By Man Also

- Ray & Doris Prinzing -

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order." [1 Corinthians 15 :21-23].

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned...death reigns...even over them who have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression." [Romans 5:12, 14].
The magnitude of God's plan of redemption is overwhelming, insomuch that we would simply bow low to worship HIM who doeth all things well. As the holy Spirit quickens and illumines the truth concerning the plan of the ages, and the very fact that there is a PLAN being wrought out, even though the natural mind cannot comprehend it, nevertheless it does bring a real sense of peace and well-being to the inner man. We know that HE who hath begun in us a work which is good, shall also bring it to a successful conclusion in due time. The height and depth, length and breadth of it are too much for us to fill in ourselves, but we know that HE is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, and so we gladly commit ourselves to His processing. And this is all well and good in its own sphere and outworking, but as we continue to follow on in the path He sets before us, and the Spirit continues to unfold to our heart the truth for our day, we also begin to see that much of God's purpose is to be WROUGHT THROUGH MAN, and not just apart from, nor in spite of man.
It was one act of disobedience by which one man relinquished his title deed to creation, but it is in the multiplicity of many acts of disobedience that iniquity and corruption has expanded and extended throughout the earth until now.
Death reigns over those who also have not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. We have not committed, perhaps, the precise act which Adam did in his error, but we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. [Romans 3:23]. For when Adam sinned, he plunged all of the seed yet within his loins into the same realm. The mystery of iniquity now works in all mankind, released into every race, kindred, tribe and tongue.
But by the same token, while all the seed within Adam's loins came under the bondage of vanity and death, likewise, when God clothed Adam with coats of skin, promise and type of when we shall be clothed with immortality, God therefore clothed all the seed within his loins with the same promise of ultimate redemption.
Sin, multiplied and magnified in Adam's fallen offspring has caused the expansion of corruption and death as it is this day. By contrast, therefore, this also is true in the positive realm.
"Therefore by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto the justification of life." [Romans 5:18].
It was BY MAN that the offense came, and all its following consequence. While it was within the circumference of the plan and purpose of God that it should be done, nevertheless it was not wrought apart from man, but through man. Furthermore, we, of this generation, were not asked by Adam if we wanted to be included in all of this iniquity, but he simply plunged all the seed within his loins into the same stream of evil. Likewise, when it came time for another man, the man Christ Jesus, to reverse the order and begin the upward way again, He did not stop to ask us if we wanted to be redeemed, but He poured out His life for us, and embraced the whole world to be destined for complete restoration. The initial act of the first Adam, the initial act of the Last Adam were both by the divine will of God, to include all men.
Because "the children are partakers of flesh and blood, HE also Himself likewise took part of the same." [Hebrews 2:14]. "Took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." [Philippians 2:7]. For it was through man that the disobedience came, and it must needs be BY MAN that the obedience unto life also would come, Christ being that man.
We are taught to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be DONE IN EARTH, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10], for it is here, on earth, that evil is manifested in its gross corruption and death, and must be reversed. So, through the righteousness and obedience of Christ this NEW, OVERCOMING LIFE was released into the stream of mankind. And it will be through the multiplicity of many men,
conformed to His image, filled with His Spirit, that this kingdom shall be established until it fills the whole earth.
"Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that ONE MAN should die for all the people." [John 18:14].
It was not an angel that was to be offered up, "For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on the seed of Abraham." [Hebrews 2:16]. It was this incarnation, God manifested in the flesh, which revealed the tremendous love of God for His creation, and that He is not seeking to eternally destroy His creation, but to redeem and fully restore the whole. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption..." [1 Corinthians 15:53], and Jesus Christ was manifested to "abolish death, and hath brought life and immortality (Greek, incorruption) to light through the gospel." [2 Timothy 1:10].
Here is the GOOD NEWS, that coming into HIS LIFE we are to be clothed upon with incorruption. That which cannot be corrupted, which cannot sin, is not then subject to the penalty for sin. The wages of sin is death, but if there be no sin, there can be no death. Thus it is self-evident that when we are fully clothed upon with incorruption we also are brought into a state of immortality, a realm where there is no death. The only way we shall conquer death and corruption is to be filled with HIS LIFE which is incorruptible, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." [ 1 John 3:9]. Conformed to His image, filled with HIS NATURE, partaker of the fullness of His life, and incorruption will be a reality manifested in, and through us. This is the vision, the good news which Christ declared to wayward mankind.
