Greetings to all my readers around the world. If you are new to this site, I welcome you and we are so happy you could join us. I hope that your time with us will be one that is well invested. Basically, what this site is about is to make sense of life on a daily basis from the spiritual foundation of life, which sadly most humans have no clue, much less know its truth and benefits. I am not talking about religion as we know it with all its legalistic and hypnotizing rituals. This is about coming to terms with a part of our humanity that is real and has been passed over through ignorance and plain superstition. We have neglected this awesome truth to our own dire detriment. Whether you believe it, or not, does not change the fact that humans are spiritual beings. Incidentally, humans once believed the world was flat, but that did not alter the truth our earth is an orb and sphere. So, we are not just physical mortal beings like the animal kingdom, rather humanity was created by an all-knowing God who says He is Love by nature and substance and made us to be come like Him in His Love likeness. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 John 4:16)
In my posts, I have used the Bible as the basis for proving this claim that humans are basically spiritual beings. This claim is not just because I am a Christian, and granted I am, but crucially because it is the most reliable source humanity can have access and utilize outside of himself/herself to decipher the spiritual aspect of our humanity, which we would not otherwise have a clue about. You see, anything of a spiritual nature cannot be detected by the human senses, so it has to come by revelation through the human mind. The Bible is the source of that revelation.
I ask you to keep an open mind and view the Bible not as a Christian or Jewish book, but a guide for all humanity from God the Creator, irrespective of religious beliefs, culture, race, nationality, or from whatever station in life we embrace. Many of the issues we face together today as humans on the world stage are of a spiritual nature and underpinning. They are not just physical issues that can be explained away wholly by physical reasoning alone. Paul said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood (contending only with physical matters and human reasoning), but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this (present) darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God” (Eph.6:12-13). Yes, the human struggle for meaning and survival upon this planet earth has always been spiritual at its core and fabric.
Whether it is in time of peace or war, in circumstance of good or adversity, it is all driven by unseen spiritual forces working to contrive the mind, human energy and dynamics, in the spirit of Love and fear. This spiritual component is the underlying cause and motivator of human activity. And yes, even in our individual lives with our own families and loved ones, this spiritual component spares no one, and is the underlying determinant to the kind of life one lives. Once mankind acknowledges this basic truth about our humanity, we can begin to turn the corner for the better as far our common heritage and history and begin to face a future with hope and promise. So, it is my hope that as longtime readers and visitors that you keep an inquisitive and open mind. I write to you not as Christian (though I am), but as one human being to another.
You can read about the many subjects covered since 2013 by going to the blog monthly index at right of the website, and clicking on the topic displayed therein. In recent months I have touched upon the undermentioned subjects in a methodical way I have called, the “Triune Love”* or “Triune Life.”* You can go to the list below to get the title of each post:
- “LIVING GOD’S LOVE DAY-BY-DAY” (read this post at: http://bulamanriver.net/16467)
- “FREEDOM…LIVING FREE DAY-BY-DAY” (go to: http://bulamanriver.net/16956)
- “THE NEW COVENANT – LIVING GOD’S “LOVE-COVENANT” DAY-BY-DAY” (go to: http://bulamanriver.net/17484)
- “LIVING UNDER GOD’S REGERATION DAY-BY-DAY” (go to: http://bulamanriver.net/17978)
With that said, this month I will cover a topic that is related to and goes hand-in-hand with the subject of regeneration I covered last month. The topic this month is the “Surrendered Life.” This dovetails well with regeneration. Both these acts reflect God’s redemptive activity in humanity. Without the surrendered life, God’s redemptive activity in regenerating humanity (salvation) will not be possible. The surrendered life is like the lifeblood of the life of regeneration we saw in last month’s discussion. For that matter, the surrendered life is what energizes and activates all the topics we have covered so far as itemized in the four subjects shown above. Every step or ascent in the four-step process in each activity shown above is driven and wrought through the surrendered life.
What is the surrendered life? Essentially, it means we have a pliable heart and attitude toward God so as to allow Him to have His way of Love with us. And God’s way is defined with one word, LOVE! The Bible states categorically, “God is Love” (1 John 4:16). Because God is Love, it is impossible for Him to conjure any evil intent for us because it would be against His nature to do so. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declares His Love for humanity with these promising words, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you” (Jer.29:11-12). Yes, it is to our Loving God and Father that we surrender our lives to His care and providence.
