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Jesus Christ is the Gate
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Jesus Christ, the Covenant Representative, is the gate through which we
must pass to reach the narrow way that leads to spiritual life.
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This is where the willing supplicant gives up his or her independence,
puts on the gentle loving yoke of Jesus Christ and walks along the narrow
path that has been predestinated by God as the way to the Celestial City.
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No other path will lead there.
- . . . . But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were
far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who
hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between
us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of
twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile
both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that
were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
- (Ephesians 2:13-18)
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On the way the pilgrim shall be fed and receive power from the Holy Spirit
to endure and enjoy the journey, the Way of service to the King1.
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Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the
Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but
the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am
in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works'
sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he
do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
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(John 14:10-13)
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The letters to the Corinthians are known as the epistles to the apostate
church, to the Galatians the legalistic church, and the epistle to the
Ephesians, the church.
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Please read the following a couple of times and then concentrate on the
highlighted areas to understand what God is saying.
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by
the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the
faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our
Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according
to the good pleasure of his will, To
the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted
in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath
abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us
the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed
in himself: That in the dispensation
of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In
whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own
will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in
Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of
our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto
the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of
your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to
give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That
the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of
your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope
of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in
the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to
us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which
he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him
at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality,
and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only
in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things
under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things
to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in
all. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and
sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others. But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead
in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages
to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus.
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(Ephesians 1:1 - 2:7)
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The third chapter of John's gospel describes being Spiritually reborn -
meeting Jesus Christ at the gate, and the fourteenth chapter shows us that
once we have accepted Jesus Christ in faith and repentance, the Holy Spirit is the guide along the path - our God of the power of faith.
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The above passage of Scripture takes us all the way to the
Celestial City.
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Hallelujah!
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On the Way:
- And to make all men see what is the fellowship
of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in
God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto
the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known
by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and
access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye
faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause
I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole
family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according
to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit
in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints
what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know
the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with
all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen.
- (Ephesians 3:9-21)
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- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that
ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness
and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- (Ephesians 4:1-3)
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1 The Life of Fulfilment.
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