"So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." [Isaiah 52:15].
Exalted rulers might utter their opinions, and their subjects dare not contradict what they say. But when there is a MANIFESTATION OF THE TRUTH, in a personified state of being, manifested through men who have been changed into the image of their Saviour, every mouth shall be stopped, and the platitudes of men shall cease. HE is the truth, and HE is bringing men and women into oneness with Himself, so that they also shall BE His witness of the truth. While this will silence all the mouths of those who uttered things they knew not, it shall also bring about a deliverance from ignorance and darkness, for suddenly what men did not know shall they see in plain evidence before them, and the message they had never heard shall they then begin to consider, and bring their minds into alignment to that good news.
The message of God apprehending a first fruits has been told down through the years, by those who have caught a glimpse of the message, and had it quickened within by the Spirit. Some then will use such a message for the exaltation of the flesh, boasting on how great they are, or will be. But Paul safe-guards the whole process by declaring, "BY THE GRACE OF GOD I am what I am" [1 Corinthians 15:10], and there was nothing in self wherein he could, or would boast. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." [Galatians 6:14].
"But not as the offence, so also the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, MUCH MORE THE GRACE OF GOD, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." [Romans 5:15].
The coverage of sin unto death is well known, we see the evidence of it every where. But now it is time to consider that the grace of God, and the free gift of HIS LIFE shall also abound, and MUCH MORE SO. This is not some "tit for tat" equation, in the restoration, redemption side of the picture it is all MUCH MORE. "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal {age-abiding) life by Jesus Christ our Lord" and in a measure that reads, "But where sin abounded, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND." [Romans 5:20-21].
Christ's act of obedience is upon all those who believe, and are born of His incorruptible seed, and it shall be by the WHOLE FAMILY OF CHRIST that the forces of evil shall be conquered and utterly spoiled. The kingdom of God shall expand and multiply itself through MANY, for Christ is not only ONE MAN, He is that, but He is more, HE IS MANY, in-as-much as He is bringing forth a whole many-membered body which is conformed to His image.
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: SO ALSO IS CHRIST. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body." [1 Corinthians 12: 12-13] .
The victory began in one man, JESUS CHRIST, and now it is being expanded into a whole first fruits company, and shall continue to increase, "every man in his own order," until the whole world has been fully reconciled into God. (Editor's note: The whole world (mankind); none is to be left out, for this is part of the ALL of God). Thus the victory which we see in Christ is to become our personal portion also as we become one in Him through a joint-participation in both the process of suffering and death to self, and then the rising up in HIS more abundant life. This is the in working of the grace of God!
"The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." [1 Corinthians 15:47].
We know what it is to be of the "earthy" realm, of the old adamic nature. We know what it is to see this carnal realm expand in us until we are arrested by the grace of God and changed, to become IN CHRIST a new creation. Now we also must know the fullness of what it means to be a part of that "heavenly" realm of the second man, even our Lord. And keep in mind that the "seconds" have little in common with the firsts. The Second Adam undid all the work of the first. The first Adam brought us into condemnation and death. The second Adam brought us into righteousness and life. And just as the first birth of the natural brings us into this earthy realm, so also the second birth brings us into the spiritual realm of the heavenly sphere. The first covenant was a ministration of condemnation unto death, the new covenant is a ministration of the Spirit unto righteousness and more abundant life. The first death brought a separation from God, and an awareness of this grossly material earthly realm. The second death will bring a separation from this earthy realm, and an awareness of the new life of God in the realm of the Spirit. How we desire to come into the fullness of the second Adam, into the glory and victory of our LORD.
Paul was keenly aware of the difference between these two realms, and in his revelations of the Lord, said, "I knew a man IN CHRIST...of such an one will I glory: yet of myself (a man still in the flesh) I will not glory, but in my infirmities." [2 Corinthians 12:2, 5].