Why is the surrendered life necessary for human salvation? It is necessary because the fallen Adamic Human from whom we all are descended is born with this rebellious heart which cannot submit its will to the Loving will of God. Rebellion was inherited from Satan when Adam fell in Eden to his temptation and sin. The surrendered life empowered by God’s Spirit helps change the status quo and defeat the power which energizes sin – rebellion! Because of this fallen Adamic Humanity inherited from the first Adam, God sent His Son to bring the new humanity in Jesus, the Immanuel Humanity.***
In Jesus’ new humanity, a person is made to live the surrendered life. The surrendered human life was inaugurated by Jesus Himself when He appeared as the Immanuel (“God with us”) to carry out His Father’s purpose for Him, “I’m here to do Your will, O God, the way it’s described in your Book” (Heb.10:7, The Message). Yes, that is how Jesus ushered the surrendered life for humanity with the words, “I am here to do Your will, O God.” To do God’s will and live the surrendered life is to live a life of miraculous proportion, and be part of and become recipient in the divine sanctuary. (1 Cor.3:16)
Unfortunately, for many people the word ‘surrender’ conveys a negative connotation and meaning. For some it indicates the negative portrayal of “giving up” one’s rights and freedoms, like the freedom of expression or worship. Many people who live in nations that have authoritarian systems of governance see surrender as a form of subjugation where the people’s rights are trampled upon. They don’t have the freedom to choose how to live. However, we are not speaking about surrender in the context of human relationships, but the spiritual relationship with the Triune God who said, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for” (Jer.29:11). Yes, truly the Godly surrendered life is the doorway to the life of true freedom. The enemy (Satan) wants you to surrender to him and live a life of incarceration, pain, suffering, and ultimately death. That is the difference about surrender, it is about who we surrender our lives to – the spirit of fear (devil) or Love (God)?
In the spiritual sense, to live by God’s will and grace (Love) is what the surrendered life is all about. It means “owning up,” not “giving up.” “Owning up” means we acknowledge the human shortcoming and inadequacy at doing God’s will in human life because of the rebellious spirit in the fallen Adamic Human inherited from the first Adam. The surrendered life is not about “giving up” one’s freedom. “Owning up” is about true freedom and means mankind can now live the new reborn human person, the surrendered life, through the finished work of Christ our Savior, the second Adam and Immanuel Human.*** Paul said it like this, “God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who Love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored” (Rom.8:29, The Message). Yes, the surrendered life is a life conformed to the image of God’s Son, Jesus – humanity restored! Jesus introduced mankind to the new gloriously magnificent humanity that is conformed to the divine image of Love.
Jesus is the firstborn Immanuel Human, the only human who blazed the trail for humanity by living the surrendered life for us. (Rom.8:29; Eph.1:11) Jesus said this about the whole objective of His life, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). In another instance, He said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Jesus inaugurated the surrendered life, and through Him humans are made to live a life surrendered where the will of our Loving Father and Creator can be done in mankind.
Through the Triune Life and Love*, humanity is made to live the surrendered life. Living the Triune Life* means to live the three-step process called the ascents. The three-steps process depict the surrendered life humans live through the Tri-Personal Being of God. The first ascent represents the human relationship with the Holy Spirit. The second ascent depicts our relationship with the Son of God, the resurrected and glorified Jesus. And the third ascent portray the human relationship with our heavenly Father. These three ascents automatically dovetail into the fourth ascent called the manifestation. In this case, the manifestation is the surrendered life made reality in human life.
