Celebrity-ship of Christ
Before you begin your Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be
sure you have named your sins privately to God the Father.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Known, Unknown and Forgotten sins) (1Jn 1:9)
You will then be in fellowship with God, Filled with the Holy Spirit and ready
to learn Truth from the Word of God.
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth."
(John 4:24)
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
There are many super-grace heroes in Christianity, but there is only ONE
CELEBRITY. Every Spiritually mature believer recognizes the Celebrity-ship
of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior and our High Priest, as well as the King who
will one day rule the entire earth. Everything we have and everything we will
ever be is directly related to the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you have made the greatest of all decisions in life — to believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) — you are the possessor, once and for all, of
eternal Salvation. This, however, does not indicate that you love Christ or that
you even have the capacity to love Him. When you were born again, you
began your Christian life as a Spiritual baby and had no way of appreciating
Who and What Christ IS. The capacity to love Him depends upon the amount
of Divine Thinking you have in your soul.
The Spiritually mature status, which is the objective of the Christian life, is
the place where you really begin to love Christ and where you have the
normal function of your priesthood. Spiritual maturity is characterized by
Occupation with Christ, and the recognition of His Celebrity-ship. No believer
has truly reached Spiritual maturity in the Christian way of life until he
functions under the Divine Concept of Celebrity-ship, for this is the place
where we have enough Truth so that the Principle of vindicating His Word is
fulfilled.
God vindicates His Word in only two places today: by the preservation of
the written Word, and in the souls of individual believers. He vindicates the
latter by super-grace capacity, which leads to super-grace blessings. At this
point, God begins to pour out blessings for the believer who has a “cup” —
the capacity that results from Bible Thinking in the soul — and true happiness
becomes a Reality in his life!
GRACE-THINKING
(Php 2:3) contains one of the greatest passages in the Word of God on
the Celebrity-ship of Jesus Christ. Verse 3 introduces the background to our
subject:
Nothing according to the standard of lust-ambition (Preoccupation with
self) or according to the standard of ambitious pride; (Preoccupation with
others) but in grace-Thinking regard one another as more important than
yourselves. (Php 2:3)
Lust-ambition creates factions in the local church. Some of the most
ardent church workers are operating under the lust pattern of the old sin
nature. When people receive a great deal of praise, letters of commendation
or recognition of one kind or another, they often become intoxicated with
approbation or power lust. It’s like dope: they must have more and more
praise in order to satisfy this lust. The only way some people can keep their
ego intact is to play “king of the mountain” — to find the flaws in others, to
compare these with their own strong points and come out on top. In other
words, they try to build their happiness on the unhappiness of others.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be
arrogant and so lie against the Truth. This wisdom is not that which comes
down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. (Satan’s thinking!)
(Jas 3:14-15)
“The standard of ambitious pride” refers to the pastor who encourages
such practices and is therefore ignoring the great Principles of grace found in
the Word of God. Christ’s-Thinking is the state of mind which submits to the
Divine order and does not exalt itself; it eliminates all human viewpoint from
the soul. Grace-Thinking is regarding others better than ourselves. Now, how
can you possibly Think that some “clod,” who behaves like a moron, is better
than you? It is not done through some system of hypocrisy, hypnosis, group
therapy, or the sensitivity training of “cosmos diabolicus!” (Satan’s world
system) Grace-Thinking is accomplished by being so Occupied with the
Person of Jesus Christ and His Thinking, that in your relationships with other
people you do not judge, malign, criticize, hate, lust for, ridicule or intrude on
their privacy.
Each one not regarding the things of himself, [His own personal interests]
but each one also the personal interests of others. (Php 2:4)
This is the Concept of respect for the privacy of the priesthood of other
believers. You cannot learn Truth when someone is trying to run your life. The
key to verse 4 is respect for the privacy of other believers. This verse
excludes “operation long proboscis.” Minding your own business, being
considerate of others and having good manners are all by-products of the
Christian way of life. “Operation Grace” allows every believer to live his own
life as unto the Lord. This is the only bona fide “sensitivity training.” You don’t
have to try to love people or to gush over them; you simply allow them their
privacy.
The question is, how can you be so relaxed about other people that you
keep your nose out of their business and avoid curtailing their freedom in any
way? You must find Someone who is so much better than anything or anyone
else in life, that other people and other things will no longer be an issue. Paul
is setting up this Principle, under the ministry of God the Holy Spirit, to
present the Celebrity-ship of Jesus Christ, and what He Thought.
The Celebrity of Christianity demands the attention of every believer! He is
so wonderful and so marvelous that Occupation with Him changes the entire
picture! Many believers are petty, bitter, jealous, vindictive, implacable and
full of gossip and maligning because they have no Concept of the Celebrity-
ship of Christ. The reason so many “Madison Avenue” substitutes and
ridiculous practices and programs have crept into the church, is that we have
lost sight of Jesus Christ as the only true Celebrity. This condition exists
primarily because pastors are not teaching Divine Thoughts filled with God
the Holy Spirit. (Isa 55:8-9)
Occupation with Christ means that you harbor no mental attitude sins
toward others. Whether or not they deserve your respect is NOT the issue;
just put them in the Lord’s hands and move on! We build our happiness on
WHO AND WHAT CHRIST IS — not on who and what we and or people are.
There is no shortcut to this relaxed mental attitude. It requires the daily
function of the “grace apparatus for perception” (Operation Z) — the pastor-
teacher consistently communicating Spiritual Thoughts and the believer
learning Spiritual Thoughts on a daily basis. (Psa 1:2-3)
Illustration
The only purpose for the existence of a pastor-teacher is to enable believers
to advance to the highest stage of Spiritual maturity — living in the sphere of
the recognition of the Celebrity-ship of Jesus Christ. Other types of
organizations are bona fide for witnessing, but the local church, (And now
also the computer) is God’s order for learning the Word of Truth in the New
Covenant Age.
THE MENTAL ATTITUDE OF CHRIST
Keep on having this mental attitude in you which also in Christ Jesus.
