The Way/Theosis/entire sanctification.

[marks]

A spiritual change yes. An awakening to the truth of the gospel. We are now spiritual receptive to God. It caused a huge change for me after seeking.

For me, I don't know how it would be that we would become spiritually receptive unless God gave us that new birth, a new spirit.

I see our rebirth as what changes us so that we are able to begin to understand God's word both in the Bible and in our hearts. And rather than being reborn into entire sanctification, we are reborn into spiritual babes, who need to mature.

Much love!

 

[Johann]

For me, I don't know how it would be that we would become spiritually receptive unless God gave us that new birth, a new spirit.

I see our rebirth as what changes us so that we are able to begin to understand God's word both in the Bible and in our hearts. And rather than being reborn into entire sanctification, we are reborn into spiritual babes, who need to mature.

Much love!

Ditto!

 

[Behold]

Meaning, we will always be able to sin if we so wish. Some say we cannot sin again if we are sinless

Let me show you where your confusion is keeping you in a misunderstanding., and then i'll post this post as a Thread for others to find it.

Its this..

Only the Law, can define your works of the flesh, as a SIN.
So, once Jesus has taken the Law off of the born again...as this.... ""Christ has redeemed us from the Curse of the Law""... because ""Jesus is the END OF THE LAW.. . for Righteousness"".

Now, all the born again are "IN CHRIST"....and there is no Law found there... which means there is no law that can judge your works of the flesh, your carnal deed, as a SIN.

Now, where you are having the misunderstanding..., as most Christians are having it also, regarding this revelation, is... when you are taught that The Law can't define you as a sinner,...... then you think......that means that you would not want to do any more carnal deeds.

See that?
However, THat's not how it works.

Here is how it works.
Once you are born again, your mind is still going to, at times.. think about carnal behavior, and you have chosen to do some, READERS, since you were born again.
So, What is the difference?

The Difference, is.. that before you were "Not under the Law, but under Grace".. then the LAW could define your carnality as SINNING.
And now it can't..

See.....now that "Jesus is the END OF THE LAW", and you are born again "in Christ".. then the Law can't define you as a sinner, nor your deeds as sin, ever again.

The born again exist here...

= "Where there is no Law........there is no SIN.. no TRANSGRESSION">..

See that?
That is where the born again exist forever........ and that is what the NT refers to as : "liberty in Christ"..

= "not under the Law......but under Grace".

See it?

So, this means, that when you mess up, and chose it.. chose to do it... then Paul says it like this... "Use NOT YOUR LIBERTY, for an occasion to the FLESH".

See that?
Paul does not call that choice to watch some Dirty Netflix Movie, a "sin"... and that is because there is no LAW over the born again, that can define it as a sin...., ever again.
Its carnal, and its flesh, and its wrong..... but "where there is no Law, there is no SIN". There is no Law over the born again that can define them as a sinner and their carnal behavior as sin.

Reader, Salvation produces 2 Situations, regarding "sin".

1.) God never charges sin to a Believer,

Romans 4:8
2 Corin 5:19
John 3:17

because their is no justification, because the born again are "not under the Law, but under Grace"

2.) "God hath Made JESUS to BE SIN for US", because "JESUS is the ONE TIME...Eternal Sacrifice.. for sin".


See those 2?

They are showing the BORN AGAIN.. that the Law cant judged you as a sinner, nor will God.
This is why the born again all meet God after you die, as your Heavenly FATHER, and not your eternal JUDGE.

Now, why do you have to understand what im showing you and believe it.?
Its because once you do, then the Grace of God, will empower you to live Holy.
And until you see what im showing you, and believe it.... then you will think of yourself falsely as a "sinner", and you will resist sin in your willpower, and that caused this to happen to you...

= "the Law is the power of sin, and the power of sin, is the LAW".. .so, you are causing that to enflame your desire to sin, and that makes it worse..

Here is a spiritual principal.. Its the fact that you are not under the Law,.. but, if you "fall from Grace".. if you begin to try to resist sin by willpower, while you try to keep yourself saved, then you are putting yourself in a place, where your carnality will behave as if its under the Law, and you will find it impossible to not commit carnality.

So, you have to come to the revelation that you are made free from sin.......that you are not under the law........and you exist here...
= "where there is no law, there is no sin, no transgression". "IN CHRIST">...

