Becoming One

1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (ESV Strong's)

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Christ has become one with us in our flesh. We have become one with Him in Spirit. The day will come when we become like Him in flesh and Spirit. 

In Your Light

Psalms 36:9 (ESV Strong's)

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

His light enables us to see the light, else we would be content with darkness. He gives us life that we might find it and live. 

Shall Possess It

Numbers 14:20-24 (ESV Strong's)

20 Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. 21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Though they had witnessed the glory of the Lord and freed from slavery in Egypt by the Lord, the Israelites disobeyed His voice in the wilderness. They were pardoned by the Lord, but would fail the to reach the promised glory land. They died in that wilderness. Caleb was of a different spirit and followed the Lord to the end. He would come to possess his inheritance of the promised land. 

Perseverance to the end is the main theme of the letters to the churches in Revelation. Those who believe in Christ and overcome the world will inherit the blessings of heaven. This is what the Spirit says when we listen. 

One Name

Matthew 28:18-19 (ESV Strong's)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

There is one name by which one can be saved. That is the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, for they are one. 

His Will

The will of God for your life is to be made in His image. 

Did Not Benefit Them

Hebrews 4:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.

One aspect of fearing the Lord is the fear of not reaching Him. Once we see the light and blessings that lie ahead, we should be eager and intent on making that journey. The Holy Spirit will lead the way, just as Christ has shown us the way. Both are sent to us to bring us to the Father. 

The experience of the Israelites in the wilderness serves as example that faith is needed to complete the journey. Beginning the journey is an awesome and wonderful thing. Finishing the journey is the awesome and wonderful thing that is beyond our imagination. 

The key to our salvation is faith. It is placing our faith in Christ and keeping that faith. It was predetermined before the foundation of the world that we would come to Him by having faith in His power and grace. That we would choose Him. 

On The Top Of The Mountain

Numbers 20:24-28 (ESV Strong's)

24 “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Not every mountaintop experience with the Lord turns out well. Our obedience and trust in Him will determine how we will be judged. 

Hebrews 10:31 (ESV Strong's)

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The Sovereign Choice

1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV Strong's)

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

To love God is the sovereign choice of mankind. The sovereign God has given us that choice. 

Falling Away

Hebrews 3:12-19 (ESV Strong's)

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

It seems that we can believe, yet lose our way due to unbelief. Sin ranges from the blatant rebellion that lies within us all to a subtle deception that appears innocent in the beginning but whose fruit becomes bitter yet needful. Our confidence and faith comes from the Lord, but we must do our part in receiving and nurturing the gifts of Christ. 

The Israelites who witnessed the wonder and power of Almighty God soon forgot what they had seen and would fall in their wilderness journey to rise no more. They would never receive the promised land that was their inheritance because they lost sight of who they were and where they were going. 

The same temptations are common to all mankind and we can become distracted and hardened by the deceitfulness of sin so that we fall short of our destination and destiny. 

Astray In Their Heart

Hebrews 3:7-11 (ESV Strong's)

T7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works for forty years.

10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

11 As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

Our time on earth is a time of testing. Will we find ourselves? Will we find God and follow Him? Will we find life in life? This is the journey of each person in the wilderness of the world. If we overcome the world as Jesus did, we will find His rest. 

The world is filled with good and bad, and the knowledge of good and evil. God is our reference and measure to know the difference. To forgo God is to wander astray on this earth, for He is the only way to find His rest, which is only found in our hearts and is the world to overcome. 

God’s House

Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Those who have answered His call and are in Jesus have become the house of God. He is the builder and cornerstone of the dwelling place of God, which is the body of Christ. 

Moses built the tabernacle of the tent of meeting according to the pattern given to Him from heaven. He was faithful in God’s house as a servant. It was but a shadow of that which was to come. 

Jesus builds the living temple filled with His everlasting life of those who are faithful in God’s house as His sons. He is the heavenly tabernacle manifest on the earth. 

The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than all who dwell on the earth. It is a heavenly calling and a work of God. 

Your Portion

Numbers 18:20 (NASB Strong's)

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.

We in the Bride of Christ are a royal priesthood whose inheritance is the Lord, for we are sons of the living God. 

Down Or Up?

Jesus chose to die on the cross for us. He could have come down at any time, but He didn’t. 

We can choose to die to self on the cross for Him. We can come down at any time, but will we?

He persevered the cross as He looked beyond the cross to the glory to come. 

Those who overcome the world of self will go up to join Him in the glory of the Father. 

