In

In Father, In Jesus, In Holy Spirit, In Me, In You

John 14:20 - Jesus' words: "In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you".

Some years ago, I started to see the many Bible verses which talked about God being in me, and me being in God. I do not remember preachers or teachers bringing this forward .. just a quiet recognition from my own Bible reading.

I always thought that Adam and Eve had a really good thing going in the very early part of the Creation, you know, before the Fall. They lived in a glorious garden in what I am sure was a really great marriage, (after all, it was God Himself who put them together). They helped God to name all the "kinds" He had created and all the many, many species within each "kind", and even got to walk and talk with God, in the garden at the end of each day! Such a lovely thought .. hanging out with God almighty, the God of all creation! (My wife, Trish, is a brilliant and enthusiastic gardener so we live in a place nearly as gorgeous as that first couple. We also walk and talk with God! How wonderful that is!)

But this being "in" that I found in my Bible, is so much more than Adam's and Eve's experience. A really radical concept. It is to do with our spirit being the main part of us, greater than our soul or our body. I see it in a similar way as when I add milk and honey to my mug of tea. I now have a brew where one cannot distinguish the different inputs but, instead, have something new and better and sweeter too. Recently I was told that I am a sweet guy! Thank you Lord! People used to point out how disenchanted, angry and inflexible I was. Definitely I am much better, in every way, with Jesus added to me, and Father God, and Holy Spirit! How rich my spirit has become, and my life.

I have long understood that Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection made it possible for God and humankind to be fully re-united for the first time since the Fall (Ephesians 1:9-10), and that this is where all humankind are headed (2 Peter 3:9,13), perhaps not in my lifetime but certainly I will see it from my place in Heaven.

After the Fall, God cast Adam and Eve out from the Garden of Eden, they became outcasts (a very sad word), and He even posted "cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life", to prevent their return (Genesis 3:23-24). Then Jesus cast Himself in, with us on Earth, to rescue, redeem and save us. He cast Himself in - what an amazing and costly thing for God to do - yet He did do it as the only way to pay for all our sin and redeem us for Himself. We know Him as Jesus our Messiah.

Surely all this in-ness is a part of the "every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3), part of the "glorious inheritance" (Ephesians 1:18) that is promised for all Jesus' people.

Here are some of the very clear, and very striking Bible verses I have added to my "In Father, In Son" list on my laptop.

Jesus' words:

"I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive; for it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you" (John 14:16-17).

"Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father" (John 10:37-38).

"In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (John 14:20).

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me" (John 15:4); "abide" means "live"; our position is that we live in Jesus!

"My prayer is .. that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me" (John 17:20-21).

And Paul's words:

" .. you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). 

So this is where our righteousness comes from, and our wisdom and our growing sanctification, it is all Jesus! we don't have to rely on ourselves - praise you Lord!

"Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified).

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11).

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (Colossians 2:6-7).

As I ponder these many Scripture verses I am overwhelmed by how I am so very beloved of God - God chose me, a disinterested sinner whom He had created in my mother's womb all those years ago. For each one of us, this was a sovereign choosing, we had no virtue and played no part in it. Then God showered us with gifts beyond price:

•  We were "chosen" in Christ before the Creation of the World (Ephesians 1:4)

•  It was God's pleasure to "predestine us for adoption to sonship" (so, whether we are a man or a woman we are fully included in God's inheritance, just like the first-born son in Bible times) "through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:4-5)

•  We are saved by Jesus' work, we were redeemed and washed clean "through His blood" (Ephesians 1:7;  Hebrews 13:12)

•  We are established by God in Christ ".. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

•  We are blessed, in Christ, with "every spiritual blessing" in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3); "every", this means that there are no spiritual blessing that we do not have!

This "in" study is very exciting! All the blessings were simply given to us, some were given before we were born ..

But there is something Jesus wants us to do, in fact, He commands it. Once we belong to Him, Jesus desires that we are baptised in the Holy Spirit.

John Baptist told the people about this and it was reported in all four Gospels, and in Jesus' words in Acts:

"John answered them all, 'I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire'" (Luke 3:16; see also Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Acts 1:5,8).

“Baptise" means "to immerse", so we are immersed in water for our believers' baptism and then are immersed in Holy Spirit to be, in a sense, completed - filled with Holy Spirit and fire (Acts 2:4).

Three of the Old Testament prophets declared this future pouring out of God's Spirit on His people (Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 39:29, Joel 2:28-29). From this we know that this was eternally planned.

When it was coming to the time when Jesus would ascend to Heaven He told His disciples not to act yet, but to wait until: ".. you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Acts chapter 2 concludes with a description of how these new Christians were able to live; they were a tightly grouped, strong, generous, sharing and loving community; all their needs were met; they prayed and worshiped and were filled with joy.

When the Pilgrims first arrived in America they appear to have followed this powerful and free way of living with Jesus at the centre. For years there was no sickness and no fighting among them, until they started to claim land and other things as their own. It seems that humankind still has a lot to learn, and a lot of growing to do in Jesus.

This baptism in the Holy Spirit brings "fire" and "power" into our lives .. it enables us to "do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:6,10), to live closely with Jesus and with our Christian brothers and sisters and to be "Christ's ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20) in the world.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes after our salvation, our justification and redemption, when all the amazing and glorious "in" things are added to us and we are brought into Jesus' family and Kingdom. Sometimes this "second baptism" happens immediately and for others it happens later. Please read Acts chapter 2; Jesus had left His followers and ascended to Heaven. The confused, frightened, bereft disciples were completely transformed by this baptism. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, became a giant for Jesus and immediately gave a powerful sermon. Then in Acts chapter 3 he and John, with one word and Jesus' power, healed "a man who was lame from birth" (Acts 3:1-10). The whole book of Acts is one of the greatest adventure stories I have ever read!

Baptism in Holy Spirit completes us in Jesus. All we need then is to cleave to Jesus (John 6:29, Acts 11:23 Amplified), share our love, allow time in Scripture, fellowship and prayer, so we can continually grow, and to persevere when things seem not to be going well, and be grateful (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

" God has chosen to make known .. the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Amen.

PS: The words "in Christ" appear 86 times in the NIV New Testament. During my childhood it was understood that to "eighty-six" a person was to absolutely put them out of the game. Whilst working on this piece it occurred to me that we Christians have yet another great tool to put Satan in his place, we can "eighty-six" him with Scripture, reminding him how clearly the Bible reinforces our "in Christ" position, AND that Satan has much less power and influence than he tries to tell us that he has! This is what Jesus did, in the wilderness, when Satan tempted Him (See Matthew 4, Mark 1 and Luke 4). (If my children were reading this, they may well say "ha ha" at this point!)

Bless you, bless us all. Amen

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Praise Jesus. Amen.

All

Packed Full Of Superlatives

Lately, while I have been reading my Bible I have been surprised by the number of superlatives it contains, you know, words which cannot be bigger, words like: eternal, every, and its derivatives: everyone, everything, everywhere, also: always, boundless, full and fullness, and perhaps the biggest: "all" - "all" means "without exception". Years ago we regularly had a preacher who would say "all" means "all", and then give us the look!

In my favourite Bible, above Colossians Chapter 1, I have written ALL in big letters and marked verses 15 to 20 as being special; they are so wonderfully descriptive of my hero brother and Lord, Jesus.

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:15-20). (The word "all" appears six times in these few verses; Jesus surely is the "all" of God, and of all the Universe!)

This is the same Jesus who came to the Earth as a human to "destroy the works of the evil one" (1 John 3:8), and redeem all humanity from their sins. Here was God, incarnate on the Earth, Creator, Saviour and Head. I see His humility as a big part of the "all" that He is. Glorious God humbled even to death on a cross for us, fallen humanity, (Philippians 2:8). The cross was the worst death the ancient Roman Empire could devise. Our Jesus submitted Himself to it for me, and for you.

No-one else in all of history could do what Jesus has done, praise God. "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

What a mighty God we serve. It's not surprising that Paul rejoices that he is able to preach the "boundless riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). And later in the same book to declare that our mutual ministries, our sharing in Jesus' work on the Earth, will grow each and every one of us "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). These are among my favourite Bible verses, just packed full of superlatives!

Early in our Christian walk my wife, Trish (who indeed was Christian but I was not there yet), and I were taught about Spiritual Gifts, and that Christian life includes serving our Lord God, and also other Christians in the church and the people of the world. I found this very daunting. It seemed like a very big ask. I have heard others say the same thing adding things like "God will want me to marry an ugly girl and go live in some drought ridden, threadbare, corrupted country thousands of miles from anywhere; and besides, what can I do? What skills do I have as a preacher or missionary? I'll likely just get in the way". Then the person will smile and begin to tell about the miracles, and how beautiful and (nearly) perfect his wife is, and the delightful children they have been given and are privileged to raise together, and the exciting places they have been to, and the amazing people they have met and worked with and helped, and how Jesus has always, (another superlative), gone before!

