is jesus relevant to you

8/14/2019 Is Jesus Relevant to You

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Is Jesus Relevant to You?

Setting the Stage

In the course of time, the Lord God Almighty sent His Son to the earth in the form of a

man with a message for all men Jn 7:28-29, 8:42!" #atthew $$%$3, &'or all the (ro(hetsand the law (ro(hesied until )ohn the Baptist, also Lk 16:16-17!"* +he Lord God%Herews $%2, &Hath in these last days s(o-en unto us y his Son, whom he hath

a((ointed heir of all things, y whom also he made the worlds also Jn 1:1-5!"* +he

message or gos(el that .hrist rought is now the coenant that God ma-es with man abetter covenant with better proises, !eb 8:6, 1"!"

+his (a(er will consider what the message was and how it was receied y man ingeneral" as the message releant to man in his (resent condition as (erceied y man

#ro an$s perspective!1 +his writing will also consider how those who actually gras(ed

and receied the message con#ore% to it! were to continue to (resent the message toothers" as the message to e (resented as God s(o-e it through .hrist, or was the

message intended to e made releant as applie% to one$s present circ&stances or

con%ition! to man as man desires to hear it1 In other words, was the message to echanged altere%! or re(ac-aged to ma-e it more a((ealing to man1 as the message to

e conformed to mans desire or was man to conform to the message1 Gien the truth of

Gods ord, the reader will hae to thoughtfully and (rayerfully consider how thisscenario has (layed out oer the last two thousand years"

)esus came to this earth and wal-ed a (erfect e4am(le for all men to follow !eb 2:16,'t 1:1, Jn 7:42, ( 1:), 2 *i 2:8, +o% with &s - 't 1:2)!" )ohn $%$5, &And the ord

was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we eheld his glory, the glory as of the onlyegotten of the 'ather,! full of grace and truth also !eb 2:14, 16!"* .hrist was full of

grace, meaning He was full of the Holy Ghost which is the S(irit of grace !eb 1":29,'t 12:18, Jn ):)4!" )esus was rought into the world of the Holy Ghost 't 1:18, 2", the

pirit creates +en 1:1-2!" Acts $0%3, &How God anointed )esus of 7a8areth with theHoly Ghost and with (ower% who went aout doing good, and healing all that were

o((ressed of the deil9 for God was with him"* :uring His earthly wal-, )esus was led of

the Holy S(irit 't 4:1, Lk 4:1, 14!" )esus (erfectly wal-ed Gods e4(ectations for manas led y the S(irit of God"

.hrists earthly wal- as le% b. the pirit! reealed that )esus% $! denied &self9* 2! did notsee- the things of the world9 and 3! oeyed God the 'ather in all things" )esus wal-ed in

loe which is to sacrifice self for God foremost and then your neighors 't 22:)7-)9,

'k 12:)"-)1, Lk 1":27!" )esus clearly stated% &I see- not mine own will, ut the will ofthe 'ather which hath sent me Jn 5:)", also !eb 1":7, 9!"* +his re;uired a com(lete

dying to self or the flesh nature of man" .hrist further stated% )ohn 6%3, &'or I came

down from heaen, not to do mine own will, ut the will of him that sent me* also Jn4:)4!" In other words, )esus did not come to see- the lusts and desires of the flesh


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Jn 5:19, also Jn 5:)"!"* )esus &followed* the will of the 'ather < not the will of His

flesh"

)esus asolutely oeyed God the 'ather in all things" )esus said% &I s(ea- to the worldthose things which I hae heard of him Jn 8:26!"* )ohn $5%3$, &>ut that the world may-now that I loe the 'ather9 and as the 'ather gae me commandment, een so I do?*

)esus further stated% &I hae -e(t my 'athers commandments, and aide in his loe Jn

15:1"!" +he Lord died to selfwill to the e4tent that He did not s(ea- His own words, utonly the 'athers words /e&t 18:18!" )esus said% &I do nothing of myself9 ut as my

'ather hath taught me, I s(ea- these things? for I do always those things that (lease him

Jn 8:28-29!"* A7: )ohn $2%5@0, &'or I hae not s(o-en of myself9 ut the 'atherwhich sent me, he gae me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should s(ea-"

And I -now that his commandment is life eerlasting% whatsoeer I s(ea- therefore, een

as the 'ather said unto me, so I s(ea- also Jn 8:)8!"* A7: )ohn B%$6$B, &)esus

answered them, and said, #y doctrine is not mine, ut his that sent me?* +herefore%Herews $0%B, &+hen said I, Lo, I come in the olume of the oo- it is written of me,! to

do thy will, C God also v09 an% s 4":7-8!"*

Similarly, )esus did not do His own wor-s" .hrist said% &'or the wor-s which the 'atherhath gien me to finish, the same wor-s that I do Jn 5:)6!" A7: )ohn @%5, &I must wor-the wor-s of him that sent me, while it is day% the night cometh, when no man can wor-"*

)esus further stated% &+he words that I s(ea- unto you I s(ea- not of myself% ut the

'ather that dwelleth in me, he doeth the wor-s"* +he wor-s )esus did of the 'ather orewitness of Him Jn 5:2", )6, 1":25, 14:1", 15:24!" )ohn $0%3B3, &If I do not the wor-s

of my 'ather, eliee me not" >ut if I do, though ye eliee not me, eliee the wor-s%

that ye may -now, and eliee, that the 'ather is in me, and I in him"* )esus said% )ohn

B%$, &He that s(ea-eth of himself see-eth his own glory% ut he that see-eth his glorythat sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him also Jn 8:5"!"*

It is im(ortant to note% .olossians 2%@, &'or in him dwelleth all the fulness of theGodhead odily"* +he fact that the 'ather and the S(irit dwelt within .hrist is

em(hasi8ed oer and oer Jn 14:1"-11!" +his will also e true of .hrists followers%isciples! and shall e discussed later in this writing"

.hrist fully sumitted to and oeyed the S(irits direction" Lu-e 5%$2, &And )esus eingfull of the Holy Ghost returned from )ordan, and was led y the S(irit into the wilderness,

>eing forty days tem(ted of the deil?* )esus was tem(ted of the deil in His flesh" Hewas tem(ted with necessary things Lk 8:14, 21:)4!, self e4altation pri%e! and the things

of this world 't 4:1-11, 1):22, 'k 4:19, Lk 4:1-1), 8:14, 1 Jn 2:15-17!" )esus denied

self the #lesh! and res(onded% an shall not lie y read alone, ut y eery word that(roceedeth out of the mouth of God 't 4:4, Lk 4:4!"* A7: &+hou shalt not tem(t theLord thy God 't 4:7, Lk 4:12!"* A7: &+hou shalt worshi( the Lord thy God, and him

only shalt thou sere 't 4:1", Lk 4:8!"* )esus ords an% actions! reealed a total

sumission and oedience to Gods will" .hrist was &Godcentered* rather than &selfcentered"* hy is this im(ortant?1

+he deil deceied and led man to see- selfwill oer Gods will in the garden of Dden"+he Lord God commanded man not to eat the fruit of a certain foridden tree" +he Lord

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stated% Genesis 2%$B, &>ut of the tree of the -nowledge of good and eil, thou shalt not

eat of it% for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die"* +he deil counseled

man to see- the desire of his flesh and eat of the foridden tree, thus stating% &Ee shall notsurely die +en ):4!"* +he deils &lie* was that man could disoey the commandment of

God and not die" In other words, that you can sin and not die" +his was an a((eal to the

flesh < to its lusts and desires" +he deil always tem(ts all&res! man in his flesh, throughlusts and desires, to see- his will oer Gods will" +he deil thus stated% &ye shall e as

gods +en ):5!"* +o e a God is to determine and inact #ollow, realie, seek a#ter! your

own will" +o e a God is to e answerale unto self" +o e a god is to e ale to -now anddo good or eil 3s 41:2), +en ):5!"

#an &followed* the deil #or this is what atan ha% %one an% this is where he lea%s, Jn8:44! and ecame corru(ted in his ery nature" #an chose his own way and his soul

delighteth in his aominations 3s 66:), Jer 5:4, his love o# %arkness - Jn ):19!" An

aomination is that which God hates" God hates and resists (ride sel# ealtation, v8:1), Js 4:6Lk 1:51-52!" +he dar-ness opposition to +o%! is founded in see-ing selfwill

the #lesh! oer the will of God" D(hesians 2%3, &Among whom also we all had our

conersation wa. o# li#e! in times (ast in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires ofthe flesh and of the mind9 and were y nature the children of wrath, een as others"* +his

is why it is necessary% D(hesians 5%22, &+hat ye (ut off concerning the former

conersation the old man, which is corru(t according to the deceitful lusts"* Fomans$3%$5, &>ut (ut ye on the Lord )esus .hrist, and ma-e not (roision for the flesh, to fulfil

the lusts thereof"* A7: Galatians %25, &And they that are .hrists hae crucified the

flesh with the affections and lusts"* +herefore we are told% Fomans 6%$2, &Let not sin

therefore reign in your mortal ody, that ye should oey it in the lusts thereof"* A7: $eter 5%2, &+hat he no longer should lie the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of

men, ut to the will of God"*

e must understand% +hey that are in the flesh who walk a#ter the #lesh! cannot (leaseGod ( 8:1, 8!" If ye lie after the flesh, ye shall die tho& shalt s&rel. %ie, ( 8:8:1),+en 2:17!" e must astain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul 1 t 2:11!"

