IN THE NAME OF JESUS

      "And whatever you ask in MY NAME, that I will do that the father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" John 14:13-14. In Jesus name is probably the most repeated words used in modern prayer and it may be behind much of the misuse of His name as simply a common expression. I think few know what they are saying when they use it; I know I did not. In Jesus name has become simply a indication the the prayer is over, in most usages. For a idea of what Jesus was referring to in John :14 we need to go back to the statement by Philip the disciple, that prompted  Jesus to answer with the in My name terminology. "Philip said to Him, "show us the father and it will be sufficient for us". Jesus answer went on to indicate that the Father was displayed in The Son and that Jesus was in fact one with the Father, in other words Jesus was God. So if the earlier scripture is used to shed light upon meaning of later scripture, in this instance the meaning of In my name would be Jesus Christ has all authority to act in the power of The Father, or in God's name. There is really no biblical precedent for using the term in Jesus name at the end of a prayer; you will not find even one prayer in the bible where this term is used in such a way: if you want to use it that's fine, but lets not approach The father without a firm understanding of the gifts given! If we expect that because we use these words then it somehow gives us authority by the words alone, or that the prayer is sort of sealed before God by the term, then we have missed the true meaning of In the name of Jesus as explained by Jesus, and perhaps are even using it in superstitious form. And by the same token using it merely as a indication of end of prayer does not do justice to Jesus' words in scripture. My friends if we know who we are in Christ then we are of the same oneness as He was, and is with the Father, and can live it and pray in that power, in a conscious way, and if we use in the name of Jesus in this context the term in Jesus name becomes more than a mere prayer ending or words which make our prayers have power, but we will find ourselves in a aware position, a living integral part of His authority in His name, which is us in union with the Godhead itself. You might wish to look at at it like this: if a policemen said; stop in the name of the law, its because he is aware of his authority granted him by another power, and that he indeed is in possession of that power and represents it. We need to have that same awareness of who we are, in Jesus name.

      We find ourselves in Christ, not in our own power, but in the power of the living God. By the authority awarded to us by His will in His Son; really we are all that we are, including our prayer life, by the merits of Jesus Christ Himself. So my dear and good friends it is incumbent upon us to become possessors of the authority we have by gaining knowledge and thereby leading a life guided by the principals of the positions we hold, in Jesus name.

      I have recently been taken to task for writing my blog is a way that some say is difficult to understand, just not simple enough. I hear that and agree, but with this reservation: The gospel message is simple enough, believe, receive, have faith, become saved, not much problem there. But by God's Word there is so much more for us in fulfilling the obedience to faith we were given by grace. Its evidently not so simple, if it were we would all be on the same page, not the convoluted mess Christianity finds itself in. I hope we can agree on that? By the writing of Paul, who was a intellectual, trained in Greek philosophy and a Pharisee, which would be equal to perhaps a professor and a priest combined, we will read a very complex tapestry of thought, we must be up to the challenge to understand the true objective final meaning of his words. Also the bible was written in the Greek language, which is far deeper and more meaningful in expression than English or any other language for that matter. Like any student if one remains in the elementary period of his education, never having been challenge by his teachers he will always be in his childhood of learning, no advancement! My goal has been to grow my own thoughts into a mature place in Christ. Paul in his writings, I would think, as he wrote, by the inspiration of God [who by the way did not dictate word for word into mans mind, but used their circumstance, education, and personality to convey and color His thoughts in scripture] he must have been surprised to see his own deep understanding of godly things on paper, surely his educational background must have been used by God. God used all that education Paul subjected himself too, to facilitate the conveyance of His Word. Just as He will bring about the growth He has willed for you and me, which will be only limited by our unwillingness to meet the intellectual challenge present in scripture. That being said I will endeavor to approach this all important positional truth doctrine in a more easily understood tone. If you, my readers, wish to read and learn the calling of God for all Christians to a deeper life, no man, dead or alive has done a better job of explaining it in clear concise terms, than Miles Stanford in the Complete Green Letters. I present this challenge to you, to order it, read it, and grow!

      In order for us to carry on in the power of the name of Jesus we must first know the elementary position of identification with Christ, and that we consist of two natures. The first is in the name of Adam; we are living on this earth as him in his nature. Each time you look in the mirror that's who you see, and Adam is unacceptable to The Father, because he has the capacity to sin. The second aspect of our being was formed anew by God in Christ, and transferred to us by The Holy Spirit by our faith. Jesus is the second Adam. We are like the first by birth, and likewise the second, except the new second birth after the fact is spiritual, which means it takes place in our mind, and while we take on this new nature by choosing it in faith, it is the work of the second Adam that makes it true before God. This is where the rubber meets the road my friends, in realizing that our salivation is wholly dependent upon another, our very condition as saved children of God is positioned in the person of Jesus Christ and realized by us in faith and by faith only, not action or works! It is as we look in understanding of that truth, we see our life in Christ and have power in His name. We remain in a sin capacity in Adam the first in our flesh or human nature but are seen in the second Adam, Jesus Christ, by God, the Fathers design for the Christian. He has become our very personal identity in the mind of God, and that came by His presence on this earth as a man, and in that capacity He fulfilled the extinction of the first Adams sinful nature in God's mind with complete satisfaction; He accomplished that by dieing on the cross in the form of a man, thereby judicially completing our sentence of death. This in simplicity is the positional truth doctrine; but its one thing to know it and another to experience it. My prayer in Jesus name is that you come to see that life in the first has no value and that by obedience to the faith of the identity you have in the second Man you may live in His power to overcome the world in the only way possible as we walk in it; positioned in you heart and awareness, identified with Jesus Christ. Thereby you will have a full realization of your presence in Christ, in heaven, with full experiential access to the Throne of God while treading earths fateful path.

MORAL DISTANCE ELEVATED

      I have a confession to make: The deeper I get into things of a heavenly nature the more I have seen my own moral weakness! You see much of my blog effort has been to prove to my readers that the nature of the Christian is realized by knowing his heavenly position; and that is true, but just knowing that fact will not necessarily prove ones place. Its not a separate elite life God is seeking for the believer in knowing position, and all the badgering and attempts explaining the meaning of scripture for establishing a heavenly concept in my readers minds will not be the catalyst to a happy life for them or me, nor will it compensate for the primary deficit in my life, I often find myself in, a lack of walking in fellowship with The Lord Jesus Christ. No my friends even though, by God's will we must be engrossed with the right things of His Word along the way; merely gaining a new vocabulary or scriptural incite, giving up once held notions and thereby leaving behind old ideas, will not always be a solid ground for delivery from our earthly self-containment, on its own. As J.B.Stoney said: "It is that which you give yourself to, not what you have abandoned that colors you and which imparts character to you". So faithful readers let us depart on a new great adventure finding a elevated moral platform on which to stand, leaving the old life and not let the condition we find ourselves in on earth or even in heaven hide Him who is all truth and life. "The Spirit of truth takes of what is mine and will make it known to you" John:16:15.

      You may ask, what has morals got to do with it? We all know what a moral code is, simply put, knowing right from wrong; but there is more to learn, as there are two sides to each coin. A moral persuasion can be see in the objective or the subjective. A objective moral is one which is held independent of people's [including one's own] opinion,while the subjective means, just a matter of personal opinion. So if there is a God who made the moral truth of a heavenly position in Christ for us to occupy in fellowship with Him, then we have duties to fulfill, or a moral obligation if you will; this is not subjective, but coming to know those duties in a objective manner might be another matter. Also the entering into fellowship with Christ as a moral design could be elusive outside of a thorough biblical concept of the all important Christian privilege of our "being hidden in Christ". But the object of a true godly moral truth in reality, even when understood, doesn't necessarily mean that observation will not very with individual circumstance and produce different results along the way. I have come to accept this as fact. Well what am I getting at here? Just this: The objective truth of our heavenly position becoming known to the Christian and the application we may apply to have fellowship in knowledge and understanding with the Lord, will not always produce a similar result. I've learned that the hard way. I can now more clearly see that simply because my heart is becoming tuned to a realized moral elevation that God has raised us all to a place of perfection in His Son; a moral distance as far as the east is from the west from the old man of the natural flesh, and which has become completed in Christ; some of my readers might still see this in a subjective view colored by personal opinion and lack of awareness, and that is only natural, as we all have much to learn of the things of God. My hope in writing this blog is none the less to help us all live the defining of our life in the light and perfection and fellowship of the Fathers presence as a firm moral objective and for us all to find our way there even though the paths may vary by God's will for each individual.

      The message I am trying to convey in the above, in perhaps a too loquacious way, is to say my blog is changing in tone to a more accommodating standard. The inspiration for which is the realization of my own propensity to merely hear the word and not see it. I know the bible says "faith comes by hearing", but finding myself in the condition of the position I hold in Christ requires also seeing the truth, and in that truth is found the fellowship The Lord has for me, and with all who believe. Thank you for continuing on with me. Lets now get to the moral distance we all desire and will be elevated too as we learn who we are in fellowship with Jesus Christ!

      There is a small voice within me that whispers at times when I set out to do the right thing in self determination, to know Christ, bound for the moral distance of faith on my own; it says what if this all is not true? After all faith is immaterial, in ourselves subjective. This is my old man speaking. or perhaps the father of lies himself. However when I reflect upon my past and where I have come from I know I have found Him who brings life, and the beauty of The Son as portrayed in the Word, the clear object, is mine. He could only be a personal Creator God, the true truth. So my faith is proved by my flesh's weakness, even its unbelief. This is where the moral distance is to be advantaged, Jesus came for one such as me, and has made Himself know in my heart and that is where I may fellowship; by the power in Him imparted to me by His Holy Spirit, in Christ, where and how The Father sees me. I must have Him as a new life, in a new creation, by a true faith, or be relegated to a living death, a zombivication of a man on his way to heaven, but conducting his affairs here on earth in a dead mans mind.

      The term fellowship, I think, has lost meaning, its too easy, it has now become a lazy mans way of entering in to the Body of Christ. Then theirs communion; which in my mind at least, brings a vision of me down here and Him up there. No I like the word, in concert, for the purpose of explaining my elevated moral distance found in Christ. The definition of in concert is: acting jointly, in agreement, in common purpose. Viewing our Christian life thus might put a new slant on the term fellowship. If one is in concert with Jesus Christ he is together in company, therefore he must see himself where Christ is, nothing else will do. The moral elevation that Jesus has acquired for us by His death upon the cross has brought us complete deliverance from anything which would separate us from The Father, we have fellowship. We are in actual union with the Godhead, in Christ! Paul sought a mark, he was reaching for. Which was his way of saying, his intent was to understand and live his union with Jesus Christ in heaven, here on earth. My friends we too must seek this mark to have true fellowship, be it in union, or concert with the living God. But how can we press toward the mark, if we do not see it? I think largely the Christian world has lost sight of a acquaintance with Christ as a mindset a definition of their being, in union with Him, the person they actually are. In other words the biblical concept of the Spirit occupying our mortal flesh and thus being defined in our mind by its revelation of our position in Christ. I know I chose to not be educated to these facts for many years, resulting in a lower moral distance for my frame of reference . I had no anticipation of the mark to reach, let alone a idea of its meaning. The Word was not formed in me.

      How then shall we proceed to our happy destiny; the place of true fellowship? We as humans have the unique ability to alter our frame of reference, in order to change our perception of our life and that which surrounds us. The mastery of our thoughts is one of the most important traits we have to bring about not only a clear perception of things, but enjoyment of life. We use this power all the time and it forms our personality. The bible tells us a man whose thoughts are confused is like a wave tossed about by the sea. Yes my friends we all have troubles and are searching for calmness and clarity, perhaps formed by a new view. Why then not by faith in the Word of God? Which has purposed to alter our souls definition by giving us the opportunity to take on the Spirit of God in the power He has given us in The Son. By in-lighting our mind and thus becoming aware, we may be free to think position in Christ as life, and by our minds new altered view become active possessors of the personality of Jesus Christ; Him as our only object for existence, always in Him possessed. He becomes our object, we are in concert with His thoughts and the place He has provided in His heavenly dwelling becomes our path down here. Leaving behind the cares of the world and old things, and becoming acquainted with your God; who has given us a means to escape the bonds of this world, as a defining requisition of our being, and by faith arrive at the moral distance, the new definition, He has by His death and Resurrection elevated us to!

CONNECTING WITH THE BENEFIT

      A great problem for me has been to simply rest in the benefits afforded me by my connection to The Father made true in The Son; and discovering just what does that means in my everyday life, and how do I take advantage of its availability? In other words how can I gain a spiritual prosperity of the truth in my daily affairs? "That you may be filled with a clear knowledge of His will accompanied by thorough wisdom and discernment in spiritual things" Col. 1:9. My weakness has been in the discernment area of spiritual things, and I think it may be possible many of those I encounter have much the same trouble.

      First if we are to be wise and discerning on any subject we must have a knowledge of it; that goes without saying! What then are spiritual things? The bible says that the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. By fear this means a mentally held respect for all His ways and His will. I believe we may discern His spiritual will for us by realizing that the knowledge of spiritual things is only found in the mind of God, but it is up to us to interpret it as He makes it know to us in His Word. So spiritual things are reveled by the mind of God, to the renewed mind of man. In Col. 1:10, the bible tells us "to walk worthy of the Lord to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and growing by the full knowledge of God". It seems my friends we, by His word, must grow in knowledge, so we might have our work cut out for us to gain the interpretive quality needed for spiritual things.

      I have discussed in my blogs in many different ways basically the same subject, namely our position in Christ. I will not go over the details of what that means here, as it will be easy for you to simply refer to my past comments, but that being said: I wish to discuss the fruit of knowing this truth, of position, held in the spiritual discernment and wisdom we can partake of by holding our understanding of the subject in faith in our mind. In other words resting in God's mental gifts to us. It seem only natural that the mountain top of rest cannot be reached without trudging the road of the foothills; this is where I failed for so many years, on the road to happy destiny. My friends it takes hard work, dedication and patience to find the hope The Father has provided for a mature resting place in His Son. I have come to accept that most will not make the effort to arrive, as the world and its affairs, and more so I think, our own personal fears indulged in, prevent a clear view of the highway. While the world will always impact us, as we are in it, our own anxiety's are internal and ultimately our own responsibility. Perhaps this is where we can find the cure to connect with the benefits God has provided for dealing with fear. This upward slope on our path will only be mounted by gaining the knowledge to overcome, and then believed in by a confident faith! How then do we accomplish such a feat?

      I am afraid my dear friends there is not a easy answer; the pilgrims progress is slowed by many intrepid encounters along the way. Which when looked back upon may be seen as a benefit in helping us to find our way, but seldom so when we are engaged in them, and often serve to hold us in a that place of fear. I know many Christians do not like the word psychology, but I think some credit for that approach is needed here. The idea for most therapy is to help the patient become aware of there own weakness, becoming self analytical in the process, a good thing. The big gap I believe is encountered by the all to often consequence of this approach alone, we are still left with ourselves, the flesh, in the end, not a good thing. The Word of God tells us we are completely new creatures our old self has been cast aside made annulled, dead. We now are being conformed to the image of Christ, and in fact are already conformed to that image in the Mind of God. With a clear spiritual discernment of this great benefit we are not left orphaned, with only a natural man to look to; but can through the knowledge of biblical truth apply what we learn about ourselves to the solid foundation of a current citizenship in heaven, the new you living there, held firmly in your own personal understanding, by the Representative fact of Christ presence there; and thereby come to know and maintain our identity in The New Man and derive our lasting and true analytical powers from the source of life, which is The Mind of God in Christ, by the Holy Spirit in us.

      I realize it is one thing to apply for the benefits and another to get them. I know of many Christians seeking relief, but few finding it. I once was the voluntary victim of this dilemma. This frustration is magnified because we are trying to overcome this or that, not seeing that we have the benefit of something far greater than could ever be found in a personal self centered effort. We are in truth by Christ's effect far superior to any inhibiting fears. There really is no need for the Christian to be confined, with no relief during trials, as it is not a self centered  power which we should be seeking as the benefit, but the power of the Mind of Christ which is already in us, although we must have awareness of it. The power we might find in the self contained man opens doors yes, but we remain in the flesh. The power of the Holy Spirit in us in awareness enables us to climb the wall, grace carries us ever upward gaining strength at each new barrier. This effect is God's benefit to His children, a practical power found by abiding in the truth of our position in Christ resting in our fellowship where He is, while walking down here. The fruit of knowing our position in Christ.

      Really what we are talking about here is Spiritual health and maturity. While one may be converted, saved and on their way to the by and by, he may not know where the Lord is and his place in Him there, nor have a concept of the all important view God has of the believer seen in His Son, and therefore remain weak. Not knowing his dwelling place is above; which is The Fathers perspective, the only one that matters, a mature incite is needed into the true doctrine of our heavenly presence rested in, in our mind/spirit. Without knowledge of the biblical facts the believer will never see the clear light of the way prepared by Christ's death to all that is self. I have encountered many men and women who have a firm grasp of this world, a large estate, secure in material things, and even active in Christian service, but have poor spiritual health, and therefor cannot enjoy their possessions, both material and spiritual. Really friends, what good is the world anyway? Why do we fear, people, places, and things and participate in the sin of anxiety? How can we be set free to connect with God's benefits, where we will find a sure footing?

      The answer to the above, I believe is simply knowing the difference between the old self centered order and the new order we are beheld in by God, in Christ. The old order brings about suffering, which is useful in God's formula for us. It is as sufferings grow that the consolations of Christ abound. We might be in a trial, but by a awareness of our position of holiness and total security before God in Christ; we are made superior to it! This concept is made clearer by the words of J.B. Stoney, which I will close with: "Do not look for a change in your circumstances, but keep your mind on the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ above[and your presence in Him there], that while by the power of the Holy Spirit you have association with Him where He is [in heaven], you will manifest His life and power where He is not [on the earth]. What really hinders souls is this: they are looking for easy circumstances, looking for God to take away the difficulties, instead of looking to Him for grace to be superior to them". "For when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor. 12:10.

