A NEW CREATURE (IN CHRIST)

                           2 Corinthians 5: 1-7: 6  12.08.12

  "For we must all appear before the judge-
     ment seat of Christ that every one may 
   receive the things done in his body, accor-
     ding to that he hath done, whether it be 
   good or bad."            1 Corinthians 5: 10
                                          

    As a fallen race we  find ourselves; Children of 
God  to  be  temporarily  clothed  in  mortal  flesh
subject to struggles and temptations as are others.
 We have our hope in Christ and guarantee of the 
Holy Spirit, since our confidence is not in self,but  
in Christ Jesus.  

 Our goal is to be well pleasing to our Lord since 
at the end of our earthly  existence we  will stand 
before  Him  to give account for the  deeds of our 
flesh, receiving  reward or loss according  to our
 works here.

 Having  received Jesus Christ, we now live according to the Spirit
and  know we are judged  according  to truth,  not appearance.  As
Christ has died for us, we are dead in Christ.  Since He arose from
the dead, we have eternal life in Him.  He is with the Father and we
know where He is we shall be. Our Lord is interceding for us, thus
we have fellowship with the Father by  faith in the person and  the
work of  his  Son, Jesus Christ.  Old things are  passing away, and 
everything is being renewed in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are said 
to be seated with Him in the Heavenly places, Ephesians 2. 

Not only have we been reconciled to God in Christ; he has given to
us the ministry of reconciliation.  In Christ's stead,  we call on men
to become  rightly related or reconciled to the Father.  Since Christ
took our place,  we stand in His place,  alive in Him.  We also stand
as  new creatures, righteous  before God through the Son, with no
righteousness of our own to claim.  

The coming into the world, as a human child, by the Lord Jesus was
for the express purpose of  redemption for mankind.  Christ fulfilled
His  mission and  left a cadre of Apostles*  through whom  His  Holy
Spirit could live and work to accomplish the further mission of esta-
blishing  His  Church or  Bride.  To get  this underway,  He  died  for
each who would accept Him, then returned  to the  Father where he
intercedes on our behalf.  The  work  is being  carried out  by  these
"New Creatures,"  something unclear in Old Testament times.  They
are given the Spirit of Jesus Christ and  they can do nothing except
through reliance on that Spirit.  By the Power of God they are given
unique and specific Spiritual gifts enabling each to do his own pecu-
liar work assigned by that Spirit.  Since the "vessels" used for these
tasks had to be free from  guilt of sin,  which separates  from a Holy
God, Christ's blood shed on the cross for their sin, actually cleanses
them and makes  them to be righteous.  "Husband's  love your wives
even as  Christ also loved  the church, and  gave  himself for it.  That
He might sanctify and  cleanse it  with the  washing of  water by  the
Word,  that  he might  present it  to himself,  a glorious church, with-
out spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and
without blemish." ( Ephesians 5: 25-27)  

     This righteousness is not a righteousness of their own. It is the 
righteousness of Jesus Christ  imputed to each  because of  a per-
sonal faith in God  the son.  We are only limited in the endeavor by
our  flesh or  physical  bodies.  God's Word  states in 1 Corinthians
15:50, "...flesh and blood cannot inherit  the Kingdom of God..."

    Therefore,  we know this  body of  flesh cannot  enter into God's eternal presence except it be changed to a  Spiritual body.  (God is 
a Spirit) In the mind of Christ we are in His Holy presence now, 

      ("...seated with Him in Heavenly places..."  Ephesians 2:4-10) 

  The guilt of sin has been expunged from our records in Christ, by
his blood and our life in christ is cleansed through the "washing of
the water of the Word..."  (Word of God)  Ephesians 5 

APOSTLE:  One who is sent. (to represent another)

                                                                
donporter,sr                                               11.25.12

PHILOSOPHY, HIS PRIORITIES

     Philosophy, His Priorities                                                  12.08.12