Spiritual gifts enable us to do God's work despite the many shortcomings of our abilities and skills, our patience and endurance, our wealth or experience, our knowledge of Scripture and Christian doctrine.

Paul's letters to the Christians at Corinth address his concern over the rampant immorality associated with the paganism, (godlessness), of the people there. This had begun to infect the Corinthian church with factionalism, self-promotion, greed, faithlessness, idolatrous worship, and sexual licentiousness.

Then, in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Paul details to us some of the ways we become "a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) when we are "born again" (1 Peter 1:23). At the moment of salvation we are brought into the person of Jesus and become part of His family and of the church on Earth. Scripture refers to the church as the ecclesia or gathering-of-the-people (not as an institution or building!) and also as "the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12), and "Christ's body". There are many parts to a human body and the parts each serve the purpose or function for which they were designed and included; in the same way, in Jesus’ Earthly body each and every one of us will have a unique role:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for [each of] us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Likewise each of us is Jesus' earthly body today (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus' human body is in Heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, ruling and reigning. We are to be His physical manifestation here on the Earth. His Holy Spirit fills us and binds with our now awakened human spirit to teach, guide and help us.

Much of Paul's purpose in writing 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 was to show us how Jesus' mighty power can still be used to do His work here. He gives us gifts, by His Spirit. These are called "spiritual gifts", (in some translations "spirituals") (1 Corinthians 12:1), because they are given by Holy Spirit and add to our spiritual abilities. Paul makes it plain that he wants us to understand the kinds of gifts Jesus gives, and their purpose and their power. 

All the gifts are to help people. 

They enable us, as week and powerless as we may be, to do the "greater works" Jesus promised (John 5:20).

There are many kinds of gifts:

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4).

The gifts enable us, in Jesus, to serve people:

"and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:5).

Every Christian is included in this gifting and enabled to hear from God, to pray, speak, act, heal and help others:

"and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone" (1 Corinthians 12:6, note the superlatives).

The variety of gifts are given so that, through the whole body of Christ, all Jesus' work on Earth can be accomplished:

"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good"  (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Here are some of the gifts:

"To one there is given through the [Holy] Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues (spiritual languages), and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

God decides who will receive the different kinds of gifting. But remember, by prayer we can ask Jesus for anything; so if your heart desires a particular gift, ask God, perhaps you will be able to bless many people: "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

For a long time I desired the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). I asked and I asked, meanwhile I kept looking at the spiritual landscape around me, and the spiritual content of my pondering and prayers, trying to see what Jesus saw. Then I found that I could see; Jesus had given me this precious gift. Thank you Lord.

 God always looks at our heart (1 Samuel 16:7), but He also loves our obedience (Deuteronomy 5:33), Psalm 119:96 says "To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless" .. "boundless", with no limit, (another superlative)!

One of the great joys of this time of Bible reading has been all my surprises, the number of passages I've read many times before and suddenly discover that in His Word, right here, Jesus inspired His human author to use the maximum word, the superlative, to really nail down what He wanted to say.

I've touched on just a few examples in this piece, but there are a great many. We can enjoy our Bible, after all it is another face of Jesus who is the "Word of God" (John 1:1). Another face: He is every aspect of the "full", (another superlative), "armour of God" (Ephesians 6:10-20); "finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes".

And, Jesus is fully the content of the 13th Chapter of 1st Corinthians. This is known as the "love" chapter and is sandwiched between the two chapters which teach us about the spiritual gifts. If you read this through, and where you see "love", read "Jesus", you may get a new and fuller understanding of love. I did and I was humbled; for many years I've thought of "love" as being a "doing" word, a verb, and not so much an emotion. Now I see it as more all-encompassing and reflective of  what Jesus is doing in me by His Spirit (Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 4:13, 1 John 4:16).

"He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;  he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:9-12).

From The Beginning

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). "After six days the Creation was completed. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31). "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array" (Genesis 2:1).

So at the very beginning of time, and matter, and life, "all" was "very good", I think that God likes superlatives; He does not want to do things half-hearted or in a lackadaisical way. He is our God of the superlatives and full of lovely surprises.

And Into The Future

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Yes! Amen!

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Who Am I?

Mystery Part 1: Who Am I?