This inner man, the hidden man of the heart, is the formation of the new creation life, born of the incorruptible seed of God, of such a one we rejoice--in this inner life we would glory. But as for the outward man, that which is yet in the form and fashion of the earthy, we would not glory, for it must pass away, and be swallowed up into the new.
In the transition from the earthy to the heavenly we find there often exists a state of duality, which of course causes a conflict. The flesh clamors for satisfaction, while the inner man of the heart desires to reach out for divine life and fullness. Using the record as an allegory, we read, "Now there was long war between the house of Saul (type of the flesh) and the house of David ( type of the inner man of the Spirit): but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker." [2 Samuel 3:1].
This new life of Christ within must grow and expand until it fills us completely and swallows up all of the old into the new, and we are completely transformed. Then shall this new life flow out of us and work as anew leavening to bring salvation to others.
"And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one." [John 17:22-23].
By man also came the resurrection of the dead, even by the man Christ Jesus. There was a oneness between this God manifest in the flesh, and the fullness of the Almighty. Now Jesus prays that this oneness might be extended to include us, that we also might become ONE IN HIM, made perfect in Him. So that, whereas once we were identified in the old Adamic realm of the flesh, now we might be fully identified in the new realm of the Spirit, to share His glory, being a full partaker of His life.
"That ye put off concerning the former behaviour the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteous;. ness and true holiness." [Ephesians 4:22-24].
This is much more than simply trying to alter our image with a few gifts and graces, this requires a being clothed upon with the NEW MAN which is incorruptible. A patched up corruptible man will never do, but we must put on incorruption, which comes by being born of that incorruptible seed, and literally becoming swallowed up into this whole new realm. AND, it must eventually be completely manifested right down here on earth, through a generation which God has brought through to perfection. It was by man that death came, and it was by man that resurrection came. Only that MAN through whom the new life came was received up into heaven before all the world could look upon Him and receive of His new life. Why? Because it is in the plan of God to bring a full company into the same image, and then reveal both THE SON and the sons unto the world, and then begin the ministry of restoration until all are brought into the fullness of His life.
So much do we become ONE IN CHRIST, that Paul writes, "He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit." [1 Corinthians 6:17]. And when this is brought to perfection in us, then comes the fulfillment of 1 John 4:17, "Because as He is, so are we in this world."
This word "is" in the phrase ''as He is," is a verb form indicative of the verb BE, which refers to a state of being, for "IS" is a connecting verb meaning to coincide in identity with: to equal. This equality is not a thing to be selfishly grasped, but it is the outworking of His grace, into His oneness, and being clothed upon with HIMSELF, and His glory. Hence the processing until we come "into a perfect man, into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." [Ephesians 4:13].
"Behold THE MAN whose name is the branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord, even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." [Zechariah 6:12-13].
Herein is a new creation man, and a realm of ministry which shall be equal to the needs of mankind. Heretofore we have had the ministry of the priesthood, and the ministry of kings, but they were separate, to function in their own spheres, but very limited. A priest could see certain needs but lack the power and authority to deal with them, for that belonged to the king. A king could see certain spiritual needs but lacked the position and ability to handle the situation because that was apart of the priesthood. But when this BRANCH comes forth it shall fulfill Revelation 1:5-6, "loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us KINGS AND PRIESTS..."
These are they who are of the "order of Melchisedec," who was a priest of the Most High God, and also king of Salem (peace). Jesus Christ is the great "Apostle and High Priest of our profession." [Hebrews 3:1]. Of this order He truly manifested both the authority and power needed, as well as compassion and mercy and spiritual life of a true priest. Now, as we are joined unto Him, we shall become part of the same "MAN-COMPANY" through whom this ministry shall be revealed.
"And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal (anointed) men." [Micah 5:4-5].
This shall be the peace-- when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall have a standard prepared to raise up against him. Whether one would apply this on a personal basis, a national basis, or in relation to the whole world, evil is only allowed to come so far, then God has prepared the means to turn it back, and to bring victory. Through the ages iniquity has abounded, but there is a MAN-COMPANY which He is preparing, a remnant of grace chosen out of every generation, and they shall be fully united in that day of His appointment, when the cup of iniquity would overflow its bounds, then shall these rise up to take the prey, and establish righteousness in the earth.
