You Who Were Far Off Have Been Brought Near

 
“But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ,” Ephesians 2:13 ESV

We were far off from the mercies of God because of what happened during Deuteronomy 32:8-9 ESV, where God disinherited the nations and assigned sons of God to look after the nations until the time of Christ. However, God kept a nation for himself, which was started through Abraham and Jacob (Israel).

Seventy nations were assigned to divine beings by the Most High God to watch over. These divine beings, also called the sons of God, were a part of God's divine council. However, these sons of God rebelled against the Most High, and they led the people astray. They also demanded that the men of these nations worship them instead of the Most High God. Their rebellion brought chaos and darkness upon these seventy nations, but there was one nation that stood firm, unwavering in their faith - Israel. Despite the chaos and destruction, God's chosen nation grew and became more robust.

It was heartbreaking for the Father when the Sons of God rebelled. They were meant to represent the Father's love for mankind until Jesus came to earth and redeemed humans to their Heavenly Father. Sadly, their rebellion only caused pain and grief for both humans and the divine council as well. Many loyal angels went to war against these principalities and powers to keep them in line and prevent them from crossing their allotted boundaries.

During the feast of Pentecost in ancient Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit started calling out to the seventy nations to return to God. Many visitors from these countries were in the city and heard the disciples proclaiming the mercies and glory of God in their native tongues, creating a buzz. Through the sacrifice of His son Jesus, God was reaching out to the nations in a way they could understand. The stir in the city was a call to action for the outcast people to return to God and embrace His love. It was the beginning of a new era, a time when foreign nations could come together and unite with the Jews under the banner of Christ. (See Acts chapter 2.)

It was Paul who was first given the ministry to reach out to the Gentiles with the message of the gospel. Paul states “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 ESV

Paul's missionary journeys were driven by a deep desire to spread his ministry and reach out to as many of the disinherited nations as he could before his inevitable imprisonment and execution in Rome. His unrelenting passion led him to set his sights on Spain, which was widely regarded as the "end of the earth" during his time. The early church scholars Jerome and Clement believed that Paul had reached Spain before his untimely death. This serves as a testament to the unwavering conviction that fueled Paul's mission and inspires us to reach out to as many as would receive Christ as their savior to build the Kingdom of God.

Paul was unaware of the many nations beyond his missionary journeys that needed to know about the savior, including China, Russia, Ireland, England, and many other European nations. But we, as gentiles, have been called out to by the disciples who spoke in unknown tongues to declare the glory of God. Through time and space, God is reaching out to us, seeking to restore us to Himself through Christ Jesus. Let us be open to God's love and restoration and share the good news with those around us so that everyone can know His love and be saved.

We now become co-heirs with Christ by receiving His gift of redemption through faith in Him. In doing so, Christ is restoring Eden and bringing us back to our loving Heavenly Father, who desires to fill His house with His family. It was never about following rules, laws. or ordinances to please our Heavenly Father, but rather about having a relationship with Him based on believing loyalty. Our Heavenly Father demonstrated believing loyalty by setting an example for us, and He knew that the best way to do that was to become the example Himself. That's why He became Christ Jesus the man, to model believing loyalty to the world. That is now the only requirement for redemption.

The statement "you who once were far off have been brought near" is more than just words - it's a lifeline. The Father has paved the way to bring you back to the love of a Father who has His arms outstretched, waiting to receive you. He has always wanted His sons and daughters to know that they have a safe space to come and be embraced, to rest, and to be reminded that they are loved and valued in His eyes.

Stephen Barnett

We Are His Workmanship

 

“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV

What an incredible statement, “For we are his workmanship,” it harkens back to Romans 1:4-6 “Jesus Christ our Lord through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” This statement brings into question what is His workmanship pertaining to His grace and apostleship in our lives? Many have said we are to be more like Christ in our attitudes and responses to others, that is a true statement, but that isn’t where it ends, that is only where it begins.

Do you want to experience the beauty and glory of Christ in your life? There is more to Jesus Christ than just having a changed attitude and living a holy life. Imagine the powers of heaven coming into play when we manifest Christ in our lives. According to Jesus in the gospels, whoever believes in Him will do the works that He did, and even greater works because He is going to the Father (John 14:12 ESV). I am referring to these greater works that come from having a relationship with Jesus and His body of believers, not works that demonstrate how great we are or what we have achieved, but more of Christ is doing through us in our obedience to Him.

