RECEIVING GOD AS YOUR
ETERNAL LIFE
by the Holy Spirit

Distributed by Alamo Ministries

In the universe, all kinds of life, with the exception of the life of GOD, cannot be considered as life. In the universe there is plant life, lower animal life, higher animal life, human life, and angelic life. In terms of nature and principle, however, these different kinds of life cannot be considered as life. The real nature and principle of life is that it is ever-living, ever-existing, indestructible, unchangeable, and incorruptible. Only GOD HIMSELF is LIFE because only GOD is eternal, ever-existing, unchanging, and incorruptible. Only GOD HIMSELF is divine and eternal, and only GOD HIMSELF is LIFE. Therefore, only GOD’S LIFE can be considered as LIFE. GOD’S LIFE is the unique LIFE in the universe. Only by having this LIFE can one have LIFE; without this LIFE, one cannot have LIFE.

The LIFE of GOD is in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST; hence 1 John 5:12 says, “He who has the SON has the LIFE; he who does not have the SON of GOD does not have the LIFE.” This means that with the SON, there is LIFE, and without the SON, there is no LIFE.

GOD is LIFE. In order for HIM to enter into us to be our LIFE, HE must flow HIMSELF out. If HE did not flow out, we would have no way to contact HIM, let alone receive HIM. If HE did not flow out, HE would have no way to enter into us. In Genesis 2, immediately after speaking of the tree of LIFE, there is mention of a flowing river (verses 9-10). GOD’S coming to be our LIFE is absolutely related to a river.

First, this river flowed from the throne to JESUS the Nazarene. When the LORD JESUS was on earth, HE was a river of LIFE flowing among men, but not yet flowing into them. HE needed a second step, to go to the cross so HIS flesh would be broken, just as the rock was cleft in the Old Testament. Then, from HIS inner being, LIFE flowed forth, becoming rivers of living water. The rivers of living water are the many different aspects of life, originating from the one unique river of the water of LIFE (Revelation 22:1), which is the HOLY SPIRIT. The SPIRIT is the LORD’S transfiguration. The LORD, as the SPIRIT, not only can appear among men, but also can enter into men. John 7:38 says, “He who believes in ME, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” Verse 39 continues, “(But this HE said concerning the SPIRIT, whom those who believed in HIM were about to receive).” This means that the SPIRIT, who is the LORD HIMSELF, has entered into those who believe in HIM, becoming the living water of LIFE in them.

At this time we can say that GOD has truly entered into us to be our LIFE. This is the flowing out of GOD. GOD flowed out through the LORD JESUS and flowed into us; this is LIFE.

GOD’S central goal, in the universe and in the Bible, is LIFE. The word LIFE indicates that GOD desires to be man’s LIFE. In terms of the nature and significance of life in the universe, only GOD’S LIFE is LIFE. This is because only GOD’S LIFE is eternal and incorruptible. LIFE is the flowing out of GOD and also the content of GOD; this LIFE is GOD HIMSELF.

In brief, LIFE is the triune GOD. But to us, LIFE is not the triune GOD who is only in Heaven, but the triune GOD who has flowed out. The triune GOD first flowed out with HIMSELF as the content through CHRIST’S incarnation. Then HE flowed out through CHRIST’S death and resurrection as the SPIRIT in order for us to receive HIM as our LIFE. Hence, when we touch GOD in the pneumatic CHRIST, we touch LIFE, because LIFE is GOD as the pneumatic CHRIST.

We all know that GOD is triune—the FATHER, the SON, and the SPIRIT. The FATHER is in the SON, and the SON became the SPIRIT. The FATHER is in the SON so that HE may be expressed among men; the SON is the FATHER’S expression. The SON became the SPIRIT so that HE could enter into man; the SPIRIT is the entering in of the SON. The FATHER is the source of LIFE; HE is LIFE itself. The SON is the expression of the FATHER (I Timothy 3:16), and HE is the expression of LIFE (I John 1:2). The SPIRIT is the entering in of the SON; HE is the entering in of LIFE. The LIFE in the FATHER was manifested in the SON among men, and realized as the SPIRIT to enter into man and to be experienced by man. Therefore, the SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of LIFE (Romans 8:2), through whom man can receive LIFE; moreover, the mind set on the SPIRIT is LIFE (verse 6). Because the SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of LIFE, when a person touches the SPIRIT with his spirit, he touches LIFE; when he contacts the SPIRIT, he contacts LIFE; and when he obeys the SPIRIT, he experiences LIFE.