My wife, Trish, came home from her school with a page bearing the Four Big Questions asked by billions of people over the past thousands of years:

1.       Who am I? The world's answer: A clever monkey

2.       Where did I come from? The world's answer: Out of the primordial slime

3.       Why am I here? The world's answer: No reason

4.       Where am I going? Or, what will happen to me when I die? The world's answer: Nothing, that is the end of you.

Our civilization is thousands of years old, yet the world has no satisfying answers for any of these questions. As I read what Trish had brought home I felt very saddened; it is no wonder that so many people feel trapped and are unfulfilled, restless and depressed if they believe these answers. "Surely", they seem to be saying, "the beauty of love, family, friendship, and our world and the universe, and all the vast symbiosis we see among the millions of species on our planet, it all must have some meaning!"

In the Old Testament Job's friend asks him a rhetorical question:  "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" (Job 11:7). Zophar knew that the answers to these two questions were "no" and "no".

Well, I am delighted to report that when we meet Jesus and enter His Kingdom, these Big Four mysteries of life receive cheering answers!

God's Word tells us from Paul: "My goal is that they, [God's people], may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3).

It seems clear to me that Paul is saying that if we know Jesus, we also know the whole of the content, or secret, of the mystery which has hung over humankind since the Fall - (Adam and Eve began their lives in intimate and loving relationship with God, they would not have been troubled by these Four Big Questions).

Jesus is more than God's Son, He is God. It was Jesus who humbled Himself to come to Earth as a human baby, then boy, then man, to redeem humankind who were a fallen race (Genesis 3) and were living a fallen life (John 3:16). Jesus bought us back for His beloved Father (Galatians 3:13), so that Father God might have many children, (Hebrews 2:10), children just like the human Jesus (Genesis 1:26), and so that the Father could give His Son a bride (Revelation 19:7, 21:9).

If Zophar were to ask his questions today, in these New Covenant times, the answers would be "yes" and "yes" in Jesus!

"[Jesus] replied, 'Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you .. '" (Matthew 13:11).       

".. we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began". A literal translation of this verse might read "We declare the divine wisdom hidden in a mystery" (1 Corinthians 2:7). "Mystery" is such a strong Christian word; it is God who has all the answers!

"these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Then we realise again how blessed we are to be New Covenant believers in Jesus; we are "born again" (John 3:3), we are made a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17),  and we receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) when we believe in Jesus, repent of our sins and come to Him!

So it is no surprise that a Christian's life is full of good things ..

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Question 1: Who am I?

Who am I? Who are you? We are both children of God because we were uniquely created by Him. Some people know that this is true and, sadly, some do not.

You are precious, and were hand made by Jesus to be you! He wants you to be saved from your sins and transgressions so that you can become His brother or sister, and His friend and co-worker.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame'" (Romans 10:9-11).

.. "will not be put to shame" .. Isn't that a mighty promise? (See Romans 8:1).

Identity is a subject much discussed in Western countries today. Many people are not sure who they are, or even what they are. I believe that this is part of the reason for the epidemic our cultures are experiencing in depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. The good news is that Jesus gives us a profound identity and grows us so we can experience life to the full.

 

"The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you - they are full of the Spirit and life" (John 6:63).

God has always known that one day you and I would be born, He planned it as carefully as He planned and implemented the Creation: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us for adoption to sonship [and daughter-hood] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:4-5). You are here because Jesus wants you to actively be His brother or sister and to bring glory to God!

There is an aspect of identity that is only true of unbelievers. God has made each of us, but each of us are born in a fallen world and set apart from God (Isaiah 59:2). This affects our identity. Non-believers are cut off from the source and meaning of life (Romans 11:36) and from the fullness of the spiritual world; often they are not sure who they are. 

Some deny God’s existence despite the fact every person "knows" in their inner self that God is real: "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20). I have read where people have said "God is not real, and I hate Him". Others say "God you are not there but I miss you". 

We are made to share with God and to reflect who He is. But, being born into a fallen world, we start life "dead in [our] sins" and "by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:1-3). Is there some way to be redeemed, to get past our guilt and sin? Yes, Jesus came to save us!

Scriptural Truth: Who I Am

•  I am God's child (John 1:12)

•  I am protected by God (Luke 10:19)

•  I am a branch of the true vine, joined to Jesus (John 15:4-5)

•  I am Jesus' friend (John 15:15)

•  I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)

•  I am assured all things work together for good for me (Romans 8:28)

•  I am free from any charge against me (Romans 8:31-34)

•  I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9)

•  I am God's temple (1 Corinthians 3: 16)

•  I am united with the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:17)

•  I am bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

•  I am established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21)

•  I am filled with God's Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22)

•  I am free (Galatians 5:1)

•  I am a saint, consecrated and set apart for God (Ephesians 1:1)

•  I am God's adopted child (Ephesians 1:5)

•  I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

•  I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

•  I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Profound .. No wonder we know we are blessed!