(Php 2:5)
The Greek word PHRONEO means in the positive use, “to Think
Spiritually.” When our mental attitude” meets the Standards of this word, we
have arrived at the highest and noblest point in the Christian life. Mental
Attitude Divine Viewpoint — (The Mind of Christ) (1Co 2:16) — is the
objective and Command for every believer. The only way you can obey this
Command is to have THE WORD IN YOU; in the right lobe. To do this, we
must begin with Jesus Christ and the true Concept of the Word.
THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST
Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard [Think]
equality with God a thing to be grasped. (Php 2:6)
HUPARCHO means that Jesus Christ always existed; there never was a
time when He was not God. He is eternal; He never grows old. What is a
“celebrity”? Someone who is glamorous, someone who has status in life,
someone with great ability or talent? What happens to celebrities in the
human realm? They deteriorate; they lose their ability and their popularity;
they grow old; their glamour fades; they die! Did you ever see a football
player ten years after he was washed up as a professional? Three hundred
pounds of flab! Have you ever seen a movie queen after her heyday? If she is
working, she is playing character roles! A true celebrity is perfect. A believer
with any knowledge of the Bible would never make a celebrity of a human
being! (Jer 17:5) Our true Celebrity is perfect; He has neither a beginning nor
an end. (Rev 1:8)
The word translated “form” in the English — MORPHE — does not refer
to outward shape but to the essence. From eternity past, Jesus Christ
possessed sovereignty, righteousness, justice, love, eternal life, omniscience,
omnipotence, omnipresence, immutability and veracity. He has never changed
His essence for anyone or anything. His essence remains intact and will
continue to do so throughout time and eternity.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” (Heb 13:8)
The true Celebrity of Christianity knew every person in the world from
eternity past. He has always known every need, every problem, every
heartache, every frustration in your life. He has gone through the entire
angelic conflict without being inconsistent or unstable in any way. That’s our
Celebrity!
“Of God” calls attention to the deity of Christ. He IS and WAS and always
will be God — coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
In the beginning, there always existed Jesus Christ, [HO LOGOS] the
LOGOS was face to face with God; (THE WORD) WAS AND IS GOD!
(Literal translation of; John 1:1)
No one can enter into Occupation with Christ or appreciate His essence or
His Spiritual nature until he understands that Jesus Christ is God and man.
Therefore, the Doctrine of the Deity of Christ is necessary at this point.
DOCTRINE OF THE DEITY OF CHRIST
1. Christ is a member of the Trinity. (Matt 28:19; (2Co 13:14; (1Pe 1:2)
2. Syllogism based on Trinity (Mic 5:2; John 1:1-3; John 8:58;
Rom 9:5; Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8-10; (1Jn 5:20)
THE TRINITY IS ETERNAL,
CHRIST IS A MEMBER OF THE TRINITY, THEREFORE, CHRIST IS
ETERNAL.
3. The pre-incarnate work of Christ necessitates His pre-existence and
Deity: Christ created the universe. (John 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:10)
4. Jesus Christ is identified with the Doctrine of Divine Decrees.
(Psa 2:7-9; Psa 22:1-8; Psa 40:1-11; Psa 110:1-7)
5. The Theophanies of Christ indicate His pre-existence; therefore, His
eternity.
a. Angel of Jehovah identified as Jehovah. (Gen 16:7-13; Gen 22:11-18;
Gen 31:11-13; Gen 48:15-16; Exo 3:1-8; with Acts 7:30-35; Exo 13:21;
Exo 14:19; Jdg 6:11-23; Jdg 13:9-20)
b. Angel of Jehovah distinguished from Jehovah. (Gen 24:7; Gen 24:40;
Exo 23:20; Exo 32:34; (1Ch 21:15-18; Isa 63:9; Zec 1:12-13)
c. Angel of Jehovah is Second Person of Trinity, visible God. After the
incarnation, the Angel of Jehovah no longer appears. (John 1:18; John 6:46;
(1Ti 6:15-16; (1Jn 4:12)
6. Jesus Christ is called Jehovah. (Isa 9:6-7; Isa 40:3; Jer 23:5-6;
Zec 12:10)
7. All Divine attributes are ascribed to Christ.
a. SOVEREIGNTY (Gen 1:1; Col 1:16-19; Rev 1:5-16; Rev 17:14;
Rev 19:16)
b. ETERNAL LIFE (Isa 9:6; Mic 5:2 John 1:1; John 8:58 Col 1:16-17;
Eph 1:4; Rev 1:8)
c. HOLINESS - I.E., RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE (Luke 1:35;
Acts 3:14; Heb 7:26)
d. LOVE (John 13:1; John 13:34; (1Jn 3:16)
e. IMMUTABILITY (Heb 13:8)
f. OMNISCIENCE (Matt 9:4; John 2:25; (1Co 4:5; Col 2:3; Rev 2:23)
g. OMNIPOTENCE (Matt 24:30; Matt 28:18; (1Co 15:28; Php 3:21;
Heb 1:3; Rev 1:8)
h. OMNIPRESENCE (Matt 28:20; Eph 1:23; Col 1:27)
i. VERACITY (John 14:6; Rev 3:7)
Now, back to (Php 2:6) our Celebrity did some Thinking. Remember, the
meaning of a word is determined by its first use in context. “Thinking” was
used in, (Php 2:3) of this passage for “grace-Thinking.” Here we learn
something else about Jesus Christ: not only are His Thoughts infinite, but He
Thinks about us, you and me in terms of GRACE. This means that there
never was or ever will be one believer who has earned or deserved anything
from God. His grace-Thinking toward us indicates that He is the only source
of blessing. If you have anything that is wonderful, worthwhile or valuable, it is
because Jesus Christ is ultimately the source, no matter what intermediate
agency may be involved. This gives Him all the honor and glory. One fact that
characterizes the believer who has the capacity to appreciate the Celebrity-
ship of Christ is that to him the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is
more important than anything else in the world!
