All Power Is Given To Christ and His Christ

Gainesville, GA Conference December 21-28, 2013

by Mike Vinson

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

It is the purpose of this study to demonstrate that Christ did not tell this to His disciples simply to let them rejoice with Him in His new and powerful position, but to let us, as His disciples, know that we as His own ‘Christ’, in Him to partake of this great power in heaven and in earth is ours, just as He had promised us earlier.

A secondary purpose for this study is to demonstrate that this power is only in "the earnest of the spirit", in down-payment form in this age, and will only be known in its fullness by those to whom it is granted to experience "all power in heaven and in earth" as it is first applied to the kingdom of God within us. This power is manifested within the lives of those in whom it is working now, in this age. It is working only in those who are even now a part of "Jerusalem above… the mother of us all… New Jerusalem…[which is even now] coming down from God out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband.

Here it is so stated a few years prior to Christ’s statement in Matthew 28, which was after His resurrection:

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Luk 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Luk 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
Luk 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
Luk 10:24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Mat 18:18 Verily I say to you, Whatever things ye may bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever things ye may loose on the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.
Mat 18:19 Again, I say to you, that, if two of you may agree on the earth concerning anything, whatever they may ask, it shall be done to them from my Father who is in the heavens,
Mat 18:20 for where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

If these words are true, (and they are true!) if you and I are part of the body of the Christ, then Jesus of Nazareth is right here in this room at this very moment!

If these words are true, (and they are), then the "Jesus of Nazareth" who is persecuted by the Saul’s of Tarsus of this world to this very day, have been given "all power in heaven and in earth".

Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

What is the source of "all power in heaven and in earth"?

Ecc 8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Luk 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Luk 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

2Co 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The scriptures teach us that God’s words are spirit, they are life (Joh 6:63), and that "all things are upheld by the word of His power". It is through the word of God that Christ has been given "all power in heaven and earth", and as His Father has sent Him He has sent us and has given us that same power:

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Steven Crook pointed out recently in his Awesome Hands study in Exodus that the rod in Moses’ hand is a type of the Word of God in the hands of God’s messengers. As such it is very intimidating to those who are not used to it. Moses certainly was not used to using the Word of God before he met the Lord for the first time at the burning bush. Moses himself fled from the rod of God, when it became the serpent which later would swallow up the serpents of Pharaoh’s magicians.

Without that rod, and the power of that rod, the people would never have listened to Moses and Aaron:

Exo 4:29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:
Exo 4:30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.
Exo 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Without that rod, Pharaoh would never have listened to Moses either:

Exo 7:8 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Exo 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
Exo 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

The rod of Moses was the power of Christ. In time Moses was given to appreciate that rod and to use it wisely. Neither Moses nor Christ Himself, nor any of Christ’s original apostles, including the apostle Paul and you and me, asked to be made God’s messengers. It was simply thrust upon all of us.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

But when God sends us to do anything for Him He always gives us the means to get the job done.

Exo 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Exo 4:11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Exo 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

If we are God’s messengers, we cannot resist His will for us:

Amo 3:8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

This is what his detractors had to say of the eloquence of the apostle Paul:

2Co 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

But it is not the physical eloquence of God’s messengers which empowers them. Rather it is the truth of the words they speak. It is the words they speak which empower those who are in Christ.

So what does "all power is given to [Christ] in heaven and in earth" mean for us? Here is what it means. As is always the case, our flesh does not appreciate the meaning of this statement, but the risen Christ within us rejoices in the meaning of these words:

Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Paul’s bodily presence may have been weak, but this is how "all power in heaven and earth" relates to us:

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

What in this world is the "demonstration of the spirit and of power"? How is our faith standing "in the power of God? We cannot answer that question without knowing what is meant by "the spirit", and that is something for which we have been given a very clear definition:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

It always helps us to understand a point when we have an example of how that point has already been made. In this case "the spirit and power" of the Word of God was demonstrated for us in the death and resurrection of our Lord. We are told that He cried out to His Father "and was heard in that He feared".

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

The spirit tells us that Christ cried ut to His heavenly Father and "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death", and we are told that He "was heard" and was "save[d] from death". But Christ was not "saved from death" in the way that even His flesh wanted to be "save[d] from death". Our flesh says "No, He was not saved from death, He died an excruciating death upon the cross." Christ tells us that He was heard and that He was saved from death and has been given all power in heaven and in earth. He tells us that He has given us power over all the power of the enemy, but we see our brothers and sisters suffering and dying daily and crying out to be delivered from death, and our flesh tells us "No, you do not have power over all the power of the enemy at all. You are suffering from physical pain, you are in financial straits, you are hated, despised and abused of all men, and some of you are dying of physical cancer. You are not the Son of God and you have no power at all. Why there are all kinds of things that hurt you. Who do you think you are?" Nevertheless God’s Word does not return to Him void, but it accomplishes what it was sent to do. It saved Christ from death, and it is at this very moment saving you and me from death, and nothing will by any means hurt any in whom Christ dwells. That is "all power…in heaven and in earth" which has been given to Christ and which He in turn has given us "over all the power of the enemy".

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

So the "demonstration of the spirit and of power", that on which "our faith should… stand" is the Word of God itself. Christ being "the word" as we are told in John 1:1, our very salvation depends upon knowing Christ, and being capable of distinguishing His voice and His words from the voice and words of one who "looks like a lamb, but speaks as a dragon".

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Life eternal is to "know God and Jesus Christ", who was "saved from death" through the cross. Many supposed ministers of Christ emphasize physical answers to our prayers as proof of "the demonstration of the spirit and of power". Nothing could be further from the truth revealed to us in these words of our Lord:

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Even more insidious are many ministers with "two horns like a lamb", who emphasize that "knowledge puffs up, but charity builds up", as if Paul were telling us that knowing God and His word actually becomes detrimental to our spiritual well being. These men seek to be accepted of this world. They hate the discussion of the "example [or] the doctrine of Christ".

Here are a couple of verses which will get very little or no air time with those who seek to please men and who teach the insidious doctrine of unity in the essentials and tolerance in the non essentials.

Mat 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Pharisees and Sadducees accept each other as the saints of God, and this is what we are told to counter that mindset:

1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Where in scripture do we find anything that even hints at anything called ‘The essentials of the doctrine of Christ’? It is not to be found. That phrase is exactly what is referred to as "a little leavening", and if it is left within the body of Christ unchallenged, it will "leaven the whole lump".

The fact that we are all first those who are puffed up with their knowledge and are simply immature babes in Christ does not nullify the sum of God’s Word concerning the need for knowing that we must come to "know the Truth". We just read "This is eternal life, that they might KNOW you…" Those are our Lord’s own word.

This, too, is the words of our Lord Himself:

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

We are even told:

Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

How true it is! Christ provoked Pilate to ask a question of which Christ alone is the answer:

Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Every one that is of the Truth hears My voice", because Christ tells us plainly that He Himself IS the Truth:

Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh 14:10 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.

Notice how Christ, uses the phrase "the words that I speak unto you" interchangeably with the phrase "He does the works". That is the "demonstration of the spirit" of which Paul spoke in 1Co 2. That is "comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Right after telling us that he did not preach the gospel in cunning words of man’s wisdom, but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power, Paul tells us this:

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew [our old man]: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ["power… over all the power of the enemy"]
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Now let’s look at verse 4 and verse 13 side by side, and see what we can learn about ‘all power in heaven and in earth’:

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Do not these two verses reveal to us that the demonstration of the spirit and of power is to be found in comparing spiritual things with spiritual? "Spiritual things" are not things which are visible. If they were visible things, then anyone could see them. Ancient Israel, Pharaoh and Thomas all believed "because [they] saw". But the greatest blessings are laid up for those "who believe though they have not seen".

Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Knowing the Truth is to accept and appreciate Joh 20:29. It is the ability to try invisible spirits to see whether they are of God, and that is done only by knowing the word and knowing the voice of the True Shepherd.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

This all makes "know[ing] the Truth", and knowing the Word of God, rather imperative to our spiritual health and well being.

