The Mystery

CHAPTER TWO

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY

I am amazed at the excitement that I feel within each time I begin to teach on the mystery of Christ. In the twenty-seven years I have been saved I have never heard a completed revelation of our salvation experience. This does not mean that the revelation has not been given to someone. It simply means that I have never heard it preached in a church, read it in a book or heard it taught on television.

The word mystery means “a secret” or “to shut the mouth.” It is a hidden revelation of the work of the Father. This mystery of Christ remained hidden in God until the formation of the Church. The word mystery does not occur in scripture until we reach the New Testament. In all but two of the scriptures where it is found, it makes reference to the Mystery of Christ.

At the end of this chapter, I have listed all of the verses in which this word is used. Some of them we will examine thoroughly, while the rest will be for your reference.

In this chapter I simply want to discuss the mystery itself. I want you to understand my knowledge in the mystery that was hid in God before the foundation of the world. By revelation, God revealed the mystery of Christ to me as He did to the Apostle Paul.

Ephesians 3:1-5

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The mystery of Christ holds the key to the Sons of God fulfilling their call to righteousness. When Paul wrote to the church, he implied that they needed to understand the knowledge he had received concerning the mystery. The mystery of Christ, the mystery of God and the mystery of Godliness are all the same. They can be used interchangeably.

Ephesians 3:9-10

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Revelation 10:7

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

We are about to discuss a secret that was hid in God before the beginning of the world. However, John, the Revelator, saw the mystery finished at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Now the events initiated by the blowing of the seventh trumpet revealed in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapter of Revelation culminate with the Rapture of the Church. The Apostle Paul also confirms the time of this event in his writings to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Paul has allowed us to conclude that this mystery of God is relative to the residency of the Sons of God on the earth. We know that the verses above describe the Rapture of the Church. Therefore, we are able to surmise that the mystery of God begins and ends with the Sons of God. I am really attempting to discuss this awesome feat of the Father in the most simplistic terms.

Please allow me to casually discuss the secrets of our faith.

First of all, we are the partakers of a plan that God did not reveal to anyone, until the Day of Pentecost. It is a mystery, a secret that He did not even reveal to the angels until the time appointed. The text declares that none of the prophets of old were privy to the mystery. They were only given the promise of the coming Deliverer. But what exactly is the mystery? What is the thing that was hidden? This is what I really want to discuss. The mystery itself needs to be explained in simple terms and then confirmed by scripture.

THE PLAN

In order to save the man, (his being, that thing that makes him a living creature, the living soul) who is dead (alienated from God), he must be taken out of the walking coffin (the flesh) and placed in the Spirit of Life (which is the only life that exists) so that the walking coffin could become a living temple of God.

THE METHOD: THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

It is the plan and the method that makes the mystery. However, I think that most of the unbelief is relative to the plan itself. Once you really look into the details of the plan, you discover that the temple of God is the birthing of another Christ. This is what the Church does not believe. This has become my frustration with my ministry even as it was Paul’s frustration with the church at Corinth. The mystery that was hid from ages and generations is now made manifest (made known, revealed) to the saints. Not only did the Spirit reveal it to us, but we were also made the mystery by the same Spirit. Once again we ask, what is the mystery?

Colossians 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

It was the intent of the Father to save the fallen race of man by what is called baptism. Now for the sake of this book I have extracted Vine’s definition of the word baptism. Read it carefully and I will proceed to explain how it relates to the mystery.

BAPTISM, BAPTIST, BAPTIZE. baptisma NT:908, "baptism," consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence a "baptism" to be undergone by believers, thus witnessing to their identification with Him in death, burial and resurrection, e. g., Acts 19:5; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Cor 1:13-17; 12:13; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12. The experience of those who were in the ark at the time of the Flood was a figure or type of the facts of spiritual death, burial, and resurrection, Christian "baptism" being an antitupon, "a corresponding type," a "like figure." (1 Peter 3:21). Likewise the nation of Israel was figuratively baptized when made to pass through the Red Sea under the cloud. (1 Cor 10:2) The verb is used metaphorically also in two distinct senses: firstly, of "baptism" by the Holy Spirit, which took place on the Day of Pentecost; secondly, of the calamity which would come upon the nation of the Jews, a "baptism" of the fire of divine judgment for rejection of the will and word of God. (Matt 3:11; Luke 3:16) (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

As you can see from the definition above, the general meaning of baptism is “to be submerged into something.” Here we have the fallen sons of Adam whom God loves so much until He is not willing that they should perish. This, however, was not a surprise to Him because the plan of the Adam-man’s salvation was already devised before the fall itself. God had condemned man to die naturally and spiritually as the penalty for sin. So now the salvation has to be for a people who are already dead.

A most thorough description of this taking of the soul having been taken out of the flesh is rendered to us in the letter to the Romans.

Romans 6:3-11

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is the operation of God. The living soul, which is the man himself, was already dead (alienated from God). The Father in His manifold wisdom and awesome power was able to extract the soul from the flesh, place it in the Holy Ghost and quicken the same body by the Spirit into a vessel of righteousness, created unto good works. The baptism into Christ is a fulfillment of “The Promise” God made to Abraham. It was the Spirit that God promised him and his seed. Look at this closely.

Galatians 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:16

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

The promise was the Spirit of God that was to be given to Abraham and Jesus. Remember Jesus? The man was the seed of Abraham. Once again, we prove that Jesus was a mere man who came forth from the human race, but given the Spirit of God by promise. As we can see from the verses above the same Spirit was promised to us.

The church must take these passages literally.. Even when the truth is revealed, it is not always or readily believed. This is heartbreaking because those in the Body of Christ already have the proof of the revelation within. Too, it is the Spirit of God within them that bears witness of the truth. Why then do they not accept it as fact? I dare say that it is because of their track records of failure in God. But as the scripture has proclaimed in Romans 3:3-4

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Now back to the mystery. It is through Jesus Christ that this great unbelievable mystery would manifest. I like the way the Father talked about it in the Old Covenant. In the last days He will do a “new thing.” This meant that He would do that which had never been done before. He would do that which the human mind could not conceive. He would do that which could only be discerned by His Spirit.

OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES

Isaiah 64:4

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

CHRIST’S BODY

It might be easier to understand the plan if we first look into the method, which is Jesus Christ. Now we know that the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary placing the seed of God in her womb. Mary supplied the seed with a body.

The body that she provided became the body of Christ. This is a human body. This is why He could be called the “man” Jesus. The “body” is the only thing that made Him a relative of the human race.

So, what do we really have here? A one hundred percent human body, filled with the Holy Ghost. So Jesus is the man, and Christ is the God. It is the submission of the man to the Spirit of God who dwelled within Him that made it holy and acceptable unto the Father. It is also the Spirit of God within the body who quickened that human flesh and made it alive unto God and godliness.

Without the Holy Ghost that body would have been like any other human, susceptible to sin and death. But because of the indwelling of the Spirit and the obedience of the man to the will of the Father, the body itself remained sanctified unto God. My point here is that Jesus Christ was made liken unto us, or rather, we have been made liken unto Him in that now we are partakers of His flesh.

Ephesians 3:6

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 5:29-30

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

The body that Christ lived in was anointed. It was the temple of God. Now it is the same Spirit of Christ who inhabits our bodies. There is only one Christ. He is occupying many bodies. Nevertheless, each of those bodies is spiritually the same. They all have the self-same Spirit within. That makes them all the bodies of Christ. They become His flesh and His bones.

THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST

Tradition told us we would never be one hundred percent holy because our bodies are sinful in contrast to the body of Jesus who knew no sin. We believed this.

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Being complete in Christ means we lack nothing. It means whatever God did in us is finished and nothing else has to be done. We do not need anything else to accomplish that which God has called us to do and to be. God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. When we say we are deficient, we can only be deficient in those things He told us to add to our faith. God’s work is finished. If we are in Christ, WE ARE COMPLETE.

