The Uniqueness of Christian faith

If I was  to ask you what you considered to be the most signficant
difference between Christianity and any other world religion I wonder what
you might say. Some might say it's the emphasis on a moral code and right
behavioir, or its the ability to transforn an individual or a community or
nation. Others would say it was the community of love that it promotes both
within its ranks or the overflow of that love into the world around. But
these are but the fruit of something else which is the essense of our faith
itself. It is.... " Christ in you the hope of Glory!" The measure of the
effectiveness of all these other suggestions i.e. ones 'right behaviour'
 or the transformation of our sociery, is relative to the degree of His
presence and power within us. An indivudual Christian and the Church
corporate is only as effective as this is a reality.

You see, God's first command to Adam was to eat, to drink and to rest. He
was to eat of the Tree of Life and drink from the River of Life and rest in
the finished work of God. His first day was Sabbath, his rest day! We too are
to eat from the Tree of Life and drink from the River of Life that is Jesus.
It is by eating of Him that we grow more like Him. It is NOT by eating of the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This only teaches us  the moral
code. Such feasting will only serve to condemn us because like  Adam, we
will know the moral code but in knowing it, we will also become conscious of
our inability to keep it. Our innocency like with Adam will be destroyed and
in the knowledge of our sin we will make every attempt to cover it up.
 This is called sin-consciousness' and 'sin-consciousness' will always
lead to cover up, to lies and deceit and more sin.......and so the circle
begins to turn.

Sin is a word which is used in the sport of archery. It is used to
describe what happens when you miss the target. The greek word is
 'hamartia'. It simply means that 'missing the mark.
It is falling "short of the glory of God" Rom 3 v 23 and we have all done
that. Praise God ...Jesus can break that vicious circle!

No our beloved faith is not based upon knowledge of and adherence to a
moral code, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but to eating of the
Tree of Life....Jesu Christ.

As Christians we have been given God's uncreated life. Jesus was not
created but was and is God, One with the Father. As such you are not called
then to live by a Christian code of ethics but to live by God's life which He
gives. You are to eat of Him. That is why the Eucharist, or the Holy
Communion service, the Lord's table or Supper play such a role in our
observance because it continually reminds is to feast on Him. That life that
he offers us, pulsates with Godly emotions, reactions, impluses, instincts,
promptings, senses and tendencies. As Christians Christ came into our lives
when we repented and asked Him in. He came and now dwells within us. Yeilding
to these promptings is the secret of growing up into the Head who us Christ
Eph 4 v 15. Individually and corporately as we live by the Lord's life from
within us, the character of Jesus begins to take shape amongst and within us.
Gal 4 v 19.

We begin our transformation as earthen vessels of clay but as we embrace
Him and His life, as we eat  of the Tree of Life, then the clay is
changed into 'living stones' which He builds together into his temple. He,
Himself is the Corner Stone.

Like Jesus, who is made of the same DNA as the Father, had "nowhere to lay
His head" so  the Father longs for a 'home'. Eventually these 'stones'
themselves become changed into 'gold' and 'precious stones' which are the
very building materials of the "habitation of God' on earth where He can
finally "tabernacle with man" for all eternity. Rev 21 v 3.  This will
be the New Jerusalem, the tabernacle or habitation of God.... "coming down
out of heaven and dressed.......... like a Bride"

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You had nowhere to lay your head. Take my heart and make it
your home.

Father God, You long for a resting place with man. Change me into those
precious stones and pure gold fit for your temple. I understand now that you
change me as I eat of the Tree of Life.  Thank you Father

Thankyou Holy Spirit for revealing this to me.

Thank you Jesus for being my food and drink. The Tree of Life and River of
Life to me

Amen

God bless you all this week

Howard Barnes

Co director

T.O.M Intn'l