THE BELIEVER PART 4. FOREVER WITH GOD IN CHRIST

THE BELIEVER PART 4. FOREVER WITH GOD IN CHRIST

The man in Christ has put on a new identity. This identity is Christ.  When a man put faith  in what Jesus has done, he becomes a new man. He is not just a normal man. Something happens to him that makes him to be another man. 

2 Corinthians 5: 17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The man in Christ is a new creature. This new creature is defined by who he is. So far in the series, we have seen the believer as the one  who has Christ  as his identity. We have also seen that the believer is blessed beyond curses and is forever righteous in Christ. Click the links to read PART ONE , PART TWO AND PART THREE of the Believer if you have not read them. 

In this part, we will be looking at what it means for the believer to have God with Him. How close is the man in Christ to God ? What are the implications of having God with you ? How is God with the believer? These and many more will be addressed. We must realise that truth of God’s word has nothing to do with our feelings. God is greater than our feelings. So the truths we will be looking at is bigger than what we feel. Let’s see John 3. 

John 3

1  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. note

4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and ofthe Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Nicodemus came to Jesus and said no man can do this miracle except God be with him. He would have heard/seen of  the miracle Jesus did in John 2 in that Jesus turned water into wine. Nicodemus been knowledgeable in the scriptures said no man can do these things except God be with him. Reading through the old testament, we see that all it takes for a man to do miracles was to have God be with him. Jesus replied him by referring to a greater experience; the new birth experience. This is because when a man is born again, he does not have God with him the way people like Elijah, Abraham  and the rests old testament people had God. Jesus told Nicodemus except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God speaks of the leadership of God. It is not just a physical  place. Note, it was a reply to what Nicodemus said about men doing miracles because they have God with them. Jesus in His reply made reference to a greater experience which is the New birth. This time God will not only be with men but will be in them.  Jesus said the kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU. Luke 17: 21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. So God's dominion  is within us via THE SPIRIT OF GOD. God is reigning on earth now via His spirit in us. Romans 14: 17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Notice the emphasis in the HOLY SPIRIT. It is righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost. So, the kingdom of God is in having the spirit. It is this same spirit that is a down payment for the immortal bodies we will receive when Jesus returns. We know that there is a physical kingdom  which is the new heaven and the new earth when we shall put on immortal bodies. That is certain already base on what Christ has done. When he shall appear from within us we shall be like him having immortal bodies.  We  partake of God’s kingdom when we receive His spirit at New birth. 

What of verse 5 when Jesus said born of water and the spirit? Some persons have used this verse to explain baptism. The truth is that when you are baptised you are not born of water.  You are not fish or sea creatures that hail from  water.  To be baptised in water is to be immersed into, it is different from being born from.  Baptism is  not a qualification for salvation. It doesn’t make any one less or more saved. So, what  did Jesus meant by born of water and spirit? The and used there is serving a conjunctive function of joining two things that are same. It means except a man  be born of water that is  the spirit.  How do we know this is correct ? Note the next verse says that which is born of spirit is spirit not that which is born of water is water. The statement was a reply to Nicodemus question of HOW CAN THIS THING BE? It was explaining new birth experience. At New birth, the Holy ghost comes into us and merges with our  dead spirit.  This causes the dead spirit to come a love and forever become one with God. The book of John is fond of using water to speak of new birth experience which is receiving the spirit.  This is because of the Jews understanding of water as used for purification and religious practices. Let's see some examples. 

John 4: 14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

Here Jesus speaks of life which is His spirit at New birth as water. Jesus told the woman at the well that He can give her the water that she won’t be tasty again.

John 7 

37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Jesus spoke of drinking and it was in reference to the spirit.  When it says out of His belly, it is  talking of the belly of Jesus. He is the one that gives True spirit not man. He baptises with the Holy ghost. We know the man in Christ manifests the spirit.  But this verse is not talking of manifesting spirit but the giving/receiving of the spirit. Notice verse 39 says this spoke he of the spirit.  See 1 Peter 2:23.(  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.)

From these references we could say that John 3 using  water and spirit is not strange . It explains the new birth experience. So when a man beliefs in Jesus he becomes the dwelling place of God. God is so close to the believer that He lives in him. It is not God beside him but God in him. God forever stuck with the believer.  

Let's see John 14.

John 14

1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Jesus told his disciples that they should not be troubled but to believe in God by believing in Him. The next verse says IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS. The question is can a mansion be in a house ? Even logically it doesn’t follow if Jesus was speaking of physical mansion. When something doesn’t make sense physically you know it is figurative. Many persons have used this verse to teach that Jesus is building house for us in heaven. Jesus said in my father’s House THERE ARE, not there would be. This means as at the time Jesus was speaking they are already. He even added if it wasn’t so I would have told you. Some persons now out of visions from overfeeding and wrong doctrine sleeps and wake to tell us it is not so. We have to desist from such. 

Now what did Jesus means by in my father's house are many mansions? 

When Jesus said in my father's house are many mansions, he meant there are many abode and  dwelling . The word mansion just means abode, dwelling which is not necessarily a physical dwelling. So, Jesus was saying in my father's house are many rooms, abode, and it is the abode He goes to prepare in his death, burial and resurrection. Now many can come to God via what Jesus has done. The same word mansion Greek word *monē*  was translated as abode in verse 23 of John 14

23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

So, it is only possible to have God in us by what Jesus has done.  Jesus going to prepare a place was foretelling of his death. Now, we have access to have God in us. This is what the old guys like Abraham, Elijah, and the rests couldn’t have despite that they believed.  The sin problem that Adam brought had to be dealt with hence the coming and death  of Jesus.