We will see how every aspect of the surrendered life is framed within the Tri-Personal Godhead. The three ascents which lead to the surrendered life are as follows: first, the ‘fruits of Love;’ second, ‘responsibility;’ third, ‘judgment.’ Remember, the eternal and inherent trinitarian Love principle: the act of One is the act of Three, and the act of Three is the act of One. Through the Tri-Personal Being of God, the divine Love moves in an inward, outward, and upward motion in humanity. Thus, whenever a person lives the Triune Life*, the surrendered life in the divine Love-life is manifested in humanity. Let us begin:
First Ascent: Fruits of Love – Holy Spirit. The 1st Ascent reveals the human relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. The ascent speaks of the Fruits of Love because the Spirit is the manifestation of the divine Love in humans. Paul said, “God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom.5:5). Now, we see the connection between the Love God has deposited in the human heart and the surrendered life. So, the very essence of the surrendered life is the expression of God’s Love in human life. The Spirit is the power of God’s Love in humans which makes the surrendered life possible. Love is not some vague, indefinable, mystical, substance we imagine comes upon and fill us with good impulses and conviction, no! Love’s reality is seen and experienced in the fruits which identify the divine Love, hence, the ascent’s title: “Fruits of Love!” So, the fruits of Love and the surrendered life go hand-in-hand. In other words, the surrendered life has a face, an appearance, by which it is identified: the Fruits of Love! This raises the obvious question, what does the fruits of Love mean? What does Love look like? This is vital since the Love-fruit is the key to living the surrendered life?
Paul tells us clearly in the Bible what the Spirit’s Love-fruits are. 1 Corinthians 13 is the most recognizable place in the Bible to start, besides others. God’s Love-fruits flows peaceably in the Spirit’s “living waters” who occupies humans in the surrendered life. (John 7:38-39; 1 Cor.6:19) These fruits, which Paul reveal to us are: *the fruit of patience, *the fruit of kindness, *the fruit of contentedness, *the fruit of modesty (unboastful), *the fruit of humility, *the fruit of honor, *the fruit of unselfishness, *the fruit of calmness and dignity, *the fruit of forgiveness and compassion, *the fruit of delighting in good and shunning evil, *the fruit of tolerance, *the fruit of responsibility, *the fruit of enduring hope, *the fruit of steadfast perseverance, *the fruit of joy, *the fruit of peace, *the fruit of goodness, *the fruit of faith, *the fruit of gentleness, *the fruit of self-control, *the fruit of zeal and spiritual fervor, *the fruit of friendship, *the fruit of sharing and generosity, *the fruit of prayerfulness, *the fruit of hospitality, etc. (1 Cor.13; also Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 12:9-21). These Love-fruits are not part of God’s Person like accessories. No, they tell us who God IS, for God is Love. (1 John 4:8)
The Love-fruits of the Spirit reveals to humanity the broad spectrum of God’s Loving nature. Living by the principles of Love means to live by the fruits of the Spirit (Love/Rom.5:5). The fruits reveal God’s holy emotions He displays as He relates within His Tri-Personal Being and with humanity through His Spirit. Essentially, the Love-fruits tell us how God’s mind and thought-process works, and how our human minds ought to and must be inclined as we live in Jesus’ new redeemed humanity,’ “Immanuel humanity”*** in every way, shape, and form. In the Bible God shows him displaying these fruits in His relationship with humanity. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever” (read all of Psa.136). Speaking of God’s compassion and faithfulness, the Bible states, “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lam.3:23). Humans ought to pray thus, “O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble” (Isa.33:2). Then, “Lord, You are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in Love and faithfulness” (Psa.86:15). His profound Love for humanity is revealed by John, “For God so Loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). How awesome and beautiful is God’s Love for humanity.
God’s purpose in the surrendered life is so humans may become Love as God is Love. (1 John 4:8, 16) To make this possible God has made a promise to give humans His very Love-nature through the presence of the Holy Spirit. (Act.1:4; John 16:7; Rom.5:5) Through Jesus God promises, “And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luk.24:49). Jesus further added, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). By saying the “Father will send the Spirit in My Name,” it means the Spirit comes through the mediation of Jesus as Savior and High Priest. (Heb.2:17; 3:1; 6:20)
Essence of Relationship: The Holy Spirit is the life and power of God who makes possible the divine life of Love in mankind. The apostle Peter gives us the way the Spirit is made to come and indwell humans and make the surrendered life in God’s Love possible. Peter told the people who inquired, “What shall we do?”: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act.2:37-38). And this brings us to the next ascent…
Second Ascent: Responsibility – Jesus. The 2nd Ascent reveals the human relationship with God through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The Ascent speaks of responsibility. What does responsibility mean in the relationship between Jesus and humanity and the surrendered life? Firstly, it means that Jesus came as the Immanuel, the “God-with-us” human, or the Immanuel Human, for the purpose of taking our fallen humanity, and rescuing mankind from sin and death. (Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23; John 3:18; Rom.6:23) So, Jesus is responsible for human salvation as the Savior and Mediator of mankind. Through Jesus, God the Father removes the curse of eternal death and substitute it with the promise of immortality. (John 3:16-18; 3:36; Rom.5:12) In other words, Jesus has taken responsibility for humanity by living the surrendered life in our place so we can do the same. Paul said this, “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Cor.5:15). Further he affirmed this, “He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom.4:25; also Isa.53:5; Rom.5:8; 2 Cor.5:21).
