As Christ

In the begining was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the begining with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  There was a man sent from God , whose name was John.  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all through Him might believe.  He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.  That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to  them He gave the right to become chilfren of God, to those who believe in His name.
John 1: 1-12 NKJV

What is it to live "As Jesus?"  I didn't know too much of this concept until a dear friend of mine brought it  to my attention.  Oh, I've heard many a pulpit pounder make the claim that we all need to be more like Jesus, but to actually live as Jesus is a foreign concept to many a christian even today.  And so we continue to live in that belief that we are somehow living seperate from our Lord and savior.  Yes, he's there among us, but at a distance.  There is heaven and there is earth, Jesus just happens to be looking down upon us from His domain in heaven.  Of course, we have reason to trust in this as there is plenty of scripture which makes the claim that Jesus, upon His resurection, was received into heaven to be seated at the right hand of His Father.

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council saying, "If you are the Christ, tell us."  But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.  And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.  Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of  God."  Then they all said to Him, "Are you then the Son of God?"  So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."
Luke 22: 66-70 NKJV

It is interesting that the same belief that many harbor today was of the same path many held in Jesus' time.  How could a mere man be higher than all others?  In Luke 22, the Jewish leaders who questioned Jesus also refused to believe His claims.  It was these who would eventually lead Christ to His crucifiction.  It seems that today we christians have evolved from an attitude of reluctance to one of acceptance.  We see the prophesy and scriptures concerning Jesus, and many believe.  We do well to believe in Him, but is that enough?  Indeed, to believe in Him is key to the life that He now offers us.  A life lived THROUGH Him and AS Him.  This is where many well meaning christians lose their way.  For years of teachings have given us the belief that Jesus is in heaven, looking down on us in love, but seperate from us nonetheless.  This is where my new realization of Christ began.  For I knew the story, Jesus born of a virgin, crucified on a cross then in turn resurected and received into His Fathers presence.  But there's more to it than that, for God did not intend us to be seperated from our Lord.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galations 2:20 NKJV

The game changer for me came with the revelation of the truth of Galations 2:20.  It is this which the apostle Paul called the "Mystery among the gentiles" {Colossions 1:27}   It was indeed a mystery for me, as well as for others.  It is the this truth of Galations 2:20 that brings us to a closer, more personal relationship with Christ Jesus.  For myself, I always felt seperated from my savior, knowing that he was in heaven, but still distant from me here in the real world.  The calls from pastors for me to "Be more like Jesus" I viewed as more of a condemnation on myself, a goal I could never reach no matter how hard I tried, prayed or tithed.  However, as I've discovered, not only can I be more like Christ, but I indeed now live AS CHRIST.  For as Paul tells us, it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN  ME!  I now walk, see and live, as Christ who is in me.

~Scott~