Christ came down from the throne of God to identify with us as humans; He took on the garment of flesh, that we through His shed Blood might be able to identify in His life.
He even identified with sin and actually became sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21. For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (A Faithful Version)
Christ said in John 17:21. That they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me. (A Faithful Version) Look at how much these Scriptures talk identity, how we are identified with the Father and Christ through His death.
The oneness that God is talking about here is only made possible through His atoning sacrifice. This is why it is so important to understand the dual aspect of the work of the cross. There is a twofold fact we must know:
- Not only that He died for us.
- That we also died with Him. Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 2:20.
Most churches have not related and taught the second aspect of the cross. That we are identified with His death. Even the Protestant churches who preach grace still avoid or do not yet understand this 2nd aspect of our dying with Him, therefore self is still the ruling factor in their lives.
And sadly, enough this is the state of many churches. Since the Adamic nature is still the ruling factor that drives their life. Christ is not free to manifest Himself as needed in the vessels of those who fail to understand the second aspect of the cross.
Not finding our identification in Christ’s death is one reason we have so much spiritual poverty in the churches. Until we are able to see the dual aspect of Calvary, then we will reason that we must live a Christian life with His help. Self (Adamic nature) cannot produce what God is seeking for us. Only the NEW CREATION IN CHRIST. And this NEW CREATION is manifested as we are able to do the two aspects of the Cross.
As we learn and are able to practice the two aspects of the Cross, to partake of His suffering. Philippians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:10. Christ’s glory is progressively manifested within us. The more we learn of these identification truths the more we are able to embrace the Cross so that death might work in us so the life of Christ might be manifest within His dwelling place.
As we come to see these truths are path to the Cross is open before us. With suffering and death; and growth will be made more evident in our life, because self will not be ruling our being. As we rest in Christ, we are progressively having Him be manifested within our being.
This is the process that God uses to have us grow to maturity in Christ. Too many Christians feel they are good people; they don’t see the need for the crucifixion of the flesh-the old man (Adamic nature) in their lives. Most will not even want to study the two aspects of the cross (stake). So, the first part of the process we must go through is found in Romans 7:18. Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good. For the desire to do good is present within me; but how to work out that which is good, I do not find (A Faithful Version)
It is then that the cross begins to become attractive to us. Before that we do not see the need for our interaction with the cross. Self does not want to suffer, and our old nature will certainly avoid the pathway of the cross. But when we learn to see self for what it is (our identify), then we began to long to be identified with the New Creation (His identity). It is only then that the cross becomes attractive. Because we know that in our old nature, we are led to death but as the grip of the old man is lessened and we are freed from the self-life to partake of the Divine (His identity).
This is our pathway to growth. As we learn to have the death of the cross work in us, we still are allowed to have our own identity. OUR IDENTITY IS IN THE NEW CREATION. Although the Cross must eliminate many things it does not annihilate our identity. As we are having Christ manifest within us our New Nature must also go forth. We begin to manifest the Spirit of God in an intimate way.
This is a sight to behold. Think on this—The child of God has the Spirit of God manifest throughout their inner most being. We have the resurrected life of Christ manifested in us. WOW!
Through this process a oneness with God is taken up. This must take place within our vessels before our transformation into the NEW MAN/WOMAN of God. We become so identified with Christ and the NEW LIFE—That we become God minded in Spirit and heart. The mind of Christ is being instilled within us.
The characteristic of God is manifested throughout our own character. We begin intimate the nature of God in us through His Spirit.
Brethren, we have the Spirit of God manifest in our vessels. Put off this garment of flesh and put on the garment of the Most High God.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron
A Garment of Flesh – Ron Volk
December 20, 2024 by Shirley Gohner • Uncategorized • 0 Comments
Christ came down from the throne of God to identify with us as humans; He took on the garment of flesh, that we through His shed Blood might be able to identify in His life.
He even identified with sin and actually became sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21. For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (A Faithful Version)
Christ said in John 17:21. That they all may be one, even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me. (A Faithful Version) Look at how much these Scriptures talk identity, how we are identified with the Father and Christ through His death.
The oneness that God is talking about here is only made possible through His atoning sacrifice. This is why it is so important to understand the dual aspect of the work of the cross. There is a twofold fact we must know:
Most churches have not related and taught the second aspect of the cross. That we are identified with His death. Even the Protestant churches who preach grace still avoid or do not yet understand this 2nd aspect of our dying with Him, therefore self is still the ruling factor in their lives.
And sadly, enough this is the state of many churches. Since the Adamic nature is still the ruling factor that drives their life. Christ is not free to manifest Himself as needed in the vessels of those who fail to understand the second aspect of the cross.
Not finding our identification in Christ’s death is one reason we have so much spiritual poverty in the churches. Until we are able to see the dual aspect of Calvary, then we will reason that we must live a Christian life with His help. Self (Adamic nature) cannot produce what God is seeking for us. Only the NEW CREATION IN CHRIST. And this NEW CREATION is manifested as we are able to do the two aspects of the Cross.
As we learn and are able to practice the two aspects of the Cross, to partake of His suffering. Philippians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:10. Christ’s glory is progressively manifested within us. The more we learn of these identification truths the more we are able to embrace the Cross so that death might work in us so the life of Christ might be manifest within His dwelling place.
As we come to see these truths are path to the Cross is open before us. With suffering and death; and growth will be made more evident in our life, because self will not be ruling our being. As we rest in Christ, we are progressively having Him be manifested within our being.
This is the process that God uses to have us grow to maturity in Christ. Too many Christians feel they are good people; they don’t see the need for the crucifixion of the flesh-the old man (Adamic nature) in their lives. Most will not even want to study the two aspects of the cross (stake). So, the first part of the process we must go through is found in Romans 7:18. Because I fully understand that there is not dwelling within me—that is, within my fleshly being—any good. For the desire to do good is present within me; but how to work out that which is good, I do not find (A Faithful Version)
It is then that the cross begins to become attractive to us. Before that we do not see the need for our interaction with the cross. Self does not want to suffer, and our old nature will certainly avoid the pathway of the cross. But when we learn to see self for what it is (our identify), then we began to long to be identified with the New Creation (His identity). It is only then that the cross becomes attractive. Because we know that in our old nature, we are led to death but as the grip of the old man is lessened and we are freed from the self-life to partake of the Divine (His identity).
This is our pathway to growth. As we learn to have the death of the cross work in us, we still are allowed to have our own identity. OUR IDENTITY IS IN THE NEW CREATION. Although the Cross must eliminate many things it does not annihilate our identity. As we are having Christ manifest within us our New Nature must also go forth. We begin to manifest the Spirit of God in an intimate way.
This is a sight to behold. Think on this—The child of God has the Spirit of God manifest throughout their inner most being. We have the resurrected life of Christ manifested in us. WOW!
Through this process a oneness with God is taken up. This must take place within our vessels before our transformation into the NEW MAN/WOMAN of God. We become so identified with Christ and the NEW LIFE—That we become God minded in Spirit and heart. The mind of Christ is being instilled within us.
The characteristic of God is manifested throughout our own character. We begin intimate the nature of God in us through His Spirit.
Brethren, we have the Spirit of God manifest in our vessels. Put off this garment of flesh and put on the garment of the Most High God.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron