Philippians 3:20-21

20 But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,

Through the power of the Holy Spirit we know beyond any shadow of a doubt that we are citizens of Heaven right now. We know that we do not have to wait for the benefits of our citizenship. 

We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one. And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal. 1 John 5:19-20

Now because we are and forevermore citizens of Heaven, we can have perfect peace with what our citizenship brings us.

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]-- To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it). Jude 24-25 

21 Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.

Our bodies may be weak and dying now, but that in no way means that we are blemished and faulted. Jesus will return and when He does this mortal flesh will be changed, but currently our spirits and souls are enjoying all of the power that Heaven has to offer.

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things which we suggest and with which we charge you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10

Philippians 3:18-19

18 For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One).

19 They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party.

Here is a great place to look at what all of the New Testament teaches us about non-believers eternities. Because if we just take this one verse alone it looks very bad for those who deny Jesus as Lord. 

For the Son of man came to save [from the penalty of eternal death] that which was lost.  Matthew 18:11

Jesus came to save the lost. Now the question is did He come to save all of the lost, or only a few of the lost who realize that they are lost and who ask to be helped?

[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. John 17:2

The glorious Truth is that Jesus has been given the responsibility over all flesh, and all includes all who are lost, both those who realize it and those who don’t realize it. So now the question is does He loose the lost who don’t realize that they are lost to the Lake of Fire?

But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15

These are short blog postings and the are only meant to lead us into greater studies of the Truth. But these scriptures are a great place to start to see the complete victory of Jesus for all. We see that Paul writes that the lost may very well suffer loss. Some people will loose their reward, yet they will be saved, but only after passing through the fire. The fire is Hades, the realm of the dead, Luke 16:22-24. People who are sent to Hades loose the reward of eternally being the Bride of Christ, but they themselves are saved from the Lake of Fire, or what we call Hell. They will suffer the eternal misery of not being able to be the Bride, but they will be allowed to be our guests. Some of our guests who never acknowledged Jesus will have been bad in this world, some of those who did not acknowledge Him will have been good, but they both are allowed to be our guests.

And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests. Matthew 22:10

Philippians 3:16-17

16 Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

17 Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.

The pattern that Paul set for us was that the Holy Spirit was in complete control of his life. Paul wrote that he hadn’t come close to being what our Father was making him, but that it did not matter, because our Father would get him to where He wanted him to be. With that pattern in mind let’s look at some of the things that the Holy Spirit had Paul write throughout his life.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Paul’s example was that our Father sanctifies us. It is our Father’s responsibility to separate us from profane things. 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. Romans 8:14-16

We can see through Paul that the only reason that we call out to our Father is because the Holy Spirit causes us to call out to Him.

All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 1 Corinthians 10:23

Paul also shows us that all things are legitimate for him, meaning that nothing will separate him from God. Paul shows us to stop fretting about messing up, because it will not separate us from our salvation. Paul tells us that our Father will sanctify us and that He will cause us to be who He wants us to be. Herein lies the Truth of our salvation: as long as we believe that we have to do these things, we will continue to do the things that we do not want to do. But when the Holy Spirit causes us to understand that our Father is separating us and sanctifying us, we will stop doing them. 

Amen we may fall short, but it in no way separates or hinders our Father’s power and love for us. 

Philippians 3:13-15

13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

You ever wonder why we are able to have this attitude of not worrying about messing up?

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, Colossians 2:13

The reason that we are able to not take thought for falling short is that our Father doesn’t take thought for it. Because of Jesus our sins have been removed from us as far as the East is from the West. Jesus was extremely successful and now we are freely forgiven of all of our trespasses, all of them: past, present, and future, all of them! So if our Father isn’t remembering them, why should we?

14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

If a person is all concerned and overly focused on sin then we are told that they are immature. Mature Christians know that it is all Grace. We have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit to fully understand that it is not our works, it is Jesus’ works. Our Father has caused us to know that He will lead us and guide us into all Truth and that He has a time and a plan for each of us. There is peace with this Truth and it passes all human understanding. Now here is the cool thing, if you don’t believe this way and you do concern yourself with sin, then our Father will make the Truth clear to you as well. There is never any condemnation for us, Romans 8:1.

Philippians 3:12

12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

I know that our Father has not yet brought me to where He plans on taking me. I would hazard a guess that He hasn’t gotten you there yet either, but what does it matter? Does our lack of not being there mean that our Father’s will is not being done? Does it mean that Grace is not being administered or that His Love is being withheld? 

But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded, Romans 5:20

Even if we are not fully mature and are messing up, our Father’s Grace superabounds our shortcomings. This allows us to have peace that passes all understanding. 

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

To the world it sounds like foolishness to believe that a person can have their full reward when they have not fully earned it. But for us, we have it, regardless of where we are at in the Lord. 

[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. 1 Corinthians 1:27

Philippians 3:11

11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

In verse 10 Paul wrote that he wanted to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Here we see that it is the power of Jesus’ Spiritual resurrection. Jesus’ Spirit was restored to what it was before He came in the flesh.

And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself and restore Me to such majesty and honor in Your presence as I had with You before the world existed. John 17:5

Here is the glorious Truth of our salvation: our spirits are just like Jesus’ Spirit. We are now one with Him, spirit, soul, and body, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. We have been raised up and made to sit together with Jesus, Ephesians 2:6. Our flesh hasn’t been raised up to Heaven, but our spirits sure have been. Right now we are as He is, even while we are on this earth.

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

Jesus prayed in John 17:1-5 that our Father restore His glory to what it was before the world ever was and our Father did. Then Jesus says that He gave us that glory.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: John 17:22

This glory of Jesus is a gift. We did not do anything on our own to receive it and we can do nothing on our own to keep it. Think of the freedom and power that this Truth brings to us. We did not have to be perfect to be given perfection. Our Father knew all of our shortcomings and He still gave us His glory. We have freely received perfection and now the Holy Spirit has us intercede for others so that they can receive the same thing. We are just like Jesus is in Heaven and this is what He is doing, Hebrews 7:25.  

We are used to freely forgive other’s their sins. They do not have to ask for it, want it, or even believe that they have received forgiveness. None of that matters. If we forgive them they are forgiven. This is what we received and this is what we freely give. This is the glory that our Father uses us to sow. 

Philippians 3:10

10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

The Holy Spirit causes us to have the desire and the will to want all of the Truth. Because we have the Holy Spirit within us we want to know everything about our Father and our Kingdom. We do this because the Truth is what sets us free, John 8:32. We also do this because we now have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16. We have been chosen by our Father to have absolutely no limitations on us. As we are freely shown the Truth we freely share the Truth, Matthew 10:8. Our Father uses us to share His Truth just as He used Jesus to share the Truth. Some will accept it, some will deny it, but we are used to freely share it with all, Mark 4:14.

The Holy Spirit will also cause us to want our Father’s power. We have been born again and our new spirit wants to have miracles abound around us, Mark 16. We are born to want healing’s, prophecies, tongues, and interpretations of those tongues. We are born to want the dead to raise, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. 

Finally in this verse, we are shown that the Holy Spirit gives us a heart that does not mind suffering. He empowers us to know that while we are in this world, we are not of it. Our Father causes us to know that the weaker that our flesh is, the stronger that He is within us.

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may ]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Amen there is nothing about our Father that we cannot know. There is no power of His that we will not be used to show and the weaker we become the stronger and more powerful we become. 

Mercy For All Alike

For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion. So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.] Romans 9:15-16

The Truth is that our Father has a free will. He can do whatever He wants. He alone is Sovereign. So He can have mercy on whoever He wants.

Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use? Romans 9:21

So our Father can have mercy on one if He wants and not have the same mercy over the other, this is what a lot of people believe.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (held in relative disregard in comparison with My feeling for Jacob). Romans 9:13

But is this true, does of Father just pick some and not pick others to have mercy on? Does He choose some to spend eternity with Him and some not to?

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

The Truth that sets us all free is that our Father has mercy on us all. He has the right, He is the Potter. He has the only free will, because He is God, and His free will is to have mercy on us all. Too many look at the flesh for evidence of His mercy, but our Father is a Spirit and we too have a spirit, John 4:24. The place to see our Father’s mercy is first and foremost with our spirits. 

But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15

Some of us have been chosen to understand the Truth now. We are called to be the Bride. Which means that we have been chosen to serve with Jesus. Some of us have not been chosen to know the Truth now, these people are called the guests, Matthew 22:10. Some of the guests are good people, some are bad, but that doesn’t matter because our Father has mercy on us all. So even if a person does not believe and does bad things, our Father has mercy on them. They may suffer loss, but they will be saved from the Lake of Fire. Our Father wants that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:4. Our Father is God, He will get His way, so every person will understand and welcome His Truth as they accept and submit to our Father’s will on Judgment Day, Philippians 2:10. Some of us as the Bride and some of as the guests of the Bride, but our Father’s mercy will be shown through all!  

Philippians 3:8-9

8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

Through Christ all of the burden of having to do anything on our own to find favor with our Father is gone. He loves us irregardless of our shortcomings. 

Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—Galatians 1:3-4

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

The glorious Truth is that our Father Himself keeps us in His favor and through Christ we are always counted righteous. All of our education, money, and works mean nothing, they count for nothing. The only thing that counts is Jesus and He is greater in us then anything that is in this world. The peace with this truth is awesome! There is so much freedom and joy in it. Our Father is responsible to make us right and He is faithful to do it. The burden is His and the victory is ours. We never removed from His mercy!

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Philippians 3:4-7

4 Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more!

5 Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,

6 As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.

7 But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.

If we think of this in todays terms, we would talk about how someone has a PHD in Divinity. Or that they have been recognized and lead a large church for a large denomination. Today many also glory in completing courses and being certified within our churches. The Holy Spirit has Paul write us that all of this stuff means nothing. 

But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. 1 John 2:27

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

The Truth for us is that our Father will Himself teach us all things. He will teach us all Truth and He will cause us to act on His behalf in everything. Our Father will use the poor, the weak, the sick, and the uneducated. He will use the rich and successful as well. The way to know who is truly chosen and anointed to preach and who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing is to look at the fruit that they are producing. If a preacher wants to be called Doctor, or boasts about his or hers education, watch out. These kinds of things are the testimonies of wolves. To find Truth look for those who say that all of those things mean nothing. Look for those who always direct you towards our Father and His power and glory working through us. Look to those who speak the Truth that, Greater Is He That Is In Us!

Philippians 3:3

3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances—

The Holy Spirit does not have us know our Father through physical acts, but through spiritual ones: love, faith, humbleness, and hope. We place no confidence whatsoever in our flesh. We know that we cannot ever do anything on our own, everything that we do comes directly from our Father. This takes away all condemnation, Romans 8:1, and all boasting, Romans 3:27. The only boasting that we do is in the glorious power of our Father. 

AND JESUS summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity. Matthew 10:1

The power that our Father gives us is for other’s. Look at the lives that Jesus, the Disciples, and Paul lived. All of these men were given great spiritual power from our Father. Yet, did any of them live in big luxurious homes? Did they have huge bank accounts? Did they become civic or political leaders? Did they build huge building to fellowship in? No, they had no worldly advantages. When they were empowered our Father used them to go out and serve the world. They were used by our Father to serve those who wanted it and those who denied it. They were beaten for being empowered, mocked for it, imprisoned for it, and killed for it. Yet the Spirit caused them to continually love and it showed in serving. 

And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5

The wisdom of man says that a person is educated, prosperous, or good looking so they are blessed and called. The Truth is our Father uses the poor, the lost, the weak, and the sick to serve. 

[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. 1 Corinthians 1:27

Philippians 3:2

2 Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

People have always seemed to look towards their flesh to serve our Father. In Paul’s day it was all about being circumcised, which was a sign that you would follow the Law. Today it isn’t so much about circumcision, it is what denomination do you belong too, or do you tithe and if so how much? So many judge today by the clothes that we wear, what we eat, do we drink, dance, sing, or the way that we do our hair. All of these things rely on the flesh, beware of these things! According to the Word those who point towards these type of fleshly things are dogs and mischief makers. 

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. John 4:23

DO YOU not know, brethren--for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the Law--that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive? For [instance] a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is loosed and discharged from the law concerning her husband. Accordingly, she will be held an adulteress if she unites herself to another man while her husband lives. But if her husband dies, the marriage law no longer is binding on her [she is free from that law]; and if she unites herself to another man, she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:1-4

For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]. Romans 8:3-4

Here is the glorious Truth, we are now fully controlled by the Holy Spirit. That means that I may be in one place in my spiritual life and you in an other, but both of us are fully and completely saved! The Law judged by what our flesh did, Grace judges by what Jesus did. So do not look at the flesh to see salvation, we look to the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, meekness, long suffering, and faith. Many who drink have the evidence of this fruit. Many who wear their hair differently exhibit this fruit. Many who use words that seem wrong are being used to bare this fruit. 

Philippians 3:1

1 For the rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.

We are in Christ, which means that we are in perfection. We are in perfect power, perfect peace, perfect love, and perfect grace. So are we just in it, like being in a room, or are we actually one with it?

For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. Galatians 3:27

The Greek word used for baptized here is baptizo, Strong’s 907. Here is how the Strong’s Concordance describes its meaning:

“The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that inorder to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped'(bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism.”

So we are not just in Christ, we are one with Christ. Everything that He is and everything that He has we are now one with. This is an awesome Truth and one that the Holy Spirit never grows tired of having us share. 

May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! Ephesians 1:3

There is also another glorious Truth and it is that we can never loose any of it. We can’t walk away from any of it, fall away from any of it, or sin our way from any of it.

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Romans 11:29

Philippians 2:26-30

26 For he has been [homesick] longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill.

27 He certainly was ill [too], near to death. But God had compassion on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow [over him] coming upon sorrow.

Epaphroditus labored with Paul and Timothy. He worked with a anointed man of God that was used to miraculously heal the sick, Acts 28:8. Yet we are told here that Epaphroditus was deathly ill? I was raised in a full gospel type of church. It was always preached that we got sick because we lacked the faith not to believe that we could be well. It always came back to our ability to believe and accept the healing that was already given to us. While it was never directly spoken, there was a level of condemnation directed at you for being sick. The question is: is this type of teaching true?

And [yet] although my physical condition was [such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]! Galatians 4:14

Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Timothy 5:23

Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Paul were all sick. The writings of Paul seem to show us that he and Timothy were often sick. Did that mean that they lacked faith? Some people may say that they did, but look at what the Holy Spirit had Paul write about being sick.

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

Other then Jesus, Paul was used by our Father more then anyone else in the New Testament. Paul was sick, so sick, that at first his physical condition offended the Galatians. Yet, he was used more in the New Testament then anyone other then Jesus. To be powerful in the power of our Father, Paul had to be weak in the flesh. So he took pleasure in being sick. That is Holy Ghost inspired and empowered humility.

There is now no condemnation in Christ, Romans 8:1. Everything works for our Father’s power, even sickness. Our Father had a sick guy lay hands on the sick and they recovered. He had a sick guy spread the Gospel of the Kingdom all across the Mediterranean. Sickness only strengthened Paul. It made him love more and care more. The glorious Truth is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to take pleasure in all things as He uses us to take no thought for our own lives.  

28 So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted.

29 Welcome him [home] then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him,

30 For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his [very] life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me [which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering].

Philippians 2:24-25

24 But [really] I am confident and fully trusting in the Lord that shortly I myself shall come to you also.

25 However, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus [back] to you. [He has been] my brother and companion in labor and my fellow soldier, as well as [having come as] your special messenger (apostle) and minister to my need.

Earlier in this Chapter Paul wrote that only Timothy shared his same spirit. That did not mean that Paul and Timothy were always alone, it meant that only Timothy knew and shared what our Father was doing through Paul. Here we see that others labored with Paul, but they did not share the closeness that Paul and Timothy shared. There were several disciples with Jesus, yet only 11, were His Apostles. It didn’t mean that all of the others were not loved, it just meant that we have all been called to different levels of service.

To one he gave five talents [probably about $5,000], to another two, to another one—to each in proportion to his own personal ability. Then he departed and left the country. Matthew 25:15

Saying, These [men] who came last worked no more than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day. But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this man hired last the same as I give to you. Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good? Matthew 20:12-14

Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; Romans 12:6

Our Father gives us all varying degrees of faith and gifts. It doesn’t mean that He loves one of us over another, it just means that He uses us all differently. A body has many parts. The lungs do not do what the liver does. The hand differs from the heart, yet all are part of the one body and are used to the degree that the body needs them, Romans 12:4. It is the same with us who are in Christ. 

Our Father may have us in a large group of believers. He may have us by ourselves. He may use us all of our lives or for just a small portion of our lives. Whatever our Father chooses for us is glorious and is love. There is only one body and it is the Body of Christ. We are all members of it and whether we are alone for a season or in a group in no way limits our Father’s ability to use us and enlighten us with the Truth that sets us and those who we are empowered to share it with free.