"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside ever weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

In being a new creature in Christ, we are running a Spiritual Race of life so that we can inherit the Spiritual Blessings of heaven. I am Charles Burke. Let me reveal our Spiritual Race of life so that we can enjoy the Spiritual Blessings of New Testament Christianity.

I. In being an alien sinner, we are admonished to save ourselves from this evil generation. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and "Christ. Now when they heard this, they were picked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continue steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:36-42

II. In being a son of God by regeneration, we are exhorted to pray for all men everywhere. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

III. In being a disciple of Christ, we are admonished to serve the living God with an acceptable service. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2

I. In being a New Testament Christian, fleshly lust will hinder our own Spiritual Race of life because we must run until we finish the race. "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11

II. In being a son of God by regeneration, an evil heart of unbelief will interfere with our own Spiritual Race of life because we must walk by faith not by sight. "For we walk by faith, not by sight: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 3:12-13

III. In being a disciple of Christ, becoming embittered will obstruct our own Spiritual Race of life because we must have a good attitude in this life. "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostle's hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that in whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hat neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." Acts 8:18-23

I. In being a New Testament Christian, we must forsake all manner of sin so that we can run that Spiritual Race of life without any hindrances. "Let not sin therefore reign (rule) in you mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." Romans 6:12-13

II. In being a son of God by regeneration, we need to run that Spiritual Race of life with patience so that we can endure unto the end. "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count the happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James 5:10-11

III. In being a disciple of Christ, we should run that Spiritual Race of life with heavenly vision so that we can look unto Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith. "If ye then be risen with Christ (by the act of baptism), seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead (to the old life of sin), and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

I. If we are running that Spiritual Race of life, we are growing in grace and in knowledge of the truth. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." 1 Peter 2:1-3

II. If we are running that Spiritual Race of life, we are being transformed more and more into the image and the glory of our Lord. "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (freedom from our sins). But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

III. If we are running that Spiritual Race of life, we will be given a crown of life. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Revelation 2:10

I. The Spiritual Race of life has been set before us because it is a matter of life or death for us.

II. We should prepare ourselves so that we can run that Spiritual Race of life unto the end of our own earthly journey.

If you will study the following disclosure of life, you will discern the equality of divine life because you in being a New Testament Christian possess a created and a redeemed nature of life. For instance:

The Bible says, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord (Ruler) of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring (the sons) of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and mans's device." Acts 17:24,29

I. Is the Lord God the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator?

A. The Lord God is the being of the three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator because the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit created our own divine nature of life free of sin. Moses said concerning our own creation of life, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. John said concerning those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God in being our Creator, "For there are three (Persons) that bear record (of our creation) in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three (Persons) are one" (equal) in power, rule authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only Lord God in reference to Their Own Individual Nature of life. Genesis 2:7, 1 John 5:7

B. Equality signifies that those three Persons who are called the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, rule and authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only Lord God in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life. *Personage means possessing a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit. *Powers signify being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. *Nature reveals being eternal, impartial, perfect, spiritual and etc. *Attributes indicate being lovable, righteous, merciful, faithful and etc.

II. Why should we learn that the Lord God is being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator?

Now, we should learn that the Lord God is being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator because we possess the Divine Characteristics of the Lord God who is the being of three equal Persons that are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in matters of our own creation of life. This makes us to be a god in matters of our own creation of life because we are the offspring of God. Our Lord said, "It is written in your law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken." John 10:34-35 Therefore, since we are a god in matters of our own creation of life, this greatly magnifies the whole being of our own created nature of life because in that world which is to come we can become a Family Member of that God-Family who lives in heaven. Paul said concerning the Name of God, "Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Ephesians 3:15

The Bible says, "And I (the Lord God) will put enmity between thee and and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he (Christ the Lord) shall bruise thy head, and thou (the Devil) the shalt bruise his heel. For unto you is born this day in the city of David as Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Blessed be the God and Father (Originator) of our Lord Jesus Christ. What think ye of Christ, Whose Son (Offspring) is he?' Genesis 3:15, Luke 2:11, Ephesians 1:3, Matthew 22:42

I. What is the meaning of the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord?

Now, the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Person because the Lord God (a God-Person) was born Christ the Lord (a God-Man) upon the earth so that He could do the Divine Work of human redemption. This enabled those three God-Persons, who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, to equally make Themselves to work and rule in the Title Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our Redeemer. This was achieved because "The Lord (God) said unto my Lord (Christ), sit thou on my right hand, until I make the foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that the Lord God (who was the being of the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven) hath made that same Jesus (who was the Incarnated Word upon the earth), whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Jesus (who was made both Lord and Christ in being our Redeemer) said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ the Lord in matters of our own redemption of life, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:34-36, Matthew 28:18-20 Therefore, the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons because the Reign of the Lord God brought the Reign of Christ the Lord into being upon the earth so that sinful man could be redeemed.

