All right , friends . Today we're dealing with what is Christ consciousness ? I'm going to read something . I came across this commentator who kind of gave some insight on Christ consciousness . I think he had some good things to say . He said the Center for Christ Consciousness defines Christ consciousness as the highest state of intellectual development and emotional maturity . They go on to claim that Jesus achieved this higher state of being . No , achieved this higher state of being in his human life and was given this term , christ before his name , as the recognition of his achievement of his spiritual status . I can't help but laugh . This path is open to anyone , regardless of their religious tradition , if and when he or she is open to become a living vessel of love and truth on the planet and actively strives to attain it . Another site defines it this way Christ consciousness is the state of awareness of our true nature , our higher self and our birthright as children of God . So again , just yeah . Basically , in a sense it's not new , so to speak , it's a form of Gnosticism in a sense .
Speaker 3Ultimately , what we're trying to show here is that this direction leads you away from the truth , not into the truth . I mean , I look at it like I try to break it down in my notes and different doctrinal beliefs and understandings , which is our previous episode , and different doctrinal beliefs and understandings , which is our previous
episode . And so just one example is that salvation is redefined here , which is that sin is now just an illusion of a separation between us and God . And salvation is now escaping your own personal ego and realizing you're not separate beings but part of a divine consciousness . And I think of the movie Avatar , where they plug into the great tree and they're one with the world . That's that separation and then reunion .
Speaker 3And the reality is that scripture reminds us that sin is not just a mistaken perception or an ego issue . Sin is a real rebellion against a holy and good God . And salvation is not about you killing your ego but about you dying to yourself so that you would be found in Christ , known and loved by a true God , not just some self-realized consciousness . The beauty of the gospel is it's not about you loving yourself more , it's about you realizing that you've rebelled against a God who has stepped into reality to save you , because he loves you Amen .
Speaker 1That's good . Yeah , mark . I think some will use what we often reference on the podcast Imago Dei as sort of this justification Well , we're made in the image of God , so we are God . Speak to that . How does that differ ? What does it mean to be made in the image of God and yet that doesn't make us ?
Speaker 4God . Yeah , that's quite the swing of the pendulum , right ? You can't search for truth when you're comfortable in the darkness and you reject the truth . You know all together . Being created and made in the image of God means we're self-aware . We're different than the animals . We have moral values that are attached to the decisions that we make , that we care about the right and
wrong . Not just have these instincts . Galatians 2.20, . It says I've been crucified with Christ . It is no longer I who live , but Christ who lives in me . You know we're talking about this Christ consciousness and where they are attempting to find themselves . But it is the antithesis of what Scripture says , because it's not about finding yourself . It's about losing yourself and denying yourself . It's not about attaining to a level that you may be higher above everybody else and having this Gnostic thought . I have this inside information that you don't . We are gods and this is what Shirley MacLaine did .
Speaker 2That's the name of the person I've been trying to remember for the last 10 minutes . You're welcome . She's the goddess of the I am God thing , right back from the 1960s , she started it .
Speaker 4Yeah , there's a video of her on this precipice of this , you know , beautiful view outside of , like the ocean or something , and she says I am , I am , you know , following those same words , right the ego on me , I am , and there's only room for one right , the I am of Jesus . He is the bread of life , he is the shepherd , he is the vine , he is the way , the truth and the life . If you're confused , he's the truth . Are you depressed and suicidal ? He's the life . He is everything , everything in one that we will ever need . 2 Corinthians , 11 , 3 and 4 shows how spiritual .
Speaker 2this is when it comes to the New Age . But I fear least somehow , as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness , so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that's in Christ . For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached , or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received , or a different gospel which you have not accepted , you may well
put up with it . And so it's a different spirit , it's a spiritual battle .
Speaker 4New .
Speaker 2Age teachings preach a false Jesus . It's not biblical . In 1 Timothy 4 , verse 1 , it says Now the Spirit speaks expressly and in the latter times , some will depart from the faith , giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons . And that's really what it's about .
Speaker 1Yeah , and doctrines of demons . That's so important to highlight because the author of those doctrines , the true head demon . He can disguise himself as an angel of light . So it's not . I mean . Again , some of it can seem so appealing . If you let go of your consciousness of the true Christ and His Word , it's easy to be like oh yeah .