Secondly, by cleansing and saving humanity from the sin-condition, in the same breadth He opens the way for the Father to send His Spirit (1st Ascent) to enter and make human life into the very temple of God where His nature and Love is manifested, and in that…the surrendered life. Jesus said, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7, NASB; 14:26). So, Jesus is responsible for opening the door for the Spirit to enter human life. Jesus said, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (Spirit/Love)” (John 10:9). Paul explains what Jesus’ responsibility does, “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor.3:16, BSB). So, Jesus is responsible for turning humanity into a temple where the Spirit empowers the surrendered life so God can dwell in humans through His Spirit.
Third, Jesus is responsible for the “new birth” humanity undergoes so humans can become children of the divine who are “Love-beings” through the indwelling of the Spirit (Love), like God is Love. By dying upon His cross, Jesus took our fallen Adamic Humanity from Adam and put it to death, so the body of sin will no longer rule over humanity and human life. Through Jesus’ resurrection three days later, humans are given the new birth in the glorified Immanuel Humanity*** of Jesus. The spirit of rebellion and sin that was nailed to the cross is now replaced with God’s Spirit of Love and divine life making the surrendered life possible. Listen to how God imputes His Son’s mediatory work as Savior and High Priest to bring about this new birth. Paul articulates this miraculous and most fascinating work of Love of the Father, to the Galatians, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, the life I now live in this earthly body, I live by faith of the Son of God, who Loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20). The Bible makes clear about the rebellious sinful self who was crucified on Jesus’ cross and no longer live, and the reborn new Loving self in the Spirit who manifests Jesus’ new surrendered humanity.
So, we see how God imputes the death of His Son upon humans so that we too are now dead to the fallen Adamic human, but alive in Jesus’ reborn Immanuel Humanity*** through His resurrection. Only Jesus’ Immanuel Humanity*** alive and living in a person can live the divine surrendered life. Jesus affirmed this new birth we are given as a gift from the Father, when He said, “Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom” (John 3:3, MSG). Jesus repeats this amazing truth, “Unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5, RSV). This new birth in the Spirit brings to life Jesus’ Immanuel Humanity.*** Immanuel means Jesus’ “God with us” humanity who makes the surrendered life in the divine will possible. (Matt.1:23)
Fourth, Jesus took responsibility for humanity by being the first human to live this reborn Immanuel Humanity*** who was a complete Love-Being like God His Father is Love. (1 John 4:8; Rom.8:29). The Bibles says Jesus life of Love in this way, “Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with Him” (Act.10:38, MSG). Today, every person who receives Jesus as Savior, God imputes Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension upon them, thus initiating the new birth into the surrendered life.
This is Jesus’ responsibility – to Personify the divine Love in each human by living and walking the surrendered life of Love. Through Jesus’ new humanity in the human person can Love the Father as He Loves humanity, and to extend the Love relationship to fellow humans. Remember, responsibility is not about you trying to do something for the Lord, but it is about letting the Lord living in us in His redeemed Immanuel Humanity*** to live the surrendered life.
Essence of Relationship: From the foregoing we see the essence of responsibility undertaken by Jesus on behalf of humanity to bring about the surrendered life: Jesus cleanses humanity from all sin thus opening the door for the Father to freely give the Spirit and bring about the new birth in humans. Jesus has taken responsibility for the divine Love-life of God to become part of the new humanity in Jesus’ Immanuel Humanity. *Just as the Father imputes Jesus’ cross to forgive humanity from all sins, He similarly imputes Jesus’ now glorified life as High Priest in Heaven to continue saving us by living the surrendered life of Love through us in the Spirit’s power. (Heb.2:17; 3:1; 6:20)
Jesus’ surrendered life through His self-sacrificial work now brings humanity to the Father of humanity in the 3rd Ascent…
Third Ascent, Judgment – Father. The 3rd Ascent depicts the human relationship with God the Father made possible through the mediation of the Son and the Spirit. (Rom.8:34, 26). The Father’s role in the surrendered life is Judgment! What is Judgment? What does it mean, and what has it to do with the surrendered life?
