Part 5 of 10

Jesus and the Father Are One - Within the Believer

 

Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life…” (John 14:6)

Jesus is “the way” to what, or to whom? Jesus answers the question in the last part of the same verse. “…no man cometh to the Father but by me.” So, “the way” that we seek to understand is… Christ as the way to union with God the Father.

John 14:6-9 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ⁷If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. ⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. ⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? ¹⁰ Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

The Apostle Paul writes the following to the Ephesian believers, describing the relationship the Lord Jesus and the Father have with the believer. “…One Lord (which is Jesus Christ)…One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:5-6) Not only are Jesus and the Father “One Lord and God,” but Paul says, they are one “in you all,” that is within each and every believer.

Do not think God is father to the lost just because of the words “Father of all” appear in Ephesians 4:6. The word “all” is the Greek word “pas,” which may mean, absolutely all or, all that are of a class or category, depending upon the context. In this case the context was that Paul was writing to a particular class of people - the believers at Ephesus . Therefore, the “all” in his letter is only intended to apply to the believers. Only believers are those who are saved. “… believe on the Lord Jesus Christ ands though shalt be saved…” (Act 16:31) Our “believing” is based upon our “faith.” “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

In Philippians 2:9 we read; “(Jesus)…a name which is above every names.” In Colossians 1:19 we read “For it pleased the Father that in Him (Christ Jesus) should all fulness dwell.” Therefore, each believer who has received Christ has received all that there is of the supreme One Lord and God to dwell within them.

Shouldn’t we believe what the Scripture tell us? “All fullness” in Christ includes all of the Holy Spirit, all of the Father, and all of “the Son.” Therefore, all of God dwells within the believer, as “Christ in you” ( Col 1:27).

If, as we have seen, the fullness of God dwells within every believer’s human spirit, then why do so many Christians pray beggarly, asking for what they already possess?

Why do some Christians pray for “more of God,” or “more of the Spirit,” to be “filled with more of the Spirit”? Some may say, then why does Paul write “be filled with the Spirit” in Eph 5:18? Paul does not contradict himself. Note that when Paul says “be filled with the Spirit” in Eph 5:18, he is saying “be under the influence of the Sprit – not alcohol spirits” Note the context; Paul prefaces “be filled with the Spirit” with “And be not drunk with (under the influence of) wine wherein is excess”.

I’ve often heard Christians pray for such “things” as “peace” – yet, Paul says the Christ who indwells them is “the Lord of peace,” within there spirit already. Peace is not merchandise; peace is “Christ in you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be (is) with you all.

If the Lord is our peace and He never leaves us, then as believers we have peace resident within us at all times – all we need to do is learn to trust Him who is our peace. Since peace is from the presence of the Lord God who indwells us in His fullness, then we have full peace within us. All we need to do is permit or allow Him, as peace, to rule and guide our hearts…by faith.

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:15 (AMP)

Many of the Christians who know they are redeemed, still pray for patience, wisdom and holiness, righteousness and sanctification – yet Paul says we already have all these attributes are also “in Christ.”

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Having such a resource as Christ’s limitless life within, why might a Christian still fall short in their Christian living… missing out on the rest and peace that is in Christ? Believers need to have understanding to see and believe these truths of the blessings of God the Father’s love and His full provision for all our needs by Christ in us. Philippians 4:19 But my God (as The Father) shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God our Father is always at work by all means in our lives, including the trials of life. Not only has the Father deposited the “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” into us as believers, but also He is working by the trials of our life, that we might discover the sufficiency of Christ, and then trust Christ within us to be our source for the rich supply of all the attributes of Christ.

“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philippians 2:13 (AMP)  

^“8We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; ⁹ We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (AMP)

Paul here below offers us his own testimony regarding the sufferings that he and Barnabas endured. Note that Paul then tells us why it is that the Father allows such things as happened to them.

“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us (Paul and Barnabas) in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: ⁹ But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, (so) that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)

Ah, here we have it. We suffer trials so “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God.” It is in this way of suffering that God the Father does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Knowing and trusting the Father’s faithfulness in His ongoing work, our hearts should be filled with joyfulness and thanksgiving to God our Father, even as we face the trials of life.

^“For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15 (AMP)