ON THE RADICAL PATH

      George Bernard Shaw once said: "We learn little or nothing from rational people, because rational people adapt themselves to the world and consequentially are seldom visionary". I get very excited by the out of the ordinary, and biblical Christianity is certainly not at all rational in any ordinary worldly sense. If we look at the concepts it proposes in a rational natural humanistic adaption we loose the savor. That's why I avoid a intense studious over analyzing of doctrines and dedication to books as that leads to a view almost anyone may approach. There is no end to books and students, they fill the world with a virtual cornucopia of information. If the Word is true then it should be enough that it be simply taken for just what it says. After all God inspired only one book. Why then should we need so many more of them to hear what He is saying to us in the one? Perhaps its for lack of vision! Yes I know and admit I have gained from those who have lent to the understanding of my faith in their writings, and I would never say they have not added a strong element to God's word, in fact I believe many were provided by the Holy Spirit for just that purpose. However lately Ive been reading the bible out loud with a Christian friend at the gym; what a thrill to share the thoughts of the Creator of the universe with another, God's view directly. I always go away with a new incite. I really do not think we need to do a lot of official bible study or memorize scripture, concentrate on knowing prophecy as to end times, seek to find our gift or stand on the unbending ground of a solid doctrine, to enable defining our faith. While these are good things and very recommended and even popular; I believe that the overly concentration of the subjective from the mind of man, leads to a sort of inwardness, like the truth could be wrapped up and packaged by a method, a narrowing of God's truth tailored by another for us. I fear on such a path one may find themselves self contained in a position of pride, mans dilemma. No my friends Ill simply take the awkwardness of my Faith, falling on the two edge sword. I wish now to gain the road to my destiny on the radical path! That's not to say I will never use and appreciate others thoughts or incites, but I see more and more these days the pure value of the Word clearing the road ahead.

      The Bible says, " If you were raised together with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God" Col. 3:1. The little word here "if" implies something; "if" we were raised with Him, implying that in fact we were, then we have only one position, one life, which could only be where He is, a position in glory. To be raised is a action word, which the bible declares we have directly participated in. The "things which are above" refer to all that Christ is; where He is in heaven and so by being raised with Him, we are there also! If we are in heaven then there is a contrast, the earth. This could, and I think should, mean we are not to practice the practically of our life in a earthly manner, but instead seek the things in heaven, knowing Christ as everything, our life, and allow that heavenly existence to be our practical influence. There is a most radical concept at the foundation of these biblical truths; it is by the Spirit of God that we reside in heaven now, ["together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Eph. 2:6,"] in the Lord Jesus and this is only realized when we become aware of it in the mind of our faith and then rest confidently in it. Is this not a radical path for the Christian made clear in God's word? Why then do we find ourselves so often overcome by the affairs of the world? Could it be unbelief?

      The real intent of the entire word of God, as I see it, is to show that man has been removed from the eye of God. That is, in God's Son all His pleasure is formed. The more one ponders the scriptures directly with this concept in mind, the more ones life found in Christ becomes the influence, and then by that, all things in this life will be governed as to our affairs on this earth; by the position we hold in Him. The great crime is holding this truth inward, that is to our benefit only, a self centered earthly position; not beholding ourselves as The Father does, by His view of His beloved Son, the source of His pleasure; which He has allowed as the instrument for application to our salvation. How then can we see this truth and apply it to our daily lives? Again I purpose the radical path; we simply believe the word of God. We, by that approach will no longer read the scriptures in a sentimental way, even a studious way, or pull out a verse here and there to be applied to perhaps a good and moral application for our earthly affairs. Instead by the radical path we find our rest in the moral perfection provided by God in His Son Jesus Christ and us in that very perfection, being raised with Him. Seeing ourselves in heaven with Him, by the Fathers will! Which is the only way, I believe, we will ever gain the full knowledge of the new life we have where He is, the place the bible firmly declares our citizenship to be. This my friends is not a metaphor or type and shadow, but a spiritual reality we may count upon by faith. When this is counted on and lived by we receive power from the mind of Christ, which overcomes the world, just what Jesus came here to accomplish. Remember dear seekers, He did not come here to make us able to be over-comers by our actions, but so that His Father's will for us to be Holy and redeemed in His sight might be done. For that to be possible we had to be seen by The Father, "hidden in Christ Jesus", We overcome the world by faith in that fact.

      Faith is so much More than mere belief. As James said "faith without works is dead". This means true faith requires and will display action. The works here are not necessarily doing good deeds etc.,although they might be included. The essences here is that our faith must take on a life changing character, our belief will then become action, a reality in our life, by that faith. The new creatures we are in Christ will become the dominate life force for the motivation which contains the sustaining value we hold in our presence in the Son, held their by the grace of God, which begun in The Son. I have seen a duel road of faith in my life, which by His Word is just the right prescription for the growth of a new life. The first road is one we will call the lower path, and that one was realized in my own self; there is a Saviour and He is mine. The second, lets call the high road is traveled by coming to know that in addition to Him being my saviour I find that everything I need and that is of value is in Him; that He is all things, in all things, and that all that He is is imparted to me; I am no longer contained in myself. The responsible party for my life is now Jesus Christ Himself, and I must learn how to acknowledge that by the action of my faith. The low road was found by weakness and so by that great principal used by The Father is also found the high road: The loss suffered on the higher, for me far greater; required a loosing of myself to Him, counting all thing as loss, that He may be my gain. His mercy put me on the low road, but knowledge of the Person, The Man, His personal attractiveness, my presence in Him before the Father smoothed the highway for a higher destination. "That I may know Him".

      How then do we acquire the higher path? Well I think the answer is a deep desire to seek the higher. My problem for so many years is that I never new the difference: Which has always been the problem for the Church from the beginning, and the cause for most of the letters written by Paul to a weak struggling immature carnal audience of believers. We have been relieved of judgement and fear by the blessings of the lower path, only to be left with a firm connection to all that is earthly, clearly the place Paul encouraged his readers to exit. My heart on the lower path remained committed to experience Christianity from a natural self centered place. I looked from me to Him, accepted the blessings and then held them in me and then like a hungry puppy wanted more, never satisfied! Upon arrival on the first steps of the higher path I found that it was only by my faith becoming willing to engage in a active loss of desire for the things of this world and acknowledge the bibles command for the believer to associate himself with a heavenly Person, who was rejected from this earth, and therefore I also; and, that then I would find myself united in spirit, association and practical experience with the Man in heaven, with whom all who believe were resurrected in spirit. The choice is simple my friends; a Christian must either be connected with the world and the order of things here are he may find himself by faith in the biblical facts that by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ he is dissociated from the natural earthly, sinful, Adam man, and find himself in union with the Lord Jesus in heaven. If you my good and dear Christian friend cannot relate to this in any way it is probably because you have become adjusted to a life, while redeemed and justified and heaven bound, is still very much counting upon the world system for guidance,and still remain associated to the very thing Christ died unto. This does not make you bad, or seen by God in a less elevate position [He can only see you in His Son] but it does mean you are missing out on the freedom and joy Christ's sacrifice provided to all those who would choose to partake of it. My prayer for all those reading this and myself, is that we take opportunity in the sorrow which inevitably comes our way in this world, seeing it for the gift it is from The Father; as introduction to His Son, The Man of sorrows, who sacrificed His Life that His Father might see us contained and hidden in Him in resurrection; and all this we will gain by faith traveling on the radical path He provided by His Word made alive for us in Christ.

LOSS OF LIFE

      I believe the greatest loss for the Christian may be when one day he realizes the theft he perpetrated upon himself; the loss of days not spent living a life in a cognizant perception, seeing himself in the Man who died in his stead, the potential life not apprehended gone unappropriated that resides in The Son! It is in His death where our life is found; how weakly I understood this for so many of my, not so fruitful years. I learned late in life that my true Christian experience consists of a measure of apprehension of that which is already true of myself in the Lord Jesus Christ. " For we which that live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake" 2 Cor. 4:11. This is really saying: the life of our indwelling faith, the source of our liberation, is to be recognized by the means of the Cross, by us counting as true the finished work of His death on that Cross; and in that reckoning we will be dealing progressively with our self, our soul's personality changing to His image. On that basis alone then the life of Jesus will be manifested in our mortal flesh. Now I am also beginning to learn " It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me" Gal. 2:20. And that,"the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free" Rom. 8:2. I must have read those verses a thousand time, with little impact, except for perhaps a momentary joyful feeling, or perhaps a renewed call to duty, or to no longer sin. Now the clouds are parting, I came to know that life lived for my self centered existence held no value, it did not really contain life, experience yes, not life! Then I became a believer in a revelation, by a new bold faith in the Words written by God as being true, and in which I could now live by, in the mortal flesh of my mind. This was accomplished by learning of and counting as true that Jesus death was indeed mine, me a Adam a self centered man; a new life was mine by His Resurrection. I was re- created, a new me, a new Adam, beheld in glory in the form of the One and only Man who could accomplish the desire of God for me, Jesus Christ. Thank you my God and Saviour for the unbound joy you have brought by my realization of the position I hold in heaven before you in your Son. And thank you Lord that position may be counted as my life here and now by faith! And that in my new perception of the loss of my Adamic old life you are becoming my new life.

