The topic of "Unclean Meats" is also a topic that has divided the church. This however is derived from the Jewish customs. Paul was a huge advocate for Christ, always admonishing that he is the end of the law. There is such simplicity in the gospel and in Christ.

Mat 22:36-40
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 
38 This is the first and great commandment. 
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Paul often declared that his measure as an apostle was to reveal unto the Gentiles their fellowship in the mystery of God. That they too are called to be heirs by Jesus Christ. Consider how Paul speaks of the law above. The customs and rituals of the law were laid upon his flesh, and were nailed to the cross. Therefore the law, which separated Jew from Gentile, was now destroyed by the work of the cross.

In order for us to truly embrace this we have to see this through God's eyes.

The law was given to an unrighteous man**********

1Ti 1:5-10
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

The law was not given to the sons of God, but rather the sons of men. Let us not forget that all the sons of men were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. The body of the unsaved man is a body of sin and therefore the soul could not do righteousness (See Salvation Series Pt 2). Therefore God had to give laws unto them so that they could be accounted as righteous. They could not be righteous themselves so they had to do things to be accounted as righteous.

However we are not the sons of men but we are the sons of God. We are not born in sin, but rather we are born again. We do not own bodies of sin, but rather our body is the form of God (Phil 2:5-6) and the members of Christ (1 Cor 6:15). Jesus is in us, therefore we too are the fulfilment of all the law. The law would account a man as righteous, however we are made the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21).

Therefore seeing that the sons of God are made righteous and perfect the law is of no significance to them. They have the law written in their hearts, and so their nature is righteous.

Rom 3:19-28
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 
This is so because the sending of the law revealed to all mankind that they could not stop sinning even if they desired to (Rom 7:5-24)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight:for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Before the law was sent there was no knowledge of the righteousness of God, however seeing that the law has been sent defining righteousness, anyone who now disobeys the law does it knowingly
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:for there is no difference:
The law and the prophets witness the righteousness of themselves in us. We are the law and the prophet fulfilled because Christ is in us. Now it is our nature to do righteousness. The righteousness of God is the Holy Ghost, and He is the one that justifies.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
All humans were born in sin, for this cause Christ died, thus remitting sins, that we all might be born again. When we receive His Spirit we are justified freely because we are placed in Jesus himself, and he is sinless and will never sin in the flesh. We may have sinned before we got saved but Jesus has never sinned. That is why we are in Him and He is in our bodies. (See Salvation Series Pt 8). We are now made the righteousness of God because we are in Him and He is in us.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay:but by the law of faith. 
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

The works of the law cannot save us, neither do they justify us, it is the faith of Jesus Christ that saves us.

With all that said let us go see where the controversy began

Lev 11:1-11
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof:as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 
5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 
6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters:whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

We have been through the fact that the specification of meats was a custom under the law but I would love to parallel this with a vision Peter had.

Act 10:9-15
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten:but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 

We all know this to be a vision, that had brought the revelation to Peter that the gospel was now to be preached unto to the Gentiles in the four corners of the earth. However there is an aspect of this vision that we cannot ignore. The Lord used meats in the vision and he also gave an instruction unto Peter to "kill and eat." 

This is something we ought to examine, if the Lord has a problem with the eating of meats why would He instruct Peter to eat? Our God is not a God of confusion. He simply meant what he said. Now a Jewish Christian could consume of the same meats a Gentile could, because Christ is the end of the law.

The controversy of meats is ended with the following scripture

Rom 14:1-12
1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things:another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth:for God hath received him. 
4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up:for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteemeth one day above another:another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 
7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 
8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more:but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 
15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

This scripture is so powerful. Paul sets the perspective of the eating of meat in the church. The principle is that it matters not that you eat meat or not, but whether we eat or not we do it unto the Lord and He is glorified. We therefore ought not to judge a man in his decision to eat or eat not, because whether they eat or eat not they do it unto the Lord, neither has sinned.

Paul lets us know that there is nothing unclean, however if a man's conscience is weak and will not allow the truth to deliver him from the law, bear him and allow him to eat his herbs. If one is truly free from the law and walking in faith he will be happy to eat, because he would have discerned his freedom, however if he is doubtful and eats he is in trouble because his doubt is a manifestation of a lack of fellowship. With fellowship the Lord would let us know that we are free to eat.

This is where sin is found, when a man is condemned to hell for eating or not. It is at this point that we create heresy and devilish doctrines. God will not send anyone to hell who is holy, so it matters not what they ate during their lives. It does not matter to the Lord what we eat, as long as we eat unto Him.

Well there you have it

Therefore...

