"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians 1:13)
Hello To All:
Much has been written with regards to the meaning of "kingdom" in the King's Book. Perhaps enough, even, to fill many libraries. Perhaps enough, even, to create a great deal of confusion.
Confusion seems to becoming more and more prevalent, both in the church and in the world. The deeper our fellowship with Jesus Christ (please see previous letter titled: Make Us A King To Judge Us: Our Fellowship), the less confusing the church and the world will become. Our ability to comprehend the truth of the "kingdom," is directly related to our comprehension of, and our apprehension of, the reality of "fellowship." The question must be asked: Are we truly and intimately in fellowship with the King?
Since it is true that every believer has been "translated" by the Father, "into the kingdom of his dear Son," then it must be understood, that who we are is defined by the reality, that what the "kingdom" is, defines who we are! If we have a wrong understanding of what the "kingdom" is, then we will also have a wrong understanding of who we are. The truth of our identity will be lost to us! Confusion becomes a common reality, because we fail to understand who we are in Christ Jesus!
All too often, we think of our relationship with Jesus Christ, exclusively in the context of John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
All too often, our thinking process goes like this: We see Jesus - We see the cross - We embrace our eternal life. We has been capitalized in the previous sentence, because we tend to be very self centered in our assessments, regarding our standing. It is all about us - it is all about our eternal life - when it should be all about Jesus! Lest you, my beloved, think that this self-centered indictment of our condition is too harsh, please give careful consideration to the following.
John 3:16 gives us a glimpse into eternity. But, John 17: takes us deeper into our understanding of eternity. Let it be said, at the beginning of our understanding, that a right understanding of eternity is not self-centered! We find written at John 17:1-3 the following:
1. "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:"
2. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."
3. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."
"And this is life eternal." These are the words of our Creator. Do they have our attention? Are we rightly focused on what Jesus is saying to us? Or are we still too self-centered to understand His message? "Life eternal," is not about our eternal life! This is not about us! "Life eternal," is about knowing "the only true God, and Jesus Christ," who is the fullness of God's revelation of Himself to us, and to all of His creation. "Life eternal," is all about Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
In one place (John 5:39), we find written: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Here, our Creator is reminding us, that there are two ways of approaching His Book. One way is the self-centered way. In this way, we are thinking all about our eternal life. The other way, the right way, is focused on Jesus Christ, and the testimony that His Book reveals regarding Jesus of Nazareth: our King. Which way do we embrace? Have we bowed the knee to self, or have we rightly bowed the knee to our King, Jesus of Nazareth?
When next we gather, we shall continue our examination of the meaning of "His Kingdom."
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
"Make Us A King To Judge Us": Our Fellowship!
"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."
Hello To All:
Where to start. Perhaps, at the very beginning of human existence would be a good place. Prior to their sin, Adam and Eve had an intimacy of fellowship with God, that, apart from the cross, cannot be achieved. When they sinned, the intimacy of fellowship was broken and a separation between God and man entered the creation. Our Creator has always had a plan for restoring the intimacy of fellowship that Adam and Eve enjoyed. But, that restoration was at a great price. Our Creator gave up His life, at the cross. In His death and resurrection He conquered sin and death, on our behalf, and provided a way for fellowship to be restored.
Our opening text is from 1 Corinthians 1:9. Paul is writing to a divided church and thus to a divided and broken fellowship. God, through the Apostle Paul, is reminding the Corinthians and believers from all ages that we "were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." This calling also comes at a great price. At the cross, Jesus Christ gave His life for us. To properly respond to this "calling," we must submit to the reality of our own death. This means that we must embrace the reality of our own on going reality of death to self. This is the crucified life. This is "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ." (Please re-visit the series of letters beginning with "I am crucified with Christ," dated 11/2/11.)
When the elders of Israel asked Samuel to "make us a king to judge us like all the nations," they chose a course of action that would alter, in a significant manner, the level of fellowship that they had with God. When Samuel heard this request, he became "displeased" (see 1 Samuel 8:6) and he "prayed unto the Lord."