      The title of my blog, our identification found in Christ, in order to be realized,  must be foremost and firstly considered by its application to the death of the natural life of our soul. "For if we have grown together in the likeness of His death, indeed we will also be in the likeness of His Resurrection" Rom. 6:5. In the intent of the Greek language here, this is not referring to a future resurrection at the end of times, but to the present process of growth, in likening ourselves to Him or how the Christian by applying Christ's death to our natural man we can live the life intended by God a resurrected life now in this place. How do we do that? Lets read on. "Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves" Rom. 6:6. The first word knowing, in the original language refers to a outward objective knowledge. As we gain this knowledge we will learn that the "old man" is referring to the natural life of the soul. The first Adam or mankind, created and loved by God, became fallen by his own volitional sin. We are not talking here of the soul's essential being/personality itself, but the life we manifested in and from that soul or the propensity to sin, which the bible refers to as the old man or flesh; which had to be rejected by God as hopeless and was put on the cross crucified with Christ. The bible therefore refers to this His representative act, as death unto the flesh. Please note, the word unto which the bible uses, not to. Unto connotes a sense of His entering into that very thing "sin", [He became flesh] and doing away with it completely by death, in a Judaical representative manner.Of course we are left with the capacity to continue in sin, as I am sure we all know. God could have certainly left us in another state, but He in His wisdom choose for us to remain with the reminder of sin, so that we would never fall victim to pride and would remain humble, as by our weakness He is made strong.

      Let us continue down freedoms road with Rom. 6:6, and look at the reference to the "body of sin": Which by the original intent of definition here is meaning; not the sinning person, but the sinning instrument, a self centered mind set, utilized by the old man to express himself in sin. In this concept the propensity becomes reality or flesh a action man performs, carried in the body. So mankind was guilty of a crime, God cannot accept, so He proposed to crucify sin, and thereby sin was "annulled"; which means made jobless, inactive, because in God's economy, His view, it has been crucified, made dead by His Son. Thus we are free from sin, not under any bondage what so ever, sin has nothing to do in us in God' sight. Yes as we said it still exists, but remains unseen by the only eye's that count, God's.This fact has brought me great joy to realize and live by. In order to hold that place of freedom I must always and forever keep my mind centered on the object which made this true truth possible Jesus Christ!

      This line of reasoning given to us by God leads to a conclusion, which is found in Rom. 6:11, " So also reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus". The word reckon used here is not a mere technique, but a spontaneous believing fact to be recognized, we are in fact dead to sin and living to God. We may enjoy that, not by the reckoning, but by faith in Christs all inclusive death and His Resurrection and power, which we can know more of as we read on in Romans through Chapter 8. All this given by grace can be made real in practical experience, requiring our fellowship and enjoyment of Him as the object by faith. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" Rom. 10:17. So we read God's word and we see this faith which is required to enjoy freedom, and is made clear. When we understand this we may walk in the Spirit, this is really, I think best defined as maturity. In other words it is the mind of the Father which is influencing our life, and not the things surrounding us, including our own sin. All that we are, as to being left in this body of sin, including the worlds influence and occupation we have in it, is the rival of God; and we are not safe from it. That is why it is imperative the believer know His place, which is by God's Word spiritual, heavenly, "living to God in Christ Jesus". Chapter 8 of Romans has much to say about that.

      In Romans 8:1 there is the all important reference to "now no condemnation" The word "now" is important as it refers to our position or standing, as seen in Rom. 6. But it also refers to our daily experience as regenerated new creatures in Christ, which is "now" our condition. "The law of the Spirit of life". Life is the issue, and the Spirit is the manifestation of the Triune God after he has manifested Himself through incarnation, death and Resurrection, and has now become a indwelling mind/Spirit which gives life to all believers. We are thus delivered from the law of sin and death, which dwells in our members our fallen nature our body. It is the spontaneous power of the Law of Life however that enables us to gain God and therefore freedom from our flesh. So my friends it seems by God's Words we have two laws working in us. It just remains for us to choose which we are to stand in. We know which one we want to have power in our life, this goes without saying. It cannot be denied evil is embodied in mankind, we know where that comes from, but how do we shed its control and influence? The Word of God says it is by entering into the loss of our life subjectively seen in the objective death unto sin of Jesus Christ, and coming to know Jesus as the resource of a new life to govern to us, a heavenly position. We as Christians are a entirely new kind of men and women, we have a new lineage found in Jesus Christ, who is the beginning of all-His very life. It is in the loss of our life where we will find Him. I must give credit to the Watchmen Nee Recovery Bible for opening up some of this truth. Many have gone before us in discovery of the simplicity of true Christianity and to them I am grateful.

WHO'S SIDE ARE WE ON

      The word Christian was first used to describe a follower of Jesus Christ at Antioch, in what is now modern day Turkey, noted in the book of Acts 11:26. This was really a nick name, actually a term of reproach hung on the disciples gathered there, because they were so distinct and peculiar in the eyes of the unbelievers living in the region. The term means little Christs, really a sort of put down, in terminology by the local populous. Now the word Christian is held as a banner over the moral creed followed by the Christian Church and its influence on society. The problem is, its become generic. I think Believer would be much more accurate for one who is born again; but of course the word Believer requires a refined and accurate definition in one's mind and the ability to explain what one believes and why when inquired of; unlike the word Christian, which is simply usually accepted by the world without the need for qualification or explanation.

      Another overused word, I think, used to describe today's Christian seeker, most often a student of the Word is disciple, which as far as I can discern is a word used only in the the synoptic Gospels and Acts, which were written, in the case of the Gospels, and partly in Acts about and for the most part regarding pre-Christianity, and certainly none in that dispensation  knew, they were of a heavenly nature in Christ until much later by Paul's revelations. A disciple was then a man who followed Jesus, a mere follower does not do justice to a Believer in my mind; any one may follow, but fewer will truly Believe; as many of Christ disciples deserted Him as troubles grew. In fact much more was yet to be shown as to truth and commitment to the remaining disciples/believers by what became known of Jesus from Paul, as to what He represents in God's estimation; all of which took place after the Gospel synoptic story, the Ascension being the final chapter for His disciples, but just the beginning for the Believer; with so much more to be reveled by the New Testament writers. Beside who in the pre- Resurrection, pre- Pentecost days, let alone later Believers could ever possibly live up to Jesus' definition of a disciple: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and sisters, yes and his own life also he cannot be My disciple, And who ever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" Luke 14:26, 27. We in these days and they in pre-Cross times simply did not, and do not qualify under these which are earthly terms and conditions; especially and if we do not see them as descriptive of the termination of our old natures [as the disciples could not] by Christ's action on the Cross, which the disciples or followers had no possible understanding of as their view was only earthly, or known in their natural flesh understanding, for they had not yet received the Holy Spirit, who reveled the heavenly nature of a Believer only later. We now have The Spirit reveling the mind of Christ in us. We today as Believers can know who and what we are. Where we belong. And now we must ask, who's side are we on?

      Many Christians stand on their side only of the offering of the sacrifice; in other words, they see Christ sacrifice as their offering to the Father; He has accomplished much for us and that is where we rest, which is called justification, and is a good place to be, but there is so much more. As the Jews brought the offering to the alter, and therefore from their view or side they were made right. Now we likewise, even though aware by faith, of all being accomplished by Him on the Cross, still persist in going to Him with mans side alone presented, or occupied primarily with ourselves. We were not the one offended, it was God who was offended by our sin, so really it is not our feelings to be considered but God's. How many think of their belief in this way?Ask yourself this question: if from God's point of view He thought of you in a certain way, as to relationship, but you had no awareness of it, would it be of any practical value to you? I am quite certain the answer is no! Then ask yourself if it is possible that much of what I know, seen from my side of the relationship with God is limited, and therefore so is my worship and faith; because of a lack of appreciation and knowledge of The Fathers estimation of me seen in His Son? In other words do I have anything to learn beyond a self centered form of Christianity? Do I believe the Words of the Bible when they say, "we are being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ" and that we are in fact seen in that form according to The Word, in our spirit, by God the moment we first believe? And if we can answer yes to that because the bible says so, but cannot apply or appropriate this true truth in our minds perception of our self, which can only be seen as a position in heaven held by faith, then perhaps we should consider more deeply probing the side we are on, to see the alternative provided Believers by God's Grace, in His Son from His side.

      I choose to digress slightly here, to expose the self centered side I often seem to find myself on; as it is my privilege as a blog writer to make expression as it pleases me. I wish to thank you, in advance, for your indulgence. The other day my side was brought into a new light by a beautiful messenger of God, who helped me realize, in her godly and gentle way, the depth of my critical spirit. I am so grateful God has brought such a one as she into my life, even if bearing fruit which opened a humbling door to my nature. I now can see I owe you my dear readers and fellow seekers for truth a sincere apology. I have been overtly judgmental and especially attacking, applying my own view of perceived weakness and my personal opinion, of supposed charter defects, of God's Church and His children, taking on a sarcastic overtone in my writing regarding them. Please my friends from the bottom of my heart I ask forgiveness! I will in further installments seek to concentrate only on gaining the knowledge of God, His word, and our mutual hope for growth into the life of Christ; leaving the foibles and triumphs of the human condition in the Church to be made obvious to us on their own merits, both good and poor.

