Continuing with Man being now One with GOD

I have come to an area of much discourse and discussion dealing with what is meant by this phrase "in Christ." I will begin this study with John chapter 15 because it was John who was the closest to the Lord Jesus and was an aid to Paul during his crusades and missionary trips. So John know much of the revelation of the LORD Christ that Paul received from Him. Because they shared of the same Holy Spirit within themselves. This will be done by breaking up this chapter into three areas, the first is where Jesus reveals Himself as being a Vine where believers are likened to being branches engrafted into Him, the second where Jesus speaks of the disciples relation to each other, the third is where He shares how the disciples relate to the world. There are many warnings that we as receivers and abiders in Christ need to take to heart. There is a Hebrew word used throughout scripture translated as "LORD" this is "Adoni" which means, Master, Father, Vine, husband and husbandmen and the anointed one, which today we know as Christ the Greek meaning of the Hebrew term "Messiah."


Abiding in Messiah- Christ,


John 15:1-11, 12-17, 18-25, 26-27 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (husbandmen). Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit HE takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit HE prunes, that it may bear more fruit (this reveals the loving care of the Father for His sons and daughters). Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. (Therefore continue to) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I (abide) in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. If you keep (this) My commandment, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but (for) I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father (now being) in My name, HE may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, for I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. For all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. For the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated Me without a cause.'

"But when the Helper comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning."


1John 2:3-6 "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandment. Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandment (this being the law of truth, love and faith which are operating in grace and grace is the person of Christ) is a liar, and the truth is not in him, for whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: for whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked."


1John 2:25-27, 28-29 'This is the promise that He made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. For the anointing (Christ is this anointing) that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. For as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it (Christ) has taught (teaches) you, abide in Him.

For now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him."


1John 3:4-10 "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, for in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him nor knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."


2John 1:7-11 "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is a deceiver and antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. For everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in His teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."

Continuing with Man being now One with GOD

Since the great reformation man has been in transformation that brings assistance from GOD to live again the life of GOD as recorded in Genesis 2. This action is all on GODs side and depends on our becoming receptive of His Spirit, Christ as revealed to the disciples of Jesus. As He revealed the Father within Himself (Christ) to them with the name of the Father which He Himself carried being the Christ or Messiah of promise. Because within Him are all the promises fulfilled from beginning to the end. Now with all of this said and revealed I want to look at Our Nearness to the Father or put another way Our Divine Nearness, as in being One with Him in Christ. Just as the son of man, the second Adam, Jesus was, for this was and is His vary plan and purpose for coming to bring to man the means to connection in an unbreakable bond. Where the former bond of the old dead Adamic way is broken by death in the spilling of mans water and blood with GOD's life force within it though defiled by the flesh the external part of man. Keeping in mind that Jesus Himself was not defiled as man, for He resided in the flesh and flesh is just flesh after all. For He was lead of the Spirit to the wilderness where the Holy Spirit took position of Him in the Divine nature that lead Him for the next three and a half years of His ministry. In accord with Psalm 2 and Daniel 9 with Revelation 4 forward. It is no more than a tent of covering of the spirit (the firey sin nature of gross darkness or the new nature wherein the law of truth faith light and love become our nature in abundance of life) within it. Now some general references to Our Nearness.


Nearness:


Psalm 16:7-11 "I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."


Psalm 34:15-18 and 119:151 "The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

 Qoph.
Psalm 119:145-152 "With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I call to You; save me, that I may observe Your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promises. Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O LORD, according to Your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your law. For You are ever near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true. Long have I known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever."


Psalm 145:18-21 and Isaiah 50:8 "The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear (honor reverence and revere) Him; He also hears their cry and saves (gives His salvation to) them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He (as Christ) will destroy (for the denial of Christ). My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless His holy name (Christ in Jesus) forever and ever."
Isaiah 50:4-11 "The LORD GOD (Christ, and so it is throughout this chapter as it reveals the transformation) has given Me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens Me; He awakens My ear to hear as those who are taught. The LORD GOD (from here on Christ is speaking of the son of man Emmanuel - Jesus who is to come) has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave My back to those who strike, and My cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not My face from disgrace and spitting. For the LORD GOD helps Me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates Me is near. Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near to Me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; who will declare Me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His servant (Christ in Jesus)? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD (Christ in Jesus) and rely on His God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."


Jeremiah 23:23-24 "Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD (here is Christ speaking), and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven (Divine Spirit) and (the Divine Spirit in the flesh made of) earth? declares the LORD."


Acts 17:22-31 "Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being LORD of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is HE served by human hands, as though HE needed anything, since HE Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.  And HE made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek GOD, and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet HE is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In Him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed His offspring.' Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now HE commands all people everywhere to repent, because HE has fixed a day on which HE (as Christ) will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom HE has appointed (this being Jesus in Christ); and of this HE has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."

Next time the LORD willing I will look at Our Abiding in Christ which means His abiding in us where we are One, again.