Judgment is about making choices on how to live the earthly life. Life can be lived that’s surrendered to the will of God, or to the will of the enemy, rebellion against God. The Bible gives us advise about making good decisions, “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion” (Prov.3:21). We have heard that knowledge is power, but knowledge is powerless without wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to discern good knowledge from evil ones, and act upon what is good and reject evil. God says, “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength” (Prov.8:14). Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, said this, “For wisdom (discernment/judgment) is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her” (Pro.8:11, read all of cap.8). From the above we see that good judgment springs out from divine wisdom. God tells us “For the LORD gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (Prov.2:6,7). So, God gives humans the wisdom to make sound judgments in life. And the ultimate sound judgment a person can make is one where in every circumstance he/she is surrendering the human will to the divine will of God’s Love.
The Bible warns that God is especially displeased with people whose judgments are not surrendered to His Loving will, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Love)” (Rom.1:18-32, ESV). So, what has Godly wisdom to do with the surrendered life? The surrendered life is the result of the choices we make in life, and choices are either wise or unwise. True wisdom is when every situation in life is judged and carried out in relation to the surrender of the human will to God’s Loving will and purpose.
Paul speaks above of “all ungodliness and unrighteousness” which are the works of God’s adversary, the devil. Jesus speaks of God’s judgment as the end of Satan’s work of deception and the sin-condition he holds humanity incarcerated and slaves. Listen, “About judgment because the prince of this world (Satan) stands condemned” (John 16:11). Jesus was referring to three aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in humans. Jesus was laying out the promise of the Father to send the Holy Spirit. Then He lays out the three aspects of the work of God which the Spirit was responsible for carrying out. Jesus said, “Unless I go away, the Advocate (Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8-9)
So, the three aspects of the Spirit’s work is revealed to humanity and represent the true definition of sin. Second, He was to show the true meaning of righteousness. And third, He was to show humanity what judgment means. Then Jesus continues to explain what these three aspects mean, “About sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned” (John 16:8-11).
Each aspect dovetails into the next and finally tells us how judgment is made to connect with human reality. The first perspective is about sin. It says the Spirit will “prove the world to be in the wrong about sin” (John 16:8-9). It means God wants the world to know the true definition of sin. People have many definitions about sin, and the Spirit was sent to correct all our wrong notions about sin. The Spirit is teaching humans that sin is simply the human refusal, whether through ignorance or disbelief, to trust in the Savior God has provided for our redemption and forgiveness – Jesus the Messiah! (John 3:16-17) That is the meaning of what Jesus is conveying concerning role of the Spirit, “About sin, because people do not believe in Me” (John 16:9). Jesus said, “Unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins” (Rom.8:24). When it comes to human sin there is only one important thing that truly matters – the One who saves humanity from the punishment of sin and death – Jesus! Jesus was emphatic about His purpose in the Father’s plan of salvation for humanity, “Unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Satan will cause people to commit sin through temptation, deception, and lies, by living in the devil’s sin-condition. Humans will sin. Humans can have endless human legalistic definition of sin, but all that knowledge will not save us, except one that was revealed by John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Here, we see the Spirit’s work is to leading humans to their Savior Jesus, so they can be saved.
Concerning the second aspect, Jesus said, “About righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer” (John 16:10). Although people will no longer see Jesus physically, He remains present with them through the Spirit’ power and presence. Here, the Spirit teaches humanity about the truth about Jesus heredity in the Triune Godhead and His work of being the everlasting Mediator for humanity in heaven – Jesus said, “I am going to the Father.” Today, Jesus is mankind’s High Priest in heaven who forever mediates for humans so they may remain in God’s Loving presence forever. The Bible states, “Therefore, since we have such a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess… He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest whom we confess.” (Heb.4:14; 2:17; 3:17).
