O Fools And Slow Of Heart To Believe — Part Five

“This people draw near to Me with their mouth… but their heart is far from Me.” (Isa. 29:13)

Knowing the Only True God: The Divine Blueprint for Humanity

I. The Eternal Design: God’s Blueprint From The Beginning

1. The Scriptures Testify of a Single Divine Reality

Before the Law, before the Prophets, before any religious system existed, God revealed Himself as Spirit:

Genesis 1:26–27 — “Let Us make man in Our image…” God places His likeness within the spirit of man, not in institutions, rituals, or buildings.
Genesis 2:7 — The breath (Spirit) of God becomes man’s inner life. This breath never dies, because it is of God.

Thus, the blueprint begins:

The Spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD. (Prov. 20:27)

The place of God’s indwelling has always been the inner man of the heart.

2. The First Hindrance: Religion is Born Through the Fall

Religion begins the moment:

Man fears God’s presence (Gen. 3:10)
Man hides from God (Gen. 3:8)
Man covers himself with self-made works (Gen. 3:7)

These three things—fear, separation, and self-righteous works—are the foundation of all religion.

Religion became humanity’s substitute for direct knowledge of God.

This is why, from Genesis to Malachi, God repeatedly confronts:

Idolatry
Religious externalism
Sacrifices without obedience
Rituals without truth
Worship without heart

II. God’s Purpose In Revealing Himself Through A Human Body

3. The Prophetic Blueprint: God Will Come as a Man

Before Christ appeared, the Holy Scriptures already foretold:

Isaiah 7:14 — God will be with us (Immanuel).
Isaiah 9:6 — “A child is born… His name shall be called Mighty God.”
Micah 5:2 — His origins are “from everlasting.”

The blueprint is unambiguous:

God Himself will enter humanity to teach humanity who they already are in Him.

Not to start a new religion.
Not to build denominations.
Not to create traditions.
Not to establish rituals.
But to awaken the inner man.

III. Jesus: God Functioning As A Man To Reveal God In Man

4. Jesus