“In grace-Thinking He Thought it not a treasure or a prize to be
retained.” The treasure is Christ’s Deity His equality with God the Father and
God the Holy Spirit. There is nothing greater or more valuable than the
essence of Deity; yet He did not consider His Deity MORE IMPORTANT than
our souls! (2Co 5:15)
The very nature of Deity prevented the fact that ANY Member of the
Trinity could be judged for sin. Eternal life can neither be born nor die;
holiness cannot have anything to do with sin; omnipresence cannot be
reduced to one point — the Cross; immutability cannot change. Therefore,
since nothing can be subtracted from Deity, something must be added. To be
able to go to the Cross and pay the penalty for sin, Deity must also become
true humanity. Jesus Christ was so occupied with us in eternity past that He
did not consider His equality with the other Members of the Trinity a treasure
to be clutched and retained so as to hinder the Father’s Plan.
There never was a time when Christ was not occupied with you. You
were “the joy” (Heb 12:2-3) that occasioned His Incarnation and His
substitutionary death on the Cross with all its shame and pain. You were in
His Thoughts when all the grace blessings were provided in eternity past.
(Eph 1:4) Christ Considered God the Father’s Thoughts (Promises, Doctrines
and Prophesies) and obedience to them, more important than Himself! So we
must have the same Thoughts to reach maturity! (Isa 58:13-14; John 6:38;
John 14:24; John 7:18) It is important for you to realize that you now have the
privilege of Occupation with Him. (Col 3:9-10) When you reach this stage, the
Celebrity-ship of Jesus Christ will be a Reality in your life. Although you will
have tremendous capacity to enjoy all the blessings that God will pour into
your “cup,” they will seem insignificant compared to the One that gave them!
But how can you become occupied with Him, and what exactly is “Occupation
with Christ”?
OCCUPATION WITH CHRIST
1. The basis for occupation with Christ is the consistent and or daily intake
of the Word of Truth through the function of Operation Z.
But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness
on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. (Jer 9:24)
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints
what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of
Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the
fullness of God. (Eph 3:17-19)
The mechanics of Operation Z are accomplished through the
communication of the Doctrines, Promises and Prophesies of the Word of
God, (The Bible) by the pastor-teacher. These enter the left or perceptive
lobe of the believer, and positive volition, (Belief) cycles Them into the human
spirit. There it becomes complete knowledge, (THE MIND OF CHRIST) —
CHAKMAH (Hebrew) or EPIGNOSIS. (Greek) The first Doctrine that goes
into the frame of reference in the right lobe acts as a primer for the “pump.”
Once the pump is primed, Divine Thinking goes into the frame of reference
and memory center and then begins to form new vocabulary and categories;
your norms and Standards agree with Divine Thoughts, (Amos 3:3) and you
have a new conscience filled with God Thinking. This puts Truth on the
“launching pad” for application and begins the construction of the Edification
Complex of the Soul. (Temple — Spiritual life) From here you move on to
super-grace, the normal Christian life.
2. With God’s Word as the working object of faith, the believer has
maximum Category One love response toward God; hence, he is designated
PHILOS THEOU — “friend of God,” or literally, “lover of God.”
You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the
works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS
RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. (Jas 2:22-23)
3. Occupation with Christ is based upon the glorification of Christ — that
is, His resurrection, ascension and session. Therefore if you have been raised
up with Christ, keep seeking the things [Thoughts] above... [The above Things
— Divine Thoughts — God’s One Reality] Not on things on the earth (Satan’s
thoughts and human false realities — viewpoints) (Col 3:1-5)
4. Occupation with Christ is the standard operating procedure for the
Christian life. It is the normal super-grace life!
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance [Distraction] and the sin [Nature]
which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race [Agony]
that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
faith, [Spiritual life] who for the joy [Us] set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, [Thinking little of the shame] and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1-2)
5. Occupation with Christ is beautifully illustrated by the Doctrine of right
man-right woman. (Eph 5:25-32)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church [All
believers] and gave Himself up for her. (Eph 5:25)
6. The function of Operation Z is the believer’s response to Christ’s love in
Phase Two. In other words, Christ initiates love to the believer through His
Word. “We love, because He first loved us.” (1Jn 4:19)
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness [Mental attitude sins] and all that
remains of wickedness, [Sins of the tongue, overt sins; Satan’s thoughts] in
humility receive the Word implanted, [Truth in the human spirit] which is able
to deliver your souls. [From the control of the old sin nature] But prove
yourselves doers [Thinkers] of the Word, [The whole function of Operation Z]
and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (Jas 1:21-22)
7. The sealing of God the Holy Spirit, which occurs at Salvation,
guarantees an eternal love relationship between Jesus Christ and the
believer. (Eph 1:11-14)
8. Occupation with Christ includes total dependence on grace provision.
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your
heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
(Psa 37:4-5)
9. Stability, confidence, inner happiness and capacity for life are related to
Occupation with Christ.
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right
hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
[Super-grace] My flesh also will dwell securely. (Psa 16:8-9)
10. Occupation with Christ is the basis for blessing in suffering.
(2Co 12:9-10)
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am
well content with weaknesses, [Sin nature testing] with insults, [People
testing] with distresses, [Thought testing] with persecutions, [Organization
testing] with difficulties, [Disaster testing] for Christ’s sake; for when I am
weak, then I am strong. (2Co 12:9-10)
Reversionism intensifies suffering; Spiritual maturity minimizes it and
substitutes happiness. (Psa 77:1-14)
11. Occupation with Christ is based on the believer’s entrance into the
super-grace life: “My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck
my feet out of the net.” (Psa 25:15; Psa 141:8)
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus,
the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. (Heb 3:1)
We are partners with God, and our vocation is full-time Christian service.
Therefore, we are to be Occupied with Him — our Celebrity — so that our
vocation becomes a Reality.
But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if
we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
(Heb 3:6)
Moses, in (Heb 3:5) was a hero in his house, (Dispensation) but Christ is
OVER the house. Christ is the epitome of God’s plan” — the Chief
Cornerstone, the Head of the Body, the only Celebrity of the Church Age! All
believers are in the “house”; but how we “live” in the house depends on
whether we “hold fast,” or maintain our course toward the super-grace life
through “confidence” — that is, through the authority of God’s Word. Our
purpose in the Christian life is to enter super-grace, to function to the
maximum under our priesthood, and to stay “firm” (Stabilized) in super-grace,
(Spiritual maturity) until the end of Phase Two.