     They say marriage is good for a man.  If it is a good marriage it
will bring him contentment.  If it is a poor marriage it will make of
him a  philosopher.  I am an example of  the  former,  but it  seems
good to me to set down  the principles by which my life  is guided.
You do not have to be a philosopher to have a philosophy.   Every-
one has a  philosophy,  but most do not take time to examine it.  If
we do not carefully  research our  philosophy,  we can never know
why we do as we do and think as we think.  Philosophy that works
has it basis in Scripture.  (Word of God)

     The first priority for a human being, is to recognize who God is
and get to know Him. (It is not enough to know about Him.)  In his
book, "Knowing God," J. I. Packer quotes Charles H. Spurgeon: 

   “...Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the 
       whole of  man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation 
       of the great subject of the Deity.” 

   Before reading this book; it had not occurred to me, consciously, 
that  knowing God and  knowing  about Him are  two distinctly dif-
ferent things.  Why should we study God?  Since  God has created
us  and  is sovereign in His  universe, we  live  dysfunctional  lives,
without knowing Him, personally.   We may have some limited suc-
cess  in  business or other endeavors without knowing God, but in 
in order  to live  a well ordered, successful life,  we must know the 
one who created it all and  is still in charge.  So, within God’s plan 
for my life, I will be successful  first,  at being a man, a husband, a
father and grandfather. With the same knowledge, success in every 
other endeavor is  assured.  Success  as defined in Scripture is our 
goal...

Consider how this is worked out:
     With God as my life source, I will live free from greed, selfish
ambition, worry and  bitterness which will give  me an emotional 
balance on a Spiritual base. In the Old Testament book of I Chro- 
nicles 4: 10, we see, “...Oh that you would bless me indeed, and 
enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that 
You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain..” (Used 
in the book, "Prayer of Jabez")

I will, in the strength of the Lord, be a positive and encouraging 
presence in my sphere of influence.  We see in Proverbs 3: 5-10
critical  principles of  success.  “Trust in the  Lord with all  your 
heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways 
acknowledge  Him, and  He shall direct  your  paths.  Do  not be 
wise  in your own  eyes;  Fear the Lord and depart  from evil.  It   
will be  health to  your  flesh, (navel)  And  strength (marrow) to 
your  bones.  Honor the  Lord with  your possessions,  And with 
the first fruits of  all your  increase;  So your barns will be filled 
with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
(nkjv)

Success for a family man would be hollow unless his spouse and
offspring  were  also  rightly  aligned and  successful.  Since  our 
families are all important to each of us, our prayer for them must 
be: “May the Lord God call them and choose each to be His child 
and servant.  may their lives glorify Him.”  We also pray that this 
family  makes a difference for righteousness  in this world and if 
any of them has sin in their lives it would  be forsaken and forgi-
ven.  

"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about,
that Job sent and sanctified them,  and rose up early in the mor-
ning, and  offered  burnt-offerings  according to  the number  of 
them all.  For Job said, 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and 
cursed God in their hearts.'  This did Job continually."   Job 1: 5

 May the Lord guide us through this time of trial, and present us 
to Himself  in victory as part of  His perfected bride/church with-
out spot or blemish to make our eternal dwelling with Him as His
bride.”  (Ephesians 5: 25-27)
   
We  are part of the Family of God and trust that family reflects 
the radiance  of God, as the moon, having  no light of it’s own, 
reflects the glory of the sun.                    2 Peter 3: 9                                     

donporter 12.08.12  (ed. 4.04.15

WHAT OUR LORD DESIRES OF US...