Jesus did not remain a dead Savior upon His cross, He was resurrected and ascended to His glorious High Priestly Office in heaven, so He became humanity’s eternal Savior and Mediator. Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain” (1 Cor.15:14). That’s to say, if Jesus was not raised from the dead, then there is no ascension to the Father in Heaven, and there is no High Priest. And if there is no High Priest, there is no everlasting mediation going on today for human salvation. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act.2:38). The work of Jesus as our eternal High Priest who eternally mediates for humanity before God the Father is the only definition of righteousness – the human righteous condition in Christ which opens the door for the Spirit to enter human life! Righteousness is not the human attempt to live righteously, but the mediation of Jesus on behalf of humanity in heaven today so we remain righteous before the Father.
What we see here is that through the work of the Holy Spirit of leading and bringing humanity to Jesus, and consecutively Jesus’ role of being the sacrificial Lamb, and the resurrected and ascended High Priest, humanity has been unified with the Father and the Triune Godhead forever. Mankind stands forever saved in the Loving arms of God as Father of all humanity. It is in this saved condition of mankind, that Jesus uttered these words, “About judgment, because the prince of this world (Satan) now stands condemned” (John 16:11). Here, we see the devil condemned because he no longer holds humanity incarcerated in his sin-condition. Satan’s adversarial stand with God was to prevent God’s plan in humans from coming to fruition. That plan was to make humanity God’s very own children. Now, mankind stands saved in Jesus’ righteous-condition in the Father’s arms. It means since the fulfillment of this three-pronged work of the Spirit, Jesus, and the Father, God’s judgment of condemnation is upon the devil, not humanity. Humanity has been saved, and continues to be saved in Jesus’ High Priestly Office and role in heaven, and the Spirit’s power upon earth.
Here, judgment is spoken in respect of the final judgment of condemnation. (John 16:9). If we do not receive Jesus, then Satan’s sin-condition stands as testimony for our condemnation before the Father. As long as humanity stand saved in Jesus’ righteous-condition, then human judgment is about redemption, not condemnation. John explained, “Whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemn already” (John 3:18). Also, we see here that judgment in the third ascent is assigned to the Father who has judged Satan the devil.
Essence of Relationship (salient feature): So, we see that the essence of the Father’s Judgment is that in His Son Jesus, humans has passed from eternal death to eternal life. (John 3:16) With the devil’s power over humanity through the sin-condition abrogated, the surrendered life in Love can be lived through our saved-condition in Christ. This takes us to the 4th Ascent…
Fourth Ascent, Manifestation of Surrendered Life – Humanity. So, we see in the three ascents in the Tri-Personal Being of God has led to the manifestation of the surrendered life in humanity. In other words, the surrendered life is the spontaneous outgrowth of living the Triune Love and Life.** So, I will highlight its inherent mechanics, this is the handiwork of God in human life. Humanly speaking, it is impossible for a person in his fallen state of existence (Adamic Humanity/first Adam) to surrender to the Spirit (ascent 1, Fruits of Love), whose role is to lead humans to, and personify Jesus’ glorified Immanuel Humanity*** in mankind. Jesus, in turn takes responsibility (ascent 2) for the divine Love through His mediation as Savior and High Priest so the Spirit’s power may rest in humanity continually.
The embodiment of the Jesus’ responsibility is characterized by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “We always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus also should be manifested in our body” (2 Cor.4:10). In other words, the demise of the fallen Adamic Humanity is an ongoing activity in the incarnate life of Christ, the Immanuel Human*** (second Adam). This redemptive activity of Jesus is ongoing in His High Priestly role carried out before the presence of Father (Ascent 3, Judgment), who in turn fills humanity with His divine wisdom and understanding through the Spirit who inspires sound judgment so discretion and integrity constitute the spiritual backbone of the person’s life.