THE INCARNATE CHRIST
But he deprived himself of the proper function of Deity, having assumed
the form of a free-slave, having become in the likeness of mankind. [Without
the old sin nature but with the human spirit] (Php 2:7)
This verse sets up a contrast between the treasure of Christ’s Deity and
the sacrifice of its function. The word KENOO, from which we get the
Doctrine of Kenosis, means “to deprive oneself of a proper or normal
function,” (2Co 5:15) or “to empty out” In becoming humanity, Jesus Christ
had to deprive Himself of the normal function of Deity; but His Deity could not
change or lose its quality. In the aorist active indicative here, KENOO
describes a function in eternity past. This was when Christ made His decision
to make the sacrifice. The actual fact did not occur until the time of the virgin
birth. The emphatic position of the reflexive pronoun “Himself” emphasizes a
voluntary action.
Some of you will never realize how important it is to understand that Jesus
Christ thought about you in eternity past. He did not suddenly say, when He
saw man’s sinful condition, “I think I’ll do something for man.” We think in
terms of time, but God is not confined to time. Part of Occupation with Christ
is to understand that problem-solving goes back to this Principle: Christ was
ALWAYS Cognizant of our problems. We yell “Help” in time; Jesus Christ
answered before time began!
Deity has certain functions which are totally incompatible with humanity.
There is no limitation in the function of Deity as a Christophany, (Post-
resurrection appearances of Christ) or a Theophany; (Pre-incarnate
appearances of Christ) but when Deity becomes a true Member-of the human
race, it is an entirely different Concept. Deity “assumed the form. . . .”
Here we have MORPHE again, which indicates His inner Person. This word is
in contrast to SCHEMA, “overt essence,” which occurs in this same verse.
If you are ever going to understand the uniqueness of the Person of Jesus
Christ why He is the revealed Member of the Godhead, why God the Holy
Spirit glorifies Him today, why He is the only Celebrity of Christianity you must
be familiar with the Doctrine of Kenosis. The addition of humanity to Deity is a
technical Concept which must be explained.
THE DOCTRINE OF KENOSIS
1. KENOSIS is derived from the verb KENOO, meaning “to deprive
oneself of proper function” — in this case, the function of Deity. This does not
at all suggest the loss of the characteristics or Person of Deity. It is
blasphemous to say that any characteristic of Deity, (I AM) can be limited,
canceled or removed.
2. In the incarnate state. (Christ on earth) He was both undiminished Deity
and true humanity in One Person. (Hypostatic union) Therefore, Christ, being
both true God and true Man, did not empty Himself of His Deity. To assume
that He did so is false. Deity was not changed; it was retained at the point of
the virgin birth.
3. Under true Kenosis, Christ did not surrender any attribute of His Deity
in coming to this earth. He voluntarily restricted the independent use or
expression of His Divine power in order to comply with the Father’s Plan for
the Incarnation. In becoming the God-Man, He was in subjection to the Father’
s Plan of the Cross. Although in His Deity Christ is coequal with the Father, in
His humanity he was submissive to the Father. To accomplish this, He had to
have free will (Matt 26:39) like all members of the human race. The entire
issue in the angelic conflict is human volition, which
coexists with Divine and angelic volition.
In order to submit His will to the Father’s, Christ limited His omnipotence.
The only way He could do this was to refuse to use His omnipotence,
omniscience, etc., for His own benefit or His own glory. His Kenosis was
challenged in the great temptation of, (Matt 4:1-11). The temptations by the
devil were unique; they could have been leveled only at the God-Man, the
unique Person of the universe.
4. To execute the Father’s Plan for the First Advent, the humanity of
Christ relied on the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who indwelt Him from the
cradle; (Isa 11:2) also He relied on the Word of Truth. (Luke 2:40-52;
John 4:24) By the time He was twelve years of age, Jesus Christ was a
super-grace Person.
5. Therefore, in this context, the expression of His Deity or the
independent exercise of His Divine attributes was not a treasure to be
retained and at the same time provide our so-great Salvation.
6. For example: Christ had to become obedient till death. (Php 2:8)
While sovereignty is not subject to obedience, Christ did not use His
sovereignty in opposition to the Father’s Plan. Christ as God is eternal life,
but eternal life could not die on the Cross. The only way He could die was to
refrain from using His Deity to perpetuate His human life. As perfect
righteousness, the very Thought of coming into contact with sin was
abhorrent to Christ. When He bore our sins in His own body on the tree,
(1Pe 2:24) He abstained from using His righteousness, or else He would have
rejected the awful judgment.
7. Consequently, Christ surrendered the independent use of His Divine
attributes during His Incarnation in order to provide Salvation for mankind,
8. That is why He voluntarily took upon Himself the form of a servant or a
free-slave. In completing the mission of the First Advent, He redeemed and
reconciled man, while at the same time He propitiated the Father. He could
not have done so if He had used His own Deity independently of the Father’s
Plan. As Spiritually mature believers, we are free; (Gal 5:1) but in order to
purchase our freedom, Jesus Christ had to temporarily give up His freedom.
9. Summary of the factors of Kenosis.
Christ gave up the outward appearance of God (SCHEMA), but not the
inner Person (MORPHE). He took upon Himself the SCHEMA of a slave, but
He did not give up or change His eternal MORPHE. In other words; He did
not show His Deity, although it was present. Christ made Himself dependent
on the Plan of the Father and operated within the limitations of His humanity,
even though it was joined to Deity. There are many illustrations of this in
Scripture; e.g., (Heb 10:5-9) the Baby in the manger, (Feed trough) was
holding the universe together. He was as much Deity in the manger as He
was when He created the universe. There never was or ever could be a
Celebrity like Jesus Christ! What He gave up in restraining His essence is
phenomenal and inscrutable.
Christ voluntarily, through an act of sovereign volition, took upon Himself
the form of man — true humanity. This was not glory or glamour but great
humiliation for Deity. Christ eternal God, who voluntarily hid His Deity prayed
for glorification in, (John 17:5). Why? For our benefit! Christ had not emptied
Himself of His Divine glory; (As illustrated by the Transfiguration; Matt 17:2)
hence, the glory of Deity was veiled but not surrendered.
The union of Christ to un-glorified humanity was a factor in His humiliation.