Col 2:16-17
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Our body is of Christ. He is the fulfilment of the law. All these customs were a shadow of either Christ in the flesh or of His reign in the millennium. The scripture teaches that it is not what goes into a man that defiles him but what comes out (Matt 15:11). Let us not be divided because of meats. THE RESPECT OF MEATS IS IDOLATRY BECAUSE IT RENDERS THE WORK OF THE CHRIST INSUFFICIENT TO SAVE.

So, be free! bon appétit.

His Apostle
Kareem Flowers


Return to Controversy Series

The topic 'Women in Ministry' has created quite a lot of conflict in the Body of Christ. The question is: should women minister at all or even worse to men? For years I have heard people argue on this matter. Many voice their opinions, however it is rare that I find those that can justify all scriptures that are brought to the table, whether they are for or against it.

Does the Lord permit women to minister?

The only way we can answer this question is to examine the scriptures, in light of all other scriptures. We must first agree that the bible does not contradict itself and it is the final authority in this discussion.

A. 1Co 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches:for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

The scripture says here plainly, let the woman keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak. When we examine how plain this scripture speaks, it is hard to get around it. It would be safe for us to assume that a woman ought not to teach, if we do not examine the scripture to its full extent. Let us look at the same scripture once more and I will highlight the most important part of that script.

1Co 14:34-35
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches:for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

It is the law that teaches that a woman ought to keep silent and ought not to teach, however the church is not under the law. It is not my desire to speak much on this matter, let us return to the scripture that it may do the talking.

1Co 14:34-36
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches:for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

Verse 36 is so important for us to understand this scripture. Before we go any further let us first understand something about Paul's writings. When Paul wrote, especially in the books of Romans and Corinthians, he would often respond to statements/questions that were asked of him prior to his letter. He would answer many of these statements in his letters by first writing them, then responding to them.

The statement mentioned by the elders of the Corinthian church is found in verses 34 and 35, however Paul's response was found in verse 36. His response was What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 

In response to the statement that women ought to stay silent in the churches Paul said, "What came the word out from you?" He simply responding by asking his elders the question, did the Word of God come out from you men only? Were not there women who ministered the gospel unto men and they received the testimony of the Lord?

Jn 20:15-18
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father:but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Here we see that one of the first preachers of the gospel was a woman - Mary. The word of God came out from her unto the brethren. Therefore Paul was reminding the saints that the Word of God was not only preached by men, but also by women, to men and women.

...or came it unto you only? 

The second part of verse 36 asks, if the Word of God came only to men. Didn't Jesus die for the entire world, that they may be saved? The entire world includes women. Women need to be saved just as men do. The Word of God is sent to both men and women.

Act 1:12-14
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Act 2:1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
...
Act 2:17

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

There were women amongst the brethren at the day of Pentecostal. They received the Holy Ghost, and many spoke in tongues. Even Joel foresaw the salvation of women, prophesying that daughters would prophesy. My question however is where will these daughters prophesy? The answer is in the church. It is the Holy Ghost that validates a man/woman in ministry and He is the one that gives the Word. Therefore if a woman prophesies it is the Lord that does it through her.

B. 1Ti 2:11-13

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 

Here we see again the scripture saying that a woman ought to be silent, however let us examine this scripture as well. It says a woman should never teach nor usurp authority over a man, implying that a woman can never be in a position of authority that would place her over a man. However Paul explains this scripture by going to Adam and Eve. He says that Adam was formed then Eve after, we know that Eve was formed from Adam, and the two were one flesh. However an unmarried woman who has the Holy Ghost is not one flesh with any man, neither is she made from the man she was born of the Spirit.

The Greek word used here is 'guné' which is directly interpreted into woman/wife and the Greek word used for man is anér which means man/husband. This would explain why Paul made mention of Adam and Eve, because these two were married. The instruction therefore is: 

11 Let the [wife] learn in silence with all subjection. 
12 But I suffer not a [wife] to teach, nor to usurp authority over the [husband], but to be in silence. 
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve

Paul is speaking of a marriage here. The wife ought not to usurp authority over the man. It is the man who is the head of the home and the final authority. The man is to the woman as Christ is to the church.

C. 1Co 11:3
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Once again the words used here are anér and guné, which means husband and wife respectively. The scripture above is also speaking of marriage. The head of the man is Christ and the head of the wife is the man.

We ought to really consider these scriptures in light of the implications if we should interpret them according to what they appear to be. Jenny is a woman in the church. Her parents died when she was young and she is yet to be married. She is now 50 years old, and still without husband. If the scripture above meant that every man in the church is over every woman in the church, it means therefore that the woman, even though she is indebted to no man, should be a slave to every man in the church. Every man would have authority to command her to do whatever he pleases. He would also have authority over her decisions, despite his age.