Remember, there were only two humans that God had a direct hand at creating for human procreation and posterity upon earth – the first Adam and the second Adam, Jesus. (1 Cor.15:22, 45; Gen.1:27, 2:7; Luk.1:26-35) In my previous posts I have made reference to the two humans as, the Adamic Human and the Immanuel Human.*** The first Adam fell through disobedience at the hands of the devil’s temptation, while the second Adam (Jesus) defeated Satan in His temptation and saved humanity through His perfect sacrifice upon the cross. (Gen.3:1-6; Matt.4:1-12; Heb.2:9) (You can read about Jesus’ temptation at: http://bulamanriver.net/11339 )
As followers of Jesus by faith, humanity have been given a rebirth into Jesus’ Immanuel Humanity*** (second Adam) through the Holy Spirit. (John 3:5-7) Remember, the Spirit was responsible for the creation of the second Adam, and it is no different with believing humans. (Luk.1:26-35; John 3:5-7) This rebirth constitutes the rationale for why human life is now centered in the life of Jesus Christ. (Read my post on Jesus’ New Humanity at: http://bulamanriver.net/9718). So, when we speak of the ‘Christ-centered life’ it relates to a person’s spiritual new birth and subsequent lineage to the second Adam (Immanuel Human) by the Spirit’s power. (John 3:5-7; Eph.1:13-14) That being said, let me illuminate further upon Paul’s words we read earlier about Christ’s life in humans. (1 Cor.4:10). The surrendered life is a life of true victory where a human being is forever living vicariously in the present perfect glorified life of Jesus Christ (Immanuel Human/2nd Adam). (John 15:4; 1 John 2:6).
You see, there is a basic truth about human life we often overlook – that is, human life is imprisoned and subjugated to many human vulnerabilities due to our human mortality expressed through pain, suffering, and finally death. That’s to say, humans are conditioned to the curse of sin in the various forms of debilitation, attrition, and eventually death. And this can occur to anyone at a whim. Death can overtake human life in many ways and at any time. According to Worldmeters.info, 48,315,800 humans have died so far this year in the world today, and counting. Mankind’s vulnerability is further articulated in human pain, suffering, trials, and all forms of torment and affliction, physical, psychological, and spiritual. In addition, people die of natural causes as well. All these are reflections of one thing – the curse of the sin-condition of the devil, for the Bible states, “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23). Satan rules this world under the sin-condition for a short time until God’s appointed time. Ultimately, “The devil who deceived was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev.20:10; see also 2 Cor.4:4; 1 Pet.5:8; Rev.12:7-12; 20:1-2, 10) Yes, there we see the Bible’s revelation concerning the devil’s work of deception coming to its deserving end.
The surrendered life changes the status quo concerning human vulnerabilities where mankind has bypass death and enter the new life in Christ. (Rom.6:4; Col.3:1; 1 Cor.5:17; 1 Pet.1:3) In the surrendered life humans experience the reality of the exchanged life in Jesus’ glorified Immanuel Humanity.*** Now, Paul is saying that even though the sin-condition surrounds and instigates all our vulnerabilities with its negative consequences, they are copies of Jesus’ own passion when He took human sins and crucified them to His cross. But Jesus did not remain dead on His cross, He was resurrected and glorified our humanity in His now glorified Immanuel Humanity*** in the Spirit’s power. So, today humanity stands glorified in Jesus’ glorious place as the second Person of the Godhead and mankind’s eternal High Priest.
Therefore, just as He was raised from the dead by His resurrection, we too are given new life in Him. Paul asserts this truth, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor.5:17). That is the essential meaning of Jesus’ resurrection – that humanity can live a new life in the new humanity of Jesus. So, what does this new life in Christ do for humans? It mitigates all the repercussions of the sin-condition through Jesus’ now glorified Immanuel Human*** High Priestly role in heaven today. (Heb.4:14-16) Humanity live in Satan’s world that is bound in his sin-condition we cannot escape. But humans are not part of his sin-conditioning because of the new-birth in the Spirit’s Love-condition in Jesus’ Immanuel Humanity. (2 Cor.6:17; Rev.18:4)
Here, we are seeing the Father’s Love openly displayed in what He does. He is assigning and imputing Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension, upon mankind for human peace and salvation from the enemy’s sin-condition. (Gal.2:20; Rom.4:25; Rom.5:6, 8; Rom.6:5-10) Paul said, “Rather, be glad that you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when His glory is revealed” (1 Pet.4:13, GNT). God’s glory is revealed first by the presence of the Spirit and God’s Love to defeat sin. The Bible says, “Love (Spirit) covers a multitude of sins…for God is Love” (1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:16; Rom.5:5). He empowers us in His Spirit so we can be enveloped in His Love and joy so we be not discouraged by the world driven in the devil’s sin-condition, but to be lifted by our experiences through His Son. How wonderful to know that all our human responses, good and bad, are constantly mediated in Jesus High Priestly mediation so we can stand perfect in the Father’s presence. As Paul said “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phi.4:13).