John 14

16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you

Jesus told His disciples that He will send them a comforter that will abide with them forever.  NOTICE IT IS FOREVER. In the same vein, Jesus said I will come to you in verse 18. The spirit is Christ in us. He is called the Holy ghost to set Him apart from other spirit. Hence, it is the spirit  of Christ in us. So HOW IS GOD WITH US ? BY HIS SPIRIT IN US. WHERE IS JESUS NOW ? IN HEAVEN. WHICH HEAVEN ? THE HEAVEN THAT THE BELIEVER DWELLS.  The man in Christ is the heaven that  Jesus is. He is God’s dwelling place.  

Romans 8

9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Paul in comparing the man in Christ with the unbeliever who is in the flesh opines that the spirit is in us hence we are always in the spirit. 

GOD BEING IN YOU IS NOT BASED ON WHAT YOU DO

Many times people feel that God do go on transfer from them some times  because of their actions. This is not true. When Jesus said He will live in you forever , He didn’t attach a condition. Man of God what if I am in the very act of sin does God not leave ? NO. HE DOESN'T.  HE promised He will never leave. It was Him that promised not you. He knew you will make those mistakes , He still choose to live in you forever. WHAT AN AMAZING GOD WE SERVE. 

Hebrews 13: 5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Let your lifestyle be without greed. You should be content with God in you. It was God that said it. He WILL NEVER AND NEVER LEAVE YOU. See how Paul corrected the Corinthian church. This church were given to fornication. Paul told them 

1 Corinthians 6

17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Observe it says KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE not that  ye were. Religion will say you were but seized to be in the act. Paul told them it is because you are God’s shrine that YOU SHOULD NOT COMMIT FORNICATION. So we must know that what we do doesn't change who we are in Christ. Rather who we are should regulate what we do. We flee from sin because we are God’s possession. We are His dwelling place.  Glory to God.

THE IMPLICATIONS  OF HAVING GOD WITH US IN CHRIST

Take some minutes out and ponder on this . Do you know that in life , you see yourself as big or small because of who you have with you?  Have you ever thought of how big God is ? Now, that big mighty God has finally found a dwelling place which is you.  This is enough to call for a party. Just knowing that you have God with you. You should be content with Him. There are several implications of having God with you. Some of them are:

1.All your hunger and taste to have God is satisfied. Many times, we follow feelings and emotions. We feel like God is not really in us maybe because of our experiences. God is greater than our feelings. You ought to KNOW not feel that YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF CHRIST. There are many desires embalmed in ignorance and unbelief. Desires like wanting more of God. The word of God says YOU HAVE ALL OF HIM. You are saying you want more of God.  Are you sure you are saved? All of God is in you through God’s  spirit. You should acknowledge that. You should so know that than you know your gender. The only more you can desire is in knowledge and manifestations. It is to know more of how all of God is in you. This will cause God to be seen more in your experiences. 

Colossians 2 :

  9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

Ephesians 2

22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

You are a habitation of God through His spirit. You are His permanent house address. He has swore never to leave you.

2.You are full of supernatural abilities because you have God in you. That which is known as the gifts of the spirit are your natural abilities because you have the spirit. The abilities belong to the spirit.  Question is where is the spirit?  In you the believer. This makes you to  be licenced to show the spirit  via these abilities. You can heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, work miracles, know things and do all manner of supernatural things simply because you have the spirit. For more on these please click to  read Licensed to manifest God.

3.You have been saved from HELL AND CONDEMNATION. It is impossible for the man in Christ to perish in hell.  Let's see some scriptures. 

John 5

24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 

You see this. When a man believes in Jesus, he receives eternal life. He has passed from condemnation to life . See also John 3:16-18. It is impossible for you to perish in Christ. We should be excited when we hear of Jesus coming not scared. NOTICE, it didn’t say those that do not do  bad have passed from death to life. It says those that BELIEVE.  In as much as it is good to be moral it is not a qualification to have life. To say the man in Christ will go to hell  is to say Christ will go to hell . Don’t you understand? YOU ARE FOREVER STUCK WITH GOD once you believe. This is why you  are forgiven and justified. It is because of the life you have received.

4.You are in control of the affairs of this earth. Having God in you puts you at an edge over the activities of the world. It doesn’t just guarantee you heaven. It gives you power to take charge on earth. 

Psalm 115

15  Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

God made the heavens and the earth for man. He gave man control over the earth. Many times we run away from this responsibility of taking charge. We are waiting for God when God has given us His power to take charge on this earth. This is reflected in how we are not given to exercising authority. For example, the Believer waiting for God to cast out devils when he has all the powers to drive that thing called the devil. The believer waiting for God to preach and get men saved.  Let this settle in your heart, GOD HAS DONE ALL HE NEEDS TO DO BY GIVING US HIS SPIRIT.  Now out of His love God placed us in a family and gave us men as gifts. All of these are to enable us take charge.  Here lies the essence of prayer to change things and to make the  power of God that you have available in your world.

In summary,  dear believer,  in all that you do, never forget that your greatest gift and advantage on earth and after life is having God in you. 

BY EMEKE MODESTY OBIAZIKWOR 

www.emekemodesty.com