      Lets now get back to the side we must seek, God's. We all know that God saved us by the Blood of His son and our faith in that fact. And that Christ died unto our sin nature. We find much relief in that. But what about God's feelings His side? Our sin created a distance from God, which was removed, by His motivation and for His relief, and His love for mankind and the world. The distance or gulf was removed by that love, He was the first to be relieved, and that by the Man who was the only focus of His attention "not us" but His Son. His grace begun with His Son. Most of us are living in a place of such comfort that we have salvation, our side, that we seldom consider that all that we have was because the estrangement of man, from God was taken away by the judgement of our offence in the Crucified Man Jesus Christ and from God's perspective all has been removed, but it was His sacrifice, He suffered loss, " therefore now there is no condemnation" and all of that was accomplished from God's side, in order for Him to be able to accept us. All we need do now is rest in the representative work done by Him. We have nothing to offer from our side, it has all been done for us. We may have solid peace and rest if we find ourselves knowing and growing in this truth from God's view outward toward us. The alternative side, which is the position we actually occupy.

      When we look to God we are to see everything accomplished to His complete satisfaction. But when we look at ourselves we find we still have sin. Well which side do you want to live on? Freedom from our place in His Son, or a constant awareness of  weakness from ours? We have been given the power to choose. And who do we choose by? The place provided by Him; He has exchanged us, from His side, and now sees you with Him in Glory in His Son, our heavenly position, this is His only view of us. It is no longer Adam but Christ. The view is no longer us looking up to God, with a grateful offering, although we are grateful beyond measure. We may now look down from His Glory for that is where we reside, on His side.

      Ask yourself this question. Can you discern the difference between your union in Adam and your union in Christ? You will never know and live in the freedom that you have died to sin until you effected a change in your mind set from Adam to Christ. You can never rise up to how you are seen before the Father, in His Son until you perceive the terms he has established from His side, by which He has accepted you. The Father has brought you to Himself, this is the true beginning. We must see this by being occupied only with the object in which the Father sees us, Jesus Christ. We live by the spirit in a heavenly place by God's will for us: "Hid with Christ in God". Much thanks goes to J.B. Stoney for inspiration on this a complex subject; a concept which Paul held dear, and a basic truth Paul strives to convey to his readers, in the reveled Word. Lets go there and meditate upon He in whom we dwell, where we will find our side

      

GETTING TO WHERE I AM

      This week I have decided to write about me, where I am at now and the exciting road I have been on for almost two and a half years. I hope you will stay with me, as I feel the need to once again vent. My getting a little more personal was prompted by some feedback I got on my last blog, from a man I very much respect and have mentioned in my past blogs. Also he happens to be one of the very few who care to comment: even my close friends and fellow active positional truth doctrine compatriots seldom give feed back, advice or encouragement. I've sort of gotten used to the aloneness of my adventure, but I would be less than honest if I said I did not harbor some resentment, mostly by way of feeling sorry for myself. But enough said about my feelings and on to the subject brought to mind by my loan feedback blog victim.

      As I've always maintained this blog is for me, but with hope that a light may be turned on in others minds as to the possibility of a conscious life lived in the position we have been placed in by God in His Son. I do realize that the concepts I attempt to discuss are difficult for most Christians, after all we are limited by our selves, our preconceptions, both right and wrong. In my new view, from heaven, seen in my new spiritual definition of Paul's teachings it seems so clear that we The Church are a completely new creation never before imagined in any previous biblical/spiritual setting, a heavenly placed creation, given the opportunity to live in the peace of the very Son of God, where He is, ascended and in heaven; by our acquiring faith in that biblical fact, and that God wants us to abide in that position as a mind set, right here on earth. I know from past experience that takes some doing. The mess Christianity is in is very apparent. Before the reformation in about 1550 there was only a few denominations, the catholic church being the main one, and a quick review of its history will revel a lot of poor, UN-biblical teachings if not down right heresy's. Now we have the supposed enlightenment, and Christianity is now patched together with over 200 denominations. The Apostles must be rolling over in their graves at the display of convoluted teachings now being carried on in the name of Christ. No wonder Christians are confused, and the unbelieving world remains in unbelief, at least partly I think by our poor example. Christianity seems to have thrown in the towel to a worldly carnal walk, despite a very clear account in the Word of how we are to conduct ourselves by faith as new creatures, and where our hearts are to be confined by definition, in the household of God, a radical path separate from others, finding freedom in the weakness we gain, in the death of our flesh in Christ, positioned heavenly in Christ, by our faith in that fact.

      A perfect example of this problem was made very clear to me by the feedback responder; throwing me into a somewhat shocking realization of my apparent inability to make myself clear in the basic contextual meaning of my blog. Or could it be that my loyal readers simply don't get it, due to the confusion fostered upon them by today's church experience. Maybe its my fault; I haven't been articulate enough; I know there's some truth in that! I suspect the real truth however is the Holy Spirit has not found opportunity in their weakness. I fear it takes a broken spirit to receive a life in Christ. I am grateful for the humbled place I ended up in the recent past, which opened the door, at least for the beginning of spiritual maturity. Although I am still very much a work in process, and that's for sure, as we all are!

      So lets set the record straight: I have come to learn that I as a Christian have a responsibility to know truth. I live in a sin racked body in a sin filled world, no doubt! My flesh is very real and I have a human nature, which the bible tells me is fallen from contact with God because sin resides in my human nature or flesh. That is simply who we all are. Becoming a Christian doesn't change that. This is our personal sinful Adam inherited presence, the bible refers to as the first Adam, he is us! God loves me despite that Adam existence, but can not accept me, because I have sin. He therefore sent His Son to Die in my place so that in The Fathers estimation we would be seen as dead to our flesh in spirit, our first Adam, the sin of human nature. The Father, when I was born again, gave me a gift, called faith, seen in the replacement image in His mind of us, He established in His Son, and that is where I now am seen by God; nothing less than I am in His Son's status before God, who is in heaven, I am included. Its hard to make that concept gain traction in this world, seen in a practical way, it cannot be experienced by a feeling or emotion or a religious duty; but only by pure faith rested in, which some call positional faith; this concept is spiritual, a non material mental condition we can only hold in our mind and which by The Fathers own will is carried in the very personal existence of His Son. Any other way is going back to the old first Adams way involving law and works,or human effort. Yes creation is good yes it is beautiful, yes we must live and be a part of this world. The flesh or human nature is the body all these concepts are held in, hopefully by faith, [the only way to please God] I will perform in a way which honors His sacrifice. But the body will go away and so will this creation, all things eventually deteriorate in the material realm, so hope can only be found in faith.

      The premier example for us of positional faith truth in our total existence as being found in Jesus Christ is Shown in God's word. We may discover this absolute truth, when we read Acts 7:55: "But he [Stephen] being full of the Holy Spirit, looked steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God". If my friends you do not understand this, as Stephen did, as his his position, not only his hope, you will never be able to understand how you are to carry about your faith in function and form in the body in which your non material spirit dwells. He Stephen is consciously connected with the glory of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, which makes him personally qualified to announce where the Son of Man is; if He is seen there, then by that same vision we also are seen by God as being there, as we are in Christ. In other words,without the knowledge of your rest in position in Christ, defined by God as you in His Son seen from His side, you are subject to the world, which means by biblical definition, under this conceptual banner we are speaking of here, the system of Satan.

      Please my good and faithful Christian friends, do not live your live in the hope of the next world only, or the coming new heavens and new earth, or the rapture, are consideration of world events leading to the tribulation/anti Christ or even biblical doctrines: which while they are good to study for edification and knowledge, but when relied upon of themselves often lead to sectarian strong holds. And not even your family and loved ones or the physical church functions or religious duty, and please, please do not rely on feelings are experience. While many of these things are of a biblical nature, and not to be ignored, they in and of themselves will not separate you unto Christ, who is our Christian reality in God's, plan. Remember,The Lord Jesus, as a Man [second Adam] glorified the Father on this earth, and the Father rests in that, as a Man [second Adam] He accomplished redemption. Now He has passed into heaven, as a New Adam, The second Man "us", to appear in the presence of God for and as representing us. It is our faith in Him as present there, for and as us in God's estimation, where will will find abiding rest to our souls, and not our thoughts or enjoyment of His creation, or duty's and experiences we have in ourselves, what ever they may be.

      I observe three things which are the predominant characteristic of today's church/christian experience At least the churches which are filled and growing. The first, many churches are dedicated to busyness, works, activities, missions and programs. Second a emphasis on relationship, psychology, singles groups, couples workshops and recovery from bad habits. And the third the high energy emphasis on experience, emotion driven by loud music and a shouting, strutting, sweating, preacher calling for Jesus to enter in by The Spirit. Of course none today can leave out handsome people entertaining the flock with a contemporary music program and songs sung in seven verses repeated eleven times, to make sure the spirit moves, which today passes for worship. Don't get me wrong I enjoy some of these features in my flesh and even may receive spiritual edification. I am sure God can use many varieties of styles to accomplish His will, and I know the intent is good, and many of these activities are not bad in themselves, and probably even accomplish much good. But none of these types of experience will build strong mature saints, which is the main job of The Church, and the churches weakness is very apparent, by the embrace of a worldly christian culture by many of today's believers, who simply are not making their separation from the world very easy to see, remaining immature saints.Then what is our calling? How should we see ourselves to be seen, by this dark world?