Adam the #irst an! transgressed the commandment of God to see- the will of the flesh

l&st! and this is now the nature of fallen man" Adam rought Gods condemnation of&thou shalt surely die* u(on all men" :isoedience to the will of God always rings

res&lts in! death" +ransgression of Gods will is sin &nrihteo&sness! and the wages of

sin is death ( 6:2)!" Life is only gien and sustained y God" #an is created of Godand does not hae life in and of himself" +o see- that which is o((osed to the will of God

is to see- death" roers %36, &>ut he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul%

all they that hate me loe death"* +o hate God is to sacrifice Gods will and way in order

to otain selfwill and the way of the flesh"

+he deil came to destroy, ut )esus came that we might hae life" )ohn $0%$0, &+he thiefthe one who steals what is +o%$s! cometh not, ut for to steal, and to -ill, and to destroy%

I am come that they might hae life, and that they might hae it more aundantly"* +he

deil stole Gods creation of man y corru(ting him vitiatin an to corr&pt thatwhich was oo% an% ren%erin it &seless, to ipair the val&e, chane #ro oo% to ba%,

%ebase, ren%er ip&re, in#ect with error!" #an had een created in the image of God

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+en 1:26-27, 5:1!, ut was now corru(ted into the image of the deil his l&sts .e will

%o, Jn 8:44!" +herefore% $ .orinthians $%22, &'or as in Adam all die, een so in .hrist

shall all e made alie"* How did )esus ring life?1

)esus rought life to man y essentially doing three things% $! He sacrificed Himself forthe undesered enefit of man per#ect love! and (roided atonement for mans offenses

s#ere% an$s con%enation!" 2! He wal-ed a (erfect e4am(le for man to &follow* and

conform too on a narrow way path! that leads to reconciliation etween man and Godand the restoration of man" A7: 3! He (roided the means and aility the !ol. +host!

for man to wal- the e4am(le and narrow way that He forged ac- to God" Cnly through

.hrist can these essential things e reali8ed% )ohn $5%6, &)esus saith unto him, I am theway, the truth, and the life% no man cometh unto the 'ather, ut y me"* Acts 5%$2,

&7either is there salation in any other% for there is none other name under heaen gien

among men, wherey we must e saed"* .oncerning .hrist% Fomans $$%2B, &'or this is

my coenant unto them, when I shall ta-e away their sins"*

#an was ho(elessly tra((ed within the deils lust sustained dar-ness" )esus came that

He might destroy the wor-s of the deil 1 Jn ):8!" +he deils wor-s were teaching manto see- the lusts and desires of his flesh and therey transgress violate%isrear%! the will

of God to be as o%s, +en ):4-5!" .hrist said% )ohn $2%56, &I am come a light into theworld, that whosoeer elieeth on me should not aide in dar-ness"* Acts 26%$, &+o

o(en their eyes no ore %eception!, and to turn them from dar-ness to light, and from

the (ower of Satan unto God, that they may receie forgieness of sins, and inheritanceamong them which are sanctified set apart! y faith that is in me"* +he (ower that Satan

has oer man is only found in the flesh teptations/all&reents!"

+hrough the lusts of the flesh, the deil destroys man y death" Herews 2%$5$,&'orasmuch then as the children are (arta-ers of flesh and lood, he also himself li-ewise

too- (art of the same9 that through death he might destroy him that had the (ower ofdeath, that is, the deil9 And delier them who through fear of death were all their

lifetime suect to ondage"* :eath results from transgression to Gods will tho& shalt

s&rel. %ie, +en 2:17!" +he deil laors to -ee( you in transgression to Gods will&nrihteo&sness, .e shall not s&rel. %ie, +en ):4-5! and this is the &(ower of death* that

he (ossesses" )esus destroyed the deils (ower oer you through His own sacrifice which

resulted in mercy and forgieness of the transgressions which condemn you efore God


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surrender your desires to oey and wal- in the Lords will" Another way of saying this is%

)ohn $2%2, &He that loeth his life shall lose it9 and he that hateth his life in this world

shall -ee( it unto life eternal also Lk 14:26!"* An een more sim(listic way of sayingthis is% lie for self and die9 die to self and lie" +o loe your life would e to sacrifice

God to otain your lusts and desires" +o hate your life in this world would e to sacrifice

&self* and the things of this world to find .hrist who is li#e!" +o sacrifice self and yourdesires and come ac- into sumission to God is to e restored to your created (osition"

+hose who &follow* .hrist !is %isciples! must not see- the things of the world whichare the desires of the flesh" $ )ohn 2%$$B, &Loe not the world, neither the things that

are in the world" If any man loe the world, the loe of the 'ather is not in him" 'or allthat is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the (ride of life, is

not of the 'ather, ut is of the world" And the world (asseth away, and the lust thereof%

ut he that doeth the will of God aideth for eer"* +he natural man corr&pte%! see-s the

cares, riches and (leasures of this life and the lusts of other things, yet these things areo((osed to the will of God 't 1):22, 'k 4:19, Lk 8:14!" +o reali8e Gods will, we must

forfeit our own will < there is no other way" +his is the e4am(le that )esus set < the way

He wal-ed" hosoeer therefore will e a friend of the world is the enemy of God Js4:4!"

)esus led on a narrow (ath, ut to where1 )ohn $6%2, &I came forth from the 'ather, andam come into the world% again, I leae the world, and go to the 'ather"* )esus came forth

from the 'ather, wal-ed a (erfect e4am(le for man to follow, and went ac- to the 'ather".hrist said% &Eet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me Jn

7:))!"* +hose who &follow* .hrist are essentially following Him ac- to the 'ather"

.hrist is the firstorn of many rethren ( 8:29!" +hose who &follow* .hrist enter are

born aain citiens! into His -ingdom" $ .orinthians $%25, &+hen cometh the end,when he shall hae deliered u( the -ingdom to God, een the 'ather9 when he shall hae

(ut down all rule and all authority and (ower"* .hrists -ingdom is eternal +his is whereGod gathers together in one all things in .hrist, oth which are in heaen, and which areon earth9 een in Him ;ph 1:1"!"

The Relevance of Christ

In order for .hrists message, e4am(le, sacrifice and initation to #ollow! to e releantto someone, it must find im(ortance, (ertinance, earing u(on, and a((lication in oneslife and how they lie it" In other words, .hrists gos(el must hae a direct im(act on

eery as(ect of how one (erceies and lies ones life" +o reali8e or effect this, )esus

message must com(letely &change* what you currently are" +o emrace the message is toconform to the message"

)esus wal-ed an e4am(le for us to follow and now commands us to do the e4act o((ositeof what the corru(t fallen nature of man wants to do" How was .hrists message

originally receied1 )ohn $%$0$$, &He was in the world, and the world was made y him,and the world -new him not" He came unto his own, and his own receied him not"*

A7: Isaiah 3%3, &He is des(ised and reected of men9 a man of sorrows, and ac;uainted

with grief% and we hid as it were our faces from him9 he was des(ised, and we esteemed

him not"* +he world did not &-now* )esus Jn 16:)! or receie what .hrist had to say

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which were +o% the


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In order for .hrists message tr&th, ospel! to e (ertinent it must not e foreign to thoseit is intended to reach" +he message must e &a((osite* or suitale, fit, a((licale and

well ada(ted for its intended (ur(ose" Gods (ur(ose is to restore man to what he was

(rior to the deils corru(ting lie" +his means that man must e rought ac- under Godssoereign authority to sere the Lord freely, loingly with all due sumission, oedience

and deotion" #ans ini;uities &nrihteo&sness, violation o# +o%$s will! hae se(aratedhim from God and mans sins hae withholden good things from him 3s 59:2, Jer 5:25!"

)esus message was &(erfect* for this intended (ur(ose" #an must forsa-e that which hereelled against God to otain sel#-will, l&sts an% %esires o# the #lesh! and wal- in faith

toward God" #an must conform to Gods will which is the image that )esus (erfectly

e4em(lified portra.e%! or made manifest"

.hrists message is directly o((osed to the flesh and as such will not e releant or(ertinent to the maority of reellious man in their (resent unregenerate condition" How

can those who e4alt self known as pri%e! and wal- y the imaginations of their own

hearts, who go aout doing what is right in their own eyes receie a message that saysyou must forsa-e and die to all of that +en 6:5, /e&t 12:18, 29:19, J% 17:6, 21:25, s)6:2, v ):7, 6:18, 12:15, 16:2, 21:2, )":12, 3s 5:21, Jer ):17, 9:14, 11:8, 1):1", 16:12,

18:12, 2):17, ( 1:21!1 In other words, .hrist message reeals that you must go against

%ie to, orti#. ( 8:1)! your ery fallen nature" +hose that loe dar-ness are certainlynot going to forsa-e their loe" salms $0%5, &+he wic-ed, through the (ride of his

countenance, will not see- after God% God is not in all his thoughts"*

+hose wal-ing in the flesh cannot receie such a message +al 5:17!" +hey wal-eth in away that is not good, after their own thoughts 3s 65:2!" Fomans %B, &>ecause the carnalmind is enmity against God% for it is not suect to the law of God, neither indeed can

e"* A7: $ .orinthians 2%$5, &>ut the natural man receieth not the things of the S(irit

of God% for they are foolishness unto him% neither can he -now them, ecause they are

s(iritually discerned"* Self see-ing rebellio&s! man says% &ho is the LCF:, that Ishould oey his oice1 I -now not the LCF: ; 5:2!* and (onders% )o 2$%$, &hat is

the Almighty, that we should sere him1 and what (rofit how aIbene#ite%>! should we

hae, if we (ray unto him1* A7: ho is Lord oer us s 12:4!1 +herefore% $.orinthians $%$, &'or the (reaching of the cross is to them that (erish foolishness9 ut

unto us which are saed it is the (ower of God"* .hrists death on the cross and His call

or invitation! for whosoeer will to &follow* Him y ta-ing u( their crosses, cannot eunderstood y those see-ing self and the things of the world"

God tells man% Isaiah %@, &'or my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are yourways my ways, saith the LCF:" 'or as the heaens are higher than the earth, so are my

ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts"* #an always considershis way as acce(tale and right" roers $6%2, &+here is a way that seemeth right unto a

man, ut the end thereof are the ways of death also 14:12, 21:2!"* Adams way led to

death 1 or 15:22!" +he Lord says that man is wise to do eil, ut to do good they hae

no -nowledge Jer 4:22!"