The truth is, we don't need to say anything new or come up with new ideas, we are Christ’s workmanship. The scripture itself tells us that we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God had already prepared for us to do beforehand, that 'beforehand' is before the earth was created. Our job is to align ourselves with what God has already designed us to do. 

So, what has God created for us to do? Our ultimate purpose as His sons and daughters is to rule and reign on the earth with Christ as co-heirs with Him, restore the earthly order back to where it was created to be. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?” Romans 8:22-24 ESV

I have often heard it said that God can do the impossible, that is “impossible” from the world’s standards, but possible in Christ because he controls all things and everything is held together by Him. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

As we manifest Christ through and with other believers, we become conduits for His miraculous power and energies through the Holy Spirit. The early Church was said to have walked in healings, miracles, and prophecy, which was only a glimpse of the greater powers to come. Christ was only beginning to reveal through the early church that His body would restore the paradise that was lost in Eden, bringing order to the chaos that has plagued the world since the fall of man.

As much as I would love to claim that there are many powers that are labeled as technologies in our day and age are in fact God’s kingdom power that have been hijacked, I must be careful because the American government monitors and suppresses this kind of speech because of two reasons, one because it may harm the economy or monetary system, and secondly because the government takes any power what it deems to be 'technology' for itself first before ever considering allowing any of the public to utilize kingdom power.

For example, supernatural healing has been well documented and proven to be effective for many who have received it. The government/medical establishment has not supported any attempt to recognize spiritual healing as being a legitimate form of medicine or healing. Even though Jesus eluded to  Himself as a physician. “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16-17 ESV

Throughout history, we have seen spiritual manifestations where supernatural events became viable in the natural world. Moses, Elijah, and Elisha are three examples of this occurring. But imagine if someone like Elijah appeared in the United States today and performed the same miracles he performed in ancient days. Unfortunately, he would be silenced or killed by the government, preventing his message from empowering the masses. 

This is a missed opportunity because if Christ and His church were to become empowered and stand in kingdom power, they would not be allowed to speak, they would be rounded up and imprisoned. It would be like the Pharaoh and the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, where it would become a test of the God of heaven against the gods of Egypt. In our case, it would be the God of heaven against the gods of America, which is money and technology (also known as the god Hermes or Mercury). So, we must ask ourselves, do we want to be ruled by technology or by Christ? I believe the answer is clear.

Stephen Barnett

The Gift Of God

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

Grace is a mercy freely offered by God to anyone that responds to Him, it is by faith that we receive salvation. So what is salvation? Let’s do a deep dive into what we are saved from, and what we are saved to.

Throughout history, many preachers have spoken of a gospel of fire and damnation, which was effective in the early years of Christianity when it came to convincing bad people that there is a good God out there. However, this approach may not be so effective in convincing people of the mercy of God nowadays. It is true that we serve a Holy God who is completely different from us. Holiness means just that—set apart, special, not common. When we approach God’s holiness, we become aware that we are encountering a divine being who knows us completely and is so different from us that it can be disarming. Encountering God’s holiness means risking exposure of our true selves, which is what God is after anyway. When we approach God with openness and honesty, He responds to us with love and mercy, not condemnation or judgment. We are the ones who tend to condemn and judge ourselves when we compare ourselves to the holiness of God.

When we finally acknowledge our limitations and confess that we cannot achieve holiness on our own, we open the door to a life-changing covenant with our Creator. Through His Son Jesus Christ, we become united with God in a way that is both transformative and unbreakable. Paul speaks of this incredible union in Ephesians 5:25-32 ESV, where he describes a bond so intimate that two become one —Christ and us. It is a beautiful and powerful mystery that empowers us to live our lives with purpose, meaning, and a deep sense of belonging. Paul also states in Galatians 2:20 ESV ”I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

By embracing the faith of Christ, we can be reborn in him. This transformative union is not a mere revival or revamping of our old, sinful nature, but a profound and necessary change that puts that old nature to death. In its place, we receive the new nature of Christ, which is so much better than anything we could have imagined. It is like trading in old, worn-out, smelly clothing for something new, fresh, and infinitely more useful. Just as Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, we too must die to our old ways, so that we can be reborn in him and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. With Christ reigning completely in our bodies, we can know the peace and purpose that we never knew was possible.

As believers, we have been saved to live a life filled with peace, joy, and love in the Holy Spirit. Our status before God has changed from being outcasts to being adopted as His sons and daughters through Christ. We are not just solo individuals of faith, but part of a larger family, connected to fellow believers who have experienced the same transformative power of a personal relationship with Christ.

The establishment of God's family on earth serves a crucial purpose. Our primary mission is to spread the word that God is gathering His family together through Christ to accomplish something extraordinary. We are called to reveal Christ through our interactions with one another, serving as a testament to God’s mercy and grace and by encouraging each other on a daily basis.

Furthermore, our call to be part of God's family on earth is not just about our individual salvation. It is about a cosmic battle in the spiritual realm where God will remove the dark forces that rule over the nations of the earth. As we join together as victorious sons and daughters in Christ, our new role will be replacing these principalities and powers with the light of God's love and truth, demonstrating God’s unending mercy to those nations.

Let us hold fast to the knowledge that we are part of something greater than ourselves. Together, let us fulfill our mission to spread the word of God's love and mercy to ALL people, and bring God’s people home. That is God’s gift to us in Christ.

Stephen Barnett

Raised Up With Christ

'God'”raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2 6-7 ESV

Have you ever wondered why God wants to raise us up with Him in Heavenly places? I believe it's for more than just bragging rights. God loves His family and wants to show His lavishness upon His Sons and Daughters. But why in heavenly places? I believe God wanted to prove the rebellious divine beings wrong. They claimed that mankind was too weak and feeble to ever amount to anything, which is why they attack us so mercilessly. God wanted to demonstrate that they were sorely mistaken, and that with His help, we can accomplish great things through Christ. By raising us up in Heavenly places, God is showing the spiritual world that nothing is impossible when Christ resides in us.

But what about on earth? That is where we reside and the place we will inherit. How does that translate to our present reality? Jesus said “Father...Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”. So if God’s will is to raise us up with Him in Heavenly places, how much more are we to live like kingdom subjects here on earth. We are giving away the resources of the Heavenly places to fortify and build us up so that we can be confident and strong in our faith trusting the word of God to win the battles of this earth over the principalities and powers that are presently ruling the earth.

As inhabitants of Earth, we are in a position to inherit it. This is mentioned in Psalms, "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11 KJV) However, we should not forget that our present reality should align with God's Kingdom, as Jesus also emphasized in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5 ESV) Jesus taught us to pray for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. If we are to be raised up with God in Heavenly places, then we must be Kingdom regents here on Earth too. We demonstrate Kingdom principles by tapping into the resources of Heavenly places, which will fortify and build us up in our Kingdom identity. This will build our confidence and strength in our faith. By trusting the word of God, we become victorious in the battles of this Earth. Do we recognize that these battles are the Lord's battles against the principalities and powers that are presently ruling it. Our role is to release the Kingdom upon ALL of God's children that He has redeemed on the cross and bring them home to their Heavenly family.

The divine beings that rebelled are presently ruling on earth thought that they were something back in the day, and let their pride rule their thoughts elevating their egos to believe that they were somehow greater then God Himself. They came to earth with the belief that mankind could be easily manipulated and controlled. Satan and his angels of rebellion have believed this since they first came to earth. The question in my mind is why did they want to corrupt mankind when these angels were already part of God’s heavenly family? I cannot believe it was pride alone that motivated them to rebel, that is too simple of an explanation.

Lucifer, a divine being of unparalleled beauty, held an esteemed position in Heaven. Many of God's heavenly family admired him and followed his lead. However, Lucifer's desire for power and control led him astray. He requested a partition of Heaven to rule with his followers, and God granted his wish, but it was not what he expected. He became the ruler of Hell, along with one-third of the angels who followed him. God replaced these vacancies in heaven with the creation of a human family.

Lucifer was renamed Satan, and he felt betrayed by God for his prideful boast. In his anger, he formed a plot to attack humanity, launching an all-out assault against God for banishing him and his followers to Hell. The consequences of his actions were catastrophic, and humanity has suffered greatly as a result. But God provided a way of redemption through Christ, that even Satan was unaware of and could not control.