What Our Lord Desires of Us...                                                12-29-03

      "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, 
        and  open the door,  I will come  in to him,  and will sup with him, 
       and he with me."                                 Revelation 3: 20

       “He came unto His own,  and His own received  Him not.  But as 
          many as received  Him,  to them He gave the power to become 
          the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which 
          were born,  not of blood,  nor of the will of the flesh, nor of  the 
          will of man, but of God.”                  John 1: 11-13
                                                                    

     Along with the two passages above, Scripture gives accounts of how 
Jesus was  known to go into the homes of  His followers.  It seems this 
was normally His first order of business,  to get to know one  this way.  
Matthew made a feast in his home.   Mary, Martha and Lazarus,  had 
their Lord come to stay with them.   Zachaeus made His  confession to 
Christ as He sat at table with him and other guests.   At  times persons
invited the Lord and at other times He invited Himself.  Scripture  indi-
cates He invited  himself into  homes where  occupants might consider 
himself or herself unworthy of such a visit.   Other  times, the new dis- 
ciple invited  him.  (Not necessarily Apostle.)  The idea is each,  whom  
he visited,  received him  gladly.  He  always went  where  invited, and
did not care about political correctness  

     The message of  God’s Word seems clear.  God desires a personal 
relationship with  those who would  follow Him.  He does not call us as
servants or  workers  in His  Kingdom,  but  friends,  associates,  sons 
and daughters.   He  is eager  to share intimate insight into His nature  
with all who avail themselves of the opportunity.  Since His ascension, 
the change has been the nature of that relationship. We no longer see 
nor communicate with our Lord in the flesh, but we still have opportu-
nity to enjoy communion with Him as real and meaningful as they did,
through the indwelling Spirit of Jesus Christ.  
     
     Today emphasis seems to  be upon activity for God  and service,  
until a disciple is so worn down by the service he has neither energy,  
time nor inclination for communion  with the creator.  This  dilemma,   
brought on by our proclivity for putting the cart before the horse, can 
result  in reduction of  our effectiveness  in service to  our  God.  We
expend  much effort in  the flesh toward  Spiritual goals.  The  adage,  
“work  smarter,  not harder,”  applies.  If  we are  wise and establish  
a close  personal  relationship with our  Heavenly Father through the
 Son,  we receive  the  power and wisdom  of  the indwelling  Spirit of 
God.

   Since the priority of our Lord, while on the earth in the flesh was to 
establish  relationships with  His disciples in conversation at table,  it 
seems making ourselves available to Him in  the same manner would 
be beneficial.  This  passage in  the  Revelation  does say  something  
about eating and drinking,  well after His resurrection and ascension.  
There  is also  the metaphor of  bread referring  to the Word  of God, 
 consistent  in the Old and  New Covenants.  Just as these  bodies of  
flesh are  nourished  at table, our  Spiritual  nourishment  must come 
from communion  with the Father through prayer,  reading and medi-
tation  upon the Word of God,  the bread of  life.   It  is  enhanced by  
the  ordinance of  The Lord’s Supper of Christ with  wine,  represen-
ting  His blood shed  for  our  sins.   In this ordinance, or  "Commun-
ion," commanded of  each believer,  members of  the local assembly 
regularly come together at the table of  our Lord, to remember  His
death until He comes again.        
   
            
donporter     12.06.12, ed. 8.25.14
   

COMMUNICATING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

          (The best way to be a blessing in someone’s life)

“Success in witnessing is sharing Christ in the power of the
  Holy Spirit and leaving the results with God.” 
 (Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, 1970)

"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither is he
that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  1 Cor. 3:7

Is there anything more important to the Child of God than
confronting  those with  whom he comes  into  contact with 
the eventual accountability they will make before God?

“And it is appointed unto men, once to die but after this        
  the judgment.” Hebrews 9: 27

“But I say unto you,  That every  idle word that men shall
  speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judg-
  ment.  For  by  thy words thou shalt be justified,  and  by
  thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12: 36-37

You and I must warn others of this...Ezekiel 3: 17 - 21.

“Today, I am putting you and me on notice just what the Lord
God has charged us to do.  If we do not this thing,  our friends
blood will be on our heads.  Is this something we want to risk?  
What can we do about it?

**********************************************************

1. Make  sure about your  personal  relationship with
    Jesus Christ.  Is the Spirit of the Son of God living,
    and active in your life?  "The Spirit, itself, beareth
    witness with our spirit,  that we are the children of
    God." Romans 8: 16
    "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness
    in himself;  he that believeth not God hath made Him a
    liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave
    of His Son.   And this  is the record that God hath given
    to us eternal life and that life is in His Son."
    1 John 5: 10-11.