+he wisdom of God is as foolishness to the world, and the wisdom of the world is asfoolishness to God 1 or 1:21, 2:14, ):19!" Howeer, the foolishness of God is wiser


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than men and He ta-eth the wise in their own craftiness 1 or 1:25, ):19!" +he truly

wise will e found wal-ing in Gods way Jer 7:2)! < the fear of God and the eschewing

or de(arting from eil Job 1:8, 2:), 28:28, s )):18, 111:1", 115:1), v 2:5, ):7, 6:16,8:1), 9:1", 14:27!" roers $%B, &+he fear of the LCF: is the eginning of -nowledge%

ut fools des(ise wisdom and instruction"* A7: roers $5%2B, &+he fear of the LCF:

is a fountain of life, to de(art from the snares of death"*

#an wal-ing in his corru(t nature %oin what coes nat&ral! cannot receie themessage that )esus rought" #ans natural inclination is to wal- in the lusts and desires of

his flesh see-ing his own way$" +his is why )esus said that you must e &orn again"* Eou

must e gien a com(letely new nature < that of God" +he desire of your heart mustchange from &self* to God" Eour (oint of iew and focus priorit.! must no longer e

selfcentered, ut rather Godcentered" .hrist said% &=erily, erily, I say unto thee, D4ce(t

a man e orn again, he cannot see the -ingdom of God Jn ):)!"* A7: &+hat which is

orn of the flesh is flesh9 and that which is orn of the S(irit is s(irit Jn ):6!"* A manwal-ing in the flesh see-s the lusts of the flesh and cannot (erceie the -ingdom of God"

It is only when we are orn of God that we can e renewed in our understanding ;ph

4:2), 2 or 4:16!" .olossians 3%$0, &And hae (ut on the new man, which is renewed in-nowledge after the image of him that created him"*

Entering the Gate

+he (roud e4alt self and see- its desires as per the %evil$s lie bein le% o# atan ! andcannot receie a message that o((oses such s 1":4!" +his is why )esus came to the(oor, mee-, humle and lowly of the world" It is only when we are humled in &self* that

we can see the ho(e that .hrist rought 3s 11:4, 57:15, 66:2!" salms 35%$, &+he LCF:

is nigh unto them that are of a ro-en heart9 and saeth such as e of a contrite s(irit"*.onsider .hrists (ur(oses% Isaiah 6$%$3, &+he S(irit of the Lord GC: is u(on me9

ecause the LCF: hath anointed me to (reach good tidings unto the mee-9 he hath sentme to ind u( the ro-enhearted, to (roclaim lierty to the ca(ties, and the o(ening ofthe (rison to them that are ound9 +o (roclaim the acce(tale year of the LCF:, and the

day of engeance of our God9 to comfort all that mourn9 +o a((oint unto them that mourn

in Kion, to gie unto them eauty for ashes, the oil of oy for mourning, the garment of

(raise for the s(irit of heainess9 that they might e called trees of righteousness, the(lanting of the LCF:, that he might e glorified also Lk 4:18-19!"*

+he mee- are the e4act o((osite of the (roud" +hese are denying of self and sumissie"salms 2%@, &+he mee- will he guide in udgment% and the mee- will he teach his way"*

+he (roud cannot e instructed, ut the mee- can" +he (roud are see-ing their way, utthe mee- will learn the Lords way < and will &follow"* LCF:, thou hast heard the desire

of the humle% thou wilt (re(are their heart s 1":17!" +herefore, the Lord lifteth u( the

mee- s 147:6!% salms 3B%$$, &>ut the mee- shall inherit the earth9 and shall delightthemseles in the aundance of (eace"* He forgetteth not the cry of the humle s 9:12!"

)esus rings (eace etween man and God and thus .hrist is a (eacema-er 't 5:9, ol

1:2"!" D(hesians 2%$5, &'or he is our (eace, who hath made oth one, and hath ro-endown the middle wall of (artition etween us"*

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)esus tells us to &enter ye in at the strait gate eanin narrow passae!* to wal- thenarrow way that leadeth to life 't 7:1)-14, Lk 1):24!" .hrist is that gate we must enter

Jn 1":9, 14:6!" e can now understand that this &strait gate* can only e entered y

someone with a mee- and humle heart" +he (roud or self see-ing cannot enter inthrough this gate < they hae a different gate that is wide to accoo%ate the an.! and

leads to a different way which is road, ut it leads to death and destruction 't 7:1)-14!"+he unclean shall not (ass oer the way of holiness, ut the redeemed shall wal- there 3s

)5:8-1", also Lk 1:75!"

'or .hrists message or gos(el to hae any releance or meaning in your life, the Lordmust first ring you to a (lace of mee-ness" )esus said% )ohn 6%55, &7o man can come to

me, e4ce(t the 'ather which hath sent me draw him% and I will raise him u( at the last day

also Jn 6:65!"* +his is God calling us out of the dar-ness the %evil$s lie, the l&sts an%%esires o# the #lesh, sel#-will!" God in His mercy through the circumstances in our lies,

humles us so that we can see our wretchedness, false sense of security and our great

need for Him" It is only when we are humle, ro-en and in des(air that )esus ordsstart to hae meaning" >ro-enness and a contrite heart are the eye sale that allows us to

see a glim(se of the -ingdom of God through the dece(tion and lindness of the flesh"

Den so, #atthew 22%$5, &'or many are called, ut few are chosen"*

To be Born Again

How is one &orn again1* )ohn 3%, &)esus answered, =erily, erily, I say unto thee,D4ce(t a man e orn of water and of the S(irit, he cannot enter into the -ingdom of

God"* e will e4amine eing orn of water and eing orn of S(irit each se(arately asthey are two distinct things" >eing orn of water is the a(tism of re(entance" )esus said,

&Fe(ent ye, and eliee the gos(el* 'k 1:15, also 't 4:17!" )ohn the >a(tist, )esus, and

.hrists disci(les all (reached the a(tism of re(entance 't ):1-2, 4:17, 'k 1:15, 2:17,

6:12, Lk 4:)2, 1):), 5, 24:47, ?cts 2:)8, ):19, 17:)", 2":21, 26:18, 2"!"

Preparing the eart

hen )ohn the >a(tist came (reaching re(entance preparin the wa. #or hrist, 3s4":), 'al ):1, 't ):), 11:1", 'k 1:2-), Lk ):4, 7:27!, the meaning of water a(tism wasunderstood to e a rea- with the old life and a oyful acce(tance of the new life as was

per#ore% with +entile converts to J&%ais!" +hose orn of God hae a new nature and

are no longer what they once were" Fe(entance is to turn around and return %o the

opposite, @ech 1:4!" +his is a forsa-ing of the dar-ness lie! and coming to the lighttr&th!" salms 53%3, &C send out thy light and thy truth% let them lead me9 let them ring

me unto thy holy hill, and to thy taernacles"* +o re(ent is to regret your wic-ed actions,

feel remorse for your transgressions against God, to e sorrowful and change your mind,to turn ac- and return < eeryone turning away from his ini;uities ?cts ):26, Job

)4:)2, ; 18:21-2), 27-28, )"-)2, )):11, 19!" salms $$@%@, &I thought on my ways, and

turned my feet unto thy testimonies"*

)ohn the >a(tist (re(ared the way for .hrist y (re(aring the (eo(les hearts to receie.hrists message Jn 1:)1, 't 11:1"!" +he Lord said% &I will send my messenger, and he

shall (re(are the way efore me 'al ):1!" Lu-e $%$6$B, &And many of the children of

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Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God" And he shall go efore him in the s(irit and

(ower of Dlias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disoedient to the

wisdom of the ust9 to ma-e ready a (eo(le (re(ared for the Lord"* +o receie the Lordsmessage the (eo(le first had to ecome contrite of heart and ro-en oer their

transgressions against the will of God" +hose a(ti8ed of )ohn confessed their sins and

rought forth fruits meet for re(entance 't ):6-8!"

+hose see-ing self the pro&%! and their way had to e &made ready* through themessage of re(entance, to e (re(ared for .hrists arrial" )esus was coming to lead in

Gods way which is ;uite the o((osite of mans way" )esus came as a refiners fire and

li-e fullers soa( to (urify and (urge such that men would offer unto the LCF: anoffering in righteousness 'al ):2-)!" #atthew 3%$2, &hose fan is in his hand, and he

will throughly (urge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner9 ut he will urn u(

the chaff with un;uenchale fire"* +o (urge is to cleanse through the remoal of

im(urities or undesirale elements" +o (urify is to rid of im(urities or (ollutions" e shallconsider the Holy S(irits role in this (urging and (urifying pr&nin, Jn chap 15! later in

this writing"

)ohn s(o-e of sacrificing self for the enefit of others" Lu-e 3%$0$$, &And the (eo(leas-ed him, saying, hat shall we do then1 He answereth and saith unto them, He thathath two coats, let him im(art to him that hath none9 and he that hath meat, let him do

li-ewise"* )ohns messages were intended to ta-e mans focus off of self and (lace it

u(on God thro&h repentance! and ones fellow man thro&h sel# %enial an% sacri#ice!"

)ohns message was receied y the common man 't 12:2), 21:9-1", Lk 4:14!% Lu-eB%2@, &And all the (eo(le that heard him, and the (ulicans, ustified God, eing a(ti8ed

with the a(tism of )ohn"* +he religious men harisees an% a%%&ccess! were (roud

and did not receie )ohns a(tism or .hrists message 't 21:25!" Lu-e B%30, &>ut the

harisees and lawyers reected the counsel of God against themseles, eing not a(ti8edof him"* )esus said of them% #atthew 2$%32, &'or )ohn came unto you in the way of

righteousness, and ye elieed him not% ut the (ulicans and the harlots elieed him%

and ye, when ye had seen it, re(ented not afterward, that ye might eliee him"* +hecommon (eo(le heard him gladly 'k 12:)7, 15:)1!, ut the religious feared loss of

(lace a %ecrease o# sel#, Jn 11:48!" +he religious men said that if any man did confess

that he Jes&s! was .hrist, he should e (ut out of the synagogue Jn 9:22, 12:42-4),16:2!" +he (roud and self see-ing religious leaders and their followers were offended y

the Lord and ultimately crucified )esus 't 1):57, 21:15, 2), 26:66, 27:1, 25-26, 41-4)!"

Baptis! of Repentance

Fe(entance might e est understood in the following erse% Isaiah %B, &Let the wic-edforsa-e his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts% and let him return unto the

LCF:, and he will hae mercy u(on him9 and to our God, for he will aundantly

(ardon"* +he call for sinners to re(ent 't 9:1), 'k 2:17, Lk 5:)2! means% )ames 5%,&:raw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" .leanse your hands, ye sinners9 and

(urify your hearts, ye doule minded"* A7: Feturn unto me, and I will return unto you,

saith the LCF: of hosts 'al ):7!" +hose who see- self, loe the dar-ness and will not

forsa-e it and follow Gods (ath that they might hae life Jn ):19!" +hey are still under

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Gods original condemnation of &thou shalt surely die +en 2:17!" +he Lord inites us to

come to Him to find rest for our souls 't 11:28-)"!" )esus said of the self see-ing

pro&%!% )ohn %50, &And ye will not come to me, that ye might hae life"* +o come to.hrist you must leae that which o((oses .hrist"

+he re(entance that God re;uires was annunciated y )esus at the Sermon on the #ountas follows 't 5:1-2!%

#atthew %3, &>lessed are the (oor in s(irit% for theirs is the -ingdom of heaen"*

+hose who are (oor in s(irit are destitute of &self"* +o e (oor in s(irit would e

to recogni8e your inailities and limitations and your great need for God" >eing

(oor in s(irit would e the o((osite of eing (rideful, arrogant and selfwilled"+here is no selfconfidence, sufficiency, interest or assertieness regarding your

own efforts or way" +o e (oor in s(irit is to e utterly hel(less, humled, ro-en,

em(tied efore God" Feali8ing that you are nothing, hae nothing and can donothing" +his is an em(tying the heart of self such that .hrist may fill it" Eou

reali8e that you hae nothing to offer God from self e4ce(t your loe, oedience

and deotion" hen you can come to this (lace, God can use you and thus youcan ecome a memer of the -ingdom of heaen" )ames 2%, &Hear-en, my

eloed rethren, Hath not God chosen the (oor of this world rich in faith, and

heirs of the -ingdom which he hath (romised to them that loe him1* Lu-e 6%20,

&And he lifted u( his eyes on his disci(les #ollowers!, and said, >lessed e ye(oor% for yours is the -ingdom of God"* < for the (oor hae the gos(el (reached

to them Lk 7:22!"

