, we need to listen to His voice by hearing His Word from the Bible and then God himself removes the heart of stone from within us and replaces it with a heart of flesh. He then gives us his Holy Spirit to live within this new heart and His Holy Spirit helps us to abide In Christ Jesus by giving us the power to obey and to put into practice all that is spoken in the Word of God. We begin to have a spiritual taste for the Word of God. We begin to enjoy the Word of God and we begin to abide in the Word of God. To such people Jesus says “You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my father assign to me, a Kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” [Luke 22:28-30].

And so as we come to the close of this series – In Christ Jesus we pray that all those who have been led by the Spirit of God to read these messages, may continuously be led by the same Holy Spirit to listen to His word preached with His authority by His disciples who are in different part of this world and to receive a new heart which will thirst for the Word of God.

“You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me and me in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in vine, neither can you unless you abide In Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and me in him, He, it is that bears much fruit, for Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing” [John 15:3-5].