2. You and I must  be equipped  with the knowledge needed
    to communicate this “Good News” to whomever our God 
    places within our circle of influence.  
         "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
           profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, 
           for instruction in righteousness;  That the man  of 
           God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto every 
           good work."
    II Tim. 3: 16-17,  We must use Scripture to reach out to
            those  to whom  we would  communicate the saving 
            grace of Jesus Christ.

3. We must make sure  our lives are not a reproach upon the Son 
     of God.  "Moreover he must have a good report of them which 
     are  without;  (outside the community of faith) Lest he fall into 
     reproach and the snare of the devil." 1 Tim. 3: 7 (As a deacon)

4. Knowing this,  It is not within our power to ‘save’ anyone.
    If  there is  a  work done in  a  person to whom we witness
    and/or within ourselves,  it is God doing the work. We just
    ask to be used of Him.  "Being confident of this very thing,
    that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform
    it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1: 6)

5. Simply talk about the Lord,  Kingdom principles,  of  how
    he has done a work in your own life; of how your came to 
    faith, and watch Him work.
                   
  (Taken from a series of Bible Studies in 2008 at Naples
  Church in Henderson County, NC)
Thanks for reading... see the link below:

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-roman-road.html

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/
                                                       donporter  12.04.12

THINKING AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD

Thinking as the People of God...                 Ephesians 1                  11.30.12

      When we think of  those who have  made a  mark  for  the Lord in
this  life,  some  things  are  consistent  about  their  experience.  The
first  that  occurs to  me  is;  they,  without  exception,  lived  with no
concern  for  what  other  men  might  think  or say.   It  seems  they,
having  assurance from  God of  their goals,  and  the authenticity of
their relationship with  the Father,  refused to be stopped,  slowed or 
distracted by the things  that blew  others off course.  Being students 
of  the Word  of  God,  their  thoughts and  actions ran counter to the 
culture.   Another  attribute was  humility.   Although  they  were,  at 
times  thrown  into  the limelight,  it did not  throw them  off  course.
they did not seem  take notice of  their status.  Their goals were stra-
tegic and the press, positive or negative,  had no noticeable affect on 
their performance.

    Going back to the Old Testament,  we  find the history of great men
of  God who  had  feet of  clay,  as  do  all men.   They did not  let their
imperfections  keep them  from  the business of serving  the Lord and
His  people.   King  David,  a  “man  after  God’s  own heart.”  His fail-
ures did not keep him from getting business done for the  Lord.  Each
of the patriarchs in turn, men created from the dust of  the earth, fal-
lible and failing miserably at times,  completed the task assigned  him.  
Even though their histories were tainted by failure and sin, they were 
approved  of God.  It  would  be less than  honest  not  to note the fact 
that the sins of  these  men did scar  their lives in some ways and had 
disastrous personal and familial consequence.  Their confidence was
not in self,  but in  the Lord God,  the God of  Abraham,  Isaac and  of
Jacob.  

   One favorite Bible character, Enoch, was an  exception. It  is said;
“...Enoch was not, for God  took him.”   Apparently,  the man Enoch
was such a Godly man that he never experienced death.  It is said in
God’s  Word,  “Enoch walked  with  God.”   That is the key to serving  
our  lord.  It  is  uncomplicated;  it  is within the reach of every child
of  God and there will  be no excuse when  we stand before the Lord 
to  give account of  the deeds done in the  flesh if we did not exercise
this discipline.   We know His desire for us to have a close daily walk 
with Him. The book, “Knowing God,” by J. I. Packer,  has taught me 
the  concept of  “knowing God,”  rather than just knowing  about the 
Lord  God.   There is a  quote by  Pastor C. H. Spurgeon, on  the very 
first  page which elevates the acquisition of  first hand knowledge of  
God above every pursuit in which a man  may spend his life.
       (This book is available on Ebay and I highly recommend it.)

     From Enoch, Abraham, Moses, etc.  to John the beloved, Peter, the
impetuous, and the Apostle Paul,  down to our present time, the great
men are those who made it a lifestyle and  habit to be in the pursuit of
getting  to  know  the  Lord  God.   How else will  one  have any idea of
what He has for us to do with the life with which He has entrusted us?

     In order to serve our Lord, we must first know Him:
Getting  to know Him is as plain as getting  into  His word,  finding His
revealed  will and getting to the business of  practicing  that will.  Why
would our Lord reveal  anything to one who is not already in obedient
to available light.  The key, faith in God;  “Without faith it is impossi-
ble to please God.”  All of the above comes of an unquestioning faith,
and subsequent obedience to  things we  learn as we get to know Him.  
In the Word of God we read,  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of 
God, these are the son’s of God.”  It  leaves little  room for a child of
God to live a life that does not feature a personal walk with the  Lord 
God, the only true and living  God.  All  other "gods" are creations of 
mankind with perverted or overactive imaginations.  (Vain  Imagina-
tion)

  Having discussed, briefly,  some things in God’s Word about walking
with Him, we now look  into how this works out  everyday.  In order to
know  how to walk with God  we look to  the one who  gave the  perfect
example.  Jesus Christ  (God in the flesh) humbled Himself  becoming
a man although He was God.  (This can only be addressed in a lengthy
discussion of God’s omnipresence,  at another  time.)  Being  God,  He 
took  the form of a man separated  Himself  from God  the Father and 
became an entity apart.  (Although in form of man, He was God in the
the flesh. He shed His glory in order to be incarnate and fulfill the mis-
sion to which  He was born.)  Eternal  ramifications of  this to the Son
are staggering to consider.  He then walked in submission to God,  His 
Father, serving the  Father through  his deeds of  service to  mankind. 
After his rejection by the very people  He came to save,  paid the price 
for  the sins of the world by His sacrificial death on the cross.  He was 
put  to death by those He came to serve and save.  As we study the life 
of Christ,  in depth, we have answers on how to walk with God;  A life-
long commitment, reaping eternal rewards;      AMEN!!

Characteristics of the Man of God:

1. Listens to God rather than man.  Acts 5:27-29
2. Student of the Word of God resulting in obedience to revelation.
     Acts 26:19-20
3. Personal humility of spirit.  Ephesians 3:7-8, 4:1-3
4. Does not focus on personal faults.  Ephesians 2:1-9
5. Focuses on Christ and His perfection.  Ephesians 1
6. Experience a close walk with his Heavenly Father.(Prayer)
    Colossians 4:2-3,
7. Personal knowledge of and relationship to God.(God’s Word)
    Romans 16:25-27
8. Awareness of coming day when he shall stand before his creator to
    give account for the deeds of the flesh and opportunities of service.
    Romans 14:12, Matthew 12:36,
9. Reliance on God and no confidence in the flesh.  Romans 12:3
10.Realizes the invisible is permanent and material is temporary.
     Luke 17:20-21
    (All of the above could be summarized, “a man of faith in God.”)
                                                                  donporter 11.30.12 ed.8.25.14

TRUE WITNESS JOHN 5

 True Witness                                          John 5: 31-32                           2004
        "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  There
        is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the 
            witness which he witnesseth of me is true."

  In the following passage of Scripture we will consider the testimony 
of a witness according to God’s law of  objective witness as opposed to 
subjective witness.   In subjective witness one testifies of  himself.   In 
objective testimony, one testifies of/for another.  Subjective witness is
not authoritative in  God’s  court any  more than  in the  courts of  our 
land.  In the realm of  the Lord God,  the only authoritative  witness is\
the Lord God, Jesus Christ or the Spirit,  (Holy Spirit) 

  Our first consideration is the verse listed above, our key Scripture. If 
one bear witness of himself it is not authoritative. To carry weight, the 
testimony must come from another.  Every Scriptural reference shows
our Lord coming in the name of  God the Father.  One passage confir-
ming the authority of Jesus Christ is found  in  Acts 4: 8-12; Peter was
first filled with the Holy Spirit.  In verse 12  stated,  “Nor  is there sal-
vation in any other; for there is none other name under  heaven given  
among   men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved.”    Here, the  Holy Spirit,   
through  Simon  Peter,  testifies to the authority of  the name of Jesus 
Christ.  We look in the  gospel according to John and  find many such 
references.  