#atthew %5, &>lessed are they that mourn% for they shall e comforted"* +o

mourn is to reali8e the sinfulness in your life and to hae dee( regret and godly

sorrow for (ast thoughts and deeds s )2:5, 2 or 7:1"!" +he one who mourns

recogni8es his asolute wic-edness, ust condemnation and own inaility tocorrect the condition as eidenced y agony and contrition concerning how you

hae transgressed Gods will and een dis(leasing" Eou reali8e that your lifes

actions are in reellion to God and that you actually o((ose Him ust through your

day to day disregard and see-ing of self" +he one who mourns hearts (lea is% Gode merciful to me a sinner Lk 18:1)-14!" oe unto you that laugh now for ye

shall mourn and wee( Lk 6:25!"

#atthew %, &>lessed are the mee-% for they shall inherit the earth also s

)7:11!"* e must strie day after day against the sin of (ride and reellion" #ans

fallen nature is ;uic- to ustify self and see- its own way" #an is selfcentered,

ut s(iritual mee-ness must e Godcentered" +rue mee-ness sumits to Godssoereignty as rihteo&s an% &st! and ustifies the Lord een in your own

condemnation Aeh 9:)), Job 1):15, /an hap 9!" +o e mee- is to e yielded

and sumissie s&rren%ere%! to Gods diine will < a dying to self" +hose whoare mee- tremle at Gods ord 3s 66:2!"

#atthew %6, &>lessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness%

for they shall e filled"* )esus said, &>ut see- ye first the -ingdom of God, and his

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righteousness,* Fighteousness is (urity of heart and rectitude of life and

conformity of heart and life to the diine law doing the will of God" +hose that

hunger recogni8e that man shall not lie y read alone, ut y eery word that(roceedeth out of the mouth of God 't 4:4, Lk 4:4!" salms 2%5, &Shew me thy

ways, C LCF:9 teach me thy (aths"* +heir necessary meat is to do the will of

God Jn 4:)4!" .hrist said in speakin o# the proise o# the !ol. +host!% )ohn5%$5, &>ut whosoeer drin-eth of the water that I shall gie him shall neer thirst9

ut the water that I shall gie him shall e in him a well of water s(ringing u( into

eerlasting life also Jn 7:)6-)9, (ev 21:6!"* +he Lord tells us there is coming aday when% Feelation B%$6, &+hey shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more"*

Lu-e $%3, &He hath filled the hungry with good things9 and the rich those who

seek their own brea%! he hath sent em(ty away"* Lu-e 6%2, &oe unto you that

are full in the #lesh! for ye shall hunger Jn 6:25!"*

hat we are tal-ing aout here is for man to no longer see- his own will and e as a god,ut rather ecoming humled ac- to his created (osition" +his is renunciation of your

own su((osed authority #orsakin the rebellion!, ac-nowledgment of wrongs, and freely

coming ac- under the authority of God" It is only when we come to this (lace that wecan receie .hrists message and see perceive! the ho(e we hae in Him" +his is

entering the strait gate $ )ohn 2%2@, &If ye -now that he is righteous, ye -now that eery

one that doeth righteousness is orn of him"* +hose who do not transgress diine will areorn of Him < they hae a new nature" +his is not ust a one time reali8ation, ut a

continuing condition of the heart for the rest of your life" salms 2%$2, &hat man is he

that feareth the LCF:1 him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose"* A7: salms

2%$5, &+he secret of the LCF: is with them that fear him9 and he will shew them hiscoenant"*

+he (roud sel# ealtin! cannot come to this (osition ecause they wal- in

unrighteousness, which is the iolation of the diine law a. consist o# a sinle &n&stact, b&t is &s&all. habit&al wicke%ness!" All unrighteousness is sin 1 Jn 5:17!" +hese arechildren of the deil < they hae his nature 1 Jn ):1"!" +hose orn of God do not sin or

wal- in unrighteousness 1 Jn ):9! < they hae Gods nature and are the children of God

1 Jn ):1", s )):5!" +o see- your will is to disregard Gods will and this is the way ofthe wic-ed" roers $%@, &+he way of the wic-ed is an aomination unto the LCF:%

ut he loeth him that followeth after righteousness"* +herefore% he that doeth

righteousness is righteous, een as he is righteous and whosoeer doeth not righteousnessis not of God 1 Jn ):7, 1"!"

Strongly consider this% Isaiah 2%$2, &'or the day of the LCF: of hosts shall e u(on

eery one that is (roud and lofty, and u(on eery one that is lifted u(9 and he shall erought low"* .onersely% Isaiah 2@%$@, &+he mee- also shall increase their oy in the

LCF:, and the (oor among men shall reoice in the Holy Cne of Israel"* +he (roud aredecreased and the mee- are increased 't 2):12, Lk 14:11, 18:14, Js 4:6, 1 t 5:5!" +he

rich are made low and the one of low degree is e4alted Js 1:9-1"!" God hath chosen the

(oor of this world rich in faith the eek an% h&ble, those who o&rn!, and heirs of the-ingdom which he hath (romised to them that loe him Js 2:5!"

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Sin is iolation/rea-ing Gods commandments or laws, which is unrighteousness" $ )ohn3%5, &hosoeer committeth sin transgresseth also the law% for sin is the transgression of

the law"* )esus said the foremost commandment was to loe the Lord thy God with all

your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength 'k

12:)"!"* +herefore% to sim(ly disregard God and His will or place thins ahea% o# !i!

in your daily life/actions is to sin against the Lord in rea-ing the greatest of allcommandments" +he more hardened one ecomes in sin, the more selfcentered they

ecome opposite o# love, which is +o%-centere% an% sacri#icial #or .o&r #ellow an!"

God forgies the mee- and humle when they turn to Him with their full heart" .hristssacrifice of Himself made such forgieness and mercy (ossile" .hrist (urged our sins

!eb 1:)!" )esus tells us to &learn of #e* !is eaple!9 for I am mee- and lowly in heart

't 11:29, 21:5!" )esus forear our inuries that while we were yet sinners transressin!is will!, he died for us ( 5:8!" +hose who follow .hrist are also forgiing and

merciful toward others Lk 17:)-4!" #atthew %B, &>lessed are the merciful% for they shall

otain mercy"* +he (roud inflict inuries ecause they sacrifice others for the enefit ofself Lk 1:71-74!" +hey wal- in hatred" +he mee- forear the inuries of others

sacri#icin sel#! ecause they wal- in loe" #atthew 6%$5$, &'or if ye forgie men

their tres(asses, your heaenly 'ather will also forgie you% >ut if ye forgie not men

their tres(asses, neither will your 'ather forgie your tres(asses also 'k 11:26!"*+herefore% Lu-e 6%36, &>e ye therefore merciful, as your 'ather also is merciful"*

"ater Baptis!

ater a(tism is the outward sign of this inward wor- that the Lord has done in onesheart" +his is the formal method wherey one sincerely declares and commits that he is

dying to the old life of transgressing Gods will seekin sel# an% its l&sts! and is now

emracing the new life of oedience to Gods will walkin in #aith!" Cne is immersed in

water all parts covere%, representin nothin hel% back #ro +o%! which re(resentsdeath and urial" Cne then emerges from the water re(resenting resurrection and new life"

>a(tism is (erformed in the name of the 'ather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

't 28:19!" +his is to e understood as% Fomans 6%6, &nowing this, that our old man iscrucified with him, that the ody of sin might e destroyed, that henceforth we should not

sere sin"*

e are &following* .hrist and )esus set the e4am(le y eing a(ti8ed not that !enee%e% baptis! y )ohn the >a(tist 't ):1)-16, 'k 1:9, Lk ):21-22!" +he reason wasthat all righteousness might e fulfilled in Him Jes&s wasiswill be the eaple alpha

an% oea, the beinnin an% the en%, 't ):15, (ev 1:8, 11, 17, 2:8, 19, 21:6, 22:1) !"

+herefore% #ar- $6%$6, &He that elieeth and is a(ti8ed shall e saed9 ut he thatelieeth not shall e damned"* +hose that &elieeth* receiveth an% th&s walk hrist$sessae! ta-e to heart a(tism and all it re(resents"

>a(tism re(resents a ery serious commitment to enter into coenant with )esus"Galatians 3%2B, &'or as many of you as hae een a(ti8ed into .hrist hae (ut on

.hrist"* Eou are losing your life for His sa-e and the gos(els 't 1":)9, 16:25, 'k 8:)5,Lk 9:24, 17:)), Jn 12:25!" Galatians 2%20, &I am crucified with .hrist% neertheless I lie9

yet not I, ut .hrist lieth in me% and the life which I now lie in the flesh I lie y the

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faith of the Son of God, who loed me, and gae himself for me"* .olossians 3%3, &'or ye

are dead, and your life is hid with .hrist in God"*

>a(tism of re(entance is for the remission par%on, #oriveness! of sins 'k 1:4, Lk ):)!"It is so im(ortant to note that the lood of .hrists testament is for the remission of sinsand not license to continue in sin 't 26:28, !eb 9:16-17!" hen we ecome ro-en and

contrite of heart as %escribe% above! and gras( the Lords message, God has mercy and

forgies us our sins the #orbearance o# +o%!" salms 6%, &'or thou, Lord, art good, andready to forgie9 and (lenteous in mercy unto all them that call u(on thee"* God grants

forgieness or remission of sins that are (ast ( ):25! < all of our unrighteous acts

against God"

