Our story began for us way back in the beginning when we were created in Christ Jesus. Genesis 1:26-27 tells a beautiful story about us being created in the likeness and image of God. This clearly tells us that in the beginning we were created pure spirit. God is Spirit and as he is so are we. Many have been indoctrinated to believe in order to become like God (spirit) we must be born again. This is a far cry from the truth. Genesis 1:27 tells us that GOD created man in his image and likeness.

The man of Genesis 1:26-27 is created in the likeness and image of God and given dominion over all the works of his hands. What is important for us here is to note that no physical body is mentioned of this man. This man came forth exactly as God created him. Of this one John said, "In the beginning was the Word." This man was created both male and female and placed in the Garden of Eden. Since the carnal mind cannot understand the things of God, it interprets and sees everything in the natural. Many see the Garden of Eden as a place situated somewhere here on planet earth. I have never read where anyone ever found the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Garden of Eden speaks of the condition of the heart of man.

In Genesis 2:7 we are given an account of man being formed (Yatsar to pressure or squeeze) from the dust of the ground. In this forming of man it involved material which already existed. There is no mention here of him being in the likeness and image of God. It is also very important to note here that it is the LORD GOD who formed man from the dust of the earth. This is clear to see because the man formed from the dust of the earth becomes a living soul and functions from a physical body and not by the spirit. We need to undertsand that the image and likeness of God can only be associated with the spirit of God. In order to function and live the breath of God (breath of lives) filled his nostrils and man became a living soul. Regardless of what we see, whatever man was in the beginning he is very much still the same.

The million dollar question is ....is man a spirit being or a human being? If you believe all you are is flesh and blood, and when you die that is the end of you, then we are men most miserable. This man that God created was special like no other. This man was filled with nature, character and essence of God. Now we begin to see and understand the difference between the man created in Genesis 1:26-27 and the man formed in Genesis 2:7.

Something tragic took place that caused man to see himself as being separated from God. In Genesis 1:1 it tells us in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, right after this the scripture declares that the earth was without form and void. Isaiah and Jeremiah records for us the catastrophic event of the fall of man. This state did not exist at the time of creation, and so it is in reference to an event that took place after man was formed. Genesis chapter 3 records for us the events which caused the man formed from the earth to see himself as separated and empty. The garden once beautiful and full of life now becomes a wilderness, and man now exists in his mind a separate identity from God, has now become a human being functioning from a mistaken identity.

None of these changes in man is permanent for we hear the father saying, "Behold I make all things new." God is not making new things, rather he is making all things new. Isn't this great news of a loving God to his creation. The journey man is undergoing from Adam to Christ is a change in his thinking and consciousness. It is important to note that Paul in Ephesians 1:4 tells us that we were chosen in him BEFORE the disruption (Greek Katabole meaning to cast down, and speaks of the fall) that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." In other words God choosing us in Christ before the fall sin had no effect upon us. Whatever happened in the garden (sin of Adam) never affected us. The truth for us here is we are exactly now what we were then in Christ, perfect.

The fall happened when the man of the dust became separated in himself so that spirit (God aspect) and the soul (earth aspect), functioned independently of each other. Hence the reason for Paul statement "the carnal mind cannot understand the things of the spirit." The earth man can only find his expression through the soul. Man's origin and identity is in God. Because of the fall man went from a God conscious state to a sin conscious state. Since the fall of creation, man has not lived in a real world, but has functioned from a mistaken identity seeing all things through a altered reality, trying to please the god of this world who is both good and evil. Thousands of years later humanity is told that God chose them in Christ before sin entered the world. Paul also tell us that he was made sin for us who knew no sin..........it was us who knew no sin. It is an established fact that Christ had no sin, since we were created in him, that tells us as he is so are we. Paul was simply drawing our attention to our reality and identity in Christ.

Man was lowered into the earth realm, not by choice and upon waking up he finds himself covered over by the earth (flesh) and thinks he is a human being separated from God. Upon entry into this world man forgot his true existence and took on a mistaken identity which altered his perception of himself. The truth here is man can never be closer to God than he already is. The Psalmist David tells us, "Where shall we go from his presence, even in hell he is there." Paul said,He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. The scripture tells us that the breath of God fills our nostrils. I have found out that the word for breath, wind and spirit is the same word (Ruwach Hebrew). God is spirit and his spirit fills our universe as the very air that everyman breathes. Wow!!!!!!!!! that should take care of any individualism we may have.

Our identity is not tied to a past history we may have in this physical body, we don't have a story so we don't have to fit one. Our reality which is the Christ does not rely on the way things use to be or the way things might have been or the way things appear to be to define our life. Our life is hid with Christ in God. That tells me that nothing on the external can affect the Christ in me. In the fall, Adam lost sight of his true identity and believed the lie that he was human and separated from God. From then on every man entering this world has no knowledge of his true existence.Thank God the sleeper within is hearing what the spirit is saying and is waking up to his true identity. God only has one son and that son is created in the likeness and image of God (spirit). If you believe that you are a human being then you are not a son of God, flesh and blood will never enter the kingdom of God.

In closing the bible tells us they that are in the graves shall hear his voice and come forth. Many are coming forth from the tomb of separation and leaving the old thinking (grave clothes and speaks of the mistaken identity) and are seeing with renewed vision their true reality and identity. When we have woken up to our true identity, we will know the father and I are one. Such a revelation will free our thinking as the life of God flows through us as we live and move and be in him.

Let us go forth from the tomb and see with eyes of the spirit our identity which is Christ who is the Saviour of all men.

Namaste,

Winston & Sarah