When you "get this revelation" of who you have become, as a "New Creation" "In Christ" ....then the first day of your literal walk of Faith, in the Knowledge of God, has begun.

 

[Hepzibah]

For me, I don't know how it would be that we would become spiritually receptive unless God gave us that new birth, a new spirit.

I see our rebirth as what changes us so that we are able to begin to understand God's word both in the Bible and in our hearts. And rather than being reborn into entire sanctification, we are reborn into spiritual babes, who need to mature.

Much love!

I agree: a new birth, a new spirit. We are born of the S(s)pirit. We are now alive unto God.

But this is not born again.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:3–7).

So Jesus is saying that flesh and spirit are separated. It is not once born in the flesh and born again in the spirit. It is two spiritual births. Born, then born again in the S(s)pirit.

 

[Hepzibah]

Let me show you where your confusion is keeping you in a misunderstanding., and then i'll post this post as a Thread for others to find it.

Its this..

Only the Law, can define your works of the flesh, as a SIN.
So, once Jesus has taken the Law off of the born again...as this.... ""Christ has redeemed us from the Curse of the Law""... because ""Jesus is the END OF THE LAW.. . for Righteousness"".

Now, all the born again are "IN CHRIST"....and there is no Law found there... which means there is no law that can judge your works of the flesh, your carnal deed, as a SIN.

Now, where you are having the misunderstanding..., as most Christians are having it also, regarding this revelation, is... when you are taught that The Law can't define you as a sinner,...... then you think......that means that you would not want to do any more carnal deeds.

See that?
However, THat's not how it works.

Here is how it works.
Once you are born again, your mind is still going to, at times.. think about carnal behavior, and you have chosen to do some, READERS, since you were born again.
So, What is the difference?

The Difference, is.. that before you were "Not under the Law, but under Grace".. then the LAW could define your carnality as SINNING.
And now it can't..

See.....now that "Jesus is the END OF THE LAW", and you are born again "in Christ".. then the Law can't define you as a sinner, nor your deeds as sin, ever again.

The born again exist here...

= "Where there is no Law........there is no SIN.. no TRANSGRESSION">..

See that?
That is where the born again exist forever........ and that is what the NT refers to as : "liberty in Christ"..

= "not under the Law......but under Grace".

See it?

So, this means, that when you mess up, and chose it.. chose to do it... then Paul says it like this... "Use NOT YOUR LIBERTY, for an occasion to the FLESH".

See that?
Paul does not call that choice to watch some Dirty Netflix Movie, a "sin"... and that is because there is no LAW over the born again, that can define it as a sin...., ever again.
Its carnal, and its flesh, and its wrong..... but "where there is no Law, there is no SIN". There is no Law over the born again that can define them as a sinner and their carnal behavior as sin.

Reader, Salvation produces 2 Situations, regarding "sin".

1.) God never charges sin to a Believer,

Romans 4:8
2 Corin 5:19
John 3:17

because their is no justification, because the born again are "not under the Law, but under Grace"

2.) "God hath Made JESUS to BE SIN for US", because "JESUS is the ONE TIME...Eternal Sacrifice.. for sin".


See those 2?

They are showing the BORN AGAIN.. that the Law cant judged you as a sinner, nor will God.
This is why the born again all meet God after you die, as your Heavenly FATHER, and not your eternal JUDGE.

Now, why do you have to understand what im showing you and believe it.?
Its because once you do, then the Grace of God, will empower you to live Holy.
And until you see what im showing you, and believe it.... then you will think of yourself falsely as a "sinner", and you will resist sin in your willpower, and that caused this to happen to you...

= "the Law is the power of sin, and the power of sin, is the LAW".. .so, you are causing that to enflame your desire to sin, and that makes it worse..

Here is a spiritual principal.. Its the fact that you are not under the Law,.. but, if you "fall from Grace".. if you begin to try to resist sin by willpower, while you try to keep yourself saved, then you are putting yourself in a place, where your carnality will behave as if its under the Law, and you will find it impossible to not sin.

So, you have to come to the revelation that you are made free from sin.......that you are not under the law........and you exist here...
= "where there is no law, there is no sin, no transgression". "IN CHRIST">...

When you "get this revelation" of who you have become, as a "New Creation" "In Christ" ....then the first day of your literal walk of Faith, in the Knowledge of God, has begun.

I don't see things the way you do, regarding when it happens.

 

[marks]

At last I can get back to this one. Sorry it took so long but it stayed with me. What you are describing, is neurological damage, but according to all of the studying I have done since Christmas with my brothers family and there abusive behaviour towards me shocked me into the reality that I grew up in a narcissistic family scapegoat system, is that it can be healed, and sometime very quickly.

I'm aware of 2 basic kinds of damage, one being the structure, and one being the function. Fully formed brain structures (hypothalmus, ventril cortex, etc.) can have improper functions, for instance, the reward circuit grows new dendrites that drive behavior as they look for their dopamine and such. Changes in behavior/though can cause this overgrowth of dendrites that lead bad behavior/thought to diminish, while growing new ones that promote healthy function.

But then we cPTSD these brain structures themselves become underdeveloped, and after the mid 20's, the brain stops developing, and that's what you get. Underdeveloped structures are unable to provide the neurotransmitters, and are unable to process, as a fully developed organ. This part of the damage, from my research, doesn't heal. Of course God can heal anything!

In my recovery, I seem to see two parts that match this. I find that there seems to be a part I've seen much change in, but other parts that seem to remain exactly the same.

But this is a very complex subject, and I remain open to learning, and healing, and whatever God wants to do with me.

I don't know why mine has all come out in such a late stage in my life. I had already been healing from marriage to a covert narc I had to flee for my life from (2nd abusive marriage), but there it is. I spent 20 years studying personality disorders to make sense of it.

My research indicates that the effects of cPTSD tend to increase as we grow older, becoming much more pronounced, and set, by our mid/late 50's.

I've had several "steps" in recovery over the years, where it seems things are better, but the creeping crud keeps creeping, until it's all too much again.

Anyway for the last few months I have been watching youtube with some very good psychologists who trained me in some of the ways I can heal my brain injuries and it is working. I think I have mentioned it. I believe that he Lord has shown me how to heal this problems of cPTSD and also health problems with a Rife device (frequencies) for a time like this so I can show others the way. In my country medical services are fast disappearing.

I'm interested in who you've been watching. I've never heard of the Rife device, I'll need to check that out.

So I am trusting and thanking God for my healing which is going on at quite a rapid rate, but doing the things needed for the neurological healing. So many things have changed in me, especially where disregulation is concerned as I learn to recognize it and stop it.

Ah, yes, disregulation! Such fun! It's such a good thing to know you are experiencing this healing! For me it's like coming into sunlight out of a deep deep darkness.

Something else I've learned is that the conscious intent to not allow myself to become disregulated going into a given situation can help a lot!

In the recovery period one can get stuck at times, but there is things we can do to get past that. But recovery needs hard work and not giving up.

So I am not discounting faith and God healing it. It's just the same as with physical illnesses and those which come from unhealthy eating. We will not mature if we keep asking Him to heal us and keep on eating in a way that our bodies were not meant for.

Agree!

But of course, spiritual healing comes first and foremost. We need to be walking in the Light and freed from sin. But there is much we can do as we long for that.

Agree again!

I think your time has come brother. Recovered cPTSD's are what the world needs now and how much more so if they are also ES'ed.

May it be so, sister!!

Much love!

 

[marks]

No we learn but we cannot do it. It is because we are trying to do it in the flesh. For the cPTSD'ed it is especially hard.

In my Bible reading and studies, as I've come to see that where it speaks of flesh in relation to sin that it's talking about damage to our bodies.

Galatians 6:7-9 KJV
7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Wrong choices, and particular as they are repeated, causes the brain plasticity to reform according to those evil choices, and this reforming results in the internal drive to repeat those choices. This is corruption of the flesh, it's being reformed to promote evil.

And the same of course for healthy and right choices. The more wrong choices we make, the more we become corrupted. But if we make the right choices, the more we will experience our eternal life. And so we are admonished to not be weary in well doing . . . even though we have the corruption of sin, because eventually the good will win over.

Hmmm. I need to meditate on that for a while!

I think that many think that they are *there*, they have reached the point of salvation that they read about and are taught mistakenly.

When the 'pricks' of the Spirit come, they subdue them and quench the Spirit.

That sounds right. I don't know how I would have had this concept of walking in the Spirit if it hadn't happened to me for this extended time. It's a truly life altering event. But then I've had quite few major events that have been life altering!

Much love!

 

[Johann]

And the same of course for healthy and right choices. The more wrong choices we make, the more we become corrupted. But if we make the right choices, the more we will experience our eternal life. And so we are admonished to not be weary in well doing . . . even though we have the corruption of sin, because eventually the good will win over.

While the exact term "theosis" is not found in the Bible, the concept is supported by several biblical passages that speak of believers partaking in the divine nature, being transformed into the image of Christ, and sharing in His glory. Theosis, as developed in Christian theology, particularly in Eastern Orthodoxy, draws heavily on these scriptural themes to articulate the believer's journey toward union with God and participation in His divine life.

She is not Eastern Orthodox-far as I can tell-and how would you exegete the passage "believers partaking in the divine nature?"

 

[Hepzibah]

@marks on Rife:

The following is an excerpt from the book: "The Cancer Cure That Worked", the classic book on the story of Royal Rife written by Barry Lynes:


Royal R. Rife, born in 1888, was one of the greatest scientific geniuses of the 20th century. He began researching a cure for cancer in 1920, and by 1932 he had isolated the cancer virus. He learned how to destroy it in laboratory cultures and went on to cure cancer in animals. In 1934, he opened a clinic which successfully cured 16 of 16 cases within three months time. Working with some of the most respected researchers in America along with leading doctors from Southern California, he electronically destroyed the cancer virus in patients, allowing their own immune systems to restore health. A Special Research Committee of the University of Southern California oversaw the laboratory research and the experimental treatments until the end of the 1930s. Follow-up clinics conducted in 1935, 1936 and 1937 by the head of ihe U.S.C. Medical Committee verified the results of the 1934 clinic.

Independent physicians utilizing the equipment successfully treated as many as 40 people per day during these years. In addition to curing cancer and other deadly diseases, degenerative conditions such as cataracts were reversed. Rife had been able to determine the precise electrical frequency which destroyed individual micro-organisms responsible for cancer, herpes, tuberculosis, and other illnesses. His work was described in Science magazine, medical joumals, and later the Smithsonian Institution's annual report.

Unfortunately, Rife's scientific theories and method of treatment conflicted with orthodox views. His work was stopped and both the research and the treatments were forced underground. Doctors secretly continued curing cancer patients for 22 years after the original success of the 1934 clinic, but always with opposition from medical and governmental authorities - However, from 1950 to the mid-1980s, a number of research scientists, working independently, have slowly been verifying the scientific principles upon which Rife's clinical cures of the 1930s were based. A body of recognized scientific evidence now overwhelmingly supports the original cancer theories articulated and demonstrated by Rife 50 years ago. This includes modern AIDS researchers.

In the 1950s, John Crane-engineer, machinist, laboratory analyst, health researcher and inventor-became Rife's partner. Crane, born in 1915, worked at Rife's side from 1950 until Rife's death in 1971. During this time, he learned all the secrets of Rife's cancer cure... and all the details of its suppression. Together, the two men designed and constructed new and better equipment, and managed to interest a new Generation of doctors in the possibilities of a genuine, lasting and painless cancer cure. And again the authorities struck. Crane was jailed, equipment was smashed, records were destroyed. Again the motives driving on the forces of suppression were the same. By sharing the long hidden facts, as well as thousands of documents preserved from the 1930s, Crane has enabled the full story to be told.

Author Barry Lynes, born in 1942, is an investigative reporter who lives in California. His areas of research, articles and books include economic theory, climate changes, history, U.S.-Soviet relations and alternative health treatments. In early 1986, he became acquainted with John Crane and heard the entire Rife story first-hand. Initially skeptical, Lynes changed his mind after examining the wealth of documents in Crane's possession. Outraged by the injustices that had destroyed Rife's work, Lynes decided to reveal in book form what had happened.
The book can be obtained from http://www.barrylynes.com, ISBN 0-919951-30-9

A good source of further information on the history of Rife is Stan Truman's website http://www.rife.org and you will also find some documents on http://www.rife.de

I have used it successfully for a number of conditions, the latest being vertigo, from which I began to suffer from 6 months ago. I read it was due to inflammation so I quit grains and it went, then came back a few weeks ago but worse.