II. Why should we learn that the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons?

Now, we should learn that the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Person because the Lord God and Christ the Lord are the two Title Names in which three Persons who equally are working and ruling in matters of our own creation and redemption of life. Therefore, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit are the three Persons who equally are called the Lord God in being our Creator; whereas those same three Persons are equally made to be work and rule in the Tile Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that that They can be our Redeemer. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. For there are three (Persons) that bear record (of our creation) in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three (Persons) are one" (equal) in power, rule and authority. "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Colossians 3:1, 1 John 5:7, Matthew 28:18-20

The Bible says, "The Lord (God) said unto my Lord (Christ), Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that the Lord God (who was the being of the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven) hath made that same Jesus (who was the Incarnated Word upon the earth), whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Jesus (who was made both Lord and Christ in being our Redeemer) said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ the Lord in matters of our own redemption of life, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Paul said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creatures: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Acts 2:34-36, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17

I. Is Christ the Lord the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer?

A. Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit redeemed our own divine nature of life from the guilt of sin. This is why we in being an alien sinner must be baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins by being baptized in the name (the authority) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit so that we can become a New Testament Christian. Our Lord said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ the Lord in being our Redeemer, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Paul said, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Matthew 28:18-20, Galatians 3:27

B. Equality signifies that those three Persons who are called Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, rule and authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only Christ the Lord in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life. *Personage means possessing a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit. *Powers signify being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. *Nature reveals being eternal, impartial, perfect, spiritual and etc. *Attributes indicate being lovable, righteous, merciful, faithful and etc.

II. Why should we learn that Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer?

Now, we should learn that Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because we possess the Divine Characteristics of Christ the Lord who is the being of three equal Persons that are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in matters of our own creation of life. This makes us to be a divine person in matters of our own redemption of life because we can become a partaker of the Divine Nature of God in our Heavenly Home. Peter said, "God hath given unto us many exceeding great and precious promises; that by these (promises) ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (the pollution) that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4 Therefore, since we are a divine person in matters of our own redemption of life, this highly amplifies the total sum of our own divine nature of life because in that world which is to come we will be called by the Name of God. Our Lord said, "Him that overcometh (the forces of evil) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelations 3:12

I. The Lord God is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator because the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit created our own divine nature of life free of sin.

II. The Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons because those three God-Persons, who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, equally made Themselves to work and rule in the Title Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our Redeemer.

III. Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit redeemed our own divine nature of life from the guilt of sin.

IV. The Lord God and Christ the Lord are the two Title Names in which three Persons who equally are working and ruling in matters of our own creation and redemption of life because we have been created and redeemed by three equal Persons who are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer so that in that world which is to come we can become equal (having power, rule and authority) with Them.

A. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Spiritual Personage of life which will be a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit in reference to Our Own Individual Nature of life. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is sown a nature body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Who (our Lord) shall change our vile body (our fleshly body), that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body (His Spiritual Body), according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. And as we have borne the image of the earthy (the earthy man who possesses a physical body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (the Spiritual Person who has a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit). 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 15:44, Philippians 3:21,1 Corinthians 15:49

B. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Divine Powers of life in matters of Our Own Individual Being of Life. "If we suffer, we shall also reign (rule) with him (the Lord our God). If we deny him, he also will deny us. To him that overcometh (the forces of evil) will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. And to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And they shall reign (rule) for ever and ever" (over the powers of Satan). 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 22:5

C. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Divine Nature of life in reference to Our Own Individual Nature of life. "It is written in your law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scriptures can not be broken. God has given unto us many 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. Him that overcometh (the powers of Satan) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." John 10:34-35, 2 Peter 1:4, Revelation 3:12, Ephesians 3:15

D. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Divine Attributes of life in matters of Our Own Individual Being of life. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Be ye also merciful, as your Father also is merciful. He that overcometh (the powers of sin), the same shall be clothed in white raiment (having his Divine Attributes Perfected): and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angles. For there shall in no wise enter into it (the Heavenly City) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 21:27

E. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Immortality of life in reference to Our Own Individual Nature of life. "Which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: Who only hath immortality (the Lord in all of His Power and Glory only has immortality, but the Lord has promised to give unto us those same Spiritual Blessings of Immortality), dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. To them (the Christians) who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Romans 2:7

I. We can't Scripturally make a centralized head (a ranked hierarchy) to rule in the New Testament Church because we are all equal in matters of our own creation and redemption of life. This is why the clergy and the laity class of people can not Scripturally exist in the New Testament Church because no one redeemed person can Scripturally rule a congregation of the Lord's Church. Therefore, we should not call any redeemed person: Reverend or Father because those are Divine Titles which belong unto the Lord our God (not redeemed man). "Holy and reverend is his name. Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Psalms 111:9, Matthew 23:9

II. We can't Scripturally make any created person to be any greater than we are in a created way, nor can we Scripturally make any created person to be any less than we are in a created way because we are equal in matters of our own creation of life. This is why no one race of people is any greater than another race of people because we are all equal in reference to our own creation of life. Therefore, we should not respect any one person above another person because God is no respecter of persons. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilt of all." Acts 10:34-35, James 2:9-10

III. We can't Scripturally make any redeemed person to be any greater than we are in a redeemed way, nor can we Scripturally make any redeemed person to be any less than we are in a redeemed way because we are all equal in matters of our own redemption of life. This means that no one priest, elder, or bishop has any more power, rule and authority than another priest, elder or bishop because no one redeemed man can Scripturally rule a congregation of the Lord's Church. Each congregation of the New Testament Church is autonomous (self-ruled) because of the equality of our own creation and redemption of life. Therefore, Christ (not a redeemed man) is the head of the Church. "Christ is the head (the ruler) of the church; and he is saviour of the body: the Church." Ephesians 5:23

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May the Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones.

Charles Burke