Christianity Oasis Forum

[saint701]

....OR WE IN CHRIST AND CHRIST IN US PART 1

Blessings!

http://www.examiner.com/spirituality-in-st-louis/lost-eden-seminary-cemetery-or-you-i-and-i-you-part-1

Hello Christianity Oasis! How are you today?

In recent days we have discussed common fallacies that abound in both Protestant and Catholic doctrines. (See: A new Apostle's Creed?, Fallacies abound in Covenant Seminary and N.A.E...., The faith of Covenant Seminary founded upon a fallacy?) We did so because most agree the global signs fulfilling our Lord's prophecy presented in Matthew Chapter 24 are in progress at this very moment. So what need do we have as Christians to stand on doctrines that cannot stand the test of scrutiny? We haven't seen and we do not know how many Christians are going to be lost prior to and during the Tribulation because of ignorance; ignorance so profound and prevalent within the splintered body of Christ it is disgusting.

Is Christ divided?

1Cor.1

[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
[11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
[12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
[13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Not a chance! The prayer by our Lord Jesus, the high priestly prayer of John Chapter 17, contains the framework for the unity that He expects to blossom and abound to those so minded to believe that which He has spoken is the gospel. The unity of His body that He asked the Father for in that prayer is sitting right here writing this article.

Long ago during a year of personal tribulation we opted to begin studying for the ministry at Eden Seminary. Such was not our Lord's will for this one's life. Because of that we didn't last long at that endeavor. Nevertheless, before leaving we stated in class to an exalted professor that we understood Christ being in us and us in Him. The professor commented on our statement that such presumed a lot of knowledge. He was right.

Yes, we had been born again. Yes, we had been filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we had a prayer language. Yes, we would sing the high praises to God in that language. Yes, we had cried abba, Father. Yes, the Holy Spirit made intercession flor us through groanings and utterings that could not be uttered of ourselves. Yes that year we had suffered persecution. Yes, from our Lord and His Apostles we had a decent resume that should have helped us fit into any seminary. However, just the opposite was true. We were the only one there with such a background. In class what we were presented was foreign and of little value to anyone. And since the previous ten months had been so terrible, reading the lousy doctrine just made us depressed and we opted out.

Now before we left, however, we had to endure one last ceremony. It was the ceremony of our departure. We were placed in a dark room surrounded by eleven disciples made up of students and lecturers. In short, we found ourself being shunned, ostracized, and made to feel the shoes of Judas Escariot belonged to us. Such certainly didn't help our self esteem.

After the humiliation we got on our knees and asked the Lord why He had allowed us to fail. His response was quite clear. "It would hurt my purpose for you," He said. However, He didn't tell us what His purpose for us was. Thirty years would pass before such would be made clear. His purpose for us would be to explain to all with ears to hear the mystery of Christ in us, and our abiding in Christ.

Why? If we abide in our Lord, and our Lord in us, it is doubtful death will overtake us unprepared. We will be able to walk in the Spirit and have our eyes wide open to see, interpret, and understand those things coming upon the Earth. We will be able to do so without fear knowing that we are hidden with Christ in God.

Col.3

[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
[2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

[3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

[4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

One criticism we have of most Christian creeds is that the major emphasis is placed on Christ before the resurrection. A second criticism we have of most Christian creeds is that the emphasis after Christ's resurrection is His coming again to judge the quick and the dead. Our third criticism of most Christian creeds is that they leave out the guts of the gospel.

The guts of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that we were in Him on the cross and died with Him on the cross. We are that person being crucified there on the cross. That person died. We died. In Col.3 above Paul tells us we are dead. Our punishment has ceased. That body no longer exists.

Now comes the working of God into that which was dead. That dead thing we were is suddenly changed radically and dramatically into something entirely new, a new creation, a new species, and it is miraculously raised up into the glory of God! We (that's right, you and me) are 100% in the life of that new creation, the first born creation of God from the dead, declared to be The Son of God by the Spirit of Holiness. We are alive in that first born son of God. Paul tells us our life is hidden with Christ in God! He tells us that in Him we have also been glorified.

Eph.2

[6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Col.2

[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.

End Part 1

Blessings!
Love, in Christ Jesus, saint


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