Re-Incarnation: Christ inYou
Re-Incarnation: Christ inYou
Are people re-incarnated? The thought is appealing to the flesh of man, which seeks its own perfection. Who, upon experiencing his own weakness and failure, doesn’t want a do-over? The whole idea of self-improvement sells more books than most any other topic. It makes sense that a world religion would prosper with this ideology. It resonates with a deep desire in man’s heart: “I want another shot at this life. I want to do better. I want to mature, improve, start over, fix myself!”
I almost hate to tell you this, but God’s words are clear: “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). There is only one physical life and one physical death for humans. According to Scripture, there is no re-incarnation as Wikipedia.org defines it: “Reincarnation is the religious or philosophical concept that the soul (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_%28spirit%29) or spirit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit) , after biological death (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death) , begins a new life in a new body that may be human, animal or spiritual depending on the moral quality of the previous life’s actions.” As is the case with every deception, there is enough truth in it to make it desirable or believable.
HOWEVER…we are not without hope! There is a potential do-over in this life! There is a way to have every weakness transformed into strength and every failure washed clean…and you don’t even have to physically die to experience it! Now this I can’t wait to tell you, because, like Paul,^ “of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me (Colossians 1:25-28).
The hope is Christ in you! Through the simplicity of faith, all those who receive Christ receive a brand new life! That life is Christ’s life. Jesus Christ “re-incarnated” in you! NOT the physical Christ, for “once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26); but the Spirit of Christ! “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). In His divine grace and wisdom, God has made a way for a real-time, in-the-now, spiritual re-birth! This mystery of a Divine Life living in you and conforming you into His image is at the heart of the gospel! It is most clear in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
So hear me carefully: Jesus Christ is “re-incarnated” in every believer. The Christian life is a “mysterical” life—a mystery and a miracle! It is Christ living in your mortal flesh! Paul stated it clearly: “For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:11). And “God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me…” (Galatians1:15-16). It’s not Jesus’ physical body that is re-incarnated in you, but His Spirit, His life, Him! The already-perfected life of Jesus—the one-and-only Son of God—wants to become your life, living His life in you as you! The longing of your heart can be fulfilled in Christ! Every sin forgiven, every weakness transformed, every inadequacy exchanged for completeness, wholeness, purity and victorious life!
One day we who trust this “mysterical” work of Christ will be gathered up with Him: “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews9:28). The ultimate and final deliverance is yet to come, but don’t miss out on experiencing and expressing Jesus in the NOW! God’s Holy Spirit is alive and at work to convince you of your need to stop trying harder in the flesh, but, instead, “die to self” and receive Christ’s Life today “re-incarnated” in you! John the Baptist got it: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3:30&version=NASB) ).
Thanks for you patience as we work on our website and email newsletter.
Please pray for InYou Ministries:
1. Refuge (a ministry of FBS to the homeless of Spartanburg’s inner city.) The homeless are welcomed at 7:30 am each Sunday for a shower, hot breakfast (provided by FBS Life Groups) at 8:30 and Bible Study & worship at 9 am (I teach each “Brand new Me” week).
2. SPICE Program @ Tyger River Correctional. Each Monday and Friday, I lead 12 inmates through Houses of Healing and The FIRM Foundation: Jesus Christ. These men will be released back into society after this 18-week discipleship class.
3. InYou Men’s Disciplship, each Friday, 6:30 am at my house. (All men all welcome to attend.)
4. Website redesign
5. Writing “Living in the Now.” (I need a new blog page.)
6. Safety as we work this summer painting with the boys.
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Re-Incarnation: Christ in you!
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