Manifested in Our Mortal Flesh
By Francis Frangipane

What did Jesus have in mind for His followers when His ministry began? What was His holy objective? I am absolutely convinced that Christ came to replicate Himself in us. True Christianity is nothing less than the living manifestation of Christ in and through us (Ephesians 4:11-13). Indeed, our destiny does not find sure footing until the actual life of Christ emerges in redemption through us.

When I speak of Christ, I mean His meekness, His love and redemptive motive. I am speaking of His power and His deep surrender to the Father's will, which produced His expansive authority over all things. And, when I speak of Christ in us, I am not merely referring to the right assemblage of doctrines, as though salvation was purely a cerebral exam. Our doctrines are important to the degree they unfold into the character and power of Christ flowing through us.

This inner, Christlike transformation of the church was the utmost concern for Paul. He wrote, "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you" (Galatians 4:19). Christianity is nothing less than Christ Himself entering our lives, conforming us to His likeness, and empowering us with His redemptive purpose. He said, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).

Consider also Paul's words to the Corinthians. He wrote, "For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11).

Beloved, do we see this truth? Christianity is the "life of Jesus … manifested in our mortal flesh!" What does this mean? It means that the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the lover and redeemer of mankind, reveals Himself through us. This unveiling of Christ in us is the only thing that satisfies our quest to know the substance of God. Anything less than Christ in us is mere religion.

It is not enough for us to expose the sin in the world; our motive must be to redeem it. This world, with all its vices and evil, is the very reality God has chosen to perfect our conformity to Christ. To discern what is wrong in the world requires little spiritual growth; the transformation of our communities may take a lifetime.

God is after people who make a lifetime commitment to redemption. Right now, we can look at the scandals of our times and condemn the guilty; we can become experts in the failures and sins of our society. Exposing sin is, indeed, part of our calling. Yet, we must go beyond the condemning of sin to the laying down of our lives for sinners. We must learn how to persevere in prayer, embrace fasting and become committed to love until what was evil is not just identified, but transformed.

In my view, Facedown40 is the voice of a society of redeemers - a generation that is following their Redeemer King. We are those whom God has called to stand in the gap, who have a vision of what could be, who see in the day of small beginnings huge outpourings of grace and redemption.

Yes, we see evil in our world, but we also are fully aware: this world is the perfect place for Christ to be manifested in our mortal flesh.