There was nothing wrong with His humanity; it was perfect, and it never
changed. At the point of the virgin birth, Christ was minus the imputation of
Adam’s sin, minus the old sin nature; He had entered the world through His
own volition. These are the three unique Principles in the virgin birth.
Even His lineage was unique. Mary descended from the line of David
through Bathsheba and Nathan. Joseph was also in the line of David, through
Solomon.
During His thirty-three years on the earth, Jesus used His volition constantly.
Even though His temptations were greater than any we have ever had or ever
will have; even though they became greater as He came closer to the Cross,
He never committed one act of personal sin!
He left the world by an act of His own volition the only human being who
ever did so, apart from suicide. From His own soul He dismissed His human
spirit, and soul into Hades, (1Pe 3:18-19) Abraham’s Bosom (Luke 16:22) or
Paradise (Luke 23:43; Psa 16:10) His body was the only part which He could
dispose of. Although the Father had said where His body would be placed,
(Isa 53:9) its burial was not an act of Christ’s volition.
Since Christ’s humanity was not glorified at the point of the Incarnation,
He was subject to temptation, pain, weakness, sorrow, limitation. However,
His attributes of Deity were not surrendered or used to benefit Himself. For
example, although Christ was omnipresent. He took long journeys on foot.
The omniscience of Christ was revealed in His prophetic ministry, but it was
never used to ease His path or gain something for Himself. Jesus
experienced physical and mental growth and suffered the inconveniences of
His day. He kept silent on matters not related to Doctrine such as electricity,
airplanes, gunpowder, etc.
Two other Doctrines are relevant to Kenosis. The first is important
because it relates to Spirituality in this dispensation.
THE SUSTAINING MINISTRY OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE
HUMANITY OF CHRIST
1. This ministry of the Spirit was Prophesied in the Old Testament.
(Isa 11:2-3; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1-3)
2. The Holy Spirit was given without measure to the humanity of Christ.
(John 3:34).
3. The Holy Spirit sustained Christ during His earthly ministry.
(Matt 12:18-28; Luke 4:14-18)
4. The ministry of God the Holy Spirit continued during the time when
Christ was bearing our sins on the Cross. (Heb 9:14; Psa 22:1) — Prophetic;
(Matt 27:46) — historical. When Jesus said, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY
HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” He was addressing the Father and the Holy
Spirit. ( 2Co 5:21)
5. The Holy Spirit had a part in the resurrection of Christ. (Rom 8:11;
(1Pe 3:18-19)
6. The present ministry of God the Holy Spirit and the filling of God the
Holy Spirit in the Church Age are related to the glorification of Christ.
(John 7:39; John 16:14)
THE HUMILIATION OF CHRIST IN RELATION TO KENOSIS
1. Veiling of the pre-incarnate glory of Christ: in taking upon Himself true
humanity, Christ gave up the outward appearance of God.
2. The union of eternal God with un-glorified humanity in the hypostatic
union.
3. Christ did not use His Divine attributes independently of the Father’s
Plan, but relied on the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. (Matt 4:1-2)
4. The greatest point in the humiliation of Christ was bearing our sins.
(2Co 5:21; (1Pe 2:24) This anticipates, (Php 2:8).
Now we are ready for the last half of (Php 2:7)
“...Being made in the likeness of men. Although Christ was always Deity.
He became true humanity. His two natures are contrasted in, (John 1:1-14)
and (Isa 9:6) The child (Humanity of Christ) is born; the Son (Deity of Christ)
is given. “Likeness” (HOMOIOMA) has the meaning more of “similarity.” This
Greek word is used because Christ was not absolutely like us. He was
different in that He did not have an old sin nature, and He possessed a human
spirit at birth.
No man could see Jesus Christ in the flesh and tell that He was different
from any other human being. No man could see His Deity — it had to be
Spiritually Understood through the Word of Truth! This was the problem of the
Pharisees and other religious Jews — they saw only His humanity and
refused to accept Him as Messiah. (Rom 1:1-5) Hence, the hypostatic union
is a pivotal Doctrine which must be understood and mastered before you can
appreciate the Celebrity-ship of Christ. While there is by necessity a certain
overlap in these Doctrines, this demonstrates their relationship and pertinence
to one another.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE HYPOSTATIC UNION
1. Definition: In the Person of Christ are two natures, inseparably united,
without mixture or loss of separate identity, without loss or transfer of
properties or attributes, the union being personal and eternal.
(John 1:1-14; Rom 1:2-5; Rom 9:5; Php 2:5-11; (1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:14) This
means that Christ is the God-Man now; He has been the God-Man since the
virgin birth; He will be the God-Man forever. He is the UNIQUE PERSON OF
THE UNIVERSE! The only Person EVER borne perfect, body, soul and spirit
with no sin nature!
2. The incarnate Person of Christ includes undiminished Deity. Jesus
Christ is God, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Spirit.
3. The incarnate Person of Christ also includes true humanity, with body,
soul and spirit. Through the virgin birth, Jesus avoided both Spiritual death
and the old sin nature. His humanity was different from any other because it
included Deity and because He did not sin personally. His Deity was different
in that it included humanity.
4. The two natures of Christ are united without transfer of attributes. The
attributes of Deity never became humanity or vice versa — the attributes
adhered to their corresponding natures. The essence of Deity cannot be
changed; it is immutable. The infinite cannot be transferred to the finite. To
rob God of a single attribute of His essence would destroy His Deity. To rob
the humanity of Christ of a single attribute of His humanity would destroy His
humanity.
5. In the Incarnation, no attribute of essence was changed. In fulfilling the
purpose of the Incarnation, certain attributes of Deity were not used; but this
does not imply that they were either surrendered, diminished or destroyed.
6. Therefore, the union of the Divine and human natures of the incarnate
Christ must be considered HYPOSTATIC AND PERSONAL. The Greek noun
HUPOSTASIS means “substance, essence, standing under, taking a thing
upon one-self.” Christ took upon Himself true humanity. HYPOSTATIC refers
to the whole Person of Christ as distinguished from His two natures Divine
and human. The fact that Christ will be true humanity forever indicates that a
human soul CAN live forever — but not in the original body which comes into
the world through physical birth; that body is subject to death. The
resurrection body is never subject to any kind of death — another unique
characteristic of Jesus Christ — and we will have the same kind of body.