God's response to Samuel is recorded at verse 7: "And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." The relationship of God as King over His chosen people was being "rejected" by the elders of Israel. By doing this, they were stepping back from the level of fellowship that our Creator had established with them, as their King. In their rejection of God as King, they were still the chosen people of God; and would continue to be a part of God's plan for the restoration of fellowship for all of His creation. But, because of their rejection of the level of intimacy of their fellowship with God as King, there would be consequences.
Our circumstances are very similar to that of ancient Israel. Our Creator, Jesus of Nazareth, is King of kings and Lord of lords. He offers us an intimacy of fellowship that is very hard for us to comprehend. Our ability to comprehend and thus, our ability to apprehend this offered fellowship, is directly related to the ancient request of the elders of Israel, when they asked Samuel to: "make us a king to judge us like all the nations." When we bow the knee to an institutional perspective, or when we bow the knee to a spiritual leader, we commit the same sin of the elders of Israel, as we take for ourselves a "king to judge us like all the nations." And, just as there were consequences for ancient Israel, there are also consequences for us.
How often have we cried out to our Creator - searching for a victory over some life circumstance - only to find that victory does not come. It's as if God has not heard our cry! In such an instance, we would be wrong to blame our Creator for our lack of victory. Victory does belong to Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If we are not finding victory, then we need to ask ourselves about our fellowship with Jesus Christ. If we have bowed the knee to an intermediary; if we have bowed the knee to a "king to judge us like all the nations,": then we have only ourselves to blame for our lack of victory.
When the apostle Paul reminded us of God's calling to "the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord," (1 Corinthians 1:9), he also gave us insight into what that fellowship could look like. We find written at 1 Corinthians 1:10, the following: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." How far we have fallen from the visible intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, that is described for us in this verse. We do not speak the same thing. There are divisions among us. We are not joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. We are a visibly divided church. Our fellowship is broken.
The possibility of a restored fellowship was accomplished at the cross. The way has been made for us to be restored to the level of intimacy enjoyed by Adam and Eve. But, there is this obstacle. The way of the cross demands death. This is a death that can only be accomplished through Jesus of Nazareth. This is the crucified life. This is the life that the apostle lived. He describes this life, in a very intimate way, at Galatians 2:20:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
As we ponder this verse and what it says to us of the fellowship that we are offered, let me close this letter with a portion of the last paragraph from the previous letter.
The crucified life cannot be accomplished by our own striving, nor can it be achieved by our own efforts. It is something that is accomplished, exclusively by Jesus of Nazareth. It is the reality of life for every believer. Our journey to "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ," is the path whereby we become more intimately aware of this crucified life with Jesus; and more intimately submitted to this crucified life with Jesus. Thank you Jesus!
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Hello To All:
Where to start. Perhaps, at the very beginning of human existence would be a good place. Prior to their sin, Adam and Eve had an intimacy of fellowship with God, that, apart from the cross, cannot be achieved. When they sinned, the intimacy of fellowship was broken and a separation between God and man entered the creation. Our Creator has always had a plan for restoring the intimacy of fellowship that Adam and Eve enjoyed. But, that restoration was at a great price. Our Creator gave up His life, at the cross. In His death and resurrection He conquered sin and death, on our behalf, and provided a way for fellowship to be restored.
Our opening text is from 1 Corinthians 1:9. Paul is writing to a divided church and thus to a divided and broken fellowship. God, through the Apostle Paul, is reminding the Corinthians and believers from all ages that we "were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." This calling also comes at a great price. At the cross, Jesus Christ gave His life for us. To properly respond to this "calling," we must submit to the reality of our own death. This means that we must embrace the reality of our own on going reality of death to self. This is the crucified life. This is "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ." (Please re-visit the series of letters beginning with "I am crucified with Christ," dated 11/2/11.)