It threatened to put me in a wheelchair and give up driving as it was progressing but two half hour sessions with my rife device fixed it.

 

[Hepzibah]

I'm aware of 2 basic kinds of damage, one being the structure, and one being the function. Fully formed brain structures (hypothalmus, ventril cortex, etc.) can have improper functions, for instance, the reward circuit grows new dendrites that drive behavior as they look for their dopamine and such. Changes in behavior/though can cause this overgrowth of dendrites that lead bad behavior/thought to diminish, while growing new ones that promote healthy function.

But then we cPTSD these brain structures themselves become underdeveloped, and after the mid 20's, the brain stops developing, and that's what you get. Underdeveloped structures are unable to provide the neurotransmitters, and are unable to process, as a fully developed organ. This part of the damage, from my research, doesn't heal. Of course God can heal anything!

I have read that the newest research shows that it can be healed a lot more than previously thought, and from the rate at which I have been recovering I believe it. Also from listening to one woman who has recovered - Anna Runkin, I can see that she has done a huge amount of recovery and is helping thousands. Have you read Bessel van der Kalk?

In my recovery, I seem to see two parts that match this. I find that there seems to be a part I've seen much change in, but other parts that seem to remain exactly the same.

But this is a very complex subject, and I remain open to learning, and healing, and whatever God wants to do with me.

My research indicates that the effects of cPTSD tend to increase as we grow older, becoming much more pronounced, and set, by our mid/late 50's.

I've had several "steps" in recovery over the years, where it seems things are better, but the creeping crud keeps creeping, until it's all too much again.

Yes you have to keep at the recovery.

I'm interested in who you've been watching. I've never heard of the Rife device, I'll need to check that out.

Ah, yes, disregulation! Such fun! It's such a good thing to know you are experiencing this healing! For me it's like coming into sunlight out of a deep deep darkness.

I am discovering that most of my life I have been dysregulated and dissociated.

Something else I've learned is that the conscious intent to not allow myself to become disregulated going into a given situation can help a lot!

Yes I can do that too!

Agree!

Agree again!

May it be so, sister!!

Much love!

 

[marks]

and how would you exegete the passage "believers partaking in the divine nature?"

Maybe not an exegesis, but to share some thoughts . . .

koinonoi = partakers = sharers = communion with

2 Peter 1:3-4 KJV
3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Beginning with the nature we've received from our parents, which is susceptible to the corrupt lusts of the flesh, that find fulfillment in the world (kosmo), the world system, we have the possibility in Christ that we can share the nature of our new Parent, God.

We access this through God's exceeding great and precious promises. This says to me . . . God has promised things, and if we believe His promises (faith), we can through this belief share His nature.

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,"

To me this says that we have what we need (faith in Christ, and a new creation) for our life, and godliness. We need to believe, and not think we are disqualified (by bad behavior), since this is based on promise, not behavior.

We can be trapped in the corruption that is in the world through lust, which is to say, we have lusts for corrupt things in the world, which shows corruption in ourselves. Believing His promises gives us a new paradigm of freedom, which we can then walk in.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Much love!

 

[marks]

I agree: a new birth, a new spirit. We are born of the S(s)pirit. We are now alive unto God.

But this is not born again.

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:3–7).

So Jesus is saying that flesh and spirit are separated. It is not once born in the flesh and born again in the spirit. It is two spiritual births. Born, then born again in the S(s)pirit.

So what do you say about someone like me, who has experience what we can call Theosis, and now do not? Am I born again?

For myself, this seems an obvious question, of course I'm born again, and have been a long time. I'm different than I was, completely different.

I don't see two spiritual births, here, the born again is that having been born once from flesh (water), then we have to be born again spiritually. Flesh gives birth to flesh, not spirit, so you have to have a second birth, spirit.

Much love!

