Christ within You is Truth, post number 2416

     The following is taken from the thoughts of Pastor Hoekstra shared in my e-Sword Bible Studies program with some editing as required by the LORD'S Spirit. Now I have called upon the OT passages that verify all things of Christ within humanity. I also point to John 8:32 and chapters 14-17 as a study aid.

The Most Precious Promise of Shared Life:

By which have been given to humanity exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these humanity may be partakers of the divine nature . . . Christ has redeemed humanity from the curse of the Mosaic Law . . . that humanity might receive the promise of the Spirit through (His faith and obedience) faith. (2Peter 1:4 and Galatians 3:13-14)

Here's where we get at the heart of God's "exceedingly great and precious promises." By means of promise, the Lord made it possible for humanity to share in His life: "that through these [God's promises] humanity may be partakers of the divine nature."

What a remarkable prospect this is—that humanity could participate in the divine nature. Yet, the promises of GOD (as Yeshua...English translation Jesus) make this available to all of humanity. Of course, this does not mean that humanity becomes divine (as many false religions and some aberrant theologies espouse). GOD alone is, and will ever be, divine. "I am GOD, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is none like Me" (Isaiah 46:9). Nonetheless, humanity can share in the life of GOD (Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 13:10 with Genesis 1:26-28 of Genesis 2:7), even though humanity will never become "a god" himself. This is accomplished by Jesus Christ coming to dwell within (humanity's flesh and thereby) the lives of those who believe Him. As the Lord Jesus died for humanity that He might give renewed life to humanity. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes Me has everlasting life" (John 6:47). This life was in the humanity of (Yeshua, English... Jesus) that He wants to share with humanity His own life. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life' . . . Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life' " (John 11:25 and John 14:6).

The Apostle Paul taught this great truth extensively. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of GOD in human form as the likeness of, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 1:1). He understood that his apostolic ministry was not only anchored in GOD's Will, but it also depended upon the life that GOD promised. Thus, he confessed Christ as his very own life: "Christ who is our life" (Colossians 3:4). Paul was not the source of the daily Christ like life that he lived. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). The Lord Jesus was Paul's life resource, as he is to be humanity's, that is to say you and me.

This is what the promise of the Spirit is about. "Christ has redeemed humanity from the curse of the Mosaic Law . . . that humanity might receive the promise of the Spirit through His faith." At new birth, the Holy Spirit also comes to indwell those who believe. The Spirit reveals these Truths to humanity through the word, Will of GOD. Then, the Spirit pours the life of Christ through every humble, dependent child of GOD (Genesis 2:7, Isaiah 43:1, 7, 10, 21, 44:2, 24, 45:18, 49:5, 54:17; Jeremiah 1:5, 33:2-3). "It is the Spirit Who gives life" (John 6:63).

LORD Yeshau, thank You for making Your life available to all of humanity. What a precious promise that is! Teach humanity to walk according to Your Spirit, that Your life might be expressed through humanity's life day by day, by the Spirit of Truth within and upon human forms. Amen.

Christ within You is Truth, post number 2415

 As "born again, born from above" Truth Seekers and our very lives tied to the revelation of Christ within us there's one maybe two passages we must consider besides those of John 14 through 17, like that of John 11:25, and Romans 4:16-17 which states this through the revelation of Christ in him....Paul here. I have increased the passages to include the following: Romans 4:15, 16-18  Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by Grace; To that end the promise might be sure to "all the seed"; Not to that only which is under the law, but to that also which become of the faith of Abraham; Who is the father of us all,  (As it is written, I have made you Abram,,,,Abraham a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even GOD, who quickens both the living the dead, and "calls those things which be not as though they were." Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, 'So shall your seed be.' Now this reality makes certain this promise to all that believe even Gentiles who believe as did Abraham. For that is how he became noteworthy in this matter. For YAH, YHWH  (Emmanuel, Jesus) said in John 11:25, 'He who believes Me, though he may die, he shall live.' (Romans 8:30, Whom He calls He justifies)

What is the origin of this, where might I find it? In Matthew 11:26-30 is my answer for here is what it says, and again I have expanded it: Matthew 11:25, 26-30 At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes. 

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither know any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come to Me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke (this found in Genesis 1:1) upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.' 

Now there is more hidden within these passages as is usual when we are to be of a living spirit not of the flesh or just a soul. For like the rest of the Bible it speaks to our spirit (Christ) before our mind.

Christ within You is Truth, post number 2414

     Again we are all Seekers of Truth and for that one reason the following is of vital importance; More on God's Promises and God's Law of Love and Grace; this found in Romans 4:16; Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to Grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed. So what was the promise and to whom was was spoken? Simple answer is, Abraham, this found in Genesis. For later on Paul says this; All of the promises of the Gospel is the promised Savior, Who would die on the cross for our sins. If we attempt to base any of God's saving work on our performance, we are setting aside God's Grace and His truth. We are inferring that His death for us was unnecessary or inadequate. Then we find this, "I do not set aside the Grace of GOD; for if righteousness comes through the Mosaic Law, then Christ died in vain" (Gal. 2:21). From here Paul stated this in verses 19 and 20: Gal. 2:19-21 For I through the Mosaic Law am dead to this Law, that I might live in GOD. For I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life (Lev. 17:11 and Heb. 13:10) which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of GOD, Who loves me, and gave Himself for me. Therefore I do not frustrate the Grace of GOD: for if His righteousness come by the Mosaic Law, then Christ is dead in vain. This taken from Hosea 6 verses 1 through 3 which reads as follows: Hosea 6:1-3  "Come, and let us return to the LORD: for He has torn, and He will heal us; He has smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know (learn of) the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth."