Colossians 2:11-12

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

As it relates to salvation, our error came when we only saw the regeneration of the new man from within.

Circumcision in the natural is a cutting away of the foreskin from the male genitals. Spiritually, circumcision is also a cutting away, a sanctifying and cleansing of the flesh. It is an operation of God wherein He cut away or removed from us the dominion of sin.

When the Adam man died, God took the soul and the spirit and put it in the Holy Ghost. But when we rose, we rose complete in Christ. We used to think that when our soul and spirit were submerged in Christ we then had the ability to subdue the flesh. We taught that we had the power to bring this body under submission. This is true but God wants to show us why we can bring this body into submission. He is showing us the reason why we have no excuses.

God took our soul and spirit and put it in the Holy Ghost, but He also dealt with our body. God cut away the sin and took its dominion away. Then the Holy Ghost, which He gave us, quickened our mortal bodies and brought them alive again unto God. Our flesh is now the body of Christ and no longer a body of sin.

We must look at the rest of the operation of God. We need to remove the questions in our mind as to whether or not Jesus had an advantage over us.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our whole body, spirit and soul can be preserved blameless until Jesus returns. In our salvation walk, from the time we are born-again until the return of Jesus, our body, soul and spirit should be blameless. How can we not blame our body when it is our body that has the memory of sin? If we are saved for thirty years before Jesus returns, God expects our body to remain blameless.

God does not expect our body to be an opposition to Him. He does not expect our body to be a “body of sin.” Jesus came in the flesh to condemn sin in the flesh (Romans 6:3). Jesus’ coming condemned sin in the flesh, therefore, where is our escape? God does not expect us to have a thought war or our body to be tempted to sin against Him. Why can He make such a demand when He knows we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity? Because He is God and His work is finished. God knew He was going to subject us to a body of vanity so He circumcised our flesh. He stripped away the dominion of sin.

Colossians 2:13

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

We were dead in sin because our flesh was not circumcised. God quickened our flesh alive at the same time He slew our spirit and our soul. Now the WHOLE MAN IS THE NEW CREATURE. As long as our soul is in agreement with the Holy Ghost who lives on the inside, our body is quickened alive unto God. Therefore, it has now become the “body of Christ.”

When we walk in the Spirit, we do not want to sin. Sin is not a temptation. We are New Creatures. Our body is now the body of Christ. Our body is just as Jesus’ body that never knew sin. In this body is no desire to sin. It is when we follow after the rudiments of the world that we have a problem struggling with holiness. As long as our life stays hidden in Christ, the body is not a problem.

If we do not have a desire to sin because of the quickening power of God in our flesh, then our mortal bodies have been made alive unto God. We do not have to sin. We are in fellowship with Him. This body, which is now under the control of Christ, always does those things that please the Father. Under the power of the Holy Ghost, our flesh knows (experiences) no sin. He cannot commit sin because the seed remains in him. He is the Son of God.

Romans 8:19

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

We are the creatures with the earnest expectation of a new body. The whole operation of God remained in these bodies of vanity. The problem is these vessels God left us in, are prone to infirmities. They get tired, sick and weak. But moreover, they had a track record of sin and the memory of sin. But God is telling us that the sin problem should not be an issue. The sin issue was dealt with at salvation. God removed the dominion of sin in the baptism into Christ. We rose in the body of Christ.

The truth is if sin is an issue, it is because we as Sons of God make a conscious decision to sin against the Father. We do this in spite of the great love and mercy He has shown us. As long as our soul remains in submission to the Spirit of Christ within, the earthen vessel we reside in is the same as Christ, in thought, emotions and desires. As long as we walk in the Spirit this vessel of vanity is no problem as it relates to sin. God may allow the enemy to attack it with affliction for the trying of our faith, or, He may allow the enemy to attack us for the trying or edification of someone else’s faith.