GOD is the triune GOD. The FATHER is in the SON, and the SON became the SPIRIT. To us, the FATHER is the source, the SON is the expression, and the SPIRIT is the entering in of GOD. The FATHER is expressed in the SON, and the SON became the SPIRIT to enter into us. Thus, LIFE is the triune GOD. The FATHER is the source of LIFE, the SON is the expression of LIFE, and the SPIRIT is the entering of LIFE. There is no such thought in our human mind. The most that we have are ethics, morality, and philosophies which teach us to be humble, meek, patient, and forbearing.

There are two verses in the New Testament which indicate that the manifestation of the LORD JESUS in the flesh is the manifestation of GOD and that the manifestation of the LORD JESUS is the manifestation of LIFE. These are the two sides of the same coin. When the LORD JESUS was manifested in the flesh, GOD was manifested—“Great is the mystery of GODLINESS: HE who was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). When the LORD JESUS was manifested in the flesh, LIFE was manifested as well—“For the LIFE was manifested” (1 John 1:2). These two verses show that the incarnation of the LORD JESUS is the manifestation and expression of GOD as well as LIFE.

First we need to see that GOD is LIFE. Then we need to see that GOD HIMSELF came to be our LIFE. Finally, we need to know how GOD came to be our LIFE, which is in the Gospel of John. This is the only book in the Bible which specifically speaks of GOD being our LIFE. It is not a simple thing for GOD to come to be our LIFE. First, GOD flowed out into the flesh; then HE flowed from the flesh into the SPIRIT. Only in this way could HE flow into us.

In John 10:10 the LORD said, “I have come that they [man] may have LIFE.” This means that HE desires us to have HIM as LIFE; HE has come to be our LIFE. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the WORD.” This speaks of the very beginning, and says that the WORD was GOD. John 1:4 states, “In HIM was LIFE.” John 1:12-13 tells us, “But as many as received HIM, to them HE gave the authority to become children of GOD who were begotten not of the will of man, but of GOD.” Since we are begotten of GOD, HIS being our LIFE is HIS begetting of us, and HIS begetting of us is HIS regenerating of us.

The subject of the Gospel of John is LIFE. It begins by saying, “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD…In HIM was LIFE” (verses 1, 4). This means that the WORD in the beginning was GOD, in whom was LIFE. Those who receive this LIFE are given the authority to be children of GOD. This authority is of LIFE. Verse 13 goes on to say that we were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of GOD. Whoever desires to receive GOD’S LIFE must be begotten of HIM. If GOD did not beget us, HE could not be our LIFE.

The word “beget” is a verb. Just as a mother begets a child, GOD came to beget us. Have you ever thought that GOD has deep consideration of us? All the thoughts we have about HIM relate to HIS dealing, striking, and disciplining us. We have many thoughts of GOD dealing with us, but we do not have the thought that GOD came to beget us. If GOD did not beget us, HE could never be our LIFE. It is a great matter in the universe that GOD has begotten us.

When we think of the fact that GOD has begotten us, do we have a deep sense that we should jump up and praise GOD? Over the past forty-eight years, whenever I thought of GOD begetting me, I would thank and praise HIM. I was a piece of clay, but GOD begot me. This is what we see in the first chapter of John. Verse 4 says, “In HIM was LIFE.” Then verses 12 through 13 say, “But as many as received HIM, to them HE gave the authority to become children of GOD” - who were begotten of GOD. It is GOD who begets us. If HE did not beget us, HE could never become our LIFE. We were clay and mud, but we have received HIM as LIFE because of HIS begetting. GOD did not simply “overlay” HIMSELF on us as gilding. Nor did HE merely “coat” us with HIMSELF like oil. Instead, HE begot us. Through HIS begetting, GOD has become our LIFE.

In order to see how GOD begot us, we need to understand John 2, which tells a wonderful story about changing water into wine, about changing dead water into living wine. In this story, dead and exhaustible water became endless and inexhaustible wine; this is the changing of death into LIFE. Then, in John chapter 3, the LORD speaks of regeneration. To be regenerated is to be born again, following our original human birth; it is to have the LIFE of GOD in addition to our human life. We have been born of our parents, but we have been born again of GOD—this is regeneration. How does GOD regenerate us? In John 3:5-6 the LORD said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the SPIRIT is spirit.” This shows very clearly that GOD regenerates us with HIS SPIRIT.

