The Church Is Christ On Earth

This is probably the most difficult lesson to put into the Body of Christ. It meets with a strange resistance that is so unbelievable. I use the word strange because the Body of Christ is almost repulsed by even the inference of its own divinity. For some reason, it is almost impossible to get the children of God to accept the fact that they are literally the children of God, having the divine nature of God. Nevertheless, I will continue to try to persuade you of these magnificent facts.

Romans 1:16-17

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

First of all, it is the redemptive power of the gospel that proves and reveals the just nature of God. He is justified in all His dealings with mankind. Again, this justification is revealed in the salvation provided by the preaching of the gospel.

However, according to Apostle Peter, we too have been made partakers of God’s divine nature. Therefore, we are able to do by nature the things that define the character of God.

I really want us to look at this 17th verse a bit closer than we have in the past; particularly the phrase, “therein is the righteousness of God revealed.” In essence, the righteousness that is God, is revealed to the world, when we walk by the faith of Jesus Christ.

It is the walk of the saints in the earth that reveals the character of God. The world will know that He is a Holy God, by the disposition of His children on the earth. The world will know that He is a forgiving God, by the loving nature of His sons on the earth. Otherwise, we put Him to shame.

A little sidebar…

Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Hebrews 10:26

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

I have taught the following passage of scripture many times in the past. But today, the Lord took me here and unveiled it even more to give a clearer understanding of the heritage of the sons of God.

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

This scripture is very intentional and focused. It points the wrath of God specifically to those who have possession of and know the truth, but walk in unrighteousness. This possession and knowledge of the truth can only be achieved by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

An even more vivid picture of this disposition is having Christ living in one’s flesh, but not allowing the mind of Christ to control the actions of the body. The prevailing manifestation is a pseudo saint or anti-christ. God makes it very clear that one day He will exercise His wrath against all the sons who decide to live ungodly in this world.

Romans 1:19-20

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The Lord wants us to know the severity of being a Judas in the Body of Christ. He cites the great grace that He has bestowed upon the new creation.

. . . that which may be known of God is manifest in them; . . . All that the scriptures allow us to know of God is manifested in us, once we receive the Holy Ghost. Jesus confirmed this:

John 14:19-22, 26

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The things pertaining to God and life, are made known to the sons of God. The world cannot see the invisible God. But He lives in us.

“the invisible things … are clearly seen … evenhis eternal power and Godhead”

This is the fascinating truth of our salvation. The invisible things that were in existence from the beginning of the world are clearly seen in us. To look upon or observe the life of the true sons of God, is to look upon the presence of the Godhead in the earth.

You cannot separate the sons of God from the Godhead itself. This truth is a stumbling block for the Body of Christ.

Philippians 2:5-6

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

It is time for the Body of Christ to simply believe God. When studying the above passages, we must keep before us 1 John 4:17; … as he is, so are we in this world. If while on earth, Jesus Christ was in the form of God, then so are we in the form of God, though we are fashioned as mankind, even as He was fashioned as a man.

Yes, our fashion is that of a human body, for the purposes of appearance and kinsmanship to the human race. Thus, making the body temporal, having to wait for its redemption. But even so, our body is still different from that of the human race, in that it has been circumcised and cleansed of all sin. There is no evil concupiscence living in our members. The body is sanctified and holy. It is the body of Christ.

But our inner man has already been created in the form of God. …he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). There is no verbiage here that suggests any separation of beings. It simply does not exist because one is one, and not two or more. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as Paul has said, For we are also his offspring (Acts 17:28).

We are the Body of Christ, divine in nature, the sons of the living God. As in Christ, in us dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. We are the only evidence in the world that there is a God or a Savior. Each of us must accept the responsibility of living a life that reveals God the Father and Christ our Savior, to the world.

However, if we refuse to accept our own identity, then it is utterly impossible to convince others of this invisible God. Until we accept this responsibility, we will never be able to manifest the great works of Christ, nor convince others of His presence among them. Think on these things and open your heart to believe all that the Father has said about us.