Yes, we are ruling and reigning with Christ in Heavenly places, but part of our inheritance is the earth. We will eventually displace the principalities and powers that are currently ruling on the earth, and take their place as benevolent benefactors over the nations that have been ravaged by these rebellious divine beings, and bring the Kingdom age into fruition that all may know Christ and the power of His rule and might, as well as the mercy and grace He shows to all who come to Him and make Him their Lord and savior.

As we continually grow in Christ, He becomes our everything, and we become transformed into the image of God in all of our words and actions. It is Christ in us which is changing us. God does want to show us off and demonstrate the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus so that others would see Christ in us and come to know Him too.

Stephen Barnett

Rich In Mercy

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”  Ephesians 2:4-5

Mercy is a divine attribute that extends far beyond the spiritual world and encompasses the natural world in ways that are beyond our imagination. This is because the very character of God is one of mercy. Why does God show mercy to us? The answer is simple: love. God loves His family, and we are all part of that family, whether we realize it or not. We were created to be part of God's family, and He has always seen us as such, even before we were aware of it. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV

Compassion lies at the heart of mercy, and God's compassion for us is unlimited. This compassion is expressed fully in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus embodies the full compassion and mercies of God in human form. It's almost unimaginable that God would love us so completely, so fully, and so unconditionally. His love is incomprehensible, and yet it's filled with loving-kindness, faithfulness, steadfastness, and loyalty. There are many adjectives that can describe the beauty of His love, but one word stands above them all, and that is 'True'. He is true to Himself and true to His word, and true to us.

Do you ever feel unworthy and sinful when you approach the love of God? Do you believe that your past actions or words spoken against God or others make you undeserving of His love? It's a common feeling, but it's important to remember that in receiving God's love there has never been a requirement or demand to do anything on your part to receive it, In fact, none of us are truly worthy of it. But the good news is that God offers His love freely to us, even when we are lost in our sins. His mercy is boundless, and He reveals the depth of His love to us, making us alive in Christ Jesus. So don't let your past mistakes hold you back from experiencing the love and mercy of God. It's freely offered to you, just as you are.

God's ultimate goal is to reunite His family, and the only way to achieve this is by making us alive and connected to Him through Christ. God unites us with His Son, which allows us to be alive through Him and His power over life and death. What's truly remarkable about Christ is that He transcends both the spiritual and natural worlds, bringing us life from the heavenly world down to ours. When we share Christ with others, we become aware of His presence in our being and among others. As fellow family members, we are built up and encouraged with the goal of growing into the family of God.

In the above verse, Paul makes a bold and powerful statement - "by grace you have been saved." This means that our salvation was accomplished on the cross of Jesus, two thousand years ago, and it is finished and completed. However, it is crucial to understand that we need to put off the old sinful nature and put on our new nature in Christ  "… assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24 ESV

The phrase "putting off the old self" is often misunderstood. Many people assume that it requires personal effort to become holy or righteous. However, this is far from the truth. No amount of personal effort can make a person holy or righteous before God. It is like asking a dead man to come back to life, an impossible feat. Only Christ can transform us through a personal relationship with Him. He is the source of our salvation and our righteousness. As Paul wrote, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21 ESV).

Within Gods mercy lies the grace that changes us, and helps us realize that we don’t deserve it, grace is undeserved favor. The Hebrew word “channun”, in its verb form, means to be considerate, to show favor. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV

We have a God of great mercy who demonstrates immeasurable grace toward us.

Stephen Barnett

 

Dead In Sins

 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV

Paul's message is clear: when we lived according to our selfish desires and walked according to the flesh, we were dead in sin. As believers, it's crucial that we understand that anything that we do that is not of faith is sin. But here's the thing: we shouldn't dwell on our past mistakes or beat ourselves up over specific sins. Instead, we should confess it to the Lord, and then focus on the internal motivations of our hearts and minds not necessarily what we do—that can change, but more how we respond as obedient sons and daughters of God. Through Christ, we have been entirely forgiven of all sins and wrongdoing against God. Therefore, we should demonstrate this same forgiveness to others in how we live our lives.“Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves…For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” Romans 14:22b-23b