Fe(entance must (recede remission of sin 'k 1:4, Lk 24:47!" 'orgieness has nomeaning unless you forsa-e the transgression for which you are eing forgien" +o as-

forgieness for a wrong and then continue in the wrong would e asurd ridiculous,

ludicrous and illogical" e must say% salms $%2, &ash me throughly from mine

ini;uity, and cleanse me from my sin"* hen you start forsa-ing your dar-ness y dying

to self and forfeiting your ways, and come to the light, then forgieness has meaning andmerit" +herefore% $ )ohn $%B, &>ut ifwe wal- in the light, as he is in the light, we hae

fellowshi( one with another, and the lood of )esus .hrist his Son cleanseth us from allsin"* A7: $ )ohn $%@, &If we confess our sins, he is faithful and ust to forgie us our

sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"* .hrist cleanses sin and does not ustify

continuance therein %o .o& take a shower washin thoro&hl. with soap so that .o& can&p in the &%> s 51:2!" So, Acts 3%$@, &Fe(ent ye therefore, and e conerted, that

your sins may e lotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the (resence

of the Lord"*

hat has ust een descried is the first of the three essential things .hrist did which

was %isc&sse% earlier in this writin!" .hrist died for all sinners and made it (ossile forus to e saed ( 5:8, 'k 1":45!" +his was .hrists atoning sacrifice that made

(roision for the forgieness of our sins thou shalt ma-e his soul an offering for sin 3s

5):1"! A7: we hae turned eery one to his own way9 and the LCF: hath laid on himthe ini;uity of us all 3s 5):6, also ( 15:)!" )esus suffered our ust condemnation %eath

penalt.! and too- u(on Himself our sins 1 Jn ):5!" 2 .orinthians %2$, &'or he hath

made him to e sin for us, who -new no sin9 that we might e made the righteousness ofGod in him"* )esus was wounded for our transgressions, he was ruised for our ini;uities

who his own self are our sins in his own ody eing made a curse for us 3s 5):)-5, +al

):1)-14, 1 t 2:24!"

.hrists atoning sacrifice la.in %own !is per#ect li#e o# obe%ience to +o%$s will! whichwas offered to God, assuaged His wrath and rendered Him (ro(itious %ispose% to beracio&s or erci#&l rea%. to #orive sins, 3s 5):11! to sinners and allowed the oligation

of God to (unish the crime ?%a$s transression! to e canceled" Isaiah 3%$$, &He shall

see of the traail of his soul, and shall e satisfied% y his -nowledge shall my righteousserant ustify many9 for he shall ear their ini;uities"*

Ho(efully, we can all com(rehend what this means, ut lets summari8e" Adamtransgressed Gods will sinne%! and rought the condemnation of death u(on all men"

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)esus com(letely oeyed Gods will and e4changed His (erfect life for the sins of

man-ind initiate% b. ?%a! and suffered mans condemnation y dying in the (lace of

man" +his assuaged Gods righteous anger and allowed for the Lords mercy" Godsmercy and forgieness are for those who follow .hrist in the e4am(le He set" )esus made

&+he ay* ac- to God and we must now wal- it" +here is no (roision for s(ectators,

only for (artici(ants" +he ord (reached ospel! is only (rofitale when mi4ed with thefaith love, s&rren%er, obe%ience, tr&st, an% %evotion towar% +o%! of those who hear it

!eb 4:)!" +he gos(el must e wal-ed to e reali8ed in you"

+here are two more essential things that .hrist did that ma-e u( the whole &orn again*lifechanging e4(erience that must e wal-ed" )ohn $%$2$3, &>ut as many as receiedhim, to them gae he (ower to ecome the sons of God, een to them that eliee on his

name% hich were orn, not of lood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,

ut of God"* e must now discuss the &(ower* or Holy S(irit" Fememer that )esus said

you must e orn of water and of the S(irit Jn ):5!"

Baptis! of the ol# Ghost

Haing entered in through the strait gate, one must now e (re(ared and e;ui((ed towal- the narrow way that leads to eternal life" )ohn the >a(tist said% #atthew 3%$$, &Iindeed a(ti8e you with water unto re(entance% ut he that cometh after me is mightier

than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to ear% he shall a(ti8e you with the Holy Ghost,

and with fire also 'k 1:8!" )ohn (re(ared the way for .hrist y (re(aring the hearts of

the (eo(le through his message of re(entance iven o# +o%, Lk ):2! so that they wouldreceie the gos(el that )esus rought" 'or y one S(irit are we all a(ti8ed into one ody

1 or 12:1)!"

Cnly those humled through re(entance could gras( the ords .hrist s(o-e" +his is why

the religious leaders who reected such re(entance could not &receie* .hrists ords Jn):11!" )esus said% &I am come in my 'athers name, and ye receie me not Jn 5:4)!"*

.hrist came with a message that they did not e4(ect to hear" +hese were% 2 +imothy 3%B,

&Der learning, and neer ale to come to the -nowledge of the truth"* Cften, we mustcast aside our -nowledge learnin! to gras( Gods truth" $ .orinthians 3%$$@, &Let no

man deceie himself" If any man among you seemeth to e wise in this world, let him

ecome a fool, that he may e wise" 'or the wisdom of this world is foolishness with

God" 'or it is written, He ta-eth the wise in their own craftiness"*

e discussed earlier that )esus leads y e4am(le on a narrow way ac- to God" +hosewho are .hrists must &follow* His e4am(le on this (ath for reconciliation with God ol

1:2"!" +he Lord says, &I am the LCF: thy God which teacheth thee to (rofit, which

leadeth thee y the way that thou shouldest go 3s 48:17!"* Fecall also that )esus wasfilled and led of the Holy Ghost while He wal-ed u(on the earth" +herefore, those who

&follow* )esus must also e filled and led of the Holy Ghost" A(art from .hrist, there can

e no reconciliation with God" +he Lord tells us (lainly% .olossians $%20, &And, haingmade (eace through the lood of his cross, y him to reconcile all things unto himself9 y

him, I say, whether they e things in earth, or things in heaen"* )esus reconciles and is

the (eacema-er and so will those e with all an, ( 12:18! that follow Him" #atthew

%@, &>lessed are the (eacema-ers% for they shall e called the children of God"*

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)esus told His disci(les #ollowers!% )ohn $5%$6$B, &And I will (ray the 'ather, and heshall gie you another .omforter, that he may aide with you for eer9 Den the S(irit of

truth9 whom the world cannot receie, ecause it seeth him not, neither -noweth him% ut

ye -now him9 for he dwelleth with you, and shall e in you"* )esus further commented onthe necessity of receiing the S(irit% )ohn $6%B, &7eertheless I tell you the truth9 It is

e4(edient for you that I go away% for if I go not away, the .omforter will not come unto

you9 ut if I de(art, I will sen$him unto you"* ho is the .omforter1 )ohn $5%26, &>utthe .omforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 'ather will sen$in my name, he shall

teach you all things, and ring all things to your rememrance, whatsoeer I hae said

unto you also 1 or 2:1", 1 Jn 2:27!"* A7: )ohn $%26, &>ut when the .omforter iscome, whom I will sen$ unto you from the 'ather, een the S(irit of truth, which

(roceedeth from the 'ather, he shall testify of me"* +he Holy S(irit is gien sent! to

dwell in us to teach and lead us in .hrists ords *he =a., *he *r&th!"

+he world cannot receie or see Gods S(irit ecause it is see-ing its own way l&sts an%%esires! and not Gods way < they wal- in (ride" +he S(irit teaches and leads in Gods

way" Fecall that those who see- their way cannot &see* the -ingdom of God ecause theyare not &orn again Jn ):)!"* +he flesh linds them to the things of God Jn 12:)5!"

)esus said% &I am come into this world, that they which see not might see9 and that theywhich see might e made lind Jn 9:)9!"*

.hrist said He must first de(art in order to send the S(irit Jn 16:7!" +his was ecause the(ath of the cross was still efore Him and )esus had to endure the cross on His way ac-

to the 'ather and thus com(lete the (ath/way for all others to follow Jn 14:), 16:16-17!")esus went to otain the &(romise* of the Holy Ghost from the 'ather Jn 14:26!" +he

&(romise* is for those who will &follow* )esus on the narrow way" +his was the ne4t

&essential* thing that .hrist did for those who would &follow* Him"

The Pro!ise

It was noted aoe% )ohn $%$2$3, &>ut as many as receied him, to them gae he (owerto ecome the sons of God, een to them that eliee on his name% hich were orn, not

of lood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, ut of God"* +hose who&receie )esus* are the ones who receie the message/truth that the Lord rought9

s(ecifically that we must die to self and forsa-e our ways and turn to God and do His will

repentance!" .hrist told us that to enter into the -ingdom of heaen we must do the will

of His 'ather which is in heaen 't 7:21!"

7ow concerning the &(romise* and &(ower9* )esus said% Lu-e 25%5@, &And, ehold, I

send the (romise of my 'ather u(on you% ut tarry ye in the city of )erusalem, until ye eendued with (ower from on high" A7: Acts $%, &>ut ye shall receie (ower, after that

the Holy Ghost is come u(on you"""* Fecall that God had anointed )esus of 7a8areth withthe Holy Ghost and with (ower ?cts 1":)8!" .hrists &followers* wal- in the same

manner with the same (ower"

+he Holy Ghost can only e receied following re(entance and sincere commitment towal- in Gods ways" +he S(irit is gien due to oedience% Acts %32, &And we are his

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witnesses of these things9 and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath gien to them

that oey him"* In other words, we receie the (romise of the S(irit through faith +al

):14!" Loe toward God and oedience to God cannot e se(arated Jn 14:15-17, 2"-21,2), 15:1", 1 Jn 2:)-4, ):24, 5:2-)!" )esus said it (lainly% )ohn $5%$, &If ye loe me, -ee(

my commandments"* +his is ery sim(le to understand"

e are gien (ower or the Holy Ghost the proise! so as to ecome sons of God Jn1:12, Lk 24:49, ?cts 1:8!" +he S(irit is essential in accom(lishing Gods (ur(oses in us"+he Holy S(irit ;uic-ens, strengthens, teaches &n#ol%s application o# hrist$s =or%s!,

conicts, and conforms us to the image of .hrist ( 8:11, ;ph ):16, 1 t ):18, 1 Jn

2:27!" Fomans %$5, &'or as many as are led y the S(irit of God, they are the sons ofGod"* +he Lords (ur(oses can only e accom(lished through our oedience #aith! to the

S(irits leading" Fememer, we are &following* .hrist so the S(irit wor-s in us to

conform us to )esus &well (leasing* image" .orinthians 3%$, &?we all are changed into

the same image from glory to glory, een as y the S(irit of the Lord"*

e are to &ecome* sons of God, ut how1 ell, there is a (ath/way efore us that must

e wal-ed" al-ing this (ath y the S(irits leading will conform us to .hrists imageand God shall reali8e His (ur(oses in us hp 2:1), !eb 1):21!" Fecall the essential

things that .hrist (roided" )esus (roided a (ath/way to God thro&h sacri#ice o# sel# #oriveness o# sins! and wal-ed it y e4am(le for us to follow" God Himself came down

to earth as a man and set the e4am(le for us to follow there will be no #iner pointin

here or sa.in +o% %oesn$t &n%erstan%!" )esus then (rocured the (romise of the 'ather%Acts 2%33, &+herefore eing y the right hand of God e4alted, and haing receied of the

'ather the (romise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this?* +he Holy Ghost

em(owers, teaches and leads us in the way we are to go" "hat !ore coul$ Jesus $o that

e has not no% $one? e must now freely decide to ta-e u( our cross and follow )esus"+his now re;uires something of you < action on your (art" #an was led of his flesh into

disoedience and se(aration from God" #an must now e led of the S(irit into oedienceand reconciliation with God" +his is what its all aout +his is why scri(ture reeals% $eter $%@, &Feceiing the end of your faith, een the salation of your souls"* +he end of

your faith is the end of this lifes (ath or the com(lete reali8ation of your reconciliation

with God" )esus is the etter ho(e y the which we draw nigh unto God !eb 7:19!"

