With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me
Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament
I listened to a local radio minister the other night speak to the goal of our lives, which, in his words, was to "Seek the Father and His kingdom." Instead of turning off the radio, I listened to his theory that this was the most important aspect of any believers life. To look for God. I started thinking, what do we do when we find Him? Will we ever find Him? Where do we look for Him? The theology of the church has always been that we should be seeking God. We go to church as a way of looking to connect with Him. This mindset speaks to the error in church theology which speaks to the idea that we are somehow separated from the Father who created us. As I've said so many times, nothing could be further from the truth. This is the reason that I take issue with any pastor who speaks to the idea that we need to be seeking the Father and His kingdom, as if this is all God will ever be. To put this in a bit of perspective, if you are interested in knowing someone, do you simply ask where they live and call it good? Or, as many do, do you seek to know them more intimately? The same can be said of our search for knowing the Father. A good friend the other day spoke to how he was taught to know God externally, but never internally. To seek His kingdom, "The realm of God's rule and the full operation of His laws." As he and I were taught in the church, to live in the realm of God was good enough. But, as my friend correctly noticed, we were never taught to know God, and Jesus for that matter, as a person. Many believers will step back when I mention this truth, God is a person? God is alive? Keep in mind that Christ Jesus came as the Father in the flesh {Johns Account 1:14}. The truth very few congregations ever know is that to know God is to know Him on a personal level. To know Him as intimately as we would a friend or family member.
The apostle Paul has spoken to the truth of Christ Jesus in us. That we are not alive outside of the Father, but that it is Christ Jesus Who lives within us {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. For anyone seeking to know the Father, THIS is where we should begin our search. In other words, do not seek God in the external, but internally. Indeed, Jesus has spoken that we now live in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. If we indeed live life in the Father, as I believe that we do, we can also know Him intimately as a person. This is the truth which my friend was reminding me of. God is not known personally in the kingdom, nor is He known in the brick and mortar church. Where we WILL find God is within ourselves, for that is where He resides. The life which we live is not lived outside of God, but within Him {Johns Account 17:21}. We know that we have been created in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}. That He has breathed into His creation the very breath of life {Genesis 2:7}. He has always been an intimate part of us. The voices that speak that we have somehow been separated from Him come from within the mainstream church. That it is our sin which has caused God to turn His back on us. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. The lie spoken by the separation theology of the church is proven false through the innocent sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. Jesus has died and paid that sin penalty for us. The debt has been paid! As Paul has spoken to us, to live is Christ {Paul to the Philippians 1:21}.
To whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory
Paul to the Colossians 1: 27, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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