In July 2014, the Father revealed in much detail the Mystery of Christ. He gave us understanding of the Word we have preached for many years. As a result, the countenance of the ministry changed. We were suddenly liberated. We came to see the great miracle of salvation for what it truly is. We learned that during the salvation experience, the soul was taken out of the flesh and placed in the Spirit as is confirmed by the scriptures below.
Romans 8:9 (KJV)
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Galatians 5:25 (KJV)
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We also learned that salvation is the preservation of the soul. It is preserved in Christ, until the coming of the Lord.
Colossians 3:3 (KJV)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Let us take a moment to look a bit closer at this Scripture. Notice the wording here. You are dead and your life is hid with Christ. How is it possible to be dead and have life at the same time? Well, Paul is a little more specific in his letter to the Roman church.
Romans 6:11 (KJV)
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 3:3
Reckon yourselves to be dead to sin but alive unto God.
This word reckon, means: to come to a conclusion or to think; in this case to think of yourself as dead to sin. But let us go a bit further.
Romans 8:10-15 (KJV)
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Here we go. The body is dead because of or regarding sin. This is the teaching of the divine atonement. For as many as received Christ were baptized into his death; (Romans 6:3).
Christ paid for the sins of the world by giving His body to be crucified. Now Paul says to the church at Galata, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
Now it is the first part of this verse that I want to focus on for the moment because it is reflecting on the atonement of Christ. We will deal with the rest of this scripture a little further down in our study. When we cry out to the Father for salvation, He makes us partakers of the crucifixion of Christ. We are made at-one-with that sacrifice.
When the soul was taken out of the flesh, it (the flesh), had no more life in it. Remember, Colossians 3:3; you are dead, which refers to the body, and the life that was in it is hid with Christ in God. You must see this for what it is. This is the mystery unfolded. The life of the flesh is the soul (Man became a living soul). That life (the soul) is taken out of the flesh “Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. “ (Romans.8:9) Therefore, we are to consider the body, which is referred to in Scripture as the old man, as dead because of the sin that was committed in it.
Romans 6:6 (KJV)
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. This old man or body of sin has been destroyed in that the life that was in it is hidden with Christ in God. But the mystery doesn’t stop there.
Remember Romans 6:11; we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ. What is the meaning here? Well, just as I asked earlier, how can we be dead and alive at the same time? Let us allow the scriptures to convey their meaning.
Romans 6:8 (KJV)
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Here is where the mystery proves itself to be a true mystery that only the Father could reveal. That same body that is crucified with Christ shall also be brought back alive unto God. Notice that Paul is careful to say that we will live with Christ. Live with Him where? We shall live with Him in this body that has been raised from the dead.
Romans 6:5 (KJV)
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Romans 8:11 (KJV)
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
I like the way Romans 6:5 cuts to the chase and boldly declares that we shall experience the resurrection of the Lord in our flesh. Yes, Jesus will rise again in us at salvation. He will quicken our mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in us.
Romans 6:9-11
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.
Let us not miss what Paul preaches here. Just as sin and death have no more dominion over Jesus, it likewise has no more dominion over us. Even though we are living in these earthen vessels with Jesus, the law of the Spirit of Life has made us free from the Law of sin and death. Therefore, we are no longer under any captivity or indebted to the flesh to live in lust and wantonness. Now take heed to this next verse.
Romans 6:12
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Some read this verse and jump for joy. They use this verse to justify that the flesh is full of lust and therefore it has the nature of sin in it. But the verse speaks on this wise; Let not or Do Not Allow sin to reign in your body. Who is he talking to; certainly not the body itself. He is speaking to the soul. For trying and proving purposes, the soul has been given authority to act as steward over the flesh. It is the soul that has to allow sin to rule and reign in the flesh. How? It peeps into the world and sets its affections of things therein.
Matthew 6:21-23 (KJV)
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
We learned that the heart and soul are one and the same. Therefore, the verse could easily read, where your treasure is, there will the soul be also. It is the soul that peeps out into the world through the eye of the body and through much wantonness creates lust in the flesh. Just as an alcoholic who has been delivered from alcohol decides to take a few drinks, it recreates a craving in his body for the liquor, so does the soul create lust in the flesh.
When the eye is not single or rather when the soul is not in agreement with the Spirit of God, but once again prefers the things of the world, the whole body is full of darkness. The sin we yield to is able to reign in our flesh. But this is our very own doing. There was not a foreign spirit living in the flesh to create lust. For we have not received the spirit of bondage again that we should fear failing or falling. We are now capable of making choices that lead to our own demise.
Romans 6:13-14
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Again Paul makes it clear that sin has no dominion over us. We have to allow it to rule and reign in our flesh. The soul must yield the body over to unrighteousness. The body has been brought alive again from the dead to serve the Lord.
Romans 6:15-16
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We are not under the Law but under grace, which is God’s influence in our soul that can now be reflected in our life. Let us not usurp authority here and lead the body back into sin and degradation. Let us not be the dog that goes back to his vomit.