)ohn the >a(tist noted that )esus would a(ti8e with the Holy Ghost and with fire 't):11, Lk ):16!" +he &fire* is what urns away the im(urities in our lies as the dross

worthless st#! is urned from siler or gold" +he S(irit of God wor-s in us to tear down

or b&rn awa.! all of the things in our lies that o((ose the will of God" +he S(irit does

this that the life also of )esus might e made manifest in our mortal flesh 2 or 4:11!"

Fomans %$3, &'or if ye lie after the flesh, ye shall die% ut if ye through the S(irit domortify the deeds of the ody, ye shall lie"*

e (urify our souls in oeying the truth through the S(irit 1 t 1:22!" +he S(iritconinces of righteousness Jn 16:8, 1"!" +herefore% &?ye are washed, ye are sanctified,ye are ustified in the name of the Lord )esus, and y the S(irit of our God 1 or 6:11!"

So, $ eter 3%$, &'or .hrist also hath once suffered for sins, the ust for the unust, that

he might ring us to God, eing (ut to death in the flesh, ut ;uic-ened a%e alive &nto

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+o%! y the S(irit"* +herefore% Galatians %, &'or we through the S(irit wait for the

ho(e of righteousness y faith"* Cur faith is e4ercised carrie% o&t, applie%! as we are led

y the Holy S(irit and made alie in .hrist" +he S(irit wor-s through our freewilloedience aspect o# #aith! to ma-e (ossile Gods will in our lies and thus ma-e us

&.hrist li-e* ( 6:4, +al ):27, ;ph 4:1), 15, ol ):1", !eb 1):21!"

e must reali8e that there are two (aths or ways" +he way of the flesh which is led ythe deil and the way of God which is led y the S(irit thro&h Jes&s the hea%!"Galatians %$6, &+his I say then, al- in the S(irit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the

flesh"* +he S(irit leads us out of the lusts and desires of the flesh" Gods way will not e

found in the flesh or ways of the world < these are o((osite and lead away from God" So,Galatians 6%, &'or he that soweth to his flesh lives in the wa.s o#! shall of the flesh rea(

corru(tion9 ut he that soweth to the S(irit obe.s the %irection o#! shall of the S(irit rea(

life eerlasting"* In other words, each (ath has a s(ecified outcome" +hose who choose to

follow the flesh are willfully wal-ing away from God and each ste( se(arates them morein what will ecome an eternal se(aration" +o wal- this way is to disregard God"

Haing the Holy S(irit is so essential that you cannot e found in .hrist a(art from HisS(irit" Fomans %@, &>ut ye are not in the flesh, ut in the S(irit, if so e that the S(irit of

God dwell in you" 7ow if any man hae not the S(irit of .hrist, he is none of his"* Sowho does not hae the S(irit1 +he answer is those who are wal-ing in the flesh Jn ):6,

( 8:1, 4-5, 8, 1), +al 5:16-17!" $ )ohn 3%25, &And he that -ee(eth his commandments

dwelleth in him, and he in him" And herey we -now that he aideth in us, y the S(iritwhich he hath gien us"* A7: $ )ohn 5%$3, &Herey -now we that we dwell in him, and

he in us, ecause he hath gien us of his S(irit"* e are sealed unto God y His S(irit

;ph 1:1)-14, 4:)"!" 2 .orinthians $%22, &ho hath also sealed us, and gien the earnest

the proise o# soethin to coe! of the S(irit in our hearts"*

The Spirit &%ells in You

Gods S(irit actually dwells within the elieer 1 Jn ):24, 4:12-15!" $ .orinthians 3%$6,&now ye not that ye are the tem(le of God, and that the S(irit of God dwelleth in you1*A7: $ .orinthians 6%$@, &hat1 -now ye not that your ody is the tem(le of the Holy

Ghost which is in you, which ye hae of God, and ye are not your own1* +his is .hrist in

you, the ho(e of glory ol 1:27!" Fecall that we must lose our lies for .hrists sa-e and

are no longer our own" +he &old man* that sought his own has een forsa-en < is dead"+hese are not ust so many religious words if you are truly &following* )esus" +herefore%

Fomans %$$, &>ut if the S(irit of him that raised u( )esus from the dead dwell in you, he

that raised u( .hrist from the dead shall also ;uic-en your mortal odies y his S(irit thatdwelleth in you"* e are made alie unto God through the S(irit of God" +he Holy S(irit

is the S(irit of truth and dwells within us, and shall e with us for eer Jn 14:17, 15:26,

16:1), 1 Jn 5:6, 2 Jn 1:2!"

Darlier in this writing it was stated that in )esus dwelleth all the fulness of the Godheadodily ol 2:9!" +he same will e true for those who &follow* )esus" e ust discussed

how that through &oedience* the Holy Ghost dwells in the elieer Jn 14:15-17, ?cts

5:)2!" +he 'ather and Son also dwell in the elieer perhaps via the pirit o# +o%!" )esus

said concerning His resurrection% )ohn $5% 202$, &At that day ye shall -now that I am in

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my 'ather, and ye in me, and I in you" He that hath my commandments, and -ee(eth

them, he it is that loeth me% and he that loeth me shall e loed of my 'ather, and I will

loe him, and will manifest myself to him"* A7: )ohn $5%23, &)esus answered and saidunto him, If a man loe me, he will -ee( my words% and my 'ather will loe him, and %ewill come unto him, and ma-e our aode with him"* e are further instructed% 2 )ohn

$%@, &hosoeer transgresseth, and aideth not in the doctrine of .hrist, hath not God"He that aideth in the doctrine of .hrist, he hath oth the 'ather and the Son also Jn

15:5!"* A7: )ohn $B%2$, &+hat they all may e one9 as thou, 'ather, art in me, and I in

thee, that they also may e one in us% that the world may eliee that thou hast sent me"* that the loe wherewith thou hast loed me may e in them, and I in them Jn 17:26!"

All the things of the 'ather are .hrists and the Holy Ghost reeals these things to us Jn16:1)-15!" +he Holy S(irit teaches all things and rings to rememrance the things )esus

said Jn 14:26!" $ .orinthians 2%$0$2, $6, &>ut God hath reealed them unto us y his

S(irit% for the S(irit searcheth all things, yea, the dee( things of God" 'or what man-noweth the things of a man, sae the s(irit of man which is in him1 een so the things of

God -noweth no man, ut the S(irit of God" 7ow we hae receied, not the s(irit of the

world, ut the s(irit which is of God9 that we might -now the things that are freely giento us of God" 'or who hath -nown the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him1 >ut

we hae the mind of .hrist"* So it can e said% D(hesians 2%$, &'or through him Jes&s!

we oth hae access y one S(irit unto the 'ather also ;ph ):11-12!"* +herefore% e arein God and God is in us" +he author sought the S(irit for instruction in writing this (a(er"

Putting it all Together

7ow you can fully understand what it means to e &orn again"* Fecalling what )esussaid% &=erily, erily, I say unto thee, D4ce(t a man e orn of water and of the S(irit, hecannot enter into the -ingdom of God Jn ):5!"* +he word &erily* means in truth, in

fact, a certainty and with asolute confidence" So, (utting all things together% you firstmust a((roach God destitute of self, eing ro-en, humle/mee- and of a contrite hearttremling at His ord" Eou must ac-nowledge and forsa-e your wrongs, with godly

sorrow, turning to the Lord and falling u(on His mercy and forgieness" Eou genuinely

re(ent 2 .orinthians B%$0, &'or godly sorrow wor-eth re(entance to salation not to e

re(ented of% ut the sorrow of the world wor-eth death"* Eou sincerely commit your lifeunto .hrist and then deny self, ta-e u( your cross and follow Him" +his may e initiated

through words, ut must ;uic-ly e followed and sustained through actions #r&its eet

#or repentance, 't ):8!" .ome to )esus ust as you are?ut do not e4(ect to remain asyou are"

#any (eo(le draweth nigh unto )esus with their mouth, and honor .hrist with their li(s9ut their heart is far from Him 't 15:8, 'k 7:6!" If you say that .hrist is your Lord, then

you must lie as though .hrist is your Lord Lk 6:46!" +hose things you emrace andthose things you forsa-e in your life will tell the real hearts story"

+hrough your oedience, you are gien the Holy S(irit to dwell within you" +he S(iritleads and teaches you to wal- in Gods way" +hrough your daily faith, the S(irit tears

down those dis(leasing things in you so as with p&rpose! to conform you to the image of

.hrist" +he S(irit shows you how to a((ly Gods ord to the daily circumstances you

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face" salms 23%3, &He restoreth my soul% he leadeth me in the (aths of righteousness for

his names sa-e"* Fecall% &he that loseth his life for my sa-e shall find/sae it 't 1":)9,

16:25, 'k 8:)5, Lk 9:24!"* :o you reali8e how awesome this is1 hat this is saying isthat the Lord leads us to die to self and oey Gods will !is coan%ents! so that we

may e restored" +he S(irit leads us to e restored to what we were efore the fall of man

in Dden" :o you now see how )esus destroyed the wor-s of the deil 1 Jn ):8!1Halleluiah Ch let those who hae eyes to see and ears to hear reoice in this Eou must

e orn again of God or you will neer see any of this Jn ):)!"

