Christ In You -- The Hope Of Glory! - Part 2101

Interestingly, throughout history, the Lord has always orchestrated a thread of believers who remain steadfast in the apostolic doctrine, as firmly established at the beginning of the New Testament church on the day of Pentecost. That is, these understood from the scriptures that this same Jesus whom ye [we] have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-47; Hebrews 6:1-2) And similarly, when we are water baptized in the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus, we are filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

Indeed, Christ in you is the hope of glory.

This truth historically -- that Christ was central to the early Friends experience. The Friends identified that the Light now dwelling within them was indeed the Christ. We know this from writings by William Penn who was imprisoned for his anti-trinitarian statements. The sandy foundation was shaken and the accusations against him being that he denied the divinity of Christ. His answer to this charge he titled, "Innocence with her open face" which he penned whilst in prison.

Herein, he writes, "That which I am credibly informed to be the greatest reason for my imprisonment, and that sound of blasphemy, which has pierced my ears of late is my denying the divinity of Christ, and divesting Him of His eternal Godhead, which busybodies have suggested to those in authority, as maliciously insinuated amongst the people; wherefore I beseech you to be impartial and considerate, in the perusal of my vindication, which being in the fear of the Almighty God, and in the simplicity of scripture dialect, presented now to you ...

I hope my innocence will appear beyond a scruple. The Proverb, which, as most will agree, intend Christ as Saviour when speaking in this manner -- "By Me Kings reign, and princes decree justice; I (wisdom) lead in the midst of the paths of judgement; I was set up from everlasting ..." -- to which Paul’s words allude, "Unto them which are called [we preach] Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God; from whence I conclude Christ the Saviour to be God; for otherwise God would not be Himself; since if Christ be distinct from God and yet is declared as being God’s power and wisdom; but inasmuch as it is impossible God’s power and wisdom should be distinct or divided from Himself, it reasonably follows, that Christ who is the power and wisdom of God, is not distinct from God, but entirely that very same God."

"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

Jesus was the Word made flesh. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. But after He -- Jesus -- was taken up, He through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3) It is at this point that the Son of man returns to His rightful place -- the Lord God Almighty -- who is and was and is to come.

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ!" (Titus 2:13)

Jesus is the mystery of the Godhead displayed for one and all to behold, the same God who declared peace and good will to all. Now the King of kings and Lord of lords, there is no other Saviour beside Him. This is in fact the greatest love story ever told, when the same God who created us willingly showed His mercy and kindness -- sufficiently so -- to include the cross in His plan of salvation. Yes, Jesus -- Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8)

He is the Great I AM. As Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58)

But don't get caught up in the man-made religious teachings that attempt to divide God into three persons, even when the scripture clearly states -- God is One. God our Saviour. Remember the first commandment (the same in both the old and the new) -- "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord!" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)

There is an account written by the original author of this blog -- Bill McKendrick -- that may be edifying to readers.  I have included this below. Be blessed, standing continually in the offering plate.

"Looking back, I recall when the trinitarians and the oneness believers fellowshipped together. the young trinitarians decided to separate themselves from the oneness believers. They were successful in their endeavour and they also secured all properties, only one edifice survived the fray. It was in this remaining edifice that I fearfully entered, fearfully I say, for I was young in Christ and older trinitarians could not answer my questions concerning doctrines that were clearly defined in the Scripture as the teaching of the holy Spirit through the Apostles. Their only remedy was to lay fear.

Then, I and my young family drove across the city to this single remaining edifice. In this place, a very elderly brother was teaching Sunday school. My memory of the message is that he taught about the Beatitudes. My memory of the place is when the peace of God that passes all understanding rested upon me. I was privileged to sit at the feet of one who had frequented the 1904 revival. Love all them that love the truth, for God is Love and God’s Word is Truth. Remember too that if any man or angel preach any other gospel to you Paul declares that they are accursed."