When the elders of Israel asked Samuel to "make us a king to judge us like all the nations," they chose a course of action that would alter, in a significant manner, the level of fellowship that they had with God. When Samuel heard this request, he became "displeased" (see 1 Samuel 8:6) and he "prayed unto the Lord."
God's response to Samuel is recorded at verse 7: "And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." The relationship of God as King over His chosen people was being "rejected" by the elders of Israel. By doing this, they were stepping back from the level of fellowship that our Creator had established with them, as their King. In their rejection of God as King, they were still the chosen people of God; and would continue to be a part of God's plan for the restoration of fellowship for all of His creation. But, because of their rejection of the level of intimacy of their fellowship with God as King, there would be consequences.
Our circumstances are very similar to that of ancient Israel. Our Creator, Jesus of Nazareth, is King of kings and Lord of lords. He offers us an intimacy of fellowship that is very hard for us to comprehend. Our ability to comprehend and thus, our ability to apprehend this offered fellowship, is directly related to the ancient request of the elders of Israel, when they asked Samuel to: "make us a king to judge us like all the nations." When we bow the knee to an institutional perspective, or when we bow the knee to a spiritual leader, we commit the same sin of the elders of Israel, as we take for ourselves a "king to judge us like all the nations." And, just as there were consequences for ancient Israel, there are also consequences for us.
How often have we cried out to our Creator - searching for a victory over some life circumstance - only to find that victory does not come. It's as if God has not heard our cry! In such an instance, we would be wrong to blame our Creator for our lack of victory. Victory does belong to Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. If we are not finding victory, then we need to ask ourselves about our fellowship with Jesus Christ. If we have bowed the knee to an intermediary; if we have bowed the knee to a "king to judge us like all the nations,": then we have only ourselves to blame for our lack of victory.
When the apostle Paul reminded us of God's calling to "the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord," (1 Corinthians 1:9), he also gave us insight into what that fellowship could look like. We find written at 1 Corinthians 1:10, the following: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." How far we have fallen from the visible intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, that is described for us in this verse. We do not speak the same thing. There are divisions among us. We are not joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. We are a visibly divided church. Our fellowship is broken.
The possibility of a restored fellowship was accomplished at the cross. The way has been made for us to be restored to the level of intimacy enjoyed by Adam and Eve. But, there is this obstacle. The way of the cross demands death. This is a death that can only be accomplished through Jesus of Nazareth. This is the crucified life. This is the life that the apostle lived. He describes this life, in a very intimate way, at Galatians 2:20:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
As we ponder this verse and what it says to us of the fellowship that we are offered, let me close this letter with a portion of the last paragraph from the previous letter.
The crucified life cannot be accomplished by our own striving, nor can it be achieved by our own efforts. It is something that is accomplished, exclusively by Jesus of Nazareth. It is the reality of life for every believer. Our journey to "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ," is the path whereby we become more intimately aware of this crucified life with Jesus; and more intimately submitted to this crucified life with Jesus. Thank you Jesus!
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
I am back: I am crucified!
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Hello To All:
It is good to be back! One year ago today, was the last time that I was able to post a message on this site. It has been a challenging year! Those of you who are regular visitors, are aware that when I am not writing, that I am being prepared to write the message that our Lord Jesus Christ gives me. In the past, there have been significant lengths of time between some of the messages. Often the preparation time is difficult! But, this last year has been particularly challenging, particularly difficult and particularly interesting! For you should know, my beloved brethren, that in this last year, in addition to all that our Lord Jesus Christ was doing to prepare me for His next message; He also allowed me to almost die on two separate occasions.
On December 28, 2016, at approximately 4:30 P.M., I collapsed from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Jesus of Nazareth, not only chose the time of my collapse, but He also chose the exact spot where this was to happen. Of all the places that I routinely frequent, this particular place provided me with the best chance of survival. I say this, because our Creator often uses the realities of the natural realms to do His miraculous work! From the time that the 911 emergency call was made, to my being in the emergency room of a nearby hospital, was only 11 minutes. If it had been any longer, I would have died; but, our Creator, Jesus of Nazareth, was and is in control; thus, I live! Thank you Jesus!
