Summer 1996
The Kingdom of Christ in the Spirit
Beulah Skinner

There are those who have been spiritually awakened, who have been lifted out from seeking self satisfaction and esteem, and who are going on into that which Adam forfeited by transgression.

Eve was deceived, but Adam chose to partake, thereby establishing his own way, rather than remaining dependent for his life in God. In this transgression, he carried all of mankind with him, to be ruled by self and the impulses of the flesh.

God gave His own Son to die upon the cross to redeem us from this sin, the curse of being ruled by the self-life. Through the life and sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross, God has demonstrated to man the total unacceptability of sin, and the inexhaustible value and power of His love.

Sin had misrepresented and marred the true love of God. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." That love could only be given by the Son of God, by depositing His spirit of love into the heart of man. Jesus died for us on Calvary's cross, the ultimate triumph and revelation of the love of God.

He demonstrated that true love cannot be conquered by hatred and injustice. His love was expressed in humility, by laying down His life for His brethren. Jesus, when he ascended into heaven, sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us. Only with the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the heart can we learn not only to love each other, but to love our enemies as well.

At Pentecost, a new day began with the birth of a new inward man, "Christ in you the hope of glory." This necessitates the mortification of the flesh and self-denial with regard to all sense knowledge, appetites, tempers, passions, and self judgements.

We must choose to give up our ways and allow the Holy Spirit to breathe within us the very mind, love, and disposition of Jesus.

"If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds
of the body, ye shall live" Rom 8:13b.