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“An Eternal Man – Coming out from God”
By Duane Stewart
Most people, at one time or another, have investigated or considered thoughts of eternity. In these thoughts, God, the God of all creation, has from within Himself included humanity in His scope of eternity. With an understanding that the creator God has neither a beginning nor ending and with mankind coming out from Him, we, as a receiving people can become a part of this eternal God. This truth speaks to us of an eternal purpose coming forth in all that God does and all that He is. That which God is, is not just something that is here today and gone tomorrow. Nay, but God’s eternal purpose is one without end, and is present in all He has created, His eternal kingdom. This kingdom shall exist throughout eternity to reveal unto all His creation who and what He is. Within this eternal plan, God birthed a man through Mary, Jesus Christ His Begotten Son, who willingly sacrificed Himself for a creation that had fallen. In this, the part of God’s creation called humanity, when receiving Christ is purposed to become the manifestation of God’s nature unto all His creation.
Eph. 3:8-11, “To me [Paul] who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I would preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
This proclamation declares unto creation that the mysteries of God, once hidden from the minds and eyes of fallen man, are now made available to His creation through that same Jesus Christ. This same message, the mysteries of God, are made known through the indwelling Holy Spirit as Paul the Apostle of Christ received the revelation of these mysteries. These mysteries, as revealed to Paul, and written through his letters is speaking of the gospel of the kingdom that is to now be ministered unto the world. A kingdom, manifesting as a witness unto all mankind that God’s creating purpose would be completely fulfilled as commanded by Jesus. Matt. 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”.
“The end” as used in the above verse speaks of the ending of a “time of much trouble”. This period, even now is upon the earth to run its course until its completion and the ushering in of another time. This time of much trouble (read Matt. 24:4-14) speaks of a time of religious deception, social and political upheavals, natural calamities, disloyalty and persecution which becomes a forerunner leading up to a new beginning in God. According to God’s eternal purpose, this new beginning shall be the establishing of those who are to manifest that kingdom of God on the earth. This is the results of a change from a fallen nature into a new covenant nature. These people, in being a part of the body of Christ, His many member body, are a part of the expressed image of God. This image was and is revealed through Jesus Christ our redeemer who was and is the beginning of the creation of God. Rev. 3:14b, “…These things says the Amen, the Faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God”.
Therefore, we see Jesus who is the pattern of that which the many sons are to be as the progressive work of the Holy Spirit completes God’s purpose in them. In this accomplishment, God has set into motion an order of maturing. Man is to become the finished creation of God and named as a heir of the inheritance. God set, in His timing and calling, the process of continuing maturity onward into His eternal life. Gal. 4:1-7, “Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so, we, when we were children, were under bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”.
To receive the full impact of the above verses it is important for us to have a clear understanding of some of the words used in those verses, words such as child, slave, master and heir. A “child” as used here has the meaning of “not old enough to speak” which reveals for us that the child spoken of here has not yet matured into one that could speak the needed language required to rule in the household of God. However, this same unlearned child is one who is still an heir. The word “slave” is a word meaning “slave, a bond-servant”. This reveals for us that there is a certain time when the heir, because he is but a child and unable to speak a proper language must submit unto, as a servant, certain guardians and stewards for proper progressive training.
This leads us to the next word “master”, a word that has the meaning of “lord”. This speaks of one, though born into the family for ownership; the head of the household restrains this ownership position until the proper language and maturity comes forth to fulfill and accomplish God’s creative purposes. Has not God promised that He would restore back unto His people a pure language? Is not this looking forward to the time which comes as spoken of in Rom. 8:23, “Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body”. Next, we consider the word “heir”, an heir of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. This word “heir” as used here means “a person who inherits through the natural action of the Law (the new covenant). This is a person who appears to get some trait from or carries on in the tradition of a predecessor (the Father through Christ Jesus)”.
Can we not begin to see the availability of eternal life as it flows forth from the Father God through Jesus Christ our Lord? That is, a people coming into the fullness of their inheritance to manifest from within even as Jesus the pattern son manifested His life. According to John 17:11b He was one with the Father even as we are to be one with Him, “…Holy Father, keep through your name [nature] those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are”.For this cause, Jesus declared it and we likewise, as stated, should know that this oneness is also for the rest of the heirs. That is, standing in complete obedience to the Father who sends us. John 12:49-50, “For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak”.
In these truths, we should take note that a latter-day period has now come upon us, a time when God has purposed from eternity to bring forth this time of restoration according to His purpose for His creation. This speaks of a time when Christ the head and the many member body of Christ is coming together as heaven and earth meet to restore all things as the prophets have spoken of them. Acts 3:21 tells us, “Whom [Jesus Christ] heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began”.Heaven is the invisible realm of the spirit wherein Jesus Christ has ascended unto until this time of restoration, at which time the heaven and earth will come together in and through the Christ as He lives in His completed body (which His sanctified people are).2 Thess. 1:10, “When He comes, in that day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed”.
When considering the truth of God’s word, it is often asked concerning that truth about the where, when, how and what as to its fulfillment. In this, God is forever faithful, He reveals to us the requirements of discipleship wherein the fulfillment rest. These requirements likewise have a certain beginning from within the disciples as they progressively mature until a visible manifestation of Christ appears. This is the expression of God’s image through these faithful ones for the world to see. Let us not see these requirements and promises as unrealistic truths but rather a time of manifesting those truths from a changed nature until all humanity begins to behold them.
Luke 14:26-27 & 33 shows us the beginning, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. …So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple”. Here Jesus makes it plain that this people are to be more loyal to Him than other humans. Discipleship means a separating from your own interest in favor of God’s eternal will and purpose. This scripture of verse 26 is an example of Hebrew hyperbole to emphasize the subject discussed. To hate one’s family is therefore not a command but a way of expressing the importance of allegiance to Him. This is a dying to a self-centered life-style while committing to a total commitment and a realization of Christ’s purpose for our lives.
In confirming the need for total commitment unto the Christ, John 12:24-25 reveals the Fathers method of glorifying the Son as well as the many other sons. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone [Jesus died]; but if it dies, it produces much grain [other sons who have received Him]. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life”. Does this not speak of a willingness to die for Him from the self-life, a willingness to follow Him, and a willingness to serve Him? In this willingness to follow Him daily, we progressively come into the position of being where He is. John 12:26, “If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, him My Father will honor”.
Continuing in God’s progressive dedication request, He makes it clear that serving the desires of the flesh brings forth death. The results of serving the flesh not only means death to man’s spiritual union with Christ but that the man will also know the ultimately knowledge of the death of the body. The Holy Spirit confirms that Christ’ disciples are no longer debtors to the flesh to obey its lust, but now are to become the sons of God who walk only in and by the Holy Spirit. Rom. 8:12-14, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God”.
This says that unto those whom the Holy Spirit leads, they have a place in Him wherein the overcomers of the flesh shall live, that is life eternal. The promise of Rev. 3:21 is that which makes up the inheritance of these matured sons that now come to the time of their adoption. “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”. This overcoming is sitting with Him in a place of kingdom authority, the kingdom that He is establishing on earth. Yes, His kingdom is coming, and God’s eternal man is making his appearance, that is, Christ (Jesus the head with His many member body).
Duane Stewart
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