Chapter Nine
The ultimate purpose of Jesus Christ’ birth was for the destruction of the adversary and the deliverance from the fear of death which existing among His chosen people. God’s chosen people speak of His true church which is the true spiritual house of Abraham. The destruction of the adversary does not mean that he is or was, at the time of Jesus’ sacrifice, annihilated. But it did mean that his power is curbed in the lives of those committed to live for and in Christ. Heb. 2:14-15 states,
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”
In this we should understand that Jesus has destroyed the power of death and released His people from the adversarial bondage of the fear of death. Would it be wrong to say that there is now available to the people of God, among His first-fruits, the ability to put death under their feet?
Could it also be said that some of scripture has not as yet been completely fulfilled? 1 Cor. 15:54 is an example,
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptible, and the mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory”.
Thus, the promise and the assurance that death must be and will be destroyed for it was, is, and remains the enemy of God’s creation. In 1 Cor. 15:56 we read,
“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law”.
In this verse of scripture, the word “strength” has the meaning of “inherent power; the power of reproducing itself”. Therefore, as stated, the strength of sin is the law. The law, good in itself, but was given to fleshly weak and sinful people. When the law’s moral claim encounters sinful human nature, it activates sin and rather than bringing salvation it brings condemnation. But, in the resurrection of Christ, when received and applied by the receiving vessel, it brings victory over sin, the law, and death. In Christ there is no condemnation.
For this cause, there has been given to God’s people a power source that comes through Jesus Christ, His death, burial and His resurrection. This power source supplies the ability to bring about a nature change that enables man to overcome sin, the law and death. Herein, we can put our enemy, which includes carnality and death, under our feet. Heb. 10:12-17,
“But this Man [Christ Jesus], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: For after that He had said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more”.
The Holy Spirit brings a witness to us that God will do a work within us to produce a new nature, including new desires to do His will. While the Old Covenant could only bring a reminder of sins, the New Covenant brings real forgiveness and a progressive resurrection of man’s soul, that is to say, man’s mind, his will, his emotions and his desires. In this resurrection, a new man appears to manifest as the first-fruits of God’s purposed harvest.
It is for this cause; Jesus Christ came to plant Himself as a seed into receiving earthen vessels that a new creation man might be formed and birthed. This new creation man, which has its beginning in and through Jesus Christ, is purposed to be made mature, finished and completed as Christ many member body. These are the ones who come forth in His likeness and image. Rom. 8:29,
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren”.
Stating that God foreknew His plan for us before our natural birthing and predestinated for this people to become like Christ, His first-fruits and His many member body. Therefore, God calls and is in the process of justifying a people, as they stand and remain in Christ. These become His glorified first-fruits as they are fashioned into His image. God planned, in Himself, that he would have a people who would ultimately be like Jesus Christ, a people who would be conformed to the image of His Son.
How shall death and all its attributes be destroyed? (Read 1 Cor. 15:49-54). Also, a clear picture has been shown us in Rom. 8:10-11,
“and if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you”.
Again, we ask, how shall death be put under foot?
- By corruption putting on incorruption.
- By mortal putting on immortality.
- By a demonstration of the Christ being displayed in the sight of all the earth.
- By a demonstration before the eyes of principalities and powers in heavenly places.
- Meaning that both heaven and earth shall see a new creation man living on earth that is not subject to:
- Death
- Sickness
- Accidents
- Sin
- Nor the sin nature
In Psalms 91:9-16 we read,
“Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot, because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath know my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation”.
The application of these verses apply to all the receiving ones who become of the seed (Christ) Who brings forth after His own kind.
Know that we, as a receiving people can claim all of God’s promises for ourselves as well as minister them to others. In knowing and receiving the Word of God we should take it as a personal word for each believer. Victory is ours as we stand upon the Word which God reveals by His Holy Spirit. That is to say, because we are building our lives upon the revealed Word of God, this received Word can and will become flesh in the earth again. That is, becoming a nature that manifest the life of God unto all the rest of mankind. In this, the Kingdom of God begins ruling over all the earth as it becomes established through these first-fruit sons.