In John 4:22-24, during Jesus' conversation with a woman of Samaria
at the well,  he  stated, “God  is  a  Spirit...”  This  lays  groundwork for 
the Holy Spirit’s entrance into the  world in the name  of  Jesus Christ
after His ascension,  to  represent God  the Father.  In  John 5: 43-44,  
Jesus Christ states he has come in  the name of  His Father.  It is inte-
resting also,  in John 14:26  where  Christ states,  “But the Comforter,
which  is the  Holy Ghost,  whom  the Father will send in my name, he
shall  teach you all  things and  bring  all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said  unto you.”  Here he restates, the Spirit is sent 
of  the Father,  but comes  in  the  the name of  Jesus  Christ.  Without 
exception,  witness  is given,  as  one gives  testimony of another.  You 
may say Jesus gave  authority to  the Holy Spirit  and  God  the Father 
and the Holy Spirit  gave  witness  to  the authority of  God the Father 
and God the Son. (Another title of Jesus Christ) The Holy Spirit never 
gives  witness to  Himself.   Is there  name given the Holy Spirit except 
that of  Holy Spirit,  Spirit of God,  Holy Ghost,  Spirit,  or the Spirit of 
Jesus Christ?  

 All of  this  gives  confirmation to  the  assertion  of  Jesus Christ who, 
 before  His  ascension,  stated  His  disciples  would  perform  greater  
 works than He. Since Christ did not testify of Himself  and  the power 
 of God rests in  his name,  the disciples had  the potential for  greater 
 works than did He. In other words, disciples of Christ have the power 
 of His name in performance of their deeds while Christ did not testify 
 in that name.   (verse 12 of Acts 4)

NEVER THOUGHT OF IT IN THAT WAY, NOR HEARD
         ANYONE ADDRESS IT.  HOPE THIS IS CLEAR...  

Thanks for looking.                 donporter  11.29.12  edited 9.29.14    

"THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE..."

                         “I am the way, the truth, and the life...” 
              ("No one cometh to the Father but by me"  John 14:6)
                         
    This statement by our Lord, Jesus Christ, must be one of His most 
memorable.  Jesus,  alone could make such a  statement as  this and 
back it up.  I  had at times  paraphrased the verse;   I am the  way to 
God, the truth about God and the life in God, but I have found it does 
not have the meaning Christ had behind these words.  This verse has 
come to mean even more upon closer study of the three words, “way,  
truth, and life.” When we consider the first word and how many times 
and ways it is used  in the "Word,"  our understanding  is challenged.  
True, He  is the way to God the Father.  He  is also the  way  in other  
respects.  First, we see the word “way” used to describe the life of  a 
Child of God or the church as  a whole.   Anyone who is “in the way,” 
 is living for Him.  If one is to be successful in this  life,  there is one 
“way,” and  that way is  Jesus Christ.  To keep from being  lost,  one  
must know the way, and that way is Jesus Christ.  As we show one the 
“way,”  we  are showing  him Jesus Christ.  The way is a route.   It  is 
also the means of  traveling along that route.   Jesus Christ is not only 
the route to the Father, he is also the means of getting from where you 
are to the Father.  In another respect, the way is a synonym of “how.”  
How do we live the Christ life, or a Godly life except through the way,  
Jesus Christ.  He is also our how.  It is  impossible to live a Godly life 
in the flesh, that is, in our own abilities.  We must have the way, Jesus 
Christ, living and active in us.  It is He who gets things done.  He uses 
us as vessels.  He is the power;  the direction.  (way) Without His  pre-
sence in our lives, along the the way,  we would  be impotent  working 
our way to and for our Lord.  He must also be acknowledged as Lord
of Life.  We can only acknowledge Him to be Lord in the Power of the
Way; the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