The natural man does not want to "know the truth" much less do "that which is right". The natural man wants to be his own God and live by his own rules. So he uses phrases like "we should strive to DO what is RIGHT, rather than only to BE right. One has a teachable spirit, the other a judgmental one that wants to correct others rather than themselves." That is a cut and paste from a section on a web page where the meaning of "iron sharpens iron" was being discussed. Such foolishness would have us believe that anyone who wants to "be right" is not capable of "doing what is right". Christ did what was right and He said what was right, both at the same time. That should be our goal also. He is our example, not the watered down doctrines of men whose words are so very appealing to our old, rebellious, first man Adam.

Those who know Christ and His voice will not be taken in by this permissive, lascivious spirit. The power of "the Truth… [will] cut off" such a spirit. Such false doctrines are "the power of the enemy", over which God’s elect have been given "all… power"

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Psa 54:3 For strangers [with false doctrines] are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
Psa 54:4 Behold, God is mine helper ["the demonstration of the spirit and the power"]: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Psa 54:5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

It is Truth, Christ, with all power in heaven and earth, which will "cut… off in [His] Truth" those who oppress us and "seek after our soul[s]".

Because those who are in Christ have been granted "power over all the power of the enemy", and because they have the ability to discern between the voice of a stranger and the voice of the True shepherd, and because they have "tried the spirits to see whether they are of God, all those who are in Christ can in "demonstration of the spirit and of power" confidently say along with the apostle John:

1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Here is why we must be able to say those words with confidence:

2Ch 6:21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

Where exactly is God’s "dwelling place"?

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

All of this will make these verses come alive within those who appreciate that instructions of Matthew 18. Knowing that we are the heavens and the temple in the heavens in which God dwells, will give great power to these verses:

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. ["dwelleth in you" 1Co 3:16]
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Here is a much better version of verse 18:

Mat 18:18 Verily, I am saying to you, Whatsoever you should be binding on the earth shall be those things having been bound in the heavens, and whatsoever you should be loosing on the earth shall be those loose in heaven.

"Tell it to the church… having been bound in the heavens… he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

Power that is not used is of no value, We must both know who we are and do what our Lord expects of us. What is expected of us is shown to us in type and shadow in this verse in Judges:

Jdg 8:21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

Let’s always suffer with those who suffer and rejoice with those who rejoice, but we must never allow physical circumstances to shake our faith in the power we have been freely given.

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

As we are being "crucified with Christ… dy[ing] daily… [and as we] present our bodies as a living sacrifice", in Christ we will see our lives through "the spirit which is of God… not the spirit of the world", and we will, in the end, rejoice with our Lord that He has been given power over all things in heaven and in earth, and we will be especially grateful that He has, in turn, given us "power over all the power of the enemy: and [that] nothing shall by any means hurt [us]".

I hope this will help you to know that Christ’s power "in heaven and in earth" and our own "power over all the power of the enemy" is true even as the outward appearances will convince the whole world otherwise.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

If we have the eyes and ears of our Lord, we will see and hear these words even as the events of this evil age appear to be telling us the exact opposite:

Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

It is true for those who are in Christ in earnest even now, but in the end this will be true for all men:

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

This study was inspired by this e-mail:

Mike,

I am going through your teaching on the Law of the Offerings and noticed in Leviticus 4 that there was a distinction made between a ruler sinning and bringing a male kid vs a common person who had to bring a female kid.

What was the significance of the male vs female goat?

Thanks,

J____

There are three offerings in the law of the offerings which reveal to us “the Lord and His Christ”. The scapegoat sin offering, the second bird in the sacrifice for leprosy and the male sacrifice for the rulers of the people; are all types of Christ and His Christ.

Christ tells us that He is sending us “As My Father hath sent me”, but what does that mean?

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Here are a few of the things which Christ’s Father sent Him to accomplish, and these are a few of the things which Christ has sent us to accomplish:

1) Christ tells us that He is “the light of the world”.

