When Christ Who Is Our Life Shall Appear, Then Shall Ye Also Appear With Him In Glory - Part 2013

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)

When we begin to understand our life hid with Christ in God, there is a new beginning wherein our hearts and minds are renewed. Our faith journey becomes about seeking those things which are above because we have repented, and water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of JESUS. (Acts 2:36-38; Romans 6:3-4) And as a consequence, our consciences toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ is clear.

More specifically, please note that water baptism doth ALSO now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh) but the answer of a good conscience toward God -- by the resurrection of Jesus Christ who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God -- ALL angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him. (I Peter 3:21-22)

Isaiah often prophesied of the Lord God giving His right arm of salvation. That there is no other Saviour beside Him, and that there is only One God and He is Lord. After God was manifest in the flesh, and ascended into heaven, "until the day in which He was taken up, after that He THROUGH the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen ..." (Acts 1:2)

The Holy Ghost in the scriptures is New Testament -- and emerges when the dayspring from on high visits His people. We know the Holy Ghost signified the difference between the old and the new from Hebrews 9:8 which states: "the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:" (Hebrews 9:8)

This is why it is so important that we understand Luke 1:35 when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary so that she could bring forth a son. And the angel answered and said unto Mary, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

Because the Holy Ghost -- the power of the Highest decided "this day have I begotten Thee" that the holy thing which shall be born of Mary was going to be called the Son of God. This same Son that Peter (standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost) declared to be BOTH Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

Not a separate being/person from God but the same Spirit of the Lord God that moved upon the face of the waters in the beginning. The same Lord that is God and God that is Lord, as David the psalmist points out. This same God who willingly became our Saviour so that we might have abundant life in Him.

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)

To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19) God was manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) All the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. (Colossians 2:9)

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

This is why we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts, ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a good conscience that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (I Peter 3:16-22)

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him." (Colossians 3:18-22)

Thus, don't be misled by the antics of a modern day religious culture that does everything to speak about God without recognizing the Name that He gave to us specifically for this dispensation of grace -- that is, JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us!" (Matthew 1:21-23)

This is why we who believe in Jesus by faith are called to come out from among them. Similarly, we are to mortify our members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

When we realize how much it cost for God to bring us salvation, and the precious blood that He shed so that you and I could be clothed in His righteousness and mercy, and filled with His peace and joy, we willingly desire also to put on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another." Indeed, "if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

As well, "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him ... And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:1-25)

Note also that he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." (Colossians 3:26) For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but we do not have to stay there. Rather, repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48)

This is our calling when we focus our desires on the heavenly. Stand in the offering plate.