The second element of  the statement, “truth,” is  remarkable as well.  
We would not even know truth except for Him.  Just as Jesus Christ is 
love,  He is also truth.  This does not  mean truth defines Christ,  but it 
means Christ defines truth as he does love,  being the well spring.  He 
is indefinable, without limits,  and cannot be contained.   We, however;  
are able to  see much about His  person, by studying  the many  words 
it takes to describe the Word,  Christ.  Using  truth to describe Christ, 
we find  He is the starting  place for  anyone  interested  in uncovering 
truth.  If one chooses to ignore  Jesus Christ, he will  never know truth 
and can never be free.  “You shall know the truth and the truth, Christ 
shall set you free."  Since nothing  binds or restricts one as  does a lie 
or the inability to determine  the truth of  a  matter,  one believes a  lie
concerning a matter, finds the solution to a problem relating to the mat-
ter is closed to him.   When  one refuses to accept  truth, Jesus Christ,   
all of  life is  a closed  book.  Our Lord is He who holds the world toge-
ther by the power of  His word.  (Thy word is truth)  When He makes a 
statement,  it is true,  since His saying it  would make it  true.  There is
is another  facet to His inability  to lie.  His  essence (his being)  keeps 
him  from doing so.  Again,  He is truth.  When Jesus Christ  made the 
statement, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” He was not defining 
 himself. He was giving  us  insight  into  God  and when  we add to this 
statement,  the  many other claims  He made,  we know  enough about 
God the father, to be able to relate to Him, but only through a belief in, 
and  reliance upon Jesus Christ,  God the Son,  and His finished work.
(He is not only the Way to God,  He is also our mediator and interces-
sor with His Father. 

  (Virgin born of God, [His Son] Lived a sinless life, was Crucified, buried, 
   raised the third day, ascended to the Father, interceding on our behalf.) 
 
The third part of our text, life, is also vital to us.  In truth, we do not sepa-
rate  the passage.  We try  to  understanding it  in small  increments.   Life 
encompasses  everything.  Life was  originally  given  when  God breathed 
the  breath of  life into Adam, the original created  man,  and this  life was 
passed to succeeding  generations.  It's true in a real sense;  death reigned 
over mankind from the time of the fall.  Grace,  another  term  applying to 
our Lord Jesus Christ,  was  also extended to  His  creation in  the form of 
Divine Providence,  withholding the final judicial sentence until the embo-
diment of  God's  Grace,  Love and Mercy came  to  this  earth to effect the 
work that would offer redemption to mankind  resulting  in eternal  life to
all who would receive HIM.

 There is another aspect to this  life in Christ.   Life in Christ has beginning 
as do all  things having  to do with mankind, but  this  life  has no end.  It is 
eternal  and could  not  be otherwise.  Since  Jesus Christ  did this work of 
grace at the  behest of  the Father,  it  could only be eternal.   It is obvious; 
this  eternal life will not be withdrawn because of failure on the part of the 
beneficiary,  since it  never  depended upon  the worthiness  of  same.  The 
worthiness and  the work is wrapped  up  in Christ and  He will  perform it 
until the Day of  the Lord as in Philippians 1:6.   We, God’s Children, have 
the best of  both worlds.  In Romans 8 we find, “There is therefore now no 
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according 
to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of  life in 
Christ Jesus has made me free from  the  law of  sin  and  death.  For what 
the law could not do in that it was weak, through the flesh, God did by sen-
ding His own Son in the likeness of sinful  flesh, on account of sin;  He con- 
demned sin in the flesh, that  the righteous requirements of  Law might be 
fulfilled in us who do not  walk according to the flesh  but according to the 
Spirit.”   The Spirit giveth life...2 Corinthians 3:6, 
                                    1 Peter 3:18, Luke 12: 27 (KJV)

http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-then-shall-i-live.html
                                                                                   
don porter...11.25.12, edited 3.30.14