      For me my new life and calling started, like most Christian, being born again, and I came to believe He died for me, I was a new baby, where mostly I stayed for 36 years. We all remember that day! But how many can place the day they themselves saw that they died with Him as a new calling? Oh what a day that was for me. Being born again elicited much emotion, a pink cloud. But adopting His death as mine brought freedom, peace and joy; what better place is there? I came to realize that I must reckon [count as true] on that God ordained biblical fact,which accomplished a union of He and I, now held in my knowledge/mind of faith. It is not that I reckoned myself dead and therefore I will be dead: It is that, because I died in Him therefore I can reckon myself to have died. If you have just read that and it does not make sense to you, its because you have never been taught the most important fundamental truth of Christianity, by your happy church experience. A life changing radical realization! We do not reckon [know truth] toward death, but from death! The Bible says it: "We are dead and our life is hidden in Christ Jesus". If that's not a absolute livable truth and we do not know it or do not wish to make the effort, then I would say lets just eat drink and be merry! My prayer for us all is to gain the knowledge of our identification in Christ, and find our place positioned in Him! Thank you my friends for staying with me.

THE POWER OF NOT

      "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" 1 John 2:16. This verse is a New Testament description of the fruit of the results of the biblical symbolic description of the tree of life which Eve was tempted to partake of by her own volition in the Garden, and the very thing which would separate mankind in a resultant lost state forever. Man has been partaking of its fruit ever since, including born again Christians. The book of Genesis tells us this tree was sought after because it was desired to make one wise, albeit in a worldly way. It therefore becomes very important for the Christian to distinguish what is of the world and what is not. Again I wish to thank J. B. Stoney for giving this concept legs when he said: "The distinction is simply this; when what is visible influences and controls our feelings or actions, it is the world; and when it is not seen, and faith is the evidence, then we have victory over the world". "This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith" 1 John 5:4. The question we must ask ourselves, is it the mind of God that is influencing me, or is it the order of things around me? The world system and the detraction it affords is after all the domain of the evil one and should be easily identifiable. Many Christians find safety for salvation in faith, but nevertheless are not safe from the world. Why is this so? And where and how is the power disclosed in us to be not of the world?

      Mans efforts to live up to the bible command to not be of the world are quiet interesting and very reveling. Early on in Christian history men developed schemes and rituals to attempt to form, by their behavior, a settled place in the not of; think of monks, and priests closing themselves off behind walls from the things of the world and its temptations. Men even resorted to, and still do, to self punishment, to literally beat the world out of themselves. We could go on and on with examples; but what about us? What do we do to attempt to avoid the confrontation with this radical concept? I wish I could believe we use simple self delusional rationalization for our delving in the prince of the power of the air and his domain, perhaps there then would be some excuse. Or maybe we are under a false impression as to what it means to be not of the world, so we have a wrong definition. Then there's always the self contained selflessness of duty, busy helping others and good old church activities, by which we might define a feeling of being in the proper place. But alas my friends I am afraid its none of these or the many excuses and self deluded actions we involved ourselves in to form a supposed religious place to dwell in the not. No its simple profound ignorance of biblical facts and unbelief that the words we read there are true and apply to us here and now! So really then if this is true of us, the answer to enter into the not is simple; read and believe the Word of God! Here's what it says about where we are; "Set your affections on things above...for you have died and your life is hidden in Christ Jesus" Col. 2:2,3. "Alive unto God in Jesus Christ our Lord" Rom. 6:11. "If you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God" Col 3:1. " As is earthly such are they which are earthy; and as is heavenly such are they also that are heavenly" 1 Cor. 15:48. "And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Eph. 2:6. And last but not least the verse that unflinchingly describes your present location: "For our citizenship is in heaven FROM WHICH we eagerly await a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ" Phil 3:20. Note the place we are, where we wait, is heaven...not the world. A place where we are in spirit, which is unseen, requiring faith to live there now, from here. I firmly believe no man or women will be able to engage in the fullness of the joy God offers, until they abide in this true truth of the position we occupy in Christ by faith, of our presence in Him, in heaven; "This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith".

      When we read the word "world" in the New Testament, we are reading the Greek word cosmos. As this word is used in the context we are dealing with here, the bible is referring to the inhabited earth, its people. Simply defined world refers to a system. Satan is the ruler of that system, John 12:31, 1 John 5:19. This should be forever in the for front of our thoughts as we analyze our dealing with it, our discernment of our presence in it. Its obvious God left us here, but He gave us the power to be aware of our plight and overcome, providing a new dwelling place by faith. Well where is that power found and why do we fail to live in it? In order to be free from the system a man must either remove it from his presence or he must remove the state he is in; that is he must be defined in his inward man as being above and outside his own nature. The only way this can be done is by presenting him to a alternative in which to believe, and the Word of God declares that alternative is available if we only have faith, but faith in what specifically? The word shows we must see ourselves relocated to overcome, we must be presented to a new definition of ourselves, becoming new men and women in our minds eye. A place is provided to do just that by God in the person of His Son Jesus Christ who is in heaven, If we believe that by faith, we may see that The Father has established by His estimation, that we are positioned there also. "Who is he that overcomes the world, he that believes Jesus is the son of God" 1 John 5:5. It is nor merely faith which effects our deliverance from the world system but a person, hence by that person, a position we occupy. Forever held and seen by The Father in Him, the power to enter the "not" by faith.

      I hope my dear friends you can now see that it is not any specific physical or emotional action we take, by which we will gain entrance to the not of. Nor is it our thoughts, lust, sin, or improper religious attitude that prevents our obtaining this most precious gift of freedom from Satan's system. We dwell in freedom by a Man, The Holy Spirit has presented to us a Man, not a experience. He is our entrance, and it is how we perceive our self by God own definition; being found identified and positioned in that Man, His Son, that shows the way. We will gain the power to do this by adopting a godly attitude and trust toward His word which in a clear and certain declaration presents this absolute truth. Then we may remain in the place of not by faith and contemplation of the words which The Father wrote down for just that purpose.

      I know this is not a easy concept to hold and make your life, it has been a huge struggle for me. However the more I live in belief in The Word, the more I believe it is true and find rest; I also realize few reading this will take the trouble to relegate there valuable time to search for freedom in faith, from the world, as they choose to remain captured for lack of knowledge. In pre- Pentecost times [before Christs Resurrection] faith was something which required proof, i.e. as Abraham trusted God he found results; in other words the faith based man in that time was by his belief holding a standard above the things in the world which surrounded him, by his flesh convictions of the provision of his faith, he only had his natural man to hold on to, he was not called to a higher standard, of things unseen. In Christ all that was set aside, for in His death on the Cross all to do with the former function of man in the flesh, for faith, was abnegated by God, which is the act of renouncing or rejecting a thing.

      In the power we have been given by the rejection of man in the flesh, on The Cross, by the Father our separation from the world is no less than His. We, seen in The Son, are not of the world; "He has overcome the world', and therefore we too; as we are identified by God, in Him. Not by our own estimation only, but by The Father's! If, my good friends and fellow seekers for truth,we can just but see this reality by our faith, then we in what Jesus did, in His person-hood, representing us, will find the true meaning, as it was intended for us to understand. The Word has told us to; "Love not the world, neither the things in the world' 1 John 2:15. We must believe the bible to overcome, as we are declared by the Holy Creator of the universe that; "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation...all things have become new". It is by and in these truths we may live in the power of not!

      "The Holy Spirit is the power to separate us from the world and its ways, because He gives the only enablement to preserve us from the flesh and its ways. If we walk in the Spirit we shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5:16. We are sustained by union through the Spirit with the heavenly Man. We move in the sphere of the first man, but our fellowship is with the Lord Jesus Christ above, therefore we walk down here by faith".---J.B. Stoney

A PLACE PROVIDED

      "Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved you and gave Himself for us, an offer and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" Eph. 5:1. By this verse we can see God's command to become like Him, and accordingly as we fail in this; God's will for us, we become more like ourselves, or we give our human sin nature more authenticity. The bible tell us we are to decrease, as natural men and women so that He might increase in His function and life in us, and thereby we become as He is, in this present life. Mr Stoney does a magnificent job of showing how this may be accomplished in our mind's understanding and in much of the following I was inspired by his writing to express how God in His plan and wisdom provided a place for us to abide, so that we would be imitators of Him who sacrificed all, so that we might live in the truth!

      The word Atonement, which we have all heard many times, no doubt, is a Old Testament word not directly used in the New, but never the less it is appropriate for us. It simply means covering, as in the sacrifice is a covering for sin. That of course was what was accomplished by God's direction on our behalf, by Christ on the Cross. In the New Testament the word has been substituted using, reconciliation. "We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the reconciliation Rom. 5:11. In Corinthians, reconciliation is used to indicate husband and wife reuniting after a separation. So we too are now reunited with Christ beginning with the the rejection of The Son of God from the earth by mankind; proving us wholly incapable of arising to meet any requirement of The Father for working out our own salvation. After all the rejection was performed by the Adamic earthly man, the same as us, which shows the utter inability of man for any case toward God. But then God in His mercy provided His Sovereign Grace as a covering. Thus His Atonement ushered in a new era. The Lord Jesus was placed in a position, one in which we belonged, namely death. But His Resurrection showed the world and the powers in heaven that God had brought in something new. The Believing Adam man could become a new spiritual man in Christ, who we will one day be like He was at His Resurrection, but which we are partakers of now, by His sovereign plan and Grace, becoming a new race of people here and now. A place provided for us to dwell in God's mind; in which we are seen by The Father as new men and women, not in our flesh, but in His Son. We are no longer under trial, the sentence has been accomplished by The Son. A positional place provided. Something I fear many in modern Christianity have been diverted from.

