Scripture References: John 12:24
Jesus is revealing a very important truth here that very few seemingly can see and understand. What Jesus reveals about a seed of corn can be spiritually applied to those who will become a disciple and follower Christ. What would happen to a grain of corn or any other seed if it was thrown upon the ground and not in the ground? The seed would wither and dry up only to be blown away by the wind and nothing would come of it. A seed must be placed under the ground where it will begin to decay, but within every seed there is another seed within it that will in time begin to produce it’s fruit. One grain of corn put into the ground will be nourished by water and the nutrients of the soil causing it to decay and to fertilize the seed within it to bring forth a stalk of corn with one or more ears of corn on it. But if the grain of corn is just placed on the ground it will not decay or die and fertilize the seed within it. The grain of corn will not be able to produce itself unless it dies as Jesus said. Applying these same principals to the believer that desires to become a disciple of Christ, that certain believer must be willing to die before he can begin to produce the fruits of eternal life within him. This death is not a physical death, but is rather a spiritual death of the sinful nature that every person was born into this world with from the womb of their earthly mother.
By one man, Adam, sin entered into this world causing a persons nature to become sinful and thereby live a life of sin and rebellion against God. Since we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, it is for this very reason that we must all be born again in order to enter into Gods kingdom. Jesus said these words stated in John 3:3 that says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Very few realize that to be born again is a process that will spiritually put to death the sinful nature so that the believer can become a partaker of the divine nature of Christ.
It was Peter that tells us these words as stated in II Peter 1:4 that says, “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.” In order for the believer to be partaker of the divine nature of Christ, they must spiritually be crucified with Christ that will put the old carnal man to death so that the very life of Christ can become their manifested life. To be “crucified with Christ” means that our old carnal man must be spiritually put to death before the life of Christ can be manifested in and through our mortal body. It was the apostle Paul that reveals this truth in what he says in II Corinthians 4:10-11 that says, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” The death of Christ on the cross was an example for true believers that will follow Christ. He left us an example meaning that we must follow in his steps. It was the apostle Peter that said these words as stated in I Peter 2:21-22 saying, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” Christ’s death on the cross represents our death on a spiritual cross. In Matthew 10:38 we find Jesus having said these words saying, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Our cross is a spiritual cross that means we must put to death our old carnal man, which is done daily as we walk in and believe and obey Gods word as it is being revealed to us by revelation of the Holy Ghost that resides in those who truly has received Christ into their heart. Many has been led to believe that when Christ died on the cross they died with him, and when Christ rose again the third day they also rose with him to walk in newness of life, but just to believe this does not change you spiritually at all. The truth of the matter is what Paul tells us in Romans 6:3-4 that says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” We were not automatically buried and rose again with Christ, but rather we are buried with him by “baptism” and this baptism is not water baptism like some think and believe today. This baptism is the Spirit baptism that Paul refers to in I Corinthians 12:13 that says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
This baptism of the Spirit is accomplished as the Spirit leads us into all truth and it’s the cleansing and creating power of these truths of Gods word that spiritually conforms us in a daily process to the image of Christ, as Paul tells us as stated in Romans 8:29 that says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” We are to be like Christ, but certainly not Christ, but we will be like him in his character and life style. It was Jesus himself that tells us these words stated in Luke 6:40 that says, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” Jesus was a perfect and sinless man and every true believer and follower of Christ is to be conformed to Christ’s image, but this is a truth very few accept and believe today. But did not Jesus tell us these words as stated in Matthew 5:48 that says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” If it were not possible to be perfect even as Almighty God is perfect, then why is he telling us to be perfect? Christianity today does not teach the perfection of the saints simply because they are not perfect, but yet they believe they have been born of God. The reason why they have not been perfected is simply because of what they are believing, which is totally contrary to what Gods word truly teaches. Believing any of today’s denominational teachings absolutely will not perfect any of its converts, but yet we find Gods word in more places than one telling us to be perfect and it also reveals how we are made perfect. Since Jesus plainly tells us to be perfect as stated in Matthew 5:48, then let us refer to some of these scriptures and allow Gods word to be true on the matter and count all men to be liars as his word tells us to do. How can we be perfect? Listen to what Paul tells us in II Timothy 3:16-17 these words saying, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Do you hear Paul telling us that it’s the scriptures of Gods holy word that instructs in righteousness that will make us perfect? Is Paul telling the truth here or is he telling us a lie? Again listen to what Paul says in Ephesians 4:10-13 that clearly says, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Can you not see that it’s the gifts of the ministry of Gods word that will perfect the saints conforming them to the image of Christ? The first man Adam, was created in both the image and likeness of God, but when Adam fell into sin by his disobedience to what God said about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he was no longer like God. Adam became a sinner against God obeying his own lusts and desires of his flesh. There was not another man on the earth that was in both the image and likeness of God like Adam was before his fall until Jesus Christ came on the scene.
Christ was the very image and likeness of the invisible God possessing no sin of his own whatsoever. Christ came to this world to take away the sin of the world as John tells us in John 1:29 that says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Christ came to remove the sin that indwelled every person that ever lived on this earth, but how he does this is a truth very few can see and understand. When Christ began his ministry that consisted of about three and one half years, it would be his teachings revealed in his gospel that would cleanse and remove all inward sin of the body, the soul, and the spirit, if his teachings are believed and obeyed. Christ provided a “WAY” that the entire world could be saved, but only a few will find the strait and narrow way to life, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:14 that says, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Christianity teaches that God forgives all sin that man has committed against him, which is true, but being forgiven of sins committed against God does not cleanse you from inward sin of your body, and your soul, and your spirit. To be forgiven of sin and to be cleansed from sin is two different operations that God is author of. The reason why we all needed to be forgiven of sins against God is simply because we were born with a sinful nature that led us into sin and rebellion against God. But when we come in genuine repentance to God desiring to be forgiven of all our sins we committed against God, he will definitely forgive us, but this being forgiven did not cleanse us from the power and influence of sin that yet resides in our total being consisting of a body, a soul, and a spirit. We can only be cleansed from inbred sin as we walk in the light of the truth of Gods word that is revealed throughout all the NT scriptures that was written by approximately eight disciples of Christ. John proves this in what he says in I John 1:7 that says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Christ shed his blood for the NT covenant that became the power of God unto salvation to all them that obey it, as Paul tells us in Romans 1:16. Obedience to the many truths of the gospel of Christ is what will cleanse us from all inbred sin leaving us in a sanctified state free from the power and influence of sin. Man sins simply because sin inhabits his total being, but when he is cleansed from all inbred sin there will be no more sin manifested in his life. Belief and obedience to Gods word will in time destroy all traces of sin within us. Christ is the revealed word of God and this is how Christ destroys the works of the devil, which is sin. John reveals this in what he said in I John 3:8 that says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” It’s belief and obedience to the truths of Gods word that performs the operation of the new birth on the believer. So it makes all the difference in the world as to what you believe, because only the truth will set you free and give you an overcoming testimony. “He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches” AMEN