Romans 12:1 (KJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Now in going forward he commands that we present our bodies a living sacrifice. The body is alive again, having been quickened by the Holy Ghost, but on our part it must become a sacrifice.
Luke 9:23 (KJV)
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Self-denial is the ability of the soul to forego the pleasures of the world by not creating lust in its members (the lust of the eye, the flesh of the flesh and the pride of life). It is the soul surrendering to the will of God at all times. It is the soul submitting to the leading of the Spirit. And finally, it is the soul putting on the new man and walking in the mind of Christ.
The soul is saved, the body is washed through the circumcision of the Spirit and both are preserved until the coming of our Lord. We have just learned the many attributes found in the miracle of salvation. But I think that some continue to wrestle with the realness of this knowledge of God.
In listening to the Holy Ghost, He points out that the main issue of contention is the realization that Christ Jesus lives in our flesh. This is something the church has said all along, but it is now manifest that we did not consider or even have a clue as to what that really meant. Nevertheless, now is the time for us to look at the rest of Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
This is one of the most powerful scriptures in all the teaching on salvation; the reason being, it sums it all up in one verse. I died. Yet I live. I was baptized into Christ’s death. My soul was placed in His Spirit, and my body having been crucified with Him is now alive again by the fact that He lives in my flesh. The focus here is that Christ lives in us; or rather that our body is alive because the presence of His Sprit has quickened it alive unto righteousness to serve the Living God. We must agree with a simple fact . . . Jesus is alive in us. This means our flesh is the body of Christ. With that having been said, I want to take you further into the depths of this great mystery. While writing the study guide, I heard the Father say stop here a moment and comprehend my Word. This is where He stopped me:
John 6:56-57 (KJV)
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
You must see the parallel here.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
John 6:56-57 (KJV)
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Jesus and Paul had the same testimony. The life Jesus lived in the flesh, He lived by the indwelling of the Father.
The life that we live in the flesh we live by the indwelling of Christ. But that is not all that is revealed here.
John 5:19 (KJV)
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Jesus came to declare the Father. He constantly insisted that the words He spoke were not His, but the Father’s. The works were not His, but the Father’s. What we didn’t understand is that Jesus was our express example of a Son of God. He was living among men (His disciples), showing them the life of a Son of God. In other words, showing them what they were to become.
We need to take note that Jesus has a soul even as we have a soul. That soul was joined to the Holy Ghost and lived in a vessel named Jesus, The Christ. He was sent by the Father to tell the world of a coming salvation of which He would be the first fruits. But please understand something here; He would be the first to be born again from the dead, but the life we are to live after salvation was expressed in His walk among men. His entire existence here on earth was to give us a physical model of the Sons of God.
Remember, Jesus was the first begotten Son of God. There was no other before Him and the life in the flesh was foreign to Him. He was made lower than the angels for the suffering of death. He was brought under the restraints and restrictions of the Law. He studied to learn of all the things that were spoken of Him in the Old Covenant that He might fulfill them all. Though there was much opposition to His ministry here on earth, He learned obedience by the things He suffered.
John 8:28-29 (KJV)
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
In other words, the day will come when you will know that everything that is done in this body is the work of the Father. This is the life of a Son of God. He is taught by the Father and only speaks those things which He has been taught of the Father. He seeks not a name or reputation for Himself, but that of the Father.
Jesus was earning the right for all, power to be given to Him; as He went about always doing those things that please the Father. But the knowledge of God goes even deeper. Listen to the testimony of our Master.
John 5:20-21
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
Listen to this humility. Jesus is declaring that I am a witness to all the things the Father is doing in this world through my body. The works you see me do are not mine, they are the Father’s. He is in me and I am in Him. The words that I speak are His words, I neither know nor can I do anything of myself. Oh yes, and before we go any further, Jesus answers the question regarding the greater works ministry.
The Father will show Him greater works than the things He has already done in the earth, because as the Father is able to quicken the dead, even so I will quicken whom I will. The greater work is the salvation of man. Jesus claims the Father has taught Him. What was the Father teaching Him? He said the Father shows Him all the things He does. Where is the Father doing these things? He is doing them through the flesh of the man called Jesus Christ. What is the purpose of showing Him these things? He is preparing Jesus for His reign in the flesh as He builds the Church that will be a holy habitation for the Father. He says the Father raises the dead and quickens them, and I will be able to quicken whom I will. He is saying to us that all the Father does through His flesh, He will do through ours.
John 17:1-2 (KJV)
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.
Listen to what Jesus is praying: I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me with your own self. Give me the power over all flesh that I might do through them that which you have done through me.
John 5:22-27
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
The thirty-three and one-half years Jesus walked the earth was a time of learning, proving and testing. The soul of the man Jesus had to walk in obedience to the will of the Father, in order to receive the High calling of Lord and Christ. He is the Master and Supreme Authority over all things. He is the Anointed, life-giving Spirit that is the salvation of us all. These are all manifested in us; and now He lives in us the way the Father lived in Him. He is in these earthen vessels doing the things He saw the Father do.
Beloved, we are blessed and highly favored of the Lord.