eter said it well when he stated% Acts 2%33@, &+hen eter said unto them, Fe(ent, ande a(ti8ed eery one of you in the name of )esus .hrist for the remission of sins, and yeshall receie the gift of the Holy Ghost" 'or the (romise is unto you, and to your children,

and to all that are afar off, een as many as the Lord our God shall call"* God calls y

(re(aring our hearts to receie His message" +he Lord wor-s through the circumstances

and situations of our lies to humle us interr&pts o&r sel# seekin wa.s to et o&rattention! such that we can gras( .hrists message" #any of the challenges in life that

you face come aout through Gods mercy in trying to get your attention" +he tragedies

are only tragic when you do not com(rehend the real (ur(ose of them" +he (roud do notreturn unto the Lord God nor see- Him !os 7:1"!" #any will e called, ut few will

res(ond sincerely and a((ro(riately 't 2":16, 22:14!" +hose who do are the ones that

the Lord see-s for His eternal -ingdom" +hese freely come out of their reellion andwillingly sumit to His authority" +his is to renounce the deil and his reellious lie" +his

is to sto( wal-ing in the deils lie through the lusts and desires of the flesh"

+he water repentance! and the S(irit +o%$s race workin in .o&, *i 2:12! (roduce anew man" After )esus was a(ti8ed in water and the S(irit descended u(on Him, the

'ather was well(leased 't ):16-17!" Eour faith is the only method you hae of&(leasing* God !eb 11:6!" 2 .orinthians %$B, &+herefore if any man e in .hrist, he is

a new creature% old things are (assed away9 ehold, all things are ecome new"* +he lifeof see-ing the lust and desires of the flesh ol% thins! has (assed away ;ph 4:22, ol):9! < the old man is crucified ( 6:6!" D(hesians 5%25, &?ye (ut on the new man,

which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness also Lk 1:75!"* raise God

.olossians 3%$0, &And hae (ut on the new man, which is renewed in -nowledge afterthe image of him that created him"* +herefore% we can conclude that Gods image is

righteousness and holiness and we must e found in it in +o%$s wa.s!is nat&re!" )ust as

)esus was orn of the Holy Ghost, we must e &orn again* of the Holy Ghost 't 1:18,

2"!" All things will e common to those who enter the -ingdom of heaen" Lu-e 6%50,

&+he disci(le is not aoe his master% ut eery one that is (erfect shall e as his master"*

.onsider the formation of this &orn again* new man% Herews $0%$$B, &hereof theHoly Ghost also is a witness to us% for after that he had said efore, +his is the coenant

that I will ma-e with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will (ut my laws into theirhearts, and in their minds will I write them9 And their sins and ini;uities will I rememer

no more also !eb 8:1"-12!"* A7: &?After those days, saith the LCF:, I will (ut my

law in their inward (arts, and write it in their hearts9 and will e their God, and they shalle my (eo(le Jer )1:)), also ; 11:19-2"!"* God writes His will into our ery nature"

e ta-e on the nature of God"

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Cnce we hae died to the ways of the flesh, are &orn of God* and hae ecome a newman, we must wal- in the S(irit" Fomans %$, &+here is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in .hrist )esus, who wal- not after the flesh, ut after the S(irit"* +hey

that are after the S(irit must mind the things of the S(irit ( 8:5!" al-ing in the S(iritrestores us and frees us par%ons! from the original condemnation of &thou shall surely

die +en 2:17!"* So, Galatians %2, &If we lie in the S(irit, let us also wal- in the

S(irit"* Galatians 6%, &'or he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh rea( corru(tion9ut he that soweth to the S(irit shall of the S(irit rea( life eerlasting"* +hus )esus said%

)ohn %25, &=erily, erily o# a certaint., co&nt on it!, I say unto you, He that heareth my

word, and elieeth on him that sent me, hath eerlasting life, and shall not come intocondemnation9 ut is (assed from death unto life also Jn 11:26!"*

+he -ingdom of heaen came through .hrist and is (o(ulated y those orn of Him")esus said% Lu-e $B%202$, &?+he -ingdom of God cometh not with oseration% 7either

shall they say, Lo here or, lo there for, ehold, the -ingdom of God is within you"* e

are orn again of the water and of the S(irit Jn ):5!" +he mind is renewed through

re(entance ( 12:2, 2 or 4:16, ;ph 4:2), ol ):1"! and the Holy Ghost dwells withinyou and laors to conform you to .hrists image" +his washing of regeneration spirit&al

rebirth! y the Holy Ghost ta-es (lace within you and transforms you *i ):5, ( 12:2!")esus tells us who His family is% #atthew $2%0, &'or whosoeer shall do the will of my

'ather which is in heaen, the same is my rother, and sister, and mother"* +he -ingdom

of heaen is as a ig family with the same heart, mind and (ur(ose"

The Significance an$ E'a!ple of Christ(s Sacrifice

e discussed in the &ater >a(tism* section of this writing how God laid the sin of manu(on .hrist < made Him to e sin for us < who His own self are our sins in His own

ody 3s 5):)-5, 6, 1", 2 or 5:21, +al ):1)-14, 1 t 2:24!" )esus ody was destroyedthat sin may e destroyed" +he 'ather then raised .hrist u( in newness of life" Fomans

6%3, &now ye not, that so many of us as were a(ti8ed into )esus .hrist were a(ti8ed

into his death1 +herefore we are uried with him y a(tism into death% that li-e as .hristwas raised u( from the dead y the glory of the 'ather, een so we also should wal- in

newness of life" 'or if we hae een (lanted together in the li-eness of his death, we shall

e also in the li-eness of his resurrection"* hat this means is that .hrists death, urial

and resurrection was re(resentatie of eing orn again" )esus died to sin all o# o&r sins!and was raised again y the 'ather" So, Fomans 6%, &7ow if we e dead with .hrist, we

eliee that we shall also lie with him"* A7: Fomans 6%$0$2, &'or in that he died, he

died unto sin once% ut in that he lieth, he lieth unto God" Li-ewise rec-on ye alsoyourseles to e dead indeed unto sin, ut alie unto God through )esus .hrist our Lord"

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal ody, that ye should oey it in the lusts

thereof"* e die to the sin of the old man and are raised again born aain! to lie unto.hrist and no longer wal- in sin the l&sts o# the #lesh, ( 6:6-7!"

Haing een orn unto God and in following .hrist% Fomans 6%$3, &7either yield yeyour memers as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin% ut yield yourseles unto God,

as those that are alie from the dead, and your memers as instruments of righteousness

unto God"* Fomans 6%$6, &now ye not, that to whom ye yield yourseles serants to

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oey, his serants ye are to whom ye oey9 whether of sin unto death, or of oedience

unto righteousness1* +herefore% e no longer wal- in sin the l&sts o# the #lesh!, ut unto

God obe.in !is coan%entswill!" Fomans 6%$, &>eing then made free from sin,ye ecame the serants of righteousness"* A7: Fomans 6%22, &>ut now eing made free

from sin, and ecome serants to God, ye hae your fruit unto holiness, and the end

eerlasting life"* A serant in this case is one in the oluntary state of suection to God"Fighteousness is (urity of heart and conformity of heart and life to diine law" Holiness is

(urity and freedom from sin or not transgressing Gods will" utting it all together% Eou

oluntarily suect &self* to God and conform your life to the Lords diine commandsas hrist$s eaple! and thus do not transgress His will %o not sin!" Eou sere God in

righteousness and holiness as prior %isc&sse%!"

Pure in eart

Haing ta-en on the nature of God it (rogressiely follows that one would now willinglywal- in the Lords ways" +hose &orn of God* are deoted to God" )esus said% #atthew

%, &>lessed are the (ure in heart% for they shall see God"* A wic-ed heart Jer 17:9-1"!

is a mind in a state of deotion to self9 a (ure heart is a mind in a state of deotion toGod" +o e wic-ed could e as sim(le as doing your own thing eeryday < not

necessarily committing ile acts, ust disregarding God" )esus is our e4am(le% $ )ohn 3%3,

&And eery man that hath this ho(e in him Jes&s! (urifieth himself, een as he is (ure"*

+o e (ure in heart is to sere God with correct moties in sincerity en&iness, honest.,a&thenticit.! of heart" e must truly loe God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength

'k 12:)"!" +his loe is deelo(ed as we trust and oey God in all things < as we yield to

His authority" e must neer see- God with ulterior moties that are self sering" esee- to glorify God in all things y doing His will"

+he author learned a long time ago that you cannot ma-e someone loe and sere God lessed are they that -ee( histestimonies, and that see- him with the whole heart also s 119:145, 1 C 8:61, 1 hr

28:1!"*

Traveling the )arro% "a#

Acts $5%22, &.onfirming the souls of the disci(les, and e4horting them to continue in thefaith, and that we must through much triulation enter into the -ingdom of God"*

+he narrow way is set u( b. +o%$s p&rpose#&l %esin! in such a way that it cannot etraeled a(art from a willing oedient heart" +his (ath cannot e traeled y fear or

com(ulsion" 7o one could (ossily trael this (ath, gien the sacrifice re;uired o# sel#!,without a sincere willing heart" Loe is the sacrifice of self for the enefit of God

foremost and then ones neighors" )esus said this (ath must e wal-ed in such loe < His

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two great commandments of all that we &st keep, 't 22:)7-)9, 'k 12:28-)1, Lk

1":27!"

+here is another reason why the fleshly pro&%, sel# seekin! and feigned %isinen&o&s,insincere, h.pocritical! could neer truly in realit.! wal- this (ath" +he way in which.hrist wal-ed was full of (ersecution and suffering 't 16:21, 2":18-19, 21:46, 22:15!"

Herews %@, &+hough he were a Son, yet learned he oedience y the things which he

suffered9 And eing made (erfect, he ecame the author of eternal salation unto all themthat oey him"* +hose who follow )esus will e4(erience the same (ersecution and

suffering < we will also learn oedience through suffering" 2 +imothy 3%$2, &Eea, and all

that will lie godly in .hrist )esus shall suffer (ersecution also 'k 1":)"!"* +hose liingin the flesh will neer (ur(osefully or willingly suffer anything" +hey see- to increase

and certainly not decrease Jn ):)"!" +hey want (raise and certainly not reu-e Lk 6:26,

Jn 12:4)!" )esus said some endure ut for a time% afterward, when affliction, triulation

or (ersecution ariseth for the words sa-e, immediately they are offended 't 1):21, 'k4:17!"