Speaker 2But it's not offensive . There's no sin , righteousness or judgment about it . It's really easy to get swept up by these false doctrines . Oscar alluded to it being like a river and I was thinking you see so many people , especially on the Weather Channel , try and make it through a river . And I was thinking you see so many people , especially on the Weather Channel , try and make it through a river in their car and it's just up to the wheels and suddenly they're swept away . The whole family goes down the river and there's powers involved that we don't know about . If you don't embrace the truth and you love a lie , you'll be given a strong delusion . Scripture says in Thessalonians . And so what New Age does ? It denies that Jesus is unique as the Christ and the Savior . It teaches that humans are divine , contradicting Scripture . It rejects salvation by grace , through faith , and replaces it with self-enlightenment . And that's the basis of it . It's rooted in human pride .
Speaker 4There's a bigger issue , a bigger problem here . Or as MacArthur put it the gospel is not about making bad men better , but making dead men alive . So you seem to be doing better , but what are you going to do on that day when every idle word you have spoken is going to be made manifest ? Everything ever done in darkness is going to come out inside the light , and this is why we go through those commandments . We get into this argument about their philosophy , but why not we just get down to the foundation here ,
that you've been weighed in the balances of an eternal scale . You've been found lacking , and your only hope is found in Him who is our hope , which is Jesus , the Messiah .
Speaker 3Often , when we hear people say something that's wrong , we want to jump right in and be like well , how do you know that's right or well , where do you get your information from ? And we want to get like into debate mode rather than trying to find common ground to draw them in to the truth , beauty and goodness that's offered in the gospel . And so one example of that if you're talking to somebody about Christ , consciousness and et cetera , et cetera , to start simply complimenting them , man , I can tell you care deeply about spiritual things .
Speaker 2And then another example would be like I really like your 14-inch blue mohawk . That's right .
Speaker 3Another way of doing it is like asking the question of curiosity in regards to what they're searching for . What is it like to feel separated from what you call Christ consciousness ? Because ultimately , what you're doing is you're trying to discover an aspect of their life that is searching for something , and then from there you can pivot into the actual truth . Ultimately , I can't help but wonder that so many people in new age they sense their need for something . So many people in new age they sense their need for something . They know they're sick and they're looking for a cure . They've just been sold snake oil and we have the actual cure , which is the gospel , and so , instead of going in hard and fast and combative and telling them they're wrong , listen to what they're looking for and provide them the truth , beauty and goodness offered through the gospel .
Speaker 2In the book of Acts . Somewhere it says we're groping . I think it's Acts 17, . Paul used the word groping in the King James Version searching for God like a blind man . Yeah yes , just groping and the scripture you quoted before the servant of the Lord must not strive , but be gentle unto all men . We would treat a blind man with tremendous gentleness because of his blindness . If someone walked into the studio and tripped over a chair , I wouldn't say look , watch where you're going , buddy .
Speaker 3After Mark stopped laughing , what would you do ?
Speaker 2Yeah , I'd say to myself this guy cannot see , and the Bible says except a man be born again , he cannot see the kingdom of God . The God of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not , and so that's why we need to have gentleness , because they cannot understand what we're saying .
Speaker 1Yeah , and I just want to say , I think , on a closing note , the importance for us as believers to live in true consciousness of Christ . Oh , I see what you did there . You know what I'm saying the fact that what as a part of the Great Commission ? And lo , I am with you always , that's for sure , people , even unto the end of the age , and that he will never leave us nor forsake us . Guys , we have to remember that and then listen to this .
Speaker 1This is John Wesley . His heart is ever lifted up to God at all times and in all places . His heart is ever lifted up to God at all times and in all places . In this he is never hindered , much less interrupted by any person or thing . In retirement or company , in leisure , business or conversation . His heart is ever with the Lord . Whether he lie down or rise up , god is in
all his thoughts . He walks with God continually , having the loving eye of his mind still fixed upon him and everywhere seeing him . That is invisible , ah , that wherever we are , he is there . So that's Christ consciousness .
Speaker 2That's what I thought we're going to talk about . Dan had to write to you and say is this new age or what ? Which direction are we going ?
Speaker 1Yeah , well , it's shining a light on error and then ending with truth that the true consciousness of Jesus is remembering we are not him , we will never be him , but he is with us , he loves us , he redeemed us and he made us his , so go with that , friends . Thank you for tuning in to this week's highlights from the Living Waters podcast . Friends , we value your time , so we've created a bite-sized version of our podcast for listeners who want to get equipped without the jokes and fellowship . Be sure to check out the full episode every Thursday , where we dive deeper into the topic . Until then , you can watch the full podcast episode available now on livingwaterstv .