Christ is the Mystery no. 60

 Your Life in Christ

February 3, 2013

Brian Kocourek

This morning I would like to address the fifth part of brother Branham's statement from paragraph 312 in your books of Christ is the mystery of God Revealed where brother Branham said, "Paul, this great intellectual man, never tried to express his great theological terms upon the people. He humbly accepted the Word of the Lord, and  he lived the Word so that It expressed It. He lived so godly until they seen Jesus Christ in him so much, till they wanted his handkerchief to take it and lay it upon the sick. There's the Life of Christ.

 

And that is what I would like to address this morning "The Life of Christ".

 

 Therefore of speaking on this subject of Life, or rather God-Life. we will have to take our text from John 5:26 because after all God is the author of this Life that was in Christ. Let's read, John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;"  So it is very apparent by hearing what Jesus said here that what Life he had came from His Father who is God.

 

Next, let's turn to the Book of 1 John 5: and let's read verse 12-15.   12 " He that hath the Son hath life; (now before we go any further I want for you to understand that this word hath came from the Greek word echo and the Greek word echo means the exact same thing as the English word echo.  Now, the Webster's dictionary tells us that the word echo means: the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves b : the sound due to such reflection 2a : a repetition or imitation of another : one who closely imitates or repeats another's words, ideas, or acts

 

In other words, an echo is a reflection, or copy of the original. And if the Spoken word is the original seed then those seeds that echo the original are a reflection or copy of that original.

 

And that is the Law of Life or the law of reproduction as God laid out in Genesis 1:11where God said, "every seed after its kind".   In other words, if we understand genetics the original seed has DNA code that is passed down from seed to seed, and as long as there is not tampering with the DNA, then each seed that comes of from the original will be identical to the original seed.

 

Now, let's read 1 John 5:12 again... " He that echo's the Son echo's life;

 

Now, isn't that a wonderful thought right there?

 

"He that echo's the son, echo's Life", "he that reflects the son, reflects life", "he that is a copy of the son copies His life".

 

And let's read on... because it also says, "and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." In other words, he that does not echo the son does not echo life, or he that does not reflect the son does not reflect life. Therefore how can you say that you are a believer if the works of John 14:12 are not a part of your life? How can you claim to have His Spirit which is His life living in you if you do not the things that he did?

 

Then John says,  13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have (again this word have is the Greek word echo) that ye may know that ye echo eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, (that we echo in Him) that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

 

Now, listen to what John is saying here. If we have His spirit living in us, then we have become an echo of his very life, then how could you not ask and he not hear, and if he hears, you know that you have what you are asking for.

 

Now, listen brethren this is the key here to eternal Life in Christ. This is the key to having your life hid with Christ in God.

 

Paul did not say your life is hid in Christ, he said your Life is hid with Christ in God. Why with Christ? Because you have become his echo, you have become his reflection, and when he speaks you speak, and when he moves you move, and so your identity is hid with His identity because you are him.

 

Don't you see what brother Branham has been driving at throughout these wonderful sermons of his. Why do you think we spent 268 sermons on The Spoken Word is the original Seed? Just look at the title alone, it ought to tell you that we are Him. The Spoken Word which is Christ is the original seed, so that means if He is the original Seed then there are other seeds after the same image as the original.

 

O, that is so beautiful, I just want to shout, or cry, of something, because I can hardly constrain myself when I see that He became us that we might become him. 

 

That's what brother Branham said in his sermon, Earnestly contending for the faith 55-0123E P:12 Christ taken me in, and now I'm a child. Look what He was for us. He in His riches became poor, that in His poverty we might become rich. In His immortality He became flesh that He might take our sickness, that in His sickness we might have health. And all of my sins He became; He was sinless, and taking my sins, that I might be sinless. He became me that I might become Him in heaven.

 

Manifested sons of God 60-0518 P:66 And when we are born in the Kingdom of God by Jesus Christ, we're a heir of heaven, joint heirs with Jesus, because He took our place. He became us (sin), that we might become Him (righteousness). See? He become me that I might become Him (See?), joint heirs with Him. All right. Now, remember that's to each one of you.

 

Queen of the south 57-0614 P:2 God has sent His Son as a propitiation for our sins. He died in our stead. He was the innocent One that became guilty, that we guilty might be innocent. The story is this. Think of it as you measure your own corruptible life in His Presence. Jesus became you that you through His grace might become Him. You who were going to hell, He took your place, that you might set in heaven with Him at His place. You who were a son of the devil by nature, He took the nature or the sin of your nature that you might become a son of God and set in the heavenlies with Him. That's the story. And He did not leave us without witness.

 

Hebrews Chapter 2 part 3 57-0828 P:29 Notice, He took on the Seed of Abraham. He become a man: God made flesh among us to redeem us. In other words, God became sin that we sinners might become partakers of Him. And when we partake of Him, we partake of His... We were time-space people, three score and ten. And God came down and become one of us (three score and ten) for His 'lotted time, that we might partake of His Eternal Life. And when we're born again, we're sons and daughters of God, and have Eternal Life and shall never perish. Oh,what a blessed Saviour. Oh, there's no way to write it. There's no way to explain it. It's just beyond explaining. No one can explain how great it is. And, How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art! is right. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto His brethren,... (Think of that.)

 

Hebrews Chapter 2 part 2 57-0825E P:16 He stooped that we might be lifted. He become us, that we through His grace, might become Him. He come to the homeless, and became homeless Himself, that we might have a home. He came to the sick and was made sick Himself that we might be healed. He came to the sinner, and made sin Himself, that we might be saved. No wonder He was exalted.

 

Time tested memorials of God 57-0818 P:56 Christ will have a Church. And He must do it because He came to the earth and become flesh and dwelled among us and became sin that we might become righteous. He become us, that we, by His grace, might become Him. He came to take our place as a sinner, to let us have His place as sons and daughters of God in the presence of His majesty.

 

And how does he do this? He made us to echo Him. O Hallelujah, he made us reflectors of him. He gave us seed that had His DNA in it. His God-Life that was in the father and given to the son and then passed on to sons.

 

No wonder Paul could say in Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

Now, either God means what he said here or he doesn’t. And if he doesn’t he’s a liar. And if  He does, then don’t let the devil talk you out of believing this. He said ALL things  A.L.L. All things work together for your Good. That's a promise from God!

 

And then Paul tells you how it all works out. 29  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. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 

Now, I want you to stop here for just a moment and consider this statement Paul made here. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of who? of His Son… Now, this conforming to the image of His Son is what it is all about, and that is what the all things working together for our good is all about as well.

 

You see, he said we are predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. So then if we are predestined to be conformed then the “all things working together" are for one purpose and that is to bring about your conforming to the image of  His Son. Now, stop  and think about that. What does it mean to be predestined?

 

The word predestine means to determine or plan out before hand. There are two Greek words that make up the Greek word “pro-orizo”. The word “pro” meaning beforehand, and the word “horizo” which means to determine, or “to mark out the boundaries or limits”, to appoint or to ordain. Then if God determined before hand your limitations, your boundaries, is not saying he made your every characteristic and attribute to be able to conform to the image of His first born son? Therefore God marked out our limits before hand, He ordained our footsteps beforehand,  then God by foreknowledge made the determination how you will become conformed to the image of His Son. 

 

Notice Psalms 37:21    The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. (Now, why do the righteous show mercy and have a giving heart? Because God made them that way. And why do the wicked borrow and not repay? because that is the way they are made.) 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of the righteous are ordered by the LORD: (The Hebrew Word here for ordered means to prepare, to arrange, to establish, to direct towards, to be stable, to be settled, to be made ready, to be provided for.

 

So you see the hand of God is in every step that you take, even when your step is a backsliding step, He is still there to guide you through your own error which comes by your own choices that you make that are contrary to His Choosing.) and He (God) delighteth in his (the righteous man’s) way.

 

Now, you might say, well does God delight in our falling down? David in this Psalm tells us in his very next verse what God thinks. Notice…) 24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:

 

Now, I like the NIV translation for this verse better because it says, though he stumble, he will not fall, because this shows the righteous can not fall away, but they can stumble.) for the LORD holdeth him up with his hand.

 

Jesus told us that if a brother were to err, we are to forgive him 70 times 7. Now that is not so that we become permissive to sin, or even take a lax attitude towards sin, but rather we are to understand the nature of transgression, and the effect it has upon the transgressor.  For when the heart of the transgressor repents and tries to come back to where it left God and His Word, we should be more than willing, 70 times 7 willing to help that person come back to Christ all the way. I think we as a Christian Church today have a lot to learn what the image of Jesus Christ is all about, and I believe that as Sons we are all subject to the child training from our heavenly Father in order for us to learn what our roles as sons and daughters is all about. 

 

But what Paul is telling us in Romans 8:28 and David is telling us in the Psalms, is that God has everything under control, and not one thing is out of order even though for the time being it might seems that way to  us.  

 

David continues, Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

 

What man in his right mind would curse his own seed? If you are God's seed, you are blessed my brothers and sisters. God could no more curse you than you could curse your own child.

 

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29  The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34   Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

 

Now, Paul told us “all things shall work together for our Good, and that is exactly what David tells us here as well.

 

Again in Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

 

And again we are told what we should do in Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

Psalms 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

 

Proverbs 15:28    The heart of the righteous studies to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.  29 ¶ The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

 

So we ought to take courage that God hears our prayers and is more than willing to give us those things that we have need of. That is why Paul continues by saying in Romans 8:31    What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? So you see, everything that happens to us is already foreknown by God to work into us the image of His Son that we might be conformed to the same image as God conformed His Son. So how did God bring His Son into His own Image?  Paul continues in verse 32.

 

Romans 8: 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34  Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Therefore, the whole essence of God predestinating our conformity to the image of Christ is in the understanding of what it means to be “conformed” to the image of Christ.

 

The word conform comes from two Greek word “Sun” meaning to accompany and “morphe” which means to strike the vision. Therefore together meaning, to accompany the striking of the vision.

 

Thus  we find how God was in Christ and How God enmorphed Himself in the Body of His Son until His Son’s body was so reflecting of the image of God that it is described by Paul as the outraying of the Glory of God.

 

Therefore the Life of God was so outraying itself or echoing or shall we say, reflecting itself through His Son that His Son became the enmorphe of God, and the word enmorphe means that which strikes the vision. And we know that it was not an easy thing for “although he were a son yet learned he obedience by the things that he suffered.”  Hebrews 5:8

 

Therefore we are talking about the very Life of God reflecting itself out from your form, so that the Life of God might strike the form in you, which is “Christ in you the hope of Glory.“ And your form was masterminded by the great sculptor to be able to be conformed to the image of the first born son.

 

That is why when we read "all things work together for your good", we are talking about how God works all things in such a way as to bring forth the image of His son into our forms that The God Life might become enmorphed in our very vessel as it was in the vessel of His first born son, which is literally "God working in you to will and to do His Good pleasure.” Just as God was in Christ so God is in us, and the only difference is the measure. same quality, same God, same God-Life.

 

Therefore when we read In Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. We know that this speaks of the end time appearing of Christ in this hour, and at that time when He manifests in His true character we are also to manifest in our true character because it is the Life that is appearing in the form. When Christ who is our Life shall appear, we shall also appear, because it is the same life doing the manifesting in both forms.

 

That is why Paul himself who was a prisoner of Jesus Christ because He had emptied himself of everything contrary to Christ, and allowed God in the form of the Holy Ghost working through the Pillar of Fire to refocus His entire life around the Good news, and thus he could say in Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I am living; yet it is not I that is living, but Christ is living in me: and the life which I am now living in this flesh I am living by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Not just aspire too live the life as we would say, but the Life that is living itself out through me is the very life that was in Christ Himself, that is the Life that I am living by in this flesh.

 

Now, Paul further explains that it is not just what things we do or the actions we do, that has nothing to do with it. But the fact is this, the very life in you is what moves within you to will and to do.

 

In the next verse in  Galatians 3:21 he continues,  Is the law then against the promises of God?  God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

 

Therefore, what he is telling us here is that the action you do is not the thing itself, no more than doing works is a sign that you have love. Because “you can give without having love and yet you can not love without giving?” Think about that for while. “you can give without having love and yet you can not love without giving?”

 

Paul said in , I Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.  So you could even give until you have given everything you own, even to your own life, but you can do it without love and it absolutely means nothing to God. But if you do the same action because the Love of God constrains you to do it, then you have everything.

 

So what we are talking about is this predestinated conforming to the image of His son.

 

And why is that so important? Because we are talking about the very Life of God, the God-Life taking over your own life and bringing it into conformity with the image of His Son.  Now, then how do we know that we are coming into this conformity to the image of His Son? John tells us in...

 

I John 3:14   We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath (echo's) eternal life abiding in him.

 

It should read, and ye know that no murderer has this echo of eternal life abiding in him

 

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

 

And how do we lay down our life for the brethren?

 

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20   For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23   And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and He (the God Life) in him. And hereby we know that He (God’s own Life) abideth in us, by the Spirit which He (God) hath given us.

 

Brother Branham said in his sermon, That Day On Calvary  60-0925   15-3    He was just one Man, the perfect Man. He gave His life, and He made an example for you. Now, what must we do. Now, the first thing I want to say is: Jesus never lived for Himself. His Life was spent for others. That's perfectly Eternal Life. When you say you go to church and you do good things, that's fine. But when you live your life to yourself, you haven't Eternal Life. Eternal life is living for others. It proved it when He come in the Lamb of God. He lived and had Eternal Life, because He did not live for Himself. He lived for others. And you receive Eternal Life by receiving that day, and you don't live for yourself no more. You live for others. 15-6  Someone said, "How can you stand and let anyone call you such bad names?" You don't live for yourself. You live for others that you might redeem that man. You become sons. And the trouble of it is that the church has forgot they were sons. You are sons. You're taking Christ's place. You are sons; so don't live for yourself; live for others. "Well, Brother Branham, I can live for this brother because he sure is a nice man." That's not it. Live for that man who hates you. Live for that person who'd kill you if they could.

 

That's what they done to Him. They killed Him, and He died that He might save them. That's Eternal Life. When you, that's in your bosom, you're facing heaven then. But you sacrifice your own things, give them up like the sheep gives its wool. You look on towards Calvary. 1

 

5-8  I hope this helps you to get in a place... That's what the Tabernacle, that's what all people has got to do, is find out what you are and what's the purpose. Church isn't going to church just to play music, sing songs. Church is a place where correction... Judgment begins at the house of God. We must reckon ourselves dead and alive to Christ. Then He made the way that we could sacrifice ourselves to His service to follow Him. If we follow Him, we lead the life that He led. That's wonderful. Jesus said, and spoke of it. Let me just give you a few quotations on it. Listen close. Don't miss it. 

 

16-1 Jesus said at that day He would separate the people like the sheep and the goats, and He would say to the goats, "Stand on the left side," and to the sheep, "Stand on the right side." And He said to the goats, "Depart from Me, because I was hungry and you didn't feed Me. I was in prison, and you did not visit Me. I was naked, and you clothed Me not. I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink. I was sick, and you didn't visit Me. So depart from Me." And on the sheep, He said, "I was hungry and you fed Me. I was naked and you give Me clothing. I was sick and you ministered to Me." And notice, don't fail to get this, church. Keep this in your heart forever. It was so unconsciously done. The people don't do it for a line of duty. A man that gives you something or other because he ought to do it, a man that feeds you because he ought to do it, he's got a selfish idea. It should be your very life, your very action.

 

16-2 It was so surprising to these sheep that they said, "Lord, when were You hungry and we wouldn't feed You? When were You hungry, and we fed You? When were You naked, and we give You clothes? When were You thirsty, and we give You drink? When were You sick, and we ministered to You?" It was so automatically, out of love, it's just their life lived in them. God, let the people see what Calvary did for us. So automatically, "When were You, Lord. We never knew that." Look what Jesus turned and said, "In so much as you have done unto these, you did it unto Me." Unselfish life, not the second thought, not to think about it; but you are so dead to the things of this world, and so alive in Christ, and so walking on the highway, that these things are just an automatic thing. You just do it. 

 

16-5  Now, I say, "When would the Lord want me to do that." It's not that. You're just part of Him. His Spirit's in you, and you act the way He acted. Do you get it. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. Not all that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter in, but they that do the will of My Father," just from their hearts, just freely. Now, that day at Calvary paid that price so we could be that way. Not say, "You know, widow Jones one time was... She was out of coal, and I went and bought her some coal. Uh, I tell you, I seen a brother that needed a suit of clothes, and I went and got him a suit of clothes. Bless God, I'm a Christian." Oh, my, you selfish, poor, miserable person, you are hypocrites. Don't let the right hand know what the left's a-doing, nor the left know what the right's a-doing. Just so automatically dead in Christ till you do it anyhow. It's your nature; it's your makeup. You do it anyhow. It's just the life that lives in you. You're completely yielded to that Spirit, and It just lives Itself in you. 

 

17-2    Oh, you feel that blessed Spirit, that life, "Not me that liveth," said Paul, "but Christ liveth in me." Just so automatic... "Well, I tell you, Brother Branham. We are Christians here. We help these people. We help them people." Oh, my, shame on you. That's not Christianity. Christianity is just automatically got to be done. And you just forget about, Go do it. Christ just completely surrendered His Life to God. He gave Himself as a public Servant to the people. He gave His Life freely. He didn't have to do it. He didn't begrudgingly do it. He didn't say, "Now, brother, you all ought to think a whole lot of Me, because I come to die for you." He never said a word about it. He died anyhow, because it was God in Him. It's God in you. It's God in me that makes us look at others. 

 

17-5 Sheep on one side. One of them will say, "Well, Lord, I did this, and, Lord, I did that." He said, "Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity, I never even knew you." If the church can ever come to those fundamental facts, that it's not something you try to do, you work yourself up to do; it's something that's born in you.

 

And in 1st Peter we are told that we are born again by the Word of God which Lives and abides forever.

 

And in John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And in 2 Peter we are told that the evidence that this God life has been born into you is that the nature of God will display itself in you as well. 

 

II Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power (That’s his Word according to Romans 1:16) According as his divine power (God breathed Word) hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godlikeness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these (Promises, that’s his Giving us His Word) ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

From his sermon, To Whom Would We Go 60-0606   E-29 brother Branham said,   "He's the same God; He works in all natures. You can see God anywhere you look. The sun brings forth all botany life, plant life. The little seed... Did you ever lay your sidewalk in the wintertime, lay a big rock down, make your sidewalk, pour concrete three or four feet wide, pour it down the long strip? Where is the most grass at the next year? Right around the edge of the concrete. Why? You can't hide life. When that sun begins to shine, that life will come forth. A little seed laying way back in the middle of this sidewalk will press its way around, out through that concrete, over and around, under rocks and sticks and everything else, till it gets out and sticks its little head up to praise God. You just can't hide life. It'll bring forth life as sure as that springtime comes and the warm sun begins to bathe the ground, all plant life lives, if it's got life in it. That's s-u-n. And there's only one thing that can bring Eternal Life: That's when the S-o-n comes, the Son of the living God. Nothing has ever died in Christ Jesus. You might bury it in the sea, or wherever it might be, it'll come when that Light begins to shine. He is the Light. He is the only true Light.

 

So you see the divine nature comes through our receiving His God breathed Word, for Jesus told us in John 6:63, “My Words are Spirit and they are Life.”

 

And if we receive Eternal Life we are receiving God-Life, for there is only one form of Eternal Life and that is God’s very own Life. And if we truly receive God’s very own Life, then we must indeed not only receive the very nature of that life, but we must also bring forth that nature in our enmophe, for the law of reproduction in Genesis 1:11 tells us, “every seed must bring forth after  it’s nature.” And if it to bring forth, that means it is to bring forth the nature through manifestation.

 

I John 1:1¶ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father,and was manifested unto us;

 

From Thirsting for Life  58-0611  E-21  brother Branham said,  "Life, what is life? Well, life is what controls you. Life is what makes you what you are. And the life that is within you, makes you the written epistle, read of all men. So while we speak of life...  E-22    Now, the slaves were sold to the states here by the Boers, which were Afrikaans. And they brought them over here from Africa and sold them. And they were away from father, mother, babies, husband, wife, never would see them no more as long as time rolled on. And they were sad. And they would have to be whipped many times to make, work. They'd carry whips and stripe them with it to make them work, because they were sad and downtrodden. And they noticed, this certain buyer, that there was one slave among them, that they didn't have to whip him, a young fellow, right up and at it, chin up, chest out, just ready to act at any time. And the buyer said to the owner, "I would like to buy that slave." "Oh," he said, "but he's not for sale." He said, "What makes him so much different from the rest of them? Do you ever have to whip him?" He said, "Never." He said, "What makes him so much different? Is he the boss over all the rest of them?" He said, "No, he's just a slave." He said, "Maybe you feed him a little better than you feed the rest?" Said, "No. He eats out in the galley with all the rest of them." He said, "Well, what makes him so much different from the rest of them?" And the owner said, "Sir, I questioned that myself for a long time, until I found the truth. And this is the truth." He said, "I found out, that over in the homeland he is the son of the king of the tribe. And though he's an alien, and amongst strangers, yet he conducts himself as a king's son."  E-23    Oh, if it would make a negro, who knowed that his father was a king and he was an alien, hold hisself up to conduct hisself as a king's son, what ought it do to the children of God, the sons and daughters of God? We should conduct ourselves as real children of the king. We should be fearless when it comes to making the decision on God's Word. If God says so, stand by. God said it. It can't fail. If God promised us Eternal Life, we have Eternal Life. He can no more lie than He can cease to be God.

 

I John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that echo's the Son echo's life; (Now, that is how you get this God-Life is by receiving His Son) and he that echo's not the Son of God echo's not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye echo eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14    And this is the confidence that we echo in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: 15 And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life.

 

That means you shall ask God to give him back his life, and allow him to live as he did before his stumbling. It means you are to act as a mediator in the restoration of this fallen brothers life.

 

The NIV says, If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life, for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. so there are things that you should not even pray for that person.

 

Remember the man who was under the curse of God, and he asked brother Branham to pray for him? Br. Branham could not pray for that man because the man did the sinning. Even when Billy Paul had been living for the devil and got very sick even unto death, when he asked brother Branham to pray for him, Br. Branham told his own son Billy Paul, “Son, You did the sinning, you had better do the praying…” But we must have a balance on when we should pray for those in the fallen condition and when we should not.)

 

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18   We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; (does not initiate sin) but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

 

Again lets look at this conformity to the image of the first born son of God to see how we should act. NIV Hebrews 12:1 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See  that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

 

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 

 

and in closing from his sermon, Speak to this Rock 3-1115  E-2  brother Branham said, "After all what is life? We just don't know how long it's going to last, just might be gone this afternoon; this may be our last time together. Did you know that? But whether it is or whether it isn't, we can't lose. There's no way for Christianity to lose, is there? You just can't lose no matter what you do. There's no loss in Christianity. If I live, I gain; if I die, I gain. If... Well, I'd say die. I can't die. As long as I've any Eternal Life in me, I can't die. Did you know that? You can't die.  

 

II Timothy 1:1   Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,      

 

Let us pray…