When we walk in the Spirit, our body becomes the body of Christ and Christ cannot be tempted with sin. We are on the other side of the resurrection now.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus had a choice . . . He could die or He could refuse to. He made a choice to die. His reward for dying is the ability to impart righteousness unto us. Those whom He begets are given a gift of righteousness. We are made the righteousness of Christ. When the Son is walking in the Spirit, He is the righteousness of Christ. He is the manifestation of the choice Christ made to obey the Father even in the presence of death.

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

WE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM. But when it comes to living holy, have you ever felt that Jesus had an advantage over you? Many feel if they had been born with a sinless body that had never known sin it may be easier for us not to sin. We attribute the thoughts that come to tempt us to the fact that we once knew sin and that we have a memory of sin. Therefore, the thoughts have something to attach themselves to.

We did not receive salvation and then lose our memory. We remember the pleasures of sin. When the thoughts or suggestions come it is easy to attribute our yielding to the memory of sin. We have tasted sin and we know its pleasures. We have come to a place where we believe that if we had never known sin then it would be easier to abstain. Or, if we were in a body that had never committed sin, like Jesus was, it would be easier to stay holy. Many feel their body (flesh) is the reason they cannot live holy. So it would seem as though Jesus had an advantage that we will never enjoy.

There is nothing further from the truth. The fact remains that the Father sanctified the flesh holy and acceptable unto Himself. It was purged of all sin and the dominion of sin. It is not the memory or knowledge of sin that causes us to miss the mark, for the Lord Jesus Christ had the knowledge of sin. Remember, God replied that the man would become as one of us, knowing good and evil. Jesus came with the knowledge of sin. He simply refused to submit to it. You might as well accept the fact that it is the choices we make that cause us to sin. Doctrines have evolved as a result of this type of thinking. One such doctrine states:

DOCTRINAL ERROR

As long as we are in this flesh, we will never be perfect. This is actually taught to the Body of Christ. They quote:

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” and take it out of context. Or, they use

1 John 1:8

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

But these two scriptures have been used out of context and as a result false doctrines have formed. What do we have? We have our tutors and governors telling us that nobody is perfect and sooner or later we are going to commit sin. Because this mindset is constantly fed to the Body of Christ, this is what it believes. If pastors are not living a sinless life then they are not advocating a sinless life. They have to give explanation for the reason they have not lived holy.

Colossians 2:6-8

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Anything that denies the perfection in Christ in us is vain philosophy. Anyone who tells us we cannot become very Christ right now is trying to deceive us. Paul does not mean, “Christian-like”, he means Christ. Paul means the same man Jesus is, we can be. My fear is that some who received the Holy Ghost ten, fifteen, twenty years ago have never lived sinless lives and because they never have, they will not believe they ever will. I am afraid that this message will not be effectual because they will continue to look at their past and believe their failures more than the report of the Lord. It does not matter how long we have been missing the mark, we do not have to miss it anymore. We do not have to transgress.

Colossians 1:21-24

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

There is a man named Jesus whom God anointed with a Spirit called Christ. Now, Christ needs a body on earth because the one He originally used went back to glory and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Now, the Father has sent back the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghost, to live in bodies on the earth to finish the work of Christ. We have never seen the significance of this. Why? Because we have been taught the philosophy of men regarding salvation. Our perception of salvation is that we are a man or woman with the Holy Ghost. We say, “I have the Holy Ghost.” And this is what we really mean; “I am Jane Doe, but I have the Holy Ghost.” This separates us from the Holy Ghost. We think of ourselves as separate from the Spirit instead of being at one with Him.

John 17:20-21

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus is the first born of many brethren. He was the pattern of the things to come after Him. Paul confirms this in his letter to the Hebrew church.

Hebrews 2:6-8

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

The testimony above is relative to “man” and Jesus the “son of man.” Paul reports that the angels were concerned about this creature who was made lower than them, but given authority over all the works of God.