)esus said% )ohn $%20, &Fememer the word that I said unto you, +he serant is notgreater than his lord" If they hae (ersecuted me, they will also (ersecute you9 if they

hae -e(t my saying, they will -ee( yours also"* Howeer this is not a gloomy situationas .hrist also said% #atthew %$0$2, &>lessed are they which are (ersecuted for

righteousness sa-e% for theirs is the -ingdom of heaen" >lessed are ye, when men shall

reile you, and (ersecute you, and shall say all manner of eil against you falsely, for mysa-e" Feoice, and e e4ceeding glad% for great is your reward in heaen% for so

(ersecuted they the (ro(hets which were efore you"* Suffering and (ersecution are all a

(art of dying to self/flesh" .hrist also said% Lu-e 6%2223, &>lessed are ye, when men

shall hate you, and when they shall se(arate you from their com(any, and shall re(roachyou, and cast out your name as eil, for the Son of mans sa-e" Feoice ye in that day, and

lea( for oy% for, ehold, your reward is great in heaen% for in the li-e manner did theirfathers unto the (ro(hets"* +he author can tell you that the flesh does not want to sufferanything, ut the flesh must die

>efore )esus went ac- to the 'ather, He had one more a(tism to face" +he Lord said%Lu-e $2%0, &>ut I hae a a(tism to e a(ti8ed with9 and how am I straitened till it e

accom(lished also Jn 17:1!* +his might e referred to as the a(tism of fire or thethir% baptis, pirit, an% the water, an% the bloo% 1 Jn 5:8!" )esus was tal-ing aout

His im(ending death" .hrist was going to lay His life down and fully totall. s&rren%er!

to the 'athers will" hat more can a man gie than his life1 )esus would later say% &C

my 'ather, if it e (ossile, let this cu( (ass from me% neertheless not as I will, ut as

thou wilt 't 26:)9, 'k 14:)6!"* A7: &C my 'ather, if this cu( may not (ass away fromme, e4ce(t I drin- it, thy will e done 't 26:42!"* Derything must e contingent u(on

Gods will" +herefore% )esus, through the eternal S(irit offered himself without s(ot toGod, to (urge your conscience from dead wor-s to sere the liing God and ecame a

mediator of a new testament wherey they which are called might receie the (romise of

eternal inheritance !eb 9:14-15!"

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hen some of )esus disci(les had re;uested (laces of authority in .hrists -ingdom, theLord res(onded% &Are ye ale to drin- of the cu( that I shall drin- of, and to e a(ti8ed

with the a(tism that I am a(ti8ed with1 +hey say unto him, e are ale" 't 2":22, 'k

1":)8!* )esus then told them% &Ee shall drin- indeed of my cu(, and e a(ti8ed with thea(tism that I am a(ti8ed with 't 2":2), 'k 1":)9!"* #any of .hrists followers hae

e4(erienced this a(tism of fire and hae ecome martyrs for His sa-e" +he Lord hascounseled us% &e thou faithful unto death, and I will gie thee a crown of life (ev

2:1"!"* #ultitudes hae oeyed )esus in this matter they loed not their lies unto thedeath (ev 12:11!" +hese were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which

they held (ev 6:9!" +hey ;uite literally lost their lies for .hrists sa-e and the gos(els"

eter was told y )esus that he would e martyred Jn 21:18!" )ohn 2$%$@, &+his s(a-ehe, signifying y what death he should glorify God" And when he had s(o-en this, he

saith unto him, 'ollow me"* Eou may face the a(tism of fire, ut you must &follow*

)esus irregardless" +hose that follow .hrist oercome the flesh and the world"

e must loo- eyond the concerns of this flesh and yearn for the will of God" #ar-%3$33, &And he egan to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and

e reected of the elders, and of the chief (riests, and scries, and e -illed, and after

three days rise again" And he s(a-e that saying o(enly" And eter too- him, and egan to

reu-e him" >ut when he had turned aout and loo-ed on his disci(les, he reu-ed eter,saying, Get thee ehind me, Satan% for thou saourest not the things that e of God, ut

the things that e of men"* eter may hae meant well, ut sought the will of the flesh in

reecting the triulation that lay ahead for )esus" Satan used eter to tem(t )esus to see-his own will" )esus desired the will of God and not the will of the flesh" )esus was going

to glorify the 'ather and accom(lish Gods (ur(oses Jn 1):)2, 17:1, 1 *i 6:1)!" All

followers of .hrist will face triulations in their wal-s and the deil will use friends andfamily memers to steer you in the way of the flesh" e must loo- eyond this flesh the

essence o# #aith! to saor relish, %eliht in! Gods (ur(oses and wal- in the Lords will

irregardless of the sufferings of the flesh"

+he author has een steered toward the ways of the flesh many times y seemingly wellmeaning friends and family Lk 14:26!" #ost who (rofess .hrist are of the o(inion thatGod would neer hae us suffer +o% is onl. there to bless>!" :o we not always see-

ways out of difficult situations rather than yield to them as &nto +o%!1 :o we see-

Gods will in the matter or do we see- our own will with Gods lessing1 'ollowers areto (re(are and encourage each other in the things we face and not loo- for fleshly ways to

aoid them" Cften, our sufferings ring us much closer to God ecause we are forced to

loo- eyond the flesh and our circumstances and soley unto Him" eter once wal-ed onwater while his eyes were focused u(on )esus in coin to !i!, ut ;uic-ly san- when

he turned his attention to the circumstances around him 't 14:28-)1!" hen one cantruly say &+hy will e done* at im(ending suffering witho&t obection!, then they hae

traeled far on this right (ath < this narrow way"

hereas not all of .hrists disci(les will e (hysically -illed art.re%!, they will haeto oercome self and the world" $ )ohn %5, &'or whatsoeer is orn of God oercometh

the world% and this is the ictory that oercometh the world, een our faith"* +his means

we must e (arta-ers of the diine nature born o# +o%!, haing esca(ed the corru(tion

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that is in the world through lust 2 t 1:4!" e must oercome the lust of the flesh, the

lust of the eyes, the (ride of life, deceitfulness of riches, the care of this world, the

deceitfulness of sin, and the lusts of other things 1 Jn 2:15, 't 1):22, 'k 4:19, !eb):1)!" e must forsa-e all that we hae no restrictions place% b. e! to e the Lords

disci(le Lk 14:))!" +his may mean selling all you hae and giing it to the (oor Lk

18:22, 'k 1":21! or (erha(s leaing house, or rethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, orwife, or children, or lands, for my sa-e, and the gos(els 't 19:29, 'k 1":28-)", Lk

18:28-)"!" Fecall once again% &he that loseth his life for my sa-e and the gos(els shall

find/sae it 't 1":)9, 16:25, 'k 8:)5, Lk 9:24!"* +here is no way around &totalsurrender of self* in following )esus < nothing held ac- with no regrets Lk 9:62!" e go

where the S(irit leads" 7eer (resume that the S(irit will coddle the flesh or lead in the

ways thereof"

e are to oercome and een in this )esus led y e4am(le% )ohn $6%33, &+hese things Ihae s(o-en unto you, that in me ye might hae (eace" In the world ye shall haetriulation% ut e of good cheer9 I hae oercome the world"* A7: Feelation 3%2$, &+o

him that oercometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, een as I also oercame,

and am set down with my 'ather in his throne"* )esus went first and His disci(les follow"+herefore% Feelation 2$%B, &He that oercometh shall inherit all things9 and I will e his

God, and he shall e my son"* +he S(irit leads us through this world, ust as )esus was

led" e must oercome the world ust as )esus oercame the world" :isci(les #ollowers!receie instruction are ta&ht b., 1 Jn 2:27! and are led y their Lord in the same

course/way/(ath" 'ollowers imitate the e4am(le of their leader Jes&s Jn 14:5-6!"

+he a(tism of fire or sufferings, (ersecutions and triulations that we endure are thefires that urn away the im(urities in us" +he Lords (ur(oses are that we fully and

com(letely surrender to His will" +he wal- on the narrow way accom(lishes this" $ )ohn2%$B, &And the world (asseth away, and the lust thereof% ut he that doeth the will of God

aideth for eer"* e will e tested and tried to see what remains" #ar- $3%$3, &And yeshall e hated of all men for my names sa-e% ut he that shall endure unto the end, thesame shall e saed also 't 1":22!"* At the end of the narrow way the Lord will reali8e

in us what He desires" Fomans %$, &'or I rec-on that the sufferings of this (resent time

are not worthy to e com(ared with the glory which shall e reealed in us"* #ar- @%5@,&'or eery one shall e salted with fire, and eery sacrifice shall e salted with salt"*

)esus was (ersecuted in cities/regions Lk 4:29, 1):)1, 17:25, Jn 7:1, 11:57!" He wasaccused of eing demon (ossessed 't 12:24, 'k ):22!" .hrists own rethren brothers!

did not eliee in Him Jn 7:5!" )esus was etrayed unto death y a close friend 't

26:15-16, 25, 47, 'k ):19, 14:1", Lk 22:4-6, 21, 48, Jn 6:7"-71 !" salms 5$%@, &Eea,

mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my read, hath lifted u( hisheel against me"*

.onsider what .hrist says aout His followers% Lu-e 2$%$6, &And ye shall e etrayedoth y (arents, and rethren, and -insfol-s, and friends9 and some of you shall theycause to e (ut to death"* A7: #atthew $0%2$2, &And the rother shall delier u( the

rother to death close #rien%s, betra.al!, and the father the child% and the children shall

rise u( against their (arents, and cause them to e (ut to death" And ye shall e hated of

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all men for my names sa-e% ut he that endureth to the end shall e saed" >ut when they

(ersecute you in this city, flee ye into another% for erily I say unto you, Ee shall not hae

gone oer the cities of Israel, till the Son of man e come" +he disci(le is not aoe hismaster, nor the serant aoe his lord" It is enough for the disci(le that he e as his

master, and the serant as his lord" If they hae called the master of the house >eel8eu

%evil!, how much more shall they call them of his household1* A7: #atthew 25%@,&+hen shall they delier you u( to e afflicted, and shall -ill you% and ye shall e hated of

all nations for my names sa-e" And then shall many e offended, and shall etray one

another, and shall hate one another"* )esus said% #atthew $2%2, &>ut if I cast out deilsy the S(irit of God, then the -ingdom of God is come unto you"*

.hrists daily (ersecutions came from religious men who were (roud sel# seekin! and(resumed to &-now* God 't 6:1-8, 16-17, 2):5-7, Jn 8:55!" )esus was ultimately -illed

y religious men in concert workin toether with! with the secular goernment (oe!"

+he a(ostles eter and aul were also -illed y religious men in league with the seculargoernment" +rue followers of .hrist such as the aldenses and Anaa(tist were -illed

y religious men atholics, Dr

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