The ultimate expression of LIFE is the SPIRIT. The source of LIFE is the FATHER, the expression of LIFE is the SON, and the entering in of LIFE is the SPIRIT. The FATHER is the first manifestation of GOD, the SPIRIT is the ultimate manifestation of GOD, and the SON is the manifestation of GOD in between. In other words, the SPIRIT is the ultimate manifestation of LIFE. If the SPIRIT did not enter into us, LIFE could not come into us; if the SPIRIT did not enter into us, the SON could not come into us; and if the SPIRIT did not enter into us, the FATHER could not come into us. The FATHER, the SON, and the SPIRIT are LIFE. Only when the SPIRIT enters into us can LIFE come into us to regenerate us.

GOD becomes our LIFE by regenerating us. How did GOD regenerate us? GOD regenerated us by HIS becoming the SPIRIT to enter into us so that we could be born of the SPIRIT. If we compare “begotten of GOD” in chapter 1 with “born of the SPIRIT” in chapter 3, we will receive light. John chapter 1 says that those who received the LORD were begotten of GOD, and chapter 3 says that they were born of the SPIRIT. GOD is the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT is GOD. Therefore, to be begotten of GOD is to be born of the SPIRIT; to be born of the SPIRIT is to be begotten of GOD. If GOD were not the SPIRIT, HE would not be able to beget us. In order for GOD to beget us, HE must be the SPIRIT. Then, in John chapter 4, we see that GOD is SPIRIT (verse 24). The way to read the Bible is to continually search the train of thought in the Bible. Chapter 1 speaks of being begotten of GOD, chapter 3 speaks of being born of the SPIRIT, and in chapter 4 we see that “GOD is SPIRIT.”

To be born of the SPIRIT is to be begotten of GOD. This means that GOD must be the SPIRIT in order for HIM to beget us. If HE were not the SPIRIT, HE would not be able to beget us. GOD must be the SPIRIT in order to enter into us to be our LIFE. From HIS perspective, HE is the SPIRIT, and as such, HE comes to beget us in our spirit. For example, when we receive an injection, it gets into our veins and arteries; when GOD comes to beget us, HE comes into our spirit. John 3:6 says, “That which is born of the SPIRIT is spirit.” This verse points out directly that regeneration takes place in our spirit. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, “I will also give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you and I will put MY SPIRIT within you.” This also speaks of regeneration. That which is born of the SPIRIT (the divine SPIRIT) is spirit (our human spirit). The first SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of GOD, and the second spirit is our spirit. John 3:5 says that GOD begets us with HIS SPIRIT, and verse 6 shows the SPIRIT begets our spirit—the SPIRIT of GOD comes to beget our human spirit.

That which is born of the SPIRIT is spirit. This spirit is neither our soul nor our body, but our human spirit. This clearly shows that GOD begets us through HIS SPIRIT and in our spirit. In other words, the SPIRIT of GOD enters into our spirit to beget us. Over the past two thousand years, Christianity has never seen such a revelation concerning the SPIRIT begetting the spirit. This statement seems simple, but actually it is quite profound. What is regeneration? Regeneration is the SPIRIT begetting our spirit—the SPIRIT of GOD begetting man’s human spirit.

The SPIRIT of GOD begets our human spirit. When GOD enters into our spirit through HIS SPIRIT to beget us, HE enters into us to be our LIFE. This is totally a matter of SPIRIT. I would hope that we all have a deep impression that LIFE is altogether a matter of SPIRIT, a matter of the SPIRIT of GOD with our human spirit, a matter of the SPIRIT of GOD entering into our human spirit, and a matter of the union and mingling of the SPIRIT of GOD with our human spirit.

If we are not clear about these basic points outlined above, it will be very difficult for us to understand the fellowship of LIFE. The fellowship of LIFE is certainly a matter of LIFE, but where is LIFE? LIFE is in our spirit, the mingled spirit, which is the mingling of the SPIRIT of GOD with our human spirit to be our LIFE. GOD begets the human spirit through HIS SPIRIT, and becomes our LIFE in the human spirit. This is the basic tenet found in John 3:5-6.