Note here however, they too realized that the only difference in “man” and the “son of man” was that the latter had been visited by God. This is the reality for men that will also be visited by God. The term “thou madest him,” refers to the fact that this visitation: Leaves the new man a little lower than the angels. This is his first estate. Then he is crowned with glory and honor. This is his raptured state. Finally he is set over all the works of God. This is his eternal state. Verse 8 suggests that God has purposed to put all things under the feet of man. However, this is not the season for all things to be put under him, (Keep in mind He is talking about the sons), for this exaltation of the New Creation has not come to pass as yet. However, in the next verses Paul gives us the route God will take to accomplish all of the above.

GOD’S ROUTE FOR MAN

Hebrews 2:9

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Here we are again. Jesus Christ, the son of man (born of the seed of Abraham) who being also the Son of God, was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. He is the “man” who would taste death for every man. He would be the righteous atonement. It is through His death that man would become a partaker of this visitation.

Hebrews 2:10

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The Father made Jesus exactly like those who would be His brethren not only for the death of the cross, but to suffer in the flesh. This is the suffering of the denying of the pleasures of the flesh. However, this suffering must be self-inflicted. It is called self-denial. Jesus Christ was the first of many sons who would be made perfect through the suffering in the flesh.

Hebrews 4:15-16

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus is the prototype. He was made in the human estate to be tested in all the things man has been or would ever be tested in, yet, He was without sin. Because we are in His likeness (sameness) Paul admonishes us to come boldly to the throne of God for mercy and help in the times of our testing. This entrance into the Holy of Holies is to obtain more influence from the Spirit of Might in our innerman, so that we, too, might not sin against God. He that suffers in the flesh is the same that has ceased from sin.

Hebrews 2:11-18

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

We who have become the Sons of God, and Him by whom we were made Sons are one. We are the same. This is where you must believe the report. All that has been said is the truth. It is a revelation of the plan that was hid in God. Because we are one with and in Christ, He can call us brethren. We are begotten of God through His Christ.

THE ESTATE OF THE SONS

The walk in the suffering of self-denial is the first estate of the Savior. It is also the first estate of the Sons. This is further confirmed in the letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 3:14-21

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Paul continues to admonish the Body of Christ to walk in the Spirit. He declares himself to be an example of this ability to live a sinless life. Therefore, he encourages them to follow him and mark him and his co-workers as living examples of Christ.

Make note of Philippians 3:20 . . . our conversation (life and lifestyle) is in heaven; . . .” Is this not the same as John 3:13 . . . And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

You cannot continue to deny the sameness of the Son and the Sons. The Word speaks the truth that has been lived and witnessed.

Luke 10:19-20

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The power that the Lord gives to the Sons of God here on the earth is power over spirits and all the works of Satan. The phrase “ . . . nothing shall by any means hurt you,” is relative to the devil being able to steal, kill or destroy the work that God has done in the Sons. It does not refer to the Sons of God being immune to any physical pain or torture. The Son of Man was manifest that He might destroy the works of Satan. This is the same commission given to the Sons. Our first estate is to live holy in a body that is still a little lower than the angels.

Nevertheless, a change will come. This is the earnest expectation of the Sons. One day the Lord will change our vile bodies that are subject to vanity and infirmity to a glorious glorified body, likened unto the one Jesus rose with. This is the second estate of the Sons of God. It is here that we are given a glorified body and the rewards of righteousness.

John 17:1-5

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

This is the prayer Jesus prayed before the crucifixion. It was after His death, burial and resurrection that the Father glorified Him. It was after the resurrection that the following declaration was made.

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Let us not forget that this statement was made on His way back to heaven. And now let us continue to investigate the parallel between the Son and the Sons.

JESUS SHALL RULE WITH A ROD OF IRON

Revelation 19:15

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

THE SONS OF GOD SHALL RULE WITH A ROD OF IRON

Revelation 2:25-27

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

This is the third estate of the Sons of God. It is then that we will be given thrones and dominions. It is then that we will rule the nations. Jesus is the prototype in every step of our journey from earth to heaven and back to the earth. Because we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. My sisters and brothers, we can do it and we will do it.