After being stabilized, I was transferred to a larger hospital in another city, where specialists would be used by our Creator to save me a second time. Again, our Creator used the realities of the natural realms to do His miraculous work; and thus, I live! Thank you Jesus! I was told by those same specialists, that less then 10% of those who have an event like mine, survive it. That got my attention! I was also told that of those who do survive, many of them suffer some kind of brain damage. My brain has not been damaged! My body has not been damaged! Our Creator has saved me! Thank you Jesus!
The crucified life, so wonderfully and intimately revealed in our opening text (Galatians 2:20 KJV), in all of its simplicity and in all of its complexities, is the basis for this web-site and the messages that are posted. The crucified life is the victorious life. In the crucified life, He becomes more and we become less! It is because of the crucified life that our Creator chose to deliver me from those moments of near death. Thank you Jesus!
Jesus did not deliver me because I am some sort of pious example of the crucified life. No my beloved brethren, I am, above all things, a sinner redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Thank you Jesus! The crucified life cannot be accomplished by our own striving, nor can it be achieved by our own efforts. It is something that is accomplished, exclusively by Jesus of Nazareth. It is the reality of life for every believer. Our journey to "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ," is the path whereby we become more intimately aware of this crucified life with Jesus; and more intimately submitted to this crucified life with Jesus. Thank you Jesus!
The journey continues! Thank you Jesus!
Until next time my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be,
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Hello To All:
It is good to be back! One year ago today, was the last time that I was able to post a message on this site. It has been a challenging year! Those of you who are regular visitors, are aware that when I am not writing, that I am being prepared to write the message that our Lord Jesus Christ gives me. In the past, there have been significant lengths of time between some of the messages. Often the preparation time is difficult! But, this last year has been particularly challenging, particularly difficult and particularly interesting! For you should know, my beloved brethren, that in this last year, in addition to all that our Lord Jesus Christ was doing to prepare me for His next message; He also allowed me to almost die on two separate occasions.
On December 28, 2016, at approximately 4:30 P.M., I collapsed from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Jesus of Nazareth, not only chose the time of my collapse, but He also chose the exact spot where this was to happen. Of all the places that I routinely frequent, this particular place provided me with the best chance of survival. I say this, because our Creator often uses the realities of the natural realms to do His miraculous work! From the time that the 911 emergency call was made, to my being in the emergency room of a nearby hospital, was only 11 minutes. If it had been any longer, I would have died; but, our Creator, Jesus of Nazareth, was and is in control; thus, I live! Thank you Jesus!
After being stabilized, I was transferred to a larger hospital in another city, where specialists would be used by our Creator to save me a second time. Again, our Creator used the realities of the natural realms to do His miraculous work; and thus, I live! Thank you Jesus! I was told by those same specialists, that less then 10% of those who have an event like mine, survive it. That got my attention! I was also told that of those who do survive, many of them suffer some kind of brain damage. My brain has not been damaged! My body has not been damaged! Our Creator has saved me! Thank you Jesus!
The crucified life, so wonderfully and intimately revealed in our opening text (Galatians 2:20 KJV), in all of its simplicity and in all of its complexities, is the basis for this web-site and the messages that are posted. The crucified life is the victorious life. In the crucified life, He becomes more and we become less! It is because of the crucified life that our Creator chose to deliver me from those moments of near death. Thank you Jesus!
Jesus did not deliver me because I am some sort of pious example of the crucified life. No my beloved brethren, I am, above all things, a sinner redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Thank you Jesus! The crucified life cannot be accomplished by our own striving, nor can it be achieved by our own efforts. It is something that is accomplished, exclusively by Jesus of Nazareth. It is the reality of life for every believer. Our journey to "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ," is the path whereby we become more intimately aware of this crucified life with Jesus; and more intimately submitted to this crucified life with Jesus. Thank you Jesus!
The journey continues! Thank you Jesus!
Until next time my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be,
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
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