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

So, has Christ sent us to be the light of this world as His Father sent Him to be that light? Yes, as a matter of fact, Christ Himself tells us that is exactly what He has sent us to be to this world:

Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2) Christ tells us that he was sent to be “the bread of life”. He then tells us that He will give us His body as that bread of life, and He tells us that we are His body.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Does the holy spirit ever refer to us as that same bread? Yes, once again, we are told that we are all “one bread and one body”.

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

3) Christ tells us that He has the water of life:

Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

Do the scriptures tell us that we, too, have that same “living water”.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

We can see that in Christ those ‘in Him’ are “1) the light of the world, 2) the bread of life, and 3) they have the water of life. This all being so, can we not say that Christ identifies Himself with us? Well, Christ certainly does. Here is just how much He does so:

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Christ tells us that the way we treat His disciples is how we are treating Him. He goes even further when He tells Saul of Tarsus who He is:

Act 22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

Here we have Christ Himself telling Saul of Tarsus that when he is persecuting Christ’s disciples, he is persecuting “Jesus of Nazareth”. Now let’s get back to what the Father sent Christ to accomplish. Here it is again:

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Let’s also remind ourselves what Christ told us about what He has sent us to do:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

If the Father sent Christ to be the Savior of the world, and if our Savior has sent us “even as [His] Father has sent [Him]”, has not Christ sent us to also be Saviors? It would appear that is exactly what Christ meant when He said “As My Father hath sent me, even so send I you”.

That is why in the last verse of Obadiah we are told:

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

When we are told that “as [Christ] is in this world, so are we”, that likeness extends to the point of us being called “Saviors”.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The only difference is that while Christ’s crucifixion culminated at the age of 33 1/2 years, we are to “present our bodies as living sacrifices.” We are to be “dying daily” with our Lord, and we are to count ourselves as being “crucified with Him”. We are to do this every day until the day we die, even if we live to be 120 years old.

Rom 12:1 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.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

“Jesus of Nazareth” would have us to know that His faithful disciples are a second phase, or an extension, of who He is and what He was sent to do, and He wants us to know that as far as He is concerned, we are “Jesus of Nazareth” and that “as He is so are we in this world.”

Now if that is a Biblical Truth, then we should also find a type and a shadow of our Lord-anointed saviors in the Old Testament. It just so happens we do have such types and shadows in nothing less than the law of the offerings, which we are given so we can see Christ as His Father wants us to see Him. It so happens that our heavenly Father has given ancient Israel at least three sacrifices which are types and shadows of this two-phase work of Christ and His christ.

The first offering which reveals this two-phase work of our “Lord and His Christ” is the offering of the goat and the scapegoat.

Lev 16:5 And he [Aaron the high priest] shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

There it is! The scapegoat is “to make an atonement with him”, meaning with the goat upon which “the Lord’s lot fell”. Israel, by God’s design, is not cleansed by the blood of the first goat alone. It requires the work of both of these goats “to make an atonement” for the sins of the people. Are we actually told that we are to consider ourselves to be part of the sin offering which is made for the sins of the people? Here is what we are told:

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

“Bearing His reproach” is exactly what the scapegoat, the Old Testament type of “our Lord’s Christ”, did:

Lev 16:18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat [upon which “the Lord’s lot fell”], and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
Lev 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
Lev 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Lev 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

“The hand of a fit man” refers to Christ Himself, living within His own elect who are symbolized by the goat whose body is offered as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” As His elect, we are all, at this very moment, being “led by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness” that is this world.

Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

“As… the goat [on which] the Lord’s lot” fell, died for the sins of the people, “even so” is the “living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1), “crucified with Christ, nevertheless… liv[ing]… [as] Christ in [us]… filling up the sufferings that are behind of the afflictions of the Christ [of Christ]”

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice [the scapegoat], holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 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.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live [as the scapegoat]; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Look at what the holy spirit has revealed to us. We are to fill up in our bodies what is behind of the afflictions of “the Christ” as the literal versions show us:

Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly, (YLT)

Why are we called “Jesus of Nazareth” by Jesus of Nazareth? Why are we called ‘the light of the world, the bread of life, [and why are we given] the water of life’? Why are we “crucified with Christ”, and why are we “filling up in our bodies the afflictions of the Christ”?