Amen.

 

The next article on PsalmsOfJohn.com entitled "Mystery: Why? Where From? Where To?" discusses the other three of these Big Four Questions ..

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Why? Where From? Where To?

Mystery Part 2: Why? Where From? Where To?

** The article above on PsalmsOfJohn.com entitled "Mystery Part 1: Who Am I?" discusses the first of these Big Four Questions **

My wife, Trish, came home from her school with a page bearing the Four Big Questions asked by billions of people over the past thousands of years:

1.       Who am I? The world's answer: A clever monkey

2.       Where did I come from? The world's answer: Out of the primordial slime

3.       Why am I here? The world's answer: No reason

4.       What will happen to me when I die? Where am I going? The world's answer: Nothing, that is the end of you.

Our civilization is thousands of years old, yet the world has no satisfying answers for any of these questions.

As I read what Trish had brought home I felt very saddened; it is no wonder that so many feel trapped and are unsatisfied, restless and depressed if they believe these answers. "Surely", they seem to be saying, "the beauty of love, family, friendship, and our world and universe, and the vast symbiosis we see among the millions of species on our planet, it all must have some meaning!"

Well, I am delighted to report that when we meet Jesus and enter His Kingdom, these Big Four mysteries of life receive cheering answers!

".. we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began" (1 Corinthians 2:7).

“[Jesus] replied, 'Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you .. '" (Matthew 13:11).       

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Question 2: Why Am I Here?

On the sixth day of the Creation God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.  So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27).

So one purpose of our being here is to "rule". This does not mean to ravish and take whatever we want, but to rule, to steward, to care for and nurture. Wilderness which is managed (and often also protected), by humans is usually much more productive and more balanced than if people let nature simply take its course.

In Genesis 2:7 we read that "God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life". Our species began with the breath of God, and His desire is to remain in intimate contact and share His love with us.

We are the only creature with a spirit, a part of us that is from "the beginning" and never dies. Our spirit is our absolute essence. God's Spirit can bond with our unique spirit and then we become spiritually alive in Him, this may sound mysterious but it is very real; The Bible is very clear. Also, I have heard hundreds of testimonies from others who agree with my understanding.

We also have a soul; this is our personality, our will and our emotions. Some other creatures seem also to have a soul as we do, dogs, cats, cows, horses and whales come to my mind, I'm sure you can suggest many more; (I have seen humpback whales playing in the ocean, an awesome sight).

We are also the only creature with language, when Genesis says that God created "a living being", the original Hebrew text can be translated as "a speaking spirit" (Genesis 2:7). Stephen Fry, the well known commentator and comedian says that every human child is "a miracle" because of our singular ability to acquire vocabulary and grammar from those around us, whatever the language or culture, and to express ourselves, not in pre-formed, or standard sentences like a computer, but uniquely in our own individual style! Indeed this is miraculous!

So you can see that humankind and monkeys have very little in common. We may share some DNA with the apes, but we also similarly share with many other species. Apes do not have a spirit. To link us with the ape species is like saying that a Governor's palace is the same as a city water treatment plant because they were built from the same kinds of bricks and tiles!

Humanity, or homo sapiens, is a completely separate species and always has been. Every species is a different "kind" (Genesis 1:12, 1:21, 1:24, 1:25, 6:20, 7:14), completely different. Every human was "made in the image and likeness of God" (Genesis 1:27, Colossians 3:9-10), we are the only such species, to me a very satisfying truth!

You were born for a purpose. God has created you for His glory and with great potential that He can use as you (and I) participate with Him in His work in the world. When He designed the Creation, you and I were included in His plans. Father God so loves Jesus that He wanted to have many children, you are one He chose and created to bring glory to Himself. Father God wanted to bring a bride to Jesus, He gave Him us, the church, as His bride, ultimately without "spot or wrinkle", a perfect bride for a perfect Husband! "to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27).

Jesus prayed: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world" (John 17:24). This prayer includes every Christian.

Scriptural Truth: Why I Am Here

•  I am the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)

•  I have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

•  I am Jesus' co-worker (Matthew 5:13-14)

•  I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)

•  I am a witness of Christ to the ends of the Earth (Acts 1:8)

•  I have been justified and have peace (Romans 5:1)

•  I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)

•  I have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

•  I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)

•  I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

•  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

•  I have been called that God may work in me to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

Question 3: Where Did I Come From?

