Imagine... You Can Have a More Powerful Christian Worldview In Under 10 Minutes Per Day

Today we address the question: "What is your Heaven View?" And: "Did you know that your Heaven View directly impacts your Worldview?" Even: "By your Heaven and Worldview, Can you unloose Jesus' shoes? These are issues addressed in every one of our DSR's (Paul's Primers Daily Scripture Reading Bible Study Podcast's).

Let's begin with a brief review. You see, in ancient (but never old!) Christian truth, one never began discussions about a "worldview" without first addressing the issue of an appropriate "Heaven View." And, as a Ministry committed to "Awakening Believers in our Postmodern World with the Victorious Heaven and Worldview of Ancient (but never old!) Christian Truth," we follow this same pattern; we always focus attention on an appropriate Heaven View as the foundation for any and every aspect of our Christ centered worldview.

Hear the words of Origen (185-254 AD) as he addresses this subject: "If the passage about John the Baptist not being worthy to untie Jesus' shoes possesses a hidden meaning, we ought not to pass over it. I think that the incarnation, when the Son of God takes on flesh and bones, is one of the shoes, and the descent into hell is the other. It is said in Psalm 16: 'You will not leave my soul in hell.' And Peter, in his general epistle, mentions Jesus' descent into hell. Therefore, the one who can show the meaning of both sojourns in a worthy manner, is able to unloose Jesus' shoes."

So this is our goal, to show the meaning of both sojourns, and thus present the full story of the gospel, the full depth of the good news of Jesus Christ and the very real presence of His eternal Kingdom.

In this light, consider this simple truth regarding an appropriate Heaven View, a truth preached with great vigor in the early Church, but in today's Church, a truth that is rarely mentioned. It has to do with the work of Jesus Christ directly after the cross. You see, the work of Christ did not end with His shed blood, nor was the next step the resurrection; instead, there was much work to do in the heavenly realm between these two events. Work that had, and has even today, powerful implications for every aspect of your daily and eternal well being.

In a nutshell, this simple truth is this: Directly after the cross, Jesus Christ, the most heroic and mighty warrior of all the ages, implemented our present triumphant state, by, for all intents and purposes, ending the war in the heavenly realm with His triumphant victorious battle against Satan directly after the cross. For it was indeed Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, who in the Spirit as that Lion of the tribe of Juda, immediately after leaving the cross that Good Friday afternoon, descended triumphantly into Hell (unlike every man before Him). So we read in First Peter: "It was in the Spirit that He transferred over and preached to the imprisoned spirits." (1 Pet 3:19)

Then, upon His arrival into Hell, our Lord, warring righteously for the Kingdom, immediately took hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and cast him bound and defeated into the bottomless pit. Then, after shutting and sealing him up, He broke down its gates. Through His preaching He then called forth the captive saints; as He had once called forth Lazarus from the grave--even by the sound of this mighty Shepherd's own voice calling out to His lost sheep--and then celebrated His victory over the devil, with these saints, that final Saturday Sabbath--right there in the depths of Hell, in what had been their prison cells, but was now "Paradise"--as His presence filled that place.

Jesus then provided undeniable proof of these events through the glorious demonstration of His power via the resurrection--wherein He literally rose from the grave through the bodily resurrection--and finally, the glorious Ascension, and the taking of captivity captive (the communion of the saints) to reign with Him forever in Heaven! (As foretold in the Old Testament: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them." [Ps 68:18] And as spoken of in the New Testament as already fulfilled: "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." [Eph 4:8])

Can you see what a glorious and triumphant warrior is this Jesus Christ! Look and see how this mighty warrior is described: "And I saw heaven open, and behold, a white horse, and He that sat upon him was faithful and true, and in righteousness did judge and make war. And His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns: and He had a name written, that no man knew but Himself. And He was clothed with a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD. And the warriors which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed with fine linen white and pure. And out of His mouth went out a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the heathen: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He it is that treadeth the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God. And He hath upon His garment, and upon His thigh a name written, THE KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Rv 19:11-16)

So, in order to understand the depth of the gospel message, this beautiful love story that is Scripture, one is completely dependent upon a proper Heaven View. If we are ever to achieve a powerful and mature Christian worldview, it must have as its foundation this incredible and victorious Heaven View. Now, it is true that we never want to forget the simple basics for salvation, for the gospel of the Kingdom is really rather simple--we are all sinners, Jesus died on the cross for us, and if we confess this and believe He rose from the dead and is indeed God, we will be saved. But, once we grasp this message, we do want to move deeper into the faith in order to build a proper and appropriately powerful Christ centered worldview. It is here that only a proper Heaven View can provide the means.

So our counsel to every soul interested in the full depth of the gospel message is simple, continually grow in the knowledge of Christ; building first a proper Heaven View, and then, upon this rock, this solid foundation which proclaims the true heroic greatness of the living God incarnate Jesus Christ and His sojourn in both the Heavenly and earthly realms, build a proper worldview. This is the means to a deep and powerful faith. This is the worthy manner in which you too will be able to "unloose" Jesus' shoes.

Paul Rakowicz, the Pastor of the Church of Christ's Glory, has been a student of the Bible for more than twenty-five years. Through his Daily Scripture Reading Bible Study Christian Podcasts, Books, Newsletter, and other Ministry Services, he seeks to help today's Christians rediscover their biblical heritage, which he believes can be found only in the teachings of Christ Himself, the Apostles, and the writings of the Early Church Fathers.

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