 

[Johann]

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Six or seven different Greek words are translated “partaker” in the Scriptures. These words are used by the Holy Spirit to tell us what it means to be a partaker of Christ. Believers are joint-heirs with Christ and are joined to Christ in an inseparable and eternal union; members of His Body, seated with Him and blessed in Him with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. So we join with Paul in “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” Colossians 1:12. This Greek word “partaker”, is “meris”, meaning to “get as an allotment”, “to receive a portion”. What a portion! What an allotment! We receive it, by grace, through faith. God made us meet, or literally, “qualified” us. We are God’s workmanship. God did the work. He wrought the Divine transformation. He placed Christ where He is, far above in the heavenlies, and placed us in Christ. When we were dead He made us alive and raised us up. We are God’s workmanship. As partakers of Christ:

We are partakers of the Divine nature. II Peter 1:4

We are partakers of His holiness. Hebrews 12:10

We are partakers of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6:4

We are partakers of the heavenly calling. Hebrews 3:1

We are partakers of His sufferings. I Peter 4:13

We are partakers of God’s promise in Christ. Ephesians 3:6

We are partakers of grace. Philippians 1:7

We are partakers of fruit. II Timothy 2:6

We are partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel. II Timothy 1:8

We are partakers of Christ’s glory. I Peter 5: 1.

It is very interesting to trace the meanings of the different words translated “partaker” and learn of our intimate relationship, partnership and fellowship with Christ; “joint-heirs”, “sharers”, “partners”, “Co-partners”. “In Christ” and “Christ in us”. Christ partook of our nature that we might partake of His nature. We partake of His sufferings that we might partake of His glory. As the Captain of our salvation, He was made perfect through suffering.

We are partakers of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. By that grace He became poor that we, through His poverty, might become rich. The Gospel has made us rich. The Gospel has brought us peace. It is called the “gospel of peace”. Christ made peace by the blood of the cross. Christ is our peace.

Paul seems to have reached the highest expression of the Gospel of Christ when he wrote to Timothy concerning “the gospel of the glory of the Blessed God, committed to my trust.” I Timothy 1:11. Grace and glory are combined in that gospel, which offers grace and glory to every beneficiary, and declares “As He is, so are we in the world”. I John 4:17.

What a spiritual treat, what an abundant feast! Let us spiritually, seriously, prayerfully read that wonderful prayer of the Lord Jesus, John 17:9 to 26, and learn of our union, partnership, eternal glorious fellowship in the Son and in the Father. Then later on in the Book we learn that it has been the delight of the Holy Spirit to be the instrument with the Word of God to bring it about. II Thessalonians 2:13. It means much to be a partaker of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is in the believer. The believer is in the Spirit. The believer is to walk in the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit, and to manifest the fruit of the Spirit, as he is led and instructed by the Holy Spirit.

The partaker of Christ is the partaker of the Divine nature, because God has created in that believer the new man in righteousness and true holiness, after God’s own image. Christ is the believer’s holiness. I Corinthians 1:30.

Everything that the believer needs to please God has been provided in Christ; even the grace, the boldness, the humility, the power to be a partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel. The true Grace preacher must suffer as an evil-doer to make Paul’s gospel known. “Be not ashamed,” are the words in this connection. II Timothy 1:5 to 12. It is an up-to-date admonition. Preachers and Christian workers of today are ashamed and afraid to be partakers of the affliction of that unmixed gospel. They join up with a semi-religious movement for protection, for security and for advantage. They limit the Holy Spirit, as they take off the keen edge of the affliction of Paul’s Gospel. But if we suffer with Christ and Paul, and follow Paul as he instructed us, we will be glorified and reign with Christ. This should encourage us to an uncompromising, unmixed testimony in this religious day of confusion, compromise and condemnation.

For we are partakers of Christ’s glory that shall be revealed. I Peter 5:1. Hear the prayer of Christ in John 17:22, 24 and I Peter 5:10 and 11.

“And the glory which Thou gavest Me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one.”

“Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

“But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Made Partakers of Christ

It is quite interesting to compare Hebrews 2:14 with Hebrews 3:14, and to note why Christ was made partaker of flesh and blood. It required Christ’s death and resurrection to destroy Satan’s “death” power. In the next chapter we learn that believing sinners delivered by Christ are partakers of Chris

bereanbiblesociety.org

Something to ponder about, to reflect upon. Since I read stuff on this forum I simply cannot agree with @marks.

 

[Hepzibah]

So what do you say about someone like me, who has experience what we can call Theosis, and now do not? Am I born again?