(Php 3:21) No believer has a resurrection body yet. Christ is the First fruits of
resurrection. PERSONAL refers to the emergence of the unique Person of
Christ. As God, He is coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Spirit.
As man, He is superior to all mankind, both from the standpoint of human
impeccability and Deity.
7. This union does not imply that Deity POSSESSED humanity or that
Deity INDWELT the humanity of Christ. The union was more than harmony or
sympathy. It was PERSONAL. Two natures were combined in one
hypostasis or essence forever — a unique hypostasis.
8. The God-Man has one essence and Person forever. Therefore, the
attributes of both the Divine and human natures belong to the Person of
Christ. The characteristics of one nature are never attributed to the other.
This means that during the First Advent, Christ could simultaneously be
omnipotent and weak, omniscient and ignorant. However, the ignorance in His
humanity was overcome by the daily function of Operation Z and the
construction of the Edification Complex — Temple — Spiritual life — in His
soul. (Luke 2:40-52) cf. (2Pe 1:4)
9. The necessity for the humanity of Christ.
To be our Savior. (Luke 2:11; Php 2:7-8; Heb 2:14-15) Deity cannot go to
the Cross; Divine essence is not subject to death or change.
To be the Mediator. (Job 9:2; Job 9:32-33; Job 33:23; (1Ti 2:5-6) There
is a gap between Deity and humanity; therefore, only Someone who is equal
with both parties can mediate the reconciliation.
To be our High Priest. (Heb 7:4-5; Heb 7:14-28; Heb 10:5; Heb 10:10-14)
A priest must always be a human being, for he represents human beings
before God.
To be the King. (2Sa 7:8-16; Psa 89:20-37) God the Father made a
promise to David that he would have a Son who would reign forever. God
keeps His Word! (Luke 1:32-33)
10. Everything Christ spoke during the Incarnation came from one of three
sources. This explains why there are no contradictions in anything Jesus said.
From Deity. (John 8:58) “Before Abraham was, I Am” From humanity
(John 19:28) — “I thirst” Deity cannot thirst; and notice, Deity did not give His
humanity a glass of water. Here is an example of Kenosis.
From hypostatic union. (Matt 11:28; John 14:6)
11. Categories of attributes as related to the Person of Christ.
Attributes which are true or the result of His whole Person. All three
attributes, (God-Man-Hypostasis) are necessary for Christ to be our
Redeemer; therefore, Redeemer is an attribute, true of His whole Person.
Attributes true only of His Deity, but the whole Person is the subject.
(John 8:58) When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I Am,” He was
speaking from His whole Person; the attribute of eternity applies only to Deity.
Attributes true only of His humanity, but the whole Person is the subject.
(John 19:28) When Jesus said, “I thirst,” He was speaking from His whole
Person; to be back in fellowship, but only humanity can thirst in ANY way.
This classification disappeared after resurrection, ascension and session
because of the freedom from the limitations of Kenosis.
The Person described according to Deity, but affirmed of the human
nature. (Rev 1:12-18) The Deity of Christ is in evidence; yet Christ is
described as the One who was dead. (Rev 1:18) Death is an attribute
possible only for humanity. Unbelievers will taste death forever. (John 8:52;
(2Co 5:8; Heb 2:9; Rev 21:8)
The Person described according to the human nature, but affirmed of
Deity. (John 6:62) The title, “Son of Man,” belongs to the human nature; but
“ascending up where he was before” applies to the whole Person; for Christ
is eternal, the God-man.
The Person described according to His Deity, but affirmed of both
natures. (John 5:25-27) Christ as the Son of God spoke to those who were
Spiritually dead, (Eph 2:1) and those who heard, (Positive volition) lived. In
the future, Christ will execute judgment as the Son of Man. (God-Man in
resurrection body) (John 5:27)
The Person described according to the human nature, but affirmed of both
natures: (Matt 27:46) “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN
ME?” Christ was speaking from the viewpoint of His human nature. Christ
was being judicially forsaken as the God-Man because He was bearing the
sins of the world.
All these categories demonstrate what Jesus Christ had to accomplish in
order for us to be saved. He Thought it not a treasure to be seized to limit His
Deity in order to become true humanity and go to the Cross! We know He
had to remain in hypostatic union and there was no separation of the Deity
and humanity of Christ. His human soul was made the offering for sin!
(Isa 53:10-11)
The only Celebrity who ever lived suffered the ultimate in humiliation and
excruciating agony for you and for me. If you don’t understand the
implications of this, you will never understand the Celebrity-ship of Jesus
Christ. Most believers are on a “blind date.” They have no clue as to what the
Person they are going with is like. They are saved, but they have never
bothered to KNOW their Savior. Instead, they pick up emotional substitutes
— through ritual, through music, through so-called tongues, etc. — none of
which constitute true love for Jesus Christ. This must come through
DOCTRINE, DOCTRINE, DOCTRINE!
The last phrase of, (Php 2:7) “in the likeness of mankind,” requires a
knowledge of one more Doctrine in relation to the incarnate Christ.
THE DOCTRINE OF IMPECCABILITY
1. Christ did not have an old sin nature or imputed sin at birth, nor did He
commit sin during the Incarnation. (Heb 4:15; (1Pe 1:19; (1Jn 3:5) The only
way Christ could have acquired a sin nature was the same way Adam
acquired one — through volition.
2. This does not imply that Christ was not tempted. He was tempted in
the area of His humanity (Heb 4:15) — far beyond anything we could ever
understand. That is why His temptations in, (Luke 4:1-13) were unique in
trying to get His omnipotence to perform a miracle. In His Spiritual maturity he
passed, the lust of the flesh, (Luke 4:3-4) the lust of the eyes, (Luke 4:5-8)
and the pride of life. (Luke 4:9-12) The LORD won what was lost in the
garden, and overcame!
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,
she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who
was with her, and he ate. (Gen 3:6)
3. As with Adam in perfection or sinless-ness, all temptation to the
humanity of Jesus Christ came from without. Neither had a sin nature: Adam
was CREATED without one, but Christ was BORN without one. Because we
HAVE a sin nature, our temptations come from within and without.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and
the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
(1Jn 2:15-16)
4. All temptations to Christ had to come through His human nature.
The human nature of Christ was temptable, but Deity was not temptable.