As hard as it is to grasp, the answer is, “As [Christ’s] Father… sent Him, even so [Christ] has sent us [to] fill up His afflictions in our bodies for the same reason Christ suffered His afflictions, and for the same reason Christ’s Father sent Him. That reason is “for His body’s sake, which is the church”. Our stripes and afflictions are for the same purpose as His, “because as He is, so are we in this world”.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

In other words, since “before the world began”, God never intended that the goat which was offered for a sin offering should “atone for the sins of the people” alone. Instead, “before the world began”, God intended that the living scapegoat would also be an integral part of “the atonement for the people”. Let’s look at that again:

Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

God has always intended, from the beginning, that it would take both goats to atone for the sins of the people.

Let’s examine another sacrifice which reveals this very same revelation of the function of “the Christ”, the anointed, of Christ. This is the offering of the two birds for the healing of the leper.

Here are the scriptures on this revealing sacrifice:

Lev 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 14:2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
Lev 14:3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
Lev 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Again, just as the scapegoat is released by a fit man into the wilderness, this live bird is released by the priest “into the open field”, which is just another symbol for the world into which we all are born and in which we all live. We have this interpretation of the meaning of “the field” on the words of our Savior Himself:

Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

We are all familiar with Christ’s healing of the “ten lepers”.

Luk 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luk 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

It could have been nine or eight or seven lepers, but it wasn’t. It was ten lepers because the spiritual significance of the number ‘ten’ is the completeness and perfection of the flesh, and God wants us to know that all flesh is leprous and dying.

See this study on the spiritual significance of the number ‘ten’:

The sacrifice for the healing of this deadly disease of leprosy is not one, but two doves, and just as with the two goats, one bird is sacrificed to the Lord, and the other is kept alive and is released into the open field.

However, let’s notice again how this is all commanded to be accomplished:

Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

“The cedar wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop are one and all symbols of the pains and afflictions, “which are behind of the afflictions of the Christ”. They are one and all symbols of the sufferings of the cross of Christ.

Joh 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

The requirements for the cleansing of “all the people” and the cleansing of the leper are the same. In the offering of the cleansing of the leper, however, we find that there are two birds required to be a part of this offering before the leper can be pronounced clean. The first bird is to be killed “in an earthen vessel over running water”. We are clearly told that this “earthen vessel” is the physical body of sinful flesh and blood into which all in Adam are born, including our Lord Himself:

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure [Being Christ’s christ] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The “running water” is the type of the word of God and the words of Christ, which “are spirit” and which are to be found in the mouths and hearts of all who are truly abiding in Christ.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Joh 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

‘Flowing’ waters are “running water”, and those running waters are the type and shadow of the life that is in the Word of God. ‘The words I speak are life…’ Those words are still to be found in the mouths and the hearts of those to whom it is given to remain faithful to the words of our Lord and to follow in His steps:

Mat 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Mat 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

This bird which is set free in the field has that spirit of Christ within it, and that bird as well as the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop, have all been dipped in the blood of the first bird “in an earthen vessel over running water”. These two birds constitute one sacrifice. “Take for him that is to be cleansed two birds…”

Lev 14:2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
Lev 14:3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
Lev 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

This second live bird is as expedient to the cleansing of this leper as the first bird, for they are one sacrifice for the cleansing of the leper.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

This bird is another type of the second phase of the work of Christ, and it, too, represents us as we are filling up in ourselves the afflictions of the Christ as they are symbolized by the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop, which are all dipped in the blood of the first bird.

Let’s look at our third and final sacrifice which is the symbol of this two- phase work of our Lord, in the offering for the sins of the ruler and the sins of the common people.

Lev 4:22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
Lev 4:23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
Lev 4:24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.

This sacrifice for “a ruler” must be “a kid of the goats, a male without blemish… it is a sin offering”. Notice that God wants to distinguish “a ruler” in this sin offering from the sin offering which is to be offered for “one of the common people”.

Lev 4:27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
Lev 4:28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
Lev 4:29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

This offering is for sins of “one of the common people.” It is to be a female goat, while the offering for the ruler is to be a male goat. Who in scripture is called “a ruler?” Once again we will see that those who are called rulers in scripture are those who are also called ‘the Christ’ of Christ, and “a ruler” is always to be distinguished from “one of the common people” who are to be ruled over by the overcomers.