Jane (wife) on the other hand is married to Tom (husband). If we are to apply the same principle to Jane, it would therefore mean that Tom would have to share equally his authority over Jane with every other man in the church. Jane would also be forced to obey the commands of every man in the church. It also means that Jane (as well as Jenny) are under the authority of other married men in the church.

This is confusion and abuse. These doctrines were created to give men control in the church, rather than Christ. It was never the intent of God that a man control the church. THIS IS IDOLATRY OF THE MAN. The man is worshipped above the woman, and his gender is exalted above the Christ in the woman.

Consider this scripture:

1Co 12:20-25
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 
24 For our comely parts have no need:but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

The man cannot say to the woman I have no need of you. However God has tempered the body, giving more abundant honour upon the woman. The woman was rejected as a teacher in the law, but in Christ she is honoured as a minister. God has placed an anointing upon the woman that the Body would not have any schism. She was rejected, so now she is highly anointed. No, this scripture is not only speaking of women; youth and gentiles are also included, nevertheless so is the woman.

Col 3:10-11
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:but Christ is all, and in all.

Gal 3:27-28
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

The new man is Christ Jesus, that every Son of God has put on (See Salvation Series). Therefore it does not matter if you are a male or a female after the flesh, it is Christ Jesus the son of God who is in that flesh. Therefore Christ is making use of a female body. The female body does not lessen His ministry, but He is powerful wherever He is found. This is why there is no race, class, nationality, or gender in Christ, because we all have put him on.

Rom 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Romans 7 even lets us know that every soul that is saved is married to Christ (See Married to Christ blog post, for deeper explanation). Our souls are clothed in a body in which Jesus' spirit dwells. The scripture calls that body "him". The soul has no gender, and since Christ is in the flesh (even if it is a female flesh) it is still classified as "him". I think now we will realize why we both the male and female are called sons of God. This is because whether male or female, all are Christ.

The following is just a list of female ministers of the gospel

Junia - an apostle (Rom 16:7)
Phebe - a minister unto many (Rom 16:1-2)
The Elect Lady - the entire book of 2 John is dedicated to this female minister of the gospel (2 John 1)
Priscilla - helper of Paul in Christ. (Rom 16:3)
Mary Magdalene - (Jn 20:17-18)

Phi 4:3
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rom 16:6
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

among many more...


His Apostle
Kareem Flowers

Return to Controversy Series

1Jo 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:and these three are one.

God is a triune being. He is 3 parts in 1. He is the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost which is also known as the Holy Spirit, is commonly used by Christians worldwide, but do we truly understand the concept behind the term?

The name Holy Spirit, is used throughout the bible, however the name Holy Ghost is only used in the New Testament.
Why is this so?

It is because the mystery of Christ that the prophets in the Old Testament only saw in part was, and is revealed completely to the apostles.

Eph 3:1-5
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you- ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 

Paul begins by explaining that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ. This simply means that his soul is hidden in the Jesus Christ (Col 3:3). His soul is completely sealed by the Holy Spirit and kept safe and preserved, by salvation. He however explains that he was a prisoner for the Gentiles. This is the ministry that Jesus lived through His flesh, and Paul's soul was bound to that ministry. Jesus, via the gift of the apostle would reveal the mystery of Christ that the Gentiles are made partakers of the inheritance of the Sons of God.

Grace was dispensed in Him, to preach the revelation of Jesus Christ. This revelation was not made known unto the sons of men, meaning it wasn't revealed to anyone that did not have the Spirit (Sons of God). This includes all the prophets of the Old Testament. Many of them spoke of the mystery, but their understanding was lacking, because they only saw in part. However the apostolic gift receives the full revelation of Christ, it is that revelation that is confirmed by the prophets of this time. (1 Cor 14:37)(Acts 15:32)

Eph 3:7-9
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me (apostleship) by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

It is by revelation that apostles can see, understand and now preach the mystery that was hid in God before the foundations of the world.

This explains why the revelation of the Holy Ghost was only taught in the new testament. The complete revelation had to come first.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is the Son of God. He walked this earth 33 1/2 years, without sin. He was however also the son of man. This simply means that He had a body, soul and human spirit. He was however the Son of God because God dwelt in His flesh, and His soul and Human Spirit dwelt in God. (See part 4 of Salvation Series, fig 3.)

However, Jesus came into the world to die for the sins of the world. Therefore upon His arrest God atoned the sins of the world upon His flesh and He was abused and crucified.

I think the mystery of the Holy Ghost is best explained in Acts 2.

Act 2:22-24
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

It was God that foreordained Christ to die. It was His great redemption plan that He die for the sins of the world. He however used wicked hands to do it. By His knowledge of all hearts before the foundation of the world, He knew those that would be evil enough to kill Jesus. He simply predestined them to do it. He did not force anyone to do anything, He however saw their choices before time and used that to His advantage.

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 

This verse is where the mystery is revealed. Death was not able to hold Christ. Let us consider this scripture.

Ezk 18:20
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Let us remember that the sins of the world were placed on Jesus' flesh. His soul never sinned. If the soul that sinneth shall surely die (the wages of sin is death), then the inverse is also true.

The soul that sinneth not, it shall live.

This is why even though Jesus went to hell for 3 days and nights to pay for our sins, He could not stay there forever. Death had no power over Him because He was sinless.

Acts 2:25-32
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

Jesus' soul was not left in hell. After 3 days and nights God went in hell and rescued Jesus' soul, by placing it into the Spirit. The soul that was dead in hell was now made alive by the Holy Spirit. 

Now let us think upon this.

GHOST - the soul of a dead person that lives on in an unseen realm. A disembodied soul; especially: the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world.
(Merriam-Webster)

Well Jesus died on the cross. His soul was disembodied, and it went to hell. However that same soul of Christ was risen from the dead by the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Holy Ghost is the spirit/soul of Christ living on. It is Jesus' soul inside of God.

This is what Jesus meant in John 17 when He prayed.

Jn 17:1-5
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 
4 I have glorified thee on the earth:I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Jesus was the Holy Ghost before the world was. He desired to be that omnipresent spirit again, so He could be in more than one body at a time. While He was praying, His soul was only in one body, however if He could be the Holy Ghost again, He could be in more than one body at the same time. This is how Jesus is in me and in you at the same time - He is omnipresent.

I know I may have confused you earlier when I said that Jesus was the Holy Ghost before the world was. How can I say that if Jesus died after the world was formed?

Well, consider this scripture.

Rev 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world. Therefore the Holy Ghost existed from that time. Jesus' soul was placed in God in eternity, however what took place in eternity is simply manifesting in time. 

This is why all things were made by the Holy Ghost, because the Holy Ghost is Christ!

Now there is an aspect of this that I pray you understand

Let us think upon Casper the ghost. Seeing that Casper is a ghost, he probably was a human first, who was named Casper. Well of course we know that ghosts do not exist. There is only one ghost and that is the Holy Ghost. However I am using this example that you may be given a visual of Christ. Lets say a girl named Amber dies, then Casper goes inside of that dead body. When that body begins to walk around, even though it looks like Amber, it is not. Amber is dead, she is no longer in the flesh. It is Casper that is in the flesh and has the body alive. Therefore the personality, thoughts, feelings and emotions will be of Casper and not of Amber. Casper is simply using the body to express himself.

This is the same concept with the Holy Ghost. If a ghost is a disembodied soul, what happens when that soul receives a body? The ghost will become a human again and will be able to live on earth through that body. 

This is the same thing that happens when we receive the Holy Ghost. He quickens our mortal bodies from the dead by His Spirit. Now our souls are in Christ, however Christ is in the flesh. This is why Paul said:

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.

Even though Christ Jesus is living through our bodies, He gives our souls stewardship over His flesh. However it is by our obedience to Him that He is given a chance to live through us.

I pray your understanding be opened
Apostle Kareem Flowers.

(In order to follow this post please go through part 8 of the Salvation Series -  http://stillsilentwhispers.blogspot.com/2015/11/salvation-series-i-part-8-operation-of.html - )

Eph 5:25-32
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 
32 This is a great mystery:but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

We often read the scripture above at weddings but do we truly know what it means? I have highlighted a few of the points that I think truly signifies the point that Paul was trying to get across here. The scripture gives a vivid description of what a marriage is. This is paralleled with the words Moses used in response to the words of Adam when he wrote Genesis 2.

Gen 2:23-24
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife:and they shall be one flesh.

Eve was the literal flesh and bone of Adam. God had formed her from a rib he had taken from him and fashioned her with his flesh. Let us not forget our foundation principles (see Salvation Series pt 1).

Adam was made a triune being - meaning he was made of 3 parts: body, soul and spirit. It was the soul and spirit (inner-man) that was placed in a body in order to be given expression. Well the same went for Eve. She was also 3 in 1. However her body was not taken from the dust as Adam's was, it was directly taken from Adam. Therefore the body her inner-man dwelt in, was not her own body but it was literally Adam's flesh and bones.

Therefore when one is married, two souls/spirits are given one flesh.

I want to put this sidebar that we see God's intent for marriage. Moses, said clearly Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife:and they shall be one flesh. Marriage is between a male and a female. Our Father is also very sensitive about marriage, because it is in it that the mystery of the Church is revealed. Sins such as homosexuality, adultery, fornication, and masturbation do despite to God's establishment of marriage.

If you are found in any of these, do not be dismayed. The grace of God is able to bring you to a place of repentance. Judge therefore whether you have the Holy Spirit that you may be delivered from these sins, if you already do, you have the power to simply stop. When you do, God will wipe away all His memory of your sins and accept you as a father accepts a son.

THE MYSTERY OF MARRIAGE REVEALED

Rom 7:1-4
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress:but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

First of all, let me point out here that this scripture is not teaching a principle of marriage for the Church. Paul is merely, stating how marriage was in the law. This is not God's commandment to the church. There may be some cases when it is lawful to allow someone to depart a marriage.

1Co 7:15-16
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Refocusing on Romans 7. The scripture begins by detailing that in the law of Moses, a woman is bound to her husband as long as HE is alive. However if the husband dies, the woman is no longer bound to the man, but is loosed from the law of marriage. She can therefore marry another if she desires to. If before her husband dies, she marries another man, she shall be an adulteress. However, the scripture then continues to say that we have become dead to the law, by the body of Christ.

Let us break this down.

Remember we learnt earlier that one is married, when two souls/spirits are given one flesh? In the case of the when the woman under the law, is married to her husband, the two become one flesh. Therefore if marriage causes two souls/spirits to become one flesh, what happens when we are married to Christ?

Rom 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Well my saints it means the same thing. Two souls/spirits must be given one flesh. It therefore means that our soul and the Spirit of Christ share the same flesh. Let us consider the scripture one more time.

Rom 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

The scripture states that we have become dead to the law, by the body of Christ, that we should be married to Christ. We know therefore that the husband that Paul refers to here is an analogy. The husband represents a body and the woman represents a soul.

Now let us consider this scripture, however where we see woman let us put soul and where we see husband let us put body. Let us Parallel the two.

Rom 7:2-4
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 
2 For the [soul] which hath (is in) a body is bound to the body so long as the body lives; but if the body dies, the soul is loosed from the body. (James 2:26)
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress:but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 
3 So then if, while the body lives, the soul is married to (joint to or placed inside of) another body, it is unlawful: but if the body dies, the soul is free from that body; so that it shall be lawful for the soul, though it is married to (placed into) another body. 
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

I hope you are beginning to understand this scripture.

We learnt in the Salvation Series (parts 2&8) that before we received the Holy Ghost we had a body of sin. The body of sin is also called the old man. The flesh itself was sinful and that body (in this case) was under the bondage of the law. However when we received the Holy Ghost, we put off the old man and put on a new man.

PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN

At salvation we had to die, in order to be born again. The wages of sin is death, so God killed us by taking our soul from our body. The removal of the soul from the body at this point is called the putting off of the old man. When we put off the old man the body dies (Rom 6:6)(James 2:26). The old man is the body which we were married to before salvation. It was a body of sin, that the soul had to be freed from in order to be saved. This is the husband that Paul speaks of in Romans 7.

At salvation it is God's intent to take our souls out of the old man and place it into the new man. However if the old man doesn't first die, the soul cannot be placed inside of or be married to the new man. When the old man dies the soul is loosed from it and can be free to be married to the new man.

PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN

After the soul is freed from the old man, it can now be married to the new man. The new man is Jesus inside the flesh. Therefore, the same body we put off (the old man) is sanctified and then Jesus' Spirit enters it. It is at this point that the old man has been made into a new man. This is the body that the soul can now be married to.

Let us not forget that the New Man is Jesus Christ. Therefore, seeing that we put off the old man we can be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. We can be married to the new man.

One is married, when two souls/spirits are given one flesh.

In this case our soul and the Holy Ghost, who is Jesus, are given one flesh to live in. We have the Holy Spirit in our bodies and our souls are in the Holy Spirit. Therefore the Spirit of Christ, as well as our souls, dwell in this flesh.

This is the mystery of marriage revealed.

Our souls are married to Jesus Christ - the new man. Our souls have been placed inside of Jesus' body, just as Eve's soul was placed inside of a Adam's body (a body that was of Adam). We are now bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh and our bodies belong to Him.

Now let us read the beginning scripture with understanding.

Eph 5:25-32
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 
32 This is a great mystery:but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The flesh that we have as Sons of God is the literal flesh of Jesus. He is the Word made flesh in us.

I love you.
Apostle Kareem Flowers.