(Jas 1:13)
5. Christ resisted the greatest of all temptations in Gethsemane when He
faced the Cross. (Matt 26:39; Mark 14:35-36; Luke 22:42) The first Adam
failed the volitional test; the Last Adam passed it with flying colors! Body,
soul and spirit, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! (Rev 4:8)
6. In, (Matt 4:1-10) Christ resisted the temptation to use His Deity and
thus act independently of God the Father. He could have turned the stones
into bread through His omnipotence; but His humanity, using the Spiritual life
(Truth and Virtue) under the filling of God the Holy Spirit, (Matt 4:1) refused.
The old sin nature’s lust of the flesh is overcome by God’s provision, of the
Spiritual life, and staying in fellowship. (Rebound, (1Jn 1:9) reception,
retention, recall, resist sinning and repetition) The lust of the eyes by using,
(THE MIND OF CHRIST). (2Co 10:5) The pride of life moral or immoral
arrogance, through, (Humility) Divine Virtue, (Gal 5:22-23 2Pe 1:4).
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Rev 3:21)
7. Because of the hypostatic union, the Doctrine of Impeccability
demands categorizing:
The humanity of Christ — temptable and peccable.
The Deity of Christ — not temptable and not peccable.
The hypostatic union — temptable but IMPECCABLE. And able not to sin,
by the power of the Spiritual life, empowered by the Holy Spirit and Divine
Thinking, (John 14:24) Spirit and Truth! A supernatural life demands a
supernatural way to fulfill it! For the humanity of Christ, and for us!
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in Spirit and Truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His
worshipers. (John 4:23)
8. It was possible for the humanity of Christ during the Incarnation to
suffer physical limitations in aspects, such as weakness, fatigue, sorrow,
hunger, thirst righteous indignation or death. But none of these sufferings
presented complications that in any way affected His Spiritual life and whole
Person.
9. Hence, Christ was, according to Latin phraseology POSSE NON
PECCARE, (Able not to sin) and NON POSSI PECARRE, (Not able to sin).
Christ is God, and God is never the source of evil under any circumstance.
Evil stems from both angelic and human volition but never from Divine
sovereignty.
THE UNIQUENESS OF CHRIST’S HUMILITY
And having been recognized in outward appearance [SCHEMA] as a man,
he humbled himself, having become obedient to the extent of death, yes, the
death of the cross. (Php 2:8)
The first phrase of this verse is the application of the Doctrine of
Impeccability. Though Christ had the outward appearance of a man, He did
not possess the old sin nature. The humbling of Himself has been greatly
misconstrued, particularly in this day of the “Jesus freaks.” Jesus Christ did
not look or act like a hippie — that is not “humbling oneself.” As the God-
Man, He is the Originator of the laws of establishment, and in the flesh He
was the personification of every Concept of establishment. (Free will,
marriage, family, nation; Neh 4:14)
It is amazing how people try to “humble themselves.” Most of their efforts
are nothing more or less than ascetic self-effacement. Asceticism is a part of
the old sin nature. Self-effacement is the energy of the flesh; at best —
legalism; at worst — reversionism. “He humbled himself” is the aorist
(Constantive) active indicative of TAPEINOO, with a reflexive pronoun. This
indicates that the entire time Jesus lived on the earth, from the moment of the
virgin birth to the resurrection and ascension, He was characterized by what
is called here “humility.” (THE MIND OF CHRIST)
But remember, the “meek and mild” Jesus threw the money-changers out
of the Temple — and that was also a part of His humility! Humility is not
standing round-shouldered, lowering your eyes, shuffling your feet. Humility
concerns neither appearance, dress, nor manner of speech. It is a mental
attitude of grace — Grace Orientation. It is the Word of Truth in the soul; and
this Divine Thinking causes the believer to Recognize that everything depends
on Who and What God IS and what He Thinks!
On the other end of the pole, pride is a mental attitude sin. The proudest
people in Christianity are those who think they can do something to gain the
approbation of God or to be filled with God the Holy Spirit; or those who think
they must do something to be forgiven by God, such as some system of
penance or feeling sorry for their sins.
Jesus Christ had the true Mental Attitude of humility. He was perfect in His
humanity; and for perfect humanity to come in contact with the sins of the
world is maximum humiliation. So we have another factor in the Celebrity-ship
of Christ the uniqueness of His Grace Orientation.
THE UNIQUENESS OF CHRIST’S DEATH
The humiliation of Christ reached its peak at the Cross. “Obedient” in,
(Php 2:8) means that He recognized the authority of the Cross and the Father’
s Plan. The Cross is the place where Jesus Christ had to submit or there
would have been no Salvation. The Cross, therefore, was His objective, and it
represented authority. The obedience was not to the Cross itself, but to His
Spiritual death and judgment on the Cross. Although Christ knew that there
He would be judged for the sins of the world, He was still willing to be
submissive — “to the extent of death.”
“Death” is THANATOS in the Greek, and almost without exception, this
word refers to Spiritual death. Most people think that when the Scripture says
“Christ died for our sins,” (Rom 5:8; (1Co 15:3) it refers to His physical
death. If you think this, you are still a long way from understanding the
Celebrity-ship of Christ! When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was ALIVE; He
was speaking! (John 19:30) He kept saying, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY
HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Matt 27:46) The answer: “He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.” (2Co 5:21)
Upon the completion of bearing our sins in His own body, (1Pe 2:24) He
said, TETELESTAI (Perfect tense of TELEO) “It is finished in the past, with
the result that it keeps on being finished forever!” Salvation was completed
BEFORE He died physically. Physical death was no problem. He simply
dismissed His spirit; it was painless the horrible agony was Spiritual death.
While many thousands of people were crucified by the Romans during the
history of S.P.Q.R., (Senatus Populusque Romanus) no one ever died as
Jesus died. He died twice on the Cross. The Person was unique; the work
was unique; His death was unique!