Gen 41:40 Thou [Joseph, a type of “the Christ”] shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Gen 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 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.

Let us ask, where is this ‘Christ’, this ‘anointed’ of Christ, mentioned in the New Testament? Is it to be found there?

If indeed Christ lives within us and we are dying daily with Him and are being “crucified with Him” and He is “nevertheless [living]” within us, then we are the christ of Christ who Christ says we are. To fail to acknowledge who we are, as expressed by Christ and His words, is to deny the Christ, and all who do so will be ‘judged out of their own mouths.’

Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

The Greek word for ‘Christ’ is ‘christos’, and it means simply ‘anointed’. Immediately following His resurrection, Peter informs us that Christ is now “both Lord and Christ”.

Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

If Christ is now both ‘Lord’ and His Father’s “anointed”, whom His Father has sent into this world to save this world (Joh 3:17), then we should also be able to find some mention of Christ’s ‘anointed’, whom He has sent into this world to save this world as His Father has sent him.

Remember what we have been told already:

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Can we find the christ of Christ mentioned anywhere in the New Testament? The answer is, yes, we certainly can, and here are a few of the verses which refer directly to “Our Lord and His Christ”.

Act 4:23 And being let go [Peter and John], they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The phrase “the Christ” according to Young’s Literal Translation, is found in the New Testament 155 times. Many times it refers to Christ, but just as many times it refers to the christ of Christ.

For example, Paul speaks of Christ and in the same breath poses this question concerning “the Christ” of Christ?

1Co 1:12 and I say this, that each one of you saith, `I, indeed, am of Paul’ –`and I of Apollos,’ –`and I of Cephas,’ –`and I of Christ.’

1Co 1:13 Hath the Christ been divided? was Paul crucified for you? or to the name of Paul were ye baptized; (YLT)

There is also this most amazing and revealing statement concerning just how involved this christ of Christ is in the salvation of His church:

Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and do fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the assembly, (YLT)

What an incredible calling! We are granted not only to believe on Christ but to also suffer with Him and “fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of the Christ, in our flesh. Our suffering in our flesh, just as His own suffering was, is “for His body’s sake which is the church”.

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Let’s look again at this verse of scripture in the book of Hebrews.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

“They which serve the tabernacle” are the Levites, who in type are “the many called” but not chosen. They are Israelites, and they are the seed of Abraham, but they “have no right to eat at our altar”. This is one of the reasons Christ was so hated by the church of His day. He never chose to join them. He rather condemned them for their lack of obedience to the word of God. In two thousand years nothing has changed. There has been no “great revival”, and there will be no great time of universal repentance or “revival”, which the churches of this world are expecting. These are the words of our Lord, and you and I can take these words to the bank:

Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.

Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The christ of Christ are the overcomers who “endure to the end” and will, in time, hear these words:

Mat 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

In Revelation 12 we see another symbol of the ruler whose offering must be a male goat. We see a woman who brings forth a manchild who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron:

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

In summary, this “man child, who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron” is the same as “he that overcometh [who is also promised to] rule the nations with a rod of iron”. This “man child” is just another symbol for the christ of Christ who is even now filling up in his flesh that which is yet lacking of the afflictions of the Christ. It is this manchild whom Christ has sent forth as His Father has sent Him, to save this world by being the scapegoat, which ‘scapegoat’ is an integral part of a sin offering, but is “a living sacrifice”. This “manchild” is also the second bird which was an integral part of the sacrifice of the lepers in Israel, and he is again the “living sacrifice” part of that sin offering, and is released into the open field to accomplish his part in filling up the afflictions of the Christ in his body for Christ’s body’s sake, which is the church. Finally, the male kid of the goats is the sacrifice for those who are to rule, and this sacrifice is distinguished from that of “the common people” of Israel, as the type of “Him that overcometh”, our Lord’s Christ, who is promised to be a ruler over the nations of this world.

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [“Our Lord and His Christ”]