      The bible speaks of the first man, Adamic earthy, and a second Man heavenly. There is very little emphasis on this important distinction in today's churches. Its not a mystery, the Word is clear: "The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven" 1 Cor:45-47. It should be evident to all believers that since the first man [us] is no longer being judged or under trial by The Father, and as the second, the Lord Jesus is risen from the dead, a Spiritual Man, that we are inheritors of the Second Man a spiritual fact, we are no longer of the flesh, it cannot be the first, for he is judged as dead by God and we know this by faith in God's actions on our behalf, on the cross. So now by this sovereign plan and His grace we by faith are found identified and provided a place of position in The Son in heaven. Since He is in heaven there is no link to Him here, except by The Holy Spirit, by whom it is made know to our mind, the only place this spiritual truth can be held or even function, that our object is heavenly, and because He was rejected from the earth He must be known by the saints where He is and thus our heavenly status is made know to we who remain behind on the earth. A place provided

      In Titus 3:5, Paul uses another important word, regeneration; again a subject seldom expounded upon by the church, at least in its paramount meaning defined in Paul's intended usage, and brought forth by the eminent bible scholar Lehman Strauss as followers. "To be an act of God's whereby He bestowed upon the believing sinner new life. This God's own life, the imparting of His own nature. God Himself is the source and Bestower of His life so that the believers are said to be "partakers of the Divine nature" 2 Peter 1:4, "created in Christ Jesus" Eph. 2:10, "born of God" John 1:13, "born again" John 3:3,7, "a new creation" 2 Cor 5:17. If we are to take this at face value and expounded upon with these word from Mr Stoney; "we would, or should see ourselves as connected to Christ where He is in heaven; hence, thorough the spirit, are of heavenly nature, and empowered to fill in a superior way the positional blessing by a relationship, appointed by God, for the earthly man; members of the organic Body of Christ, which is now determined by the ascended second Man".

      If the Lord Jesus were here on earth now, we would walk in the grace of the law free from any hindrance to enjoy Him. But this is for another time which is called a dispensation during the millennium, or the thousand year earthly reign of Christ on His return to the earth, seldom mentioned in any church Ive ever attended. He is absent from this place rejected from the earth, which places the believer in a entirely different position; we are not where He is, and He is not where we are, we are not of the earth, but on the earth, we are of Christ in heaven. Christ was refused here, but the bible declares we are hidden in Him; then it is possible only by faith, to be where He is, in heaven, our true status. We walk this earth as new men and women by faith, in that place provided. The world is therefore entirely shut out, as to power and influence. My friends we simply must discover this true truth to live a Christian life pleasing to God!

      Since my growth into the faith of my heavenly positional reality I must admit to a great sense of frustration, as I discovered the freedom and joy of the total truth and reliability of my place and life being hidden in Jesus Christ, I saw how the church has abandoned this truth and the lack of interest on the part of my fellow believers to embrace this biblical teaching. Then I discovered why. We it turns out, are voluntary  victims.

      For the most part the church treats Jesus as if He were still here, they do not acknowledge His rejection. Oh yes they own His Death and sacrifice but engage in a sort of legal works based formula as if we need to please Him by our actions. Of course if we truly acknowledged His rejection we would have to own up to our own failure; and this is not acceptable for prides sake. So as the roman church has done, we create a ritual called the mass which is nothing more than a continued sacrifice seeking continual forgiveness. Not accepting the old man is finished by the Cross the trial over, and by that we are to consider ourselves by faith as dead, instead it is as if the first man [us] was still under trial. This simply cannot be true. The second group we are probably most familiar with, protestantism or reformed theology, brought in after the reformation, which gave us anew the wonderful truth held back so long by the roman church, justification by faith, and thank God for that! However while it admits the sacrifice is sufficient it does not act with a consistency which would enable us to live in the freedom of the second Mans position, by faith; as the reformers and most churches today do not conduct themselves in a practical manner as if the the finished work of Christ has freed them; so they engage in ritual and works still holding the Law up as a guiding light; Thou shall not, come to the alter repent over and over, we must give a tithe, follow the seven guides to spiritual success, enjoy a charismatic feeling, etc. etc. In other words the first Adamic man is still looked at as being under trial for all practical purposes. What a trap, and most reading this are firmly caught in its locked jaws. May the acknowledgement of your position hidden in Christ by faith free you my brothers and sisters, and thereby you may find the place which was provide by the death unto sin for you, of Jesus Christ the Holy son of God.

      I will end as I often do with a direct quote from J. Butler Stoney: "The father does not restore the Adam-life; He judged and condemned it on the cross of His Son, and in Him ascended and glorified, receives every returning prodigal in a new life and nature. Hence the position of the saint is now heavenly, united to The Lord Jesus in glory by The Holy Spirit sent down to indwell; through grace he acquits himself in a superior way in every duty incumbent in the first man, as God has appointed; but now the Christian has no link or place here, as the millennial man will have; for then the King will be reigning, and the saint will be with Him where He reigns, instead of, as now, where He is refused"

     

SERIOUSLY DEVOTED

      It seems to me, that to be seriously devoted to a person one must become well acquainted with them! Speaking for myself; I now realize I went 36 years with only a superficial acquaintanceship with the Saviour of my spirit, my life, Jesus Christ. This my friends is to my great shame. I am responsible for my own self awareness, and the need to show my devotion to the one in Whom I live my Christian life. The gift of my former humble condition thru lack of knowledge however is, it brought me to a place of great need, which made me pliable for the potter in shaping me into a growing image of  His Son. The gift of need-fullness was given, to obtain a true devotion to Him.

 Please bear with me my friends as I repeat the story of the One in Whom our devotedness is to be centered, so we may become better acquainted with Him: Long ago in a beautiful place called earth a man was created by the living God of the universe. His name would become known as Adam, which means man in Hebrew. Adam was made Innocent free to openly communicate with his Creator, no question asked and no explanation needed! Then he, by his own volition, became self aware, and thereby self centered turning away from intimacy with His Creator, a rejection; which according to the Creators perfect will and ability to accept, was a impossibility; we call Adams turning to himself for answers, sin nature. Since this first man was by Gods command and intent the representative of all of mankind who would follow, and in whom would be found the same capacity for sin, mankind became doomed to suffering the death of their God consciousness; what we now know as eternal spiritual death. This, mans choice, also placed man under spiritual judgement, as God is perfect, sin could in no way enter into His presence. The result, a sentence must be carried out, which was death, both physical and spiritual, in other words the results of mans actions must result in the consequence, i.e. death! But God loved His creation beyond measure and purposed in His sovereign will to carry out His perfect justice in a way to afford a new life for man, therefore by His mercy He took on mans death sentence in a Representative, Substitution form Himself and was fully satisfied, by His own sovereign design, accomplishing mans redemption by that act! As we all know, He entered the world as a perfect sin free incarnation, a God-man, lived the life of a man, suffered and died on the Cross for us, unto our sin nature. Thereby fulfilling Gods Judaical right and accomplishing a open door to salvation, or redemption for all of mankind; which if this act were received by belief in the incarnated Son Jesus Christ and by that belief one received the gift of faith that Christ was indeed the Saviour of him, man would regain his original innocence and a present eternal fellowship in the view and economy [His sovereign will in fellowship] of God. This all was accomplished in the Household of God by Him in His Sons act, creating for us in His Son a new spirit in His Son, by God's design, to replace the old which was now judged dead; which we can now partake of in newness by a representation in the federal sense, by faith in The person of Jesus Christ, who again by God's design is all that we will or can become, our life. He ascended into heaven and in spiritual representation, we became a new creation, or us in God's mind seen in the presence before Him in His Son. The old being now by Representation completely dead, shown by His Son's death in the flesh, and we now also are proved recreated  new spiritual men and women, by His Son's Resurrection, in that same Representative form. We, here and now, by faith only, which is the only way we can please God, are as He is in The Fathers eye's in Heaven, and we may know that by His Gift of His Holy Spirit reveling our new creation in the object, Jesus Christ, who ever lives in us [our mind of faith] to proclaim Himself. A faith based position, occupied only by faith, established in The Son. Never reveled by a work, action or feeling!

      "Of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us...sanctification" 1 Cor. 1:30. Embracing the Christian life in true devotion is nothing short of us fully being immersed, in the life of the Lord Jesus. His life reproduced in us by faith; sanctification here being seen as the fruit of holiness in His Son separating us in spirit and forming us in spirit in and by The Son. I often wonder how many in the pews have any concept of this total truth? I know I did not, through 36 years of Christian struggle. A example of this hit home when a friend of mine was reading me the biography of his classmate of a very highly acknowledged fundamentalist bible college, submitted by the former students on the occasion of their 50 year class reunion. These men and women came from the cream of the christian crop, children of pastors, missionaries and highly committed traditional christian family's. Sadly, by their own words, many of them, had not only left the faith of Christianity they denied it true, renounced it as judgmental, cruel, confining. They had embraced the world philosophy turning in there once enthusiastic traditional fundamental stand for good works and wealth. By this example I can only assume they were never saved at all, never truly believed; but of course God will be the judge of that. I again wonder how many reading this, and siting in my church will one day stand before God in denial of devotion, never having formed a concept of their personal presence in Christ, because they were kept busy by works and remained placated in contemporary comfort, satisfied with their own natural humanistic approach to the truth.