THE EXALTED CHRIST
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the
name which is above every name (Php 2:9)
The physical death of Christ was necessary for His physical resurrection,
as He could not go back to heaven in a body of corruption. Therefore,
because of the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, God the Father, Author of the
Divine Plan of Grace, has highly exalted and glorified Christ. This is a
reference to the resurrection, ascension and session of Christ.
God the Father has also graciously bestowed the highest office on Jesus
Christ. “Name,” ONOMA, plus the definite article, is an idiom which means
“office, rank, dignity.” It is a maximum expression of the Celebrity-ship of
Jesus Christ. “The highest office above every office” is KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS. (Rev 19:16)
The Doctrine of the Ascension describes the Celebrity-ship of Christ in His
resurrection body.
DOCTRINE OF THE ASCENSION
1. The resurrection body of Christ was capable of space travel. The
humanity of Christ in resurrection traveled through all three heavens.
(John 20:17)
2. The purpose of this space travel was to arrive in a human body at the
throne room of God the Father. Although covered with no protective space
suit, the resurrection body did not burn up as it traveled through the universe;
it did not suffer fatigue, but arrived in perfect condition. (Rom 8:34; Col 3:1;
Heb 1:3; Heb 8:1; Heb 10:12; Heb 12:2) Upon His arrival, the Father said,
“Sit down at my right hand.” (Psa 110:1; Heb 1:13) Deity does not “sit”; only
Christ’s humanity sat down. This indicated the acceptability of the humanity of
Christ (Eph 1:20) and guarantees the acceptability of regenerate
mankind! (Rom 4:25; Eph 1:6)
The seating or session of Christ declared Him superior to all angels, fallen
and elect. (1Pe 3:22) Today believers are positionally higher than angels; but
in the resurrection, believers will be experientially superior to angels. This is
why God gives every believer at least one angelic servant — to some more
— a down payment that we will one day be superior to them. (Heb 1:14) And
who made all this possible? Jesus Christ, our Celebrity, through ascension
and session!
3. The ascension and session of the humanity of Christ produces a
strategic victory in the angelic conflict. (Heb 1:3-14)
4. The ascension begins a new sphere of the angelic conflict.
(Eph 1:20-23; Eph 4:7-10) Therefore, the believer of the New Covenant
Church Age is involved in the intensification of the angelic conflict.
5. The ascension begins “Operation Footstool” (Psa 110:1) and is quoted
in, (Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:33-35; Heb 1:13).
6. The Second Advent of Christ will conclude Operation Footstool.
(Dan 7:13-14; Zec 13:2; Col 2:15; Rev 20:1-3)
7. The ascension completes the glorification of Christ in hypostatic union.
(Acts 2:33; Php 2:9; (1Pe 3:22)
8. The ascension explains the uniqueness of the New Covenant Age,
(John 7:37-39) as well as the Celebrity-ship of Jesus Christ.
THE RECOGNITION OF THE CELEBRITY-SHIP OF CHRIST
So that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who
are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.(Php 2:10)
His name or rank emphasizes the exaltation of the humanity of Christ.
The Principle is found in, (John 5:23).
So that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does
not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
(Rev 5:13) describes His exaltation in heaven after the New Heavens and
New Earth. (Rev 21:1) That “EVERY KNEE WILL BOW” is the recognition of
the Celebrity-ship of Christ by believers and unbelievers who did not do it the
easy way. The easy way is through the communication of Truth by the pastor-
teacher to his congregation, so that they can reach super-grace and
Occupation with Christ.
The hard way is described for believers in, (Luke 12:46-48) and the
unbeliever will be on his knees at the end of time. He has rejected Jesus
Christ. He has used the Name of Christ in profanity and derision; he has
ridiculed Him. But the time will come when the Celebrity-ship of Christ will be
manifest to all creatures in the universe. (Isa 11:9) There are three areas
specified: (1) in heaven — believers and angels; (2) on earth — believers and
unbelievers; (3) under the earth — unbelievers in Torments; as well as fallen
angels in Tartarus.
And that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father. (Php 2:11)
The quintessence of the expression-of God’s Plan is the God-Man-Savior.
A perfect Plan from a perfect Father glorifies a perfect Son. His Plan was
that all creatures would come to recognize the Celebrity-ship of Christ, first of
all by the Gospel, leading a person to Phase One; (Salvation) next by
reaching super-grace, (Spiritual maturity) in Phase Two; (The believer in time)
or through a rude awakening in Phase Three. (Eternity) Where does this
leave believers who are ignorant of the Word of Truth and who do not
recognize the Celebrity-ship of Christ? They are completely missing the Plan
of God for their lives, and thus they are losing out on the greatest and most
wonderful blessing life can offer!
Yet this need not be the case in any believer’s life. Christ CAN become a
Reality NOW through Truth. “Christ is all and in all” who believe in Him.
(Col 3:10-11) Beginning with Doctrine, He is the grace source of everything
we have of value. Were it not for Jesus Christ, we would have nothing and be
nothing!
Divine Thinking in the soul counteracts the old sin nature, demon influence
and every other adverse circumstance in life. It is the basis for reaching
Personal love for God; and when we have maximum capacity for Category
One love under super-grace living, then we have a new focus, a new
concentration, a new motivation, a new happiness — in short, we have a
fantastic life! God is infinite with an infinite amount of Love and Truth. He can
and will double it for all eternity and we will never even come close to the
end! So as our capacity increases, by the daily intake and use of His
Thoughts, so does our fellowship with God! There is no other way to know
Him! (Jer 9:24) Now or in eternity. There will be no human thoughts in
eternity, so we need to get rid of them now! (Matt 16:23-26) So that we will
have a soul that has the capacity to love and fellowship with Him! (1Co 2:9)
As for unbelievers, before they get to the Lake of Fire, they will recognize
and finally acknowledge, the hard way, that Jesus Christ is the ONLY
CELEBRITY of the universe. Unbelievers are going to the Lake of Fire on
their knees saying “JESUS IS LORD!”
There is nothing greater that a believer can do during the course of Phase
Two than to live in the sphere of the Celebrity-ship of Jesus Christ the highest
status in experiential Christianity!
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of
God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of
Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the
reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he
endured, as seeing HIM who is unseen. (Heb 11:24-27)
End
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