Now we are still based within the context of John 14 - 17 when we recognizance what is being stated by the Lord, most of which He directed towards our receiving of Him as the Holy Spirit of Grace and Truth. As many are now realizing this, they are of Him and He is of them. This the mystery of the Gospel's good news.

Christ within You is Truth, post number 2413

     Remember that we are Seeking the Truth in this effort and that our base is in John chapters 14 through 17. In an effort to find all Truth with key phrases in chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17 where we find Jesus' High Priestly pray recorded. In chapter 14 we found the promise of the Holy Spirit in chapter 16 we found the work of the Holy Spirit and each chapter there are a series of "IFs" listed throughout them. This study and quest started in 2007 and it pulled from many resources to get at the Truth, to accomplish this effort, all religious thought and ideologies were set aside in order to take a renewed mind approach as per Romans 12:1-2.

Christ within You is Truth, post number 2412

     We are on our quest to find the Truth and so far we have through the words of Truth, Jesus as our first Christ made known, our example like none other. Picking back up in John 17 where we left off at verse 20 and remember that it is Jesus speaking not only to the disciples but all of humanity. I will add part of a daily thought from Pastor Hoekstra at the close of this, with some editing.

Disciple in the World:

John 17:20-24, 25-26 'Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe Me through their words; That they all may be one; as You, Father, art in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us (Gen. 1:26-28): that the world may believe that You (You the image of) have sent Me (the likeness of). And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; That they may be one, even as We are One: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and love them, as You love Me. Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am; That they may behold My glory, which You give Me: for You love Me even before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world has not known You: but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent Me. I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith You love Me may be in them, and I in them.'

Answered Prayer Promised in Jesus Name:
'Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John14:13-14)
We who belong to the Lord have a great invitation to thoroughly express our hearts to Him in humble, dependent prayer. "Trust Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him" (Psa. 62:8). We also have a great need to be speaking to Him. 'Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). We also have great promises of answered prayer. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . . If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.' 

     At this juncture, the scriptures are vital in our daily prayer life. God's word directs us in praying according to the will of GOD. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). As we are abiding in (dependency upon) Christ, we will be wanting His word to have full sway in our lives. As we are consistently getting into His word, the scriptures are shaping our thinking and our desiring. Consequently, we ask what the Lord is teaching us to desire. In that beautiful biblical setting, He promises to give us whatever we ask.
All of this describes the essence of praying in the name of Jesus. Praying in Jesus name is not merely a formula of words with which to conclude our prayers. Whether we verbalize that phrase or not, it is about praying as Jesus would pray (always concerned about the Will of our and His Father). It is about praying based on all that the word teaches about the person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Those who pray this way enjoy the certainty of these great promises of answered prayer, and they see much glory brought to GOD. 'Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.'

Christ within You, post number 2411

     Being a Seeker of Truth is what we're to be. John 8:31-32 with 2Timothy reveals this, this taken from the daily thought of Pastor Hoekstra, in my e-Sword studies program where we find this: "Truth to Set Us Free from the Enemy's Bondage: 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free . . . that they may know the Truth . . . and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him. (John 8:31-32 and 2Timothy 2:25-26)
As followers of Jesus Christ, it is so imperative that we abide in His word. We are called to live in the word of the Lord that we might know His Truth. Then, as we are embracing God's Truth, we are impacted by its liberating power. "The Truth shall make you free." Religious and political Bondage's are the enemy of all mankind, they are of one fundamental area where people need, require spiritual liberation.

Now to look at our subject area of John 17 as we finished chapter 16 in post 2410. Jesus is speaking and I shall carry this through verse 19 as follows:

The High Priestly Prayer:
John 17:1-5, 6-19  These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,'Father, the hour is come; glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You: As You have given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. This is life eternal, that they might know You the only true GOD, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify You Me with Your own self with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 

I have manifested Your name to the men which You give Me out of the world: Yours they were, and You gave these to Me; and they have kept Your word. Now they know that all things whatsoever You have given Me are of You. For I have given to them the words which You gave Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from You, and they have believed that You did send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which You have given Me; For they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come again to You. Holy Father, keep through Your own name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are One. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name: those that You give Me I keep, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

 Disciples in the World:
John 17:13-19  Now come I to You; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world hates them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I Sanctify them through Your Truth: Your word is Truth. As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also be sanctified through Your Truth.' 

Now I have not yet finished my course with this post,as there remains verses20 through 26 ahead of us.

Christ within You, post number 2410

 As a Seeker of Truth some things just seem to drop into ones lap while others require some digging to find the answer to. Today's area is John 16 verses 25 through I guess 33.

I Have Overcome the World:

John 16:25 Picking up on Jesus' speaking again: 'These things have I spoken to you in proverbs: but the time is coming, when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, for I shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day you shall ask in My name: and I say not, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father Himself loves you, because you love Me, and have believed that I came out from GOD. I came from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.' His disciples said to him, "Lo, now speak You plainly, and speak no longer by proverb (figure of speech). Now are we sure that You know all things, and need not that any man should ask You (doubt You): by this we believe that You came from GOD."
Jesus answered them, 'Do you now believe? Behold, the hour comes, yes, is now come, that you shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.'

Our next post will pick up with chapter 17 with Jesus' high priestly prey. To this I will add; 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . . . that they may know the truth . . . and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him. (John 8:31-32 and 2Timothy 2:25-26)