Every human being came from God's love, and for His love. “God  is love” (1 John 4:8,16). He is where love comes from .. and compassion, generosity, altruism, empathy, even kindness. We see these qualities every day, and everywhere, and know that our lives, families, governments and cultures would totally collapse without them. (See Note 1).

In the hypothetical (imaginary) model of the world that the "non-Creation" scientists tell us about, none of these things could possibly exist as theirs is a design-less, meaningless, anarchic, accidental, dog-eat-dog, survival-of-the-fittest world. This doesn't sound very nice and I'm glad I don't have to live in it. But our world is mostly full of peace and beauty with lots of love and great food! Everywhere we see symbiosis, millions of species working together around the whole world! Very reassuring! Praise Jesus!

Trish and I have six grown children and four grandchildren. Our children came from Trish's and my love for one another; we (unknowingly) fitted in to God's plan that they should be born and grow "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) .. They are God's creations and were given to Trish and I to love and nurture. We are delighted and humbled and blessed by these great gifts. Every day our children are our joy!

Where do we come from? Primordial slime? There was no primordial slime. The possibility that life accidentally formed millions or billions of years ago has been discounted in many ways; there is no empirical (observed, seen, factual, actual, real, verifiable, first-hand) evidence of life forming accidentally. The proteins which have been manufactured in laboratories bear little in common with those found in life, and to make those found in living things, there are conflicts that to build one part of the protein molecule there will be so much heat or pressure, for example, that another completed part will be destroyed! I have pondered these things for many years and examined many arguments and now believe that one needs much greater faith to believe in primordial slime, or evolution, or millions and billions of years, than I have to believe the Word of God and His Creation narrative.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

Scriptural Truth: Where I Came From

•  I am born of God (John 1:13, 1 John 4:7)

•  My spirit came from Holy Spirit (John 3:6)

•  I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be completed in Jesus (Philippians 1:6)

•  I am a full citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20)

•  I was born through the Word of truth (James 1:18)

•  I am born again of imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:23).

Question 4: What will happen to me when I die? Or, where am I going?

God created our spirit for eternity. It was some years after I became Christian that I realised that my eternal life had already begun (Romans 6:23), that I am already a child of Father God, my Abba Daddy, and am a brother to Jesus my Saviour God and my Lord (Romans 8:17). None of this will change when my physical, earthly, body dies. Sure, my body will stop working and my human relationships will end. My family and friends will miss me and will grieve; I believe that I accept this as part of this life. I have lost family and friends and have grieved. But God will continue to love me, (and you), with an indestructible love, for ever.

In Jesus I am already in almost continuous worship and I rule and reign with Him at the right hand of Father God (1 Peter 2:5)! At the same time, here on planet Earth I face every-day troubles (John 16:33), and bigger troubles constantly, but I share in Jesus' work, I seek out ways I can help; I do my best to be obedient to Him, and will continue to do so!

Sometimes at meetings I get really excited and declare that we are "rocking with Jesus"; considering my generation and upbringing this is a huge affirmation! Other times can be a struggle, but it is never boring and never futile or a cause for despair. And I always move forward and always grow!

"as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

It is the whole purpose of the Creation that we become and eternally remain family and fellow workers with Father God, Jesus the Son, and Holy Spirit, Counsellor and Enabler; and that the Godhead and the Creation are reunited in Jesus. This is the good news!

Scriptural Truth: Where I Am Going

•  I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35,38-39)

•  I am [eternally] seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)

•  Jesus assures us that He is preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:2).

Simple but profound .. Such assurance .. When I die I will go "home" .. Praise Jesus.

Amen.

Favourite Bible Verses

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age'" (Matthew 28:18-20).

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:19-23). Totally awesome, right?

"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered'.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:34-39).

"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" (Joh 14:2).

Amen.

Note 1

The Godly qualities of Christian people ensure that our societies survive, that our poorest and least able to defend themselves have someone looking out for them. Of the more than 1,000,000 volunteers in Australia, most are Christian even though we are just a small proportion of all the population. Of all the financial giving in the entire world, records show that more than three quarters of the money comes from Christians! You will not hear this from your favourite TV channel, radio station, or newspaper, but it is true. Much Christian giving is anonymous, and much of it is sacrificial, it costs the giver and affects their lifestyle, it is not trivial.

This generosity hugely helps the worlds wheels turn where there are gaps or hiccups left by the governments and corporations.

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.