The Bible speaks repeatedly of two realms—the realm of Spirit and the realm of flesh.
Leaving This World of Flesh
Jesus had been with His disciples for three years. In His last talk with them before His arrest and crucifixion, He was telling them that He was about to leave them and return to His Father from whence He came:
One Thing Have I Desired
Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
In the Image and Likeness
Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The New Jerusalem
Revelation 21:1-8 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Born Again
We first hear the term used by Jesus as He was speaking with Nicodemus:
John 3:3 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.
Who or What Is Christ?
On at least two occasions, Peter identified Jesus as Christ, the Son of the living God
(Matthew 16:13; John 6:69). And Jesus Himself prayed that we would know the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent
(v 3).
Purpose of the Cross
I must make the attempt to say that which cannot be conveyed in words, but only through revelation by the Spirit of God. But words are necessary (Jesus used them) to bring light into a world which needs words to confirm what is being revealed.
Recently I heard a sermon on the cross. The speaker was very gifted in dramatic presentation, and many were profoundly moved by his sermon —and with good reason.
Word Made Flesh
We know that the Word was in the beginning with God and that the Word is God. (John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.) Therefore it cannot be a black book filled with letters and words.
Simplicity That Is in Christ
I am strongly suggesting that we Christians (yes, I too call myself a Christian) have been unable to walk as Jesus walked and do the things He said we would do because we have believed (or at least attempted to believe) the orthodox interpretation of Scripture. We have seen ourselves as worms of the dust groveling before God, begging Him to have mercy on us, fearing that He would send us to hell to burn forever if we didn’t say the right prayer that would prove we are accepting His blood sacrifice of His own Son in order to appease His wrath against our sin.