The Bible gives us the reason why the surrendered life is vital to God our Father, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation” (2 Corinthians: 3-7). Paul concludes, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). God’s comfort stems from His inestimable grace and is something so inexplicable in its sublimity one cannot express in words.
Essence of Relationship (salient feature): Yes, the reason we live Christ-centered lives is because humans are reborn and clothed in His redeemed Immanuel Humanity, and living as He would live here and now in each of us and in this world. That is the essence of the surrendered life.
Friends, thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of God’s good news with you today. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Jesus as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of a gloriously amazing future for humanity. You can privately and quietly pray this prayer in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human Christ died for, not as a member of any religious sect or denomination: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised rebirth into Jesus’ Immanuel Humanity through Your Holy Spirit. May Your Love guide and protect me and my loved ones always, and bring us and all humanity into Your divine realm. I praise and thank You, Amen.” Welcome to the Life of Love in God’s eternal Triune Being and Family.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to write to me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.
Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love,* be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the Triune Love. Be strong in the Lord’s joy.
Kiang P. Lee (Your Servant In Christ)
*Triune Life or Triune Love: The “Triune Life” is a way of life. Its foundational tenet is based upon the Love of God, because Love is the nature of God. (1 John 4:8; Rom.5:5) I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the three-dimensional life, the human experience of God’s Love is always moving in an inward, outward, and upward motion where all the three Persons of the Godhead are in relational oneness with humanity. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2)
Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living (Loving),” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27) The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. You can read more at: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.
**Bulamanriver: To read the different facets of the life of the Bulamanriver, you may obtain a copy of my book, “Bula” Man-River, from Amazon.com; xulonpress.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online book stores. All proceeds will go towards furthering the work of Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.
Mission Statement: Read the Triune Life Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664
***Immanuel Humanity: There were only two humans that God had a direct hand at creating for human procreation and posterity upon earth – the first Adam and the second Adam, Jesus. (1 Cor.15:22, 45-47; Gen.1:27; 2:7; Luk.1:26-35) Jesus is the firstborn Immanuel Human (the second Adam). The Immanuel Human was introduced to mankind through Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The night Jesus was taken to be crucified, He shared what is commonly called the Last Supper with His disciples. More than just a mere supper, Jesus was about to make an astounding revelation and inaugurate a powerful ritual concerning the new birth into His new Immanuel Humanity. All of mankind has descended from the first fallen Adam and needs saving from the sin-condition by a rebirth through Jesus, the second Adam. (John 3:16-17; John 3:5-7; Act.2:38; John 6:53-58)
He introduced a divinely ordained ritual with two powerful emblems concerning the truth of the spiritual human rebirth. Commonly called the Communion in the Christian community today, the ritual consists of the two emblems of the bread and wine. In regard to the bread, the scriptures says, “Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body” (Matt.26:26). With respect to the wine, the passage says, “Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt.28:27-28). Earlier in His ministry, Jesus told His followers, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Jesus was speaking metaphorically concerning His new Immanuel Humanity. (Isa.7:14) This is not a physical rebirth but spiritual one as Jesus explained to Nicodemus. (John 3:4-6) Paul said, “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit” (1 Cor.15:45).
The bread represents Jesus’ body, and the wine symbolize His blood. The two emblems adds up to the whole new humanity of Jesus. Jesus continued in the passage quoted earlier, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:54-57). So, whenever humans take the emblems they are manifesting belief of conforming to the image of Jesus’ new glorious Immanuel Humanity. (Rom.8:29; Eph.1:5) Jesus said His followers were to keep this ritual until His return to earth at His second coming. (Matt.26:29, ISV). In other words, humanity is called to adopt Jesus’ new humanity in this human earthly life until His return when mankind will be given to inherit everlasting life in a glorious immortal body like His. (Rom.8:29; 1 Cor.15; 1 Thess.4:13-18)
Jesus unmistakably reveals that being baptized into God’s Spirit is what gives birth into Jesus’ new humanity, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:5-7). John the Baptist told the people this about Jesus, “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mar.1:8). At His baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was setting the example of repentance and forgiveness with the Spirit descending upon Him showing how a person is reborn. (Matt.3:16-17; Act.2:38; Eph.1:13-14) Jesus told his followers, “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (Spirit) to you” (John 16:7).
All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.
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