For myself, this seems an obvious question, of course I'm born again, and have been a long time. I'm different than I was, completely different.

I don't see two spiritual births, here, the born again is that having been born once from flesh (water), then we have to be born again spiritually. Flesh gives birth to flesh, not spirit, so you have to have a second birth, spirit.

Much love!

I am not seeing it that way. To be reborn must be of the same type ie spiritually twice. Jesus separated them.

I am still trying to work through what scripture says about losing Theosis. Your case is very interesting to me. What led up to it? We're you in despair?

 

[Johann]

So what do you say about someone like me, who has experience what we can call Theosis, and now do not? Am I born again?

For myself, this seems an obvious question, of course I'm born again, and have been a long time. I'm different than I was, completely different.

I don't see two spiritual births, here, the born again is that having been born once from flesh (water), then we have to be born again spiritually. Flesh gives birth to flesh, not spirit, so you have to have a second birth, spirit.

Much love!

Eph 1:13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth—the good news of your salvation—in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
Eph 1:14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.

Once of experience. You ARE born again.

 

[marks]

Eph 1:13 in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth—the good news of your salvation—in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
Eph 1:14 which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.

Once of experience. You ARE born again.

heard . . . believed . . . sealed

Amen!

Much love!

 

[Hepzibah]

ps @marks. neurotransmitters are produced in the gut.

 

[Johann]

heard . . . believed . . . sealed

Amen!

Much love!

Now the question is-can a believer be "unsealed" later in life? I don't think so-but I don't want to derail this conversation brother.
Stay strong in Christ Jesus.
Later.
Johann.

 

[marks]

I am still trying to work through what scripture says about losing Theosis. Your case is very interesting to me. What led up to it? We're you in despair?

No more than other times, and perhaps less.

In 2017, God started working hard in my life. He opened my eyes to the fleshiness of my mind, my way of choosing in my life, everything. I had an infection which cost me 25 lbs in 2 weeks that I couldn't afford to lose. I lost a goodly amount of muscle mass, among other things. My health was heavily impacted, and I've not been the same since. And with medical bills He was crushing my finances. I was so weakened in my body, desolate in my mind, but I was refocusing on the spiritual matters.

Meanwhile, disgregulation, mind race, and the acting out of my repetion compulsions make my life a rollercoaster, to say the very very least! There were many wee hours of the morning alone in my room in dejection and despair. I would then just sit before God, wanting a word from Him, and would just open my Bible and read what I say.

It was in these times that I learned about God's love for me, particularly in the many readings I landed on in Isaiah.

Perhaps the most memorable of these was reading Isaiah 44 . . . I opened, looked at the page, began to read:

Isaiah 44:9 KJV
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

Yes, I know, this is idolatry! I just felt worse and worse as I continued to read about how I make for myself idols. When I came to,

Isaiah 44:20 KJV
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

I was in tears, this was exactly how I felt. Feeding on ashes, a deceived heart has turned me aside, and there, nothing I seem to be able to do about it, it's like I can't even come to the most basic truth that what I'm doing is just a lie!

I was undone . . . this was the last verse on the page . . . I was afraid to turn the page, I didn't know how much more truth I could take!

Isaiah 44:21-23 KJV
21) Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22) I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23) Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

And then I really started crying!

Oh what a great and immeasurable love!!

Some time later . . . same situation . . . desolate after a bad day . . . many bad days . . . seeking a word from God, I opened and began to read where my eyes landed.

Psalms 129:1-4 KJV
1) A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2) Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.

He had my attention!

3) The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.

What an analogy! Right on target!

4) The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

When I read the word "cut" I felt something cut away inside, and it fell away from me into the shadows. What just happened???

I felt it, I felt different, I was afraid to think that the evil in me had been cut away like that, I was afraid it wasn't really true, so I didn't think about it, I assured myself that if this is what happened, if this was real, I'll know soon enough, and went to sleep.

By the third day I was convinced, amazed, and for the next 5 weeks or so, those cords were cut. Until in a particular moment, I heard my flesh calling out again, and I could tell, it was gone.

Much love!

 

[marks]

ps @marks. neurotransmitters are produced in the gut.

I've been reading more about that. But aren't those used in the body, not the brain? Or do they travel?

Much love!