John 4:24 says, “GOD is SPIRIT: and those who worship HIM must worship HIM in SPIRIT and in truth [truthfulness].” This means that we must use our human spirit to worship and contact GOD. If we consider “begotten of GOD” in John 1:13, “born of the SPIRIT” in John 3:5, and “GOD is SPIRIT” in John 4:24, we will realize that to be born of the SPIRIT is to be begotten of GOD. That is, our human spirit is born of the SPIRIT, which means the SPIRIT of GOD begets our human spirit.

John 4:24 states that GOD is SPIRIT and that HE desires us to worship HIM—to contact HIM, to fellowship with HIM, and to have a relationship with HIM—in SPIRIT. GOD is SPIRIT, and those who worship HIM must worship in spirit. We cannot touch GOD in our mind, our emotion, or our will; we can touch GOD only in our spirit because HE is SPIRIT.

John 4:24 is proof that GOD begets us through HIS SPIRIT and in our spirit. Because HE begat us, HE causes us to have an absolutely subjective relationship with HIM; that is, HE comes to mingle HIMSELF with us. Since GOD is SPIRIT and HE desires to be mingled with man, HE needs something in us of similar nature to HIM to make this mingling possible. We are composed of body, soul, and spirit. HE cannot mingle HIMSELF with us in our body or soul; HE can mingle HIMSELF with us only in our spirit. Hence, HE begets us in our spirit. When HE begets us, HE gives us a new spirit by putting HIS SPIRIT within us (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

We should all be clear that GOD’S SPIRIT enters into our spirit to regenerate us. We have read John chapters 1, 3, and 4. Now, if we go to John chapter 20, we will see that the LORD “breathed into” the disciples and said to them, “Receive the HOLY SPIRIT” (verse 22). This shows how GOD begets us and becomes our life. These two matters—LIFE and SPIRIT—are the line of LIFE in the book of John.

The line of LIFE indicates that the WORD was in the beginning, and that LIFE was in this One who was the WORD. When we contact HIM, we receive authority to become the children of GOD; we are begotten of GOD. Moreover, GOD begets us when HIS SPIRIT enters into our spirit. GOD is SPIRIT. In order to contact HIM and be joined to HIM, we must be in our spirit. In order to mingle HIMSELF with us and be our LIFE, HE must enter into our spirit through HIS SPIRIT. May these words be deeply engraved in our hearts and be thoroughly apprehended in our minds so that they may shine forth as light within us.

For Israel to prevail against all of its enemies, it needs to follow only the words of this message.

Israel needs the LIFE of GOD. Then GOD will be their GOD and their LIFE.

To be born again of the SPIRIT, for GOD to mingle HIS LIFE into yours, say this prayer. Then be baptized, fully immersed in water, in the name of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT. Then study the KJV Bible, and do what it says.

Prayer

My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11

Now that you are saved, make sure you are baptized, fully submerged in water, in the name of the FATHER, in the name of the SON, and in the name of the HOLY SPIRIT (Matthew 28:18-20). Serve GOD with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Study the Scriptures, and do what they say until the day you die (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:14-17).


English Alamo Literature

Please contact us for more information or for literature on other topics which may be of interest.

Tony Alamo Christian Ministries Worldwide
P. O. Box 2948
Hollywood, CA 90078

Twenty-four hour prayer and information line: (661) 252-5686

Tony Alamo Christian Ministries Worldwide provides a place to live with all the things necessary for life to all those
in our United States locations who truly want to serve the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Services held in New York City every Tuesday at 8 P.M. and at other locations nightly. Please call for more information: (908) 937-5723.

MEALS SERVED AFTER EACH SERVICE

Ask for Pastor Alamo’s book, The Messiah, showing Christ from the Old Testament revealed in over three hundred thirty-three prophecies.

Become a laborer in the harvest of souls by becoming a distributor of Pastor Alamo’s literature. All of our literature and audio messages are free of charge, including shipping.

THIS LITERATURE CARRIES THE TRUE PLAN OF SALVATION (Acts 4:12).
DO NOT THROW IT AWAY, PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE

Those of you who are in other countries, we encourage you to translate this literature into your native language.
If you do reprint, please include this copyright and registration:

© Copyright December, 2012 All rights reserved World Pastor Tony Alamo ® Registered 2012


Prayer footnotes:

1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return

2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return

3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return

4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return

5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return

6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return

7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return

8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return

9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return

10. Heb. 11:6 return

11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return