My Rest

Hebrews 3:7-11 (ESV Strong's)

T7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works for forty years.

10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

11 As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

Our time on earth is a time of testing. Will we find ourselves? Will we find God and follow Him? Will we find life in life? This is the journey of each person in the wilderness of the world. If we overcome the world as Jesus did, we will find His rest. 

The world is filled with good and bad, and the knowledge of good and evil. God is our reference and measure to know the difference. To forgo God is to wander astray on this earth, for He is the only way to find His rest, which is only found in our hearts and is the world to overcome. 

The Mystery Disclosed

Romans 16:25-27 (ESV Strong's)

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

The mystery of God is Christ Jesus. He has been revealed in the flesh of His Son and is being revealed in the flesh of those who place their faith in Him and are being perfected in obedience to God. Our flesh is in union with Him. He became one of us and we are becoming one of Him. 

It is to His glory and for His glory that God chooses to reveal Himself in Jesus Christ. 

A Heavenly Calling

Hebrews 3:1-6 (ESV Strong's)

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Those who have answered His call and are in Jesus have become the house of God. He is the builder and cornerstone of the dwelling place of God, which is the body of Christ. 

Moses built the tabernacle of the tent of meeting according to the pattern given to Him from heaven. He was faithful in God’s house as a servant. It was but a shadow of that which was to come. 

Jesus builds the living temple filled with His everlasting life of those who are faithful in God’s house as His sons. He is the heavenly tabernacle manifest on the earth. 

The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than all who dwell on the earth. It is a heavenly calling and a work of God. 

In Every Respect

Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV Strong's)

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Flesh and Spirit meet and are joined in the body of Jesus. Our flesh and His Spirit become one in the body of Christ. He became like us in every respect so we might become like Him in every respect. This is where heaven and earth become one, which is the finished work of God in creation. 

To Call Them Brothers

Hebrews 2:10-13 (ESV Strong's)

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

We who follow Jesus are made perfect in yielding to the cross.  We follow by giving our life for His, as He gave His life for ours. 

Just as Jesus was born from above as the Son of Man through the Holy Spirit, so are we reborn through the Spirit from above as sons of God. 

A Little While Lower

Hebrews 2:5-9 (ESV Strong's)

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,

or the son of man, that you care for him?

7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

The manifestation of God in creation is through the Holy Spirit and Christ Jesus His Son. The light and life of God filled the heavens. In the fullness of time they would enter the darkness of the natural earth and the dust of man. 

The Holy Spirit would enter into the waters of mankind through an ordinary young woman named Mary and the Son of God would become the Son of Man. He took our flesh so that we might take His Spirit and transform our flesh. This takes place when we become one with Him in the body of Christ. We are betrothed to him and become the Bride of Christ. 

Jesus returned to heaven in the glorified flesh of man and returned to earth as the Holy Spirit to glorify the flesh of all those who will believe and follow Him. 

John 14:15-17 (ESV Strong's)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 16:7 (ESV Strong's)

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

He has been crowned “with glory and honor,” and now waits for us to join Him on His throne and receive the crown of life. 

Lest We Drift Away

Hebrews 2:1-4 (ESV Strong's) 

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The good news of the gospel is that salvation can be ours if we stay the course in following Jesus. If we drift away in neglect of what we have heard, we face the danger of running aground on the rocks and reefs of the earth that lurk just beneath the surface of the waters of man. It is a dark and unpredictable sea and the ship that bears us to our salvation might run aground, break up and sink, drifting to the bottom below. 

Many bore witness to the life and miracles of Christ Jesus. They listened to His words of the news of salvation and believed. Today we listen to the Holy Spirit from within, bearing witness to our spirits with the power and truth of God. 

The Difference

When we meet Jesus at the foot of His cross, we find forgiveness and salvation. This is the body of Christ. 

To become one with Him we must join Him on that cross. This is the Bride of Christ. 

Just as Eve was fashioned from a small part of Adam’s body, the Bride of Christ will come from a small part of the body of Christ. 

There is a difference. Just as we choose to save us, we can choose to join Him in His life. 

Lord Of Both

Romans 14:9 (ESV Strong's)

For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Christ has walked as the Son of Man and the Son of God. He has made the way for us to be both as well. He is Lord of the dead and living, for He has experienced both. 

He chose death so we might choose life. 

The Fulfilling

Romans 13:10 (ESV Strong's)

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Jesus fulfilled the Law. When we take His image for our own, we are made in the image of God. We will be known for our love because we are born from God.