In the series titled Jesus of Nazareth–God, Man or Godman I proved Scripturally that Mary and Joseph’s son Jesus was 100% man, no different from you and me. Because of this fact, He is our perfect example. He is the Prototype that reveals to us the “walk” (lifestyle–1 Jn. 2:6) we must walk in order to enter the Kingdom of God and live with Him and the Father forever. In short, in order to live with Jesus in the eternal future we must live like Him in the temporary present. As I pointed out using numerous Scriptures, there is no exception to this rule. I learned through revelation that the oneness of character required to be a son of God in this life carries over into the next life in which those who make the cut will live and operate exactly as Jesus will live and operate. This promise is made possible by the fact that JESUS WAS A MAN DURING HIS EARTHLY TENURE AND IS STILL A MAN TODAY AS HE SITS AT THE FATHER’S RIGHT HAND INTERVENING FOR THOSE WHOSE ONLY GOAL IN THIS LIFE IS TO BE LIKE HIM. THIS TINY GROUP, WHOM HE CALLS HIS “REMNANT,” HIS “LITTLE FLOCK,” HIS “VERY ELECT” WILL ONE DAY BE CO-RULERS WITH HIM OVER THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. Let us study the passage that God used to teach me this incredible truth which is rejected by the church masses, thereby eliminating them from the possibility of receiving eternal life. Only a reversal of (this) life will bring about a future in God’s kingdom.

In First Timothy 2:5 we find recorded under the power of the Holy Spirit these Words: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men–the man Jesus Christ.” Note it: the One now sitting at God’s right hand is a MAN. The word “man” in this instance is the word “Anthropos” in the Greek language. This is the same word–anthropos–used by New Testament writers to identify every human male mentioned in the Scriptures. It is also the root word meaning mankind. THE MEDIATOR SITTING BESIDE GOD AT THIS MOMENT IS A MAN–JESUS CHRIST (the anointed One). Note that He is also called “GOD” in His present status in Jude 1:25 and Titus 1:3. HE IS CALLED BOTH GOD AND MAN IN HIS PRESENT STATUS WHICH HE WILL MAINTAIN THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.

In order to understand what the above means for God’s true saints, we must recognize, believe and react correctly to two Scriptural facts: Jesus of Nazareth was 1) the first begotten and 2) the first born of God. At one time in history Jesus was identified as the first begotten Son of God. A begettal takes place when the male sperm penetrates the female egg. This is a physical act that is common among all human beings. In modern times we call this miracle “conception.” Jesus was miraculously begotten by God by way of His Holy Spirit at a specific point in time. He prophesied about this in Psalm 2:2 and later had His apostle write about it in Acts 13:33. In both places He said: “You are My Son; THIS DAY I have begotten You.” Before the moment of begettal, the Word (Jn. 1:1-4,14) was not God’s Son, but was a co-equal God with the One who became His Father at moment of His betettal in Mary’s womb. They became Father and Son at the moment of begettal/conception.  Now that we have established that Jesus was begotten as is every other human being–by the union of egg and sperm–let us examine the second important fact concerning the relationship between Jesus and other human beings. Both Jesus and man had/have to be born again in order to receive eternal life because flesh and blood cannot enter (inherit) the Kingdom of God (eternal life). As Jesus told Nicodemus, a man must be born again (spiritually born) in order to receive eternal life (Jn. 3:1-8). Here Jesus explains to the Pharisee that in order to join Him in paradise a man must be “BORN AGAIN”–changed from flesh to spirit, for flesh and blood cannot enter paradise. As He said, “That which is born of the flesh (begotten) is flesh and that which is born of the spirit (born again) is spirit.” A man is either one or the other. This rule included Jesus of Nazareth. See Born Again for a more complete explanation of the born again experience.

Jesus of Nazareth, being totally man, had to be born again in order to enter the presence of God the Father. JESUS WAS THE FIRST BORN AGAIN MAN–THE FIRST TO BE RAISED FROM THE (PHYSICAL) DEAD AND TRANSFORMED INTO THE (SPIRITUAL) LIVING. For this reason why all people must die. Without physical death there can be no spiritual life. Unless one is transfigured from flesh to spirit one cannot enter paradise. Recall that on the mount of transfiguration the disciples were allowed to see Jesus in His born again body. That is how His saints will appear when they are born again–totally spirit god-men EXACTLY AS JESUS IS NOW. WHAT JESUS IS NOW HIS VERY ELECT WILL BE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN. Jesus was the “firstborn (again) among MANY BRETHREN.” This proves that other human beings will be born again. These He calls His “brethren.” His brethren, He tells us in Matthew 12:48-50, are (only) those who “… do the will of My Father in heaven ….”  These, he tells us through the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:16,17, will be “joint heirs with Jesus Christ.”

In a joint-heir situation ALL HEIRS RECEIVE EXACTLY THE SAME INHERITANCE. Jesus, having been born again–transfigured from flesh (man) to spirit (god) status–was assured of His inheritance upon His arrival in heaven where God awaited Him. This means that born again saints, being “joint heirs with Jesus Christ,” will receive the same inheritance as co-inheritors. THEY WILL BE GODS AS JESUS CHRIST IS GOD. GOD’S TRUE SAINTS WILL, AT THE TIME OF CHRIST’S RETURN TO EARTH, BE BORN AGAIN AND WILL BE MADE EXACTLY LIKE HIM IN APPEARANCE AND POWER. As a man, Jesus had to be changed into a spirit in order to enter God’s presence. God’s saints, having followed Jesus’ example of obedience, will undergo the same change and will therefore be allowed to enter God’s presence. Only a few, Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13,14, will pay the price of admittance–obedience to His Word. L.J.