      To be seriously devoted, for me, brings a most profound hope and joy, which I pray might be found by all my Christian friends. How can one partake of and enjoy this gift from The Father? First I believe rest must be entered into. This really is faith in all that God has accomplished in His Son. This would not be merely looking to receive from Him, for then I would be my own self-centered object of interest; but finding that He sees me as His object is primary; In other words seeing that He has made me His, and that He has made Himself my life! This would be a devotedness from intimacy, not to obtain intimacy. I am afraid that much of my Christian life was spent in seeking good results, affirmation of works, and praying for help, and not in the approving presences of Christ as my life; Him as my position found in devotion. By striving to seek to enter service with a mindset of Him exclusively as the object I may find His mind and thoughts for me.

      If we learn to rest in the reality that it is The Father through His Son, who entirely controls the outcome of our life, it will open the way to find the devoted heart He desires of us, and His will for us will be brought to light. Our personal devotedness must come first and then His direction in service will follow, and then we may satisfy His thought in His heart for us. In the beginning of this blog I stressed becoming acquainted with the object of our devotion. In applying this to the Living God of salvation who died  in the flesh so that we could be, upon belief, a immediate citizen of Heaven and in Whom your life is hidden; this would call for our hearts to be exclusively occupied with Him, therefore a requirement is to know Him, Who He is, and our position and identification in Him, nothing less will do if we wish to be seriously devoted to the one in whom we dwell.

THE STANDARD UPON WHICH WE STAND

      One's standards are based on principals to which one is committed, and determines one's capacity to understand and assimilate knowledge which thereby give significance to ones actions. One's answers to questions asked are limited to preconceptions of the questioner, marked by his standards. The concepts we hold which are influenced by our personal standards will limit, or expand, our ability to process information to a logical and fact based conclusion.

      Taking on the Mind of Christ as a standard is not just conforming to a pattern of behavior. Taking on the Mind of Christ is not merely a set of beliefs. It is revelation and enlightenment, attunement to God. It is seeing God, as God actively present in our mind and at work in all circumstances. Taking on the Heart of Jesus Christ is not simply a matter of conscious conviction; it is experiencing and responding to the world and our human nature with a faith that we are included in all that is the Son Himself. We thereby partake of God's will for us and enter into the spirit centered self, the economy of God. By this incite we will gain entrance to a solid standard upon which to stand.

      Today in church we had a guest speaker a likable man known well to the community. His message was one of restoration. He spoke of the need for believers to take action, and thereby receive what God had ready to give in the way of recovery from our ills. His primary overt method of getting the message to his audience was a sort of cheer leading; having the flock repeat out loud affirmative mantras. Then we were encouraged to be positive in having received, while going on our way. Most encouraging for the moment. Afterward I wondered how many of those troubled souls would still have anything to hold onto in a hour after this feel good well meaning performance? There was no mention of how one might receive a specific biblical incite to insure victory and receive revelation of God's Word; which is necessary to stand on a platform which would supply a solid standard for the faith needed to have a lasting recovery, to triumph over the human condition. This kind of approach, is in my view, a institutional inherent weakness built into much of contemporary christian culture.

      Well then you may ask: What is it specifically that will give us a standard of understanding which will honor what God has given to us in His Son? My fellow seekers, the answer is found very clearly in His Word. "If therefore you have been raised with Christ, seek the thing which are above" Col.3:2. For now lets just think of being raised with Christ, as our born again experience. If we are to by God's command, seek that which is above, He must mean heaven, where Jesus is; this standard if held, will be indicated by our acts, and the occupation of our heart, and that by a knowledge of truth. Evidently it is not here, or by the worlds natural standards, even; "so called good ones" we will find our place of relief, nor by a church which encourages us to by our own feelings and power to grab by our own bootstraps a self effort determination of accomplishment. The Lord is not here, He passed into Glory touched by our weakness, He knew of our infirmities, He was a man, but without sin. This, His condition, gave Him the power to supply from Himself the grace we need to set a new standard of a life here in our body which enables us to walk as He walked, not in duty or religious works or mere feelings, but one with The Father and that by His Holy Spirit. In other words by us in realization of so great a work we may be transformed into His image. For a Christian to act down here with the mind of Christ he must come to a place of great need, and then form a desire to engage in Him above, this will open the door to our souls rejection of defining our self by a natural standard. All will be determined by the direction we allow our heart to take. The robber of our godly standard is the ignorance of biblical facts and our choosing to remain clouded by a institution which often obscures the truth out of their own opaque understanding or even worse by providing a selfish worldly church experience, however well meaning, so that the weak flock will remain in donation mode on their comfortable nests.

      I think a problem, and hence the unfortunate lack of understanding by the church, is the assumption that most in attendance at services are members of the Organic Body of Christ. This may or may not be true; God knows! In my observance the overseeing powers have simply designed a system whose primary goal is to make all the audience comfortable and happy more our less aping the world and falling into a pattern or ritualized presentation where most will not be offended, this is marketing 101, and yes I know there are exception, thank God! There is no presentation of the need for conviction of our sin nature, no encounter with the heavenly nature of the believer, no challenge to discover identification of ourselves in Christ death, and no positional teaching leading to a challenge to live or find a deeper existence in the Body of Christ. Yes they might teach some biblical truths and even offer some challenge to the seekers present, but I have yet to encounter a mainline church which teaches the fundamental need to understand that the standard of the believer is to know by biblical revelation of his very presence in the Holy Son of God and by this understanding be called to a radical unworldly self perception, which is made ardently clear simply by reading the Word of God, and then believing what it says!

      The concept which has invaded my heart these past two years, is the transitive property of Christ in us; which was never taught in all my active 38 years of Church attendance. Oh yes I was told Jesus was a friend next to me, even in me, but the biblical revelation of that truth was not hammered into my souls understanding by a substantial positional teaching that we were to count ourselves as dead, and understand what that meant, and alive in Christ understanding myself as a new creation in Him with all of my mind and souls personality. I never was challenged to gain a concept of the truth that God's entrance into humanity gave me power to be a completely new man and the old Adam is entirely dead in the economy of my God and Father, and in that I was completely spiritually free from the world, in it but NOT of it, and knew the difference!

      Just what does the new man look like? What is the standard that God has commanded by His perfect will? Mr Stoney had much to say on the subject. I will use his inspirational writing to make the following commentary: "Consistency is being true to a given standard". It seems however the lower standard is often taught and preferred, making the law, performance, religious duty, feelings, accomplishments, the rule of christian life. Admittedly this procedure will show a obvious and consistent pattern and make a more reverend appearance than one who chooses to make Christ in their life everything, a humble lowly approach. We must remember that the law of performance addresses the man in the flesh; Whereas the Lord is only know by His own Spirit. If we mark our standard by works etc. we cultivate the old and the dead. But if we count ourselves as dead truly, by seeing and defining our life as in Christ we will fulfill the Bibles mandate to "Walk in the Spirit, and then you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" Gal. 5:16.

      The difference in these two standards is vastly different as to effect and demand. In the first we are required to exalt men to a power or divine elevation. In the second we must  see ourselves as dead men and accept another as our life-- Christ Jesus, bless His name forever! The difference is immeasurable! On the surface the one who shows his works is seen and respected by the world and the church and seems to be the most consistent in his standard. Whereas the one who has set aside his Adam-life, in respect to his self conscious understanding, walking outside of his flesh, in the Spirit of Christ will go unnoticed. He is a heavenly man, not of this world. There is no doubt the second man surpasses the former when he is consistent with his standard, but this can only be in proportion as he is held in the power which transfers him from his old nature into Christ. He has no place to fall back to, as the man of performance, and hence would appear worse off in that event, because the man in Christ must live outside himself; where as the other finds a safety net in the law, church attendance, programs and traditions etc. as he is living for and in himself.

      It is plane to see, if we wish to make our self appear with a observable purpose we will study to exhibit a pleasing appearance. The whole legal church religious system has been set up from the beginning to honor the carnal, first Adam. But if we seek to live in the Lord Jesus Christ which is the new system set up in His Blood, as our life, we might not appear as pristine, and if we fall from so great a elevation as a heavenly life we will be far worse off than the man who is comfortable with his patterns and self centered platform. The new nature is a infinitely higher calling and requires a diligence as to being positioned in Christ and a deep inward humble self assessment. The example being the lowly position Jesus took upon Himself, in coming to save us.

      To quote Mr Stoney directly sums up the battle for a standard, which will please God and honor our Christian commitment, not to mention if his advise is followed will provide exceeding joy and freedom in its message: "The man who cultivates himself obtains commendation from men in a measure that the one who cultivates life in the Lord Jesus Christ will never receive or elicit. The one cultivate what exults man, and therefore what suits man; the other, that which ignores man and which rises above him. We must not forget that, that which is highly esteemed among men is a abomination in the sight of God". My friends it only remains for us to choose the standard upon which we will stand before the living God!