Let us not forget that the mores of society shaped us before we found salvation. We were once driven by self-ambition, pride, and selfishness. However, the revelation of Jesus Christ brought a new perspective to our lives, one that showed us the true meaning of life and what is right in God's eyes. With Jesus as our savior and our motivator, we realize that there is more to life than just satisfying our selfish desires. Through His example, we learn that serving others is the key to finding true spiritual fulfillment. As we let Jesus reside in our hearts, we become more aware of the things that break His heart, and we are compelled to take action to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this fallen world. “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:17–18 ESV

The prince of the power of the air is none other than Satan himself, who relentlessly and characteristically corrupts God's children and lures them away from Christ. He inflames their carnal desires which prevents them from experiencing the goodness of God. This is not a new strategy, for Satan has been using it since the beginning. In Eden, he led man astray from God's plan, and he is doing the same thing today. However, this serves as a test of our devotion, and what we choose will determine our fate. We can either follow the ways of the world or embrace the love of God and His plan for us. The choice is ours, and it is a decision that has eternal consequences. “And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”1 Peter 5:6-10 NET

Looking back at my journey, I am amazed by how far I have come and excited about where I am headed. Initially, I had no idea what being a follower of Christ meant. All I knew was that Jesus loved me, and that was enough for me back then. But today, after serving Him for fifty years, I can confidently say that His love remains the foundation of my faith, and my love for Him has only grown stronger over time. His love has stood the test of time, and has been my anchor in every situation. However, what has changed in me is the realization that Jesus desires to use me to bring more people to know Him. The clock is ticking, and the need to gather more people to Christ is greater than ever before. Christ is the only hope for humanity. "...Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:34b-38 ESV

Jesus taught us that by sharing the Kingdom with others, we can reap the benefits of their salvation even if we didn't sow the seeds ourselves. It's a powerful example of how the Kingdom of God works in beautiful symmetry, concert, and cooperation with one another. Every one of us has a role to play, and we all reap the benefits. In God's kingdom, there are no superstars, only faithful servants who have surrendered everything to Him. So when we admire or look up to successful individuals or ministries, we must remember not to lose sight of our own mooring and what God has called us to, and who we are anchored to. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NET

Stephen Barnett

Under His Feet

 “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

Have you ever wondered what it means when it is said that God put all things under Jesus' feet? Let's take a look at Psalms 8:5-6 ESV: "Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet."

Jesus is often referred to as the true or last Adam because he became what the first Adam could not be - God embodied as a man. This meant that God could now relate to humanity as a true help mate. Jesus was not just an untouchable divine being with lofty ideals and platitudes, but a man who could suffer with us and know our pain and suffering, as well as our joys and successes. “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”  I Corinthians 15:45-49 ESV.

Jesus demonstrated "agape" love, service, and sacrifice, showing us how to be truly human. As both God and man, Jesus holds immense power while at the same time demonstrating mercy and grace, with God placing all things under His feet. As believers, we share this heavenly authority of Christ, as co-heirs with Jesus. Our purpose transcends mere church attendance and choir singing. We are invited to rule and reign with Christ, and as we obey Him, we are transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit’s power, realizing our potential and by embracing our divine inheritance as co-heirs with Jesus. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:14-17 ESV

God gave Jesus as the head of all things to the church, which is Christ's body, and this is the manifestation of amazing love. We often praise unconditional love, but Jesus' love goes far beyond that. His love was completely selfless, and He gave no thought to sacrificing His life to the point of death so that we may have life in Him. "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die, but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 ESV

As we, the saints, walk in the reality of the fullness of Christ, His presence is made visible through us. We become the living embodiment of the sweetness of Christ, displaying the very essence or fragrance of God upon our frames. The beauty of the fullness of Him is revealed in us as we continually grow and experience more of Him. Our hearts are captivated by the lover of our soul, and it becomes our one desire to know Him and to share His love with others. “For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing— to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.” 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 NET

The truth is, the fullness of Christ fills all things. This means that His presence is not confined to a specific person, place, or thing, but rather permeates everything. As His Bride, the Church is filled with His fullness, Christ inhabits the world through us. Through our participation in the world, we release Christ into it, and it is a natural spiritual progression. So, the next time you are feeling unsure of your role in the world or even your role in Christ, remember that your presence in the world is enough to release Christ into it as long as He abides in you. “For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we we are saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.” Romans 8:18-25 NET

Stephen Barnett