By man also-- by these "prepared ones" shall God shepherd all nations, for they shall be His servants which stand to feed the flock, and to lead the nations to the fountain of living waters. These are His anointed ones filled with new creation life, and they shall not minister after the former ways and manners of the old creation, to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, and pamper the ego of man, but they shall open the way into truth and light, into green pastures and quiet resting places of spiritual victory.
Many would try and proclaim themselves to be "anointed men," but that which springs out of the self-life is a false anointing and can bring no deliverance. The true anointing is like unto that which abode upon our Lord, and having the SAME SPIRIT, shall abide upon HIS PREPARED MEN. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable (receivable) year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance (the day of laying claim to) of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." [Isaiah 61:1-3]. I know this is fulfilled in our Lord! But that is the very reason why we believe it shall also be fulfilled in those who become a part of that many-brethren-company of whom He is the Head. This does not take away from His glory, but only magnifies and enhances His glorious work in the children of men.
"Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. AND A MAN shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." [Isaiah 32:1-2].
HE is the King of kings, He is the Lord of lords, He is the Prince of princes, and He is the Man of men, for in all He shall have pre-eminence. But what a blessed hour awaits creation when the new creation man comes forth to be a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest. Reconciliation, that full restoration of all things must come, and praise God, it shall be revealed that "a man," even those who are born of God, shall be God's channel of deliverance and salvation.
"Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness BY MAN whom He hath ordained." [Acts 17:31]. And how do we know that this is true ? because "He hath given assurance unto all, in that He hath raised him from the dead." Jesus said, "Because I live, you shall live also." The resurrection of the MAN Christ Jesus is the guarantee of our resurrection life. And our resurrection into the new dimension of His more abundant life is the undergirding assurance that we are to help judge the world, and turn creation back towards its Creator. "To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgments written: this honour have all His saints." [Psalm 149:7-9].
This honour have all His "saints." The word "saint" comes from the Hebrew word meaning a separated one, a holy one. Surely one would be unable to judge the evil if they were engulfed in the same, ladened with its sins and lusts, etc. Therefore God has been separating His people, to form a new man, created in righteousness and true holiness, so that we might be able to view the matter from a pure standpoint, and render a righteous judgment, and thus bring about a correction. Having borne the image of the earthly, we will understand its frailties, and not condemn. And then bearing the image of the heavenly we will be able to lift up to a higher realm those who are to be corrected and disciplined, until they learn to walk in the right way.
Now let it be remembered, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." [Matthew 10 :24-25].
Jesus prayed, "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee." [John 17:1]. And so shall it be with this MAN-COMPANY, having been brought to the end of "self" and human resources, through the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, they are then ready to receive of Him, that they might glorify Him. Not until He imparts of His fullness to man, can man glorify his God, for man has nought in himself to offer. Hence this new creation man receives of the glory of God that in turn he might bring glory to God, and this by ministering salvation to the rest of groaning creation.
"By LOVE serve one another..." [Galatians 5:13] is the timely admonition of Paul, and so shall it be, for the ministry of reconciliation is totally a MINISTRY OF LOVE, BY A NEW MAN to reveal to all men that God loves them, and is drawing them back into Himself, to share the fullness of His life.

___________________________________________

A NEW MAN IS COMING

How mighty is the calling, so holy and high,
A place in God's kingdom to yet occupy;
Yet e'er by His grace when the sons qualify
They'll have tasted the fire that doth purify.

'Mid testing and trial and chastening rod,
To pass through the schooling ordained by our God,
Preparing for pathways they never have trod,
Their feet with the sandals of peace rightly shod
.
As kings and as priests on this earth they shall reign,
To administer peace-and evil restrain,
The judgments of God they shall also sustain,
While mingling His mercy with justice' refrain.

Wonder of wonders, into deity fused,
A kingship beyond all thoughts ever mused,
With radiant life by the Spirit diffused,
And victor o'er sorrows which once had confused.

A ministry filled with compassion and grace,
To reconcile all of humanity's race,
Upholding the Saviour, the world to embrace,
Till His triumph alone shall have the first place.

So overturn, overturn selfhood today,
A NEW MAN IS COMING o'er earth to hold sway,
A righteous dominion that's lasting for aye,
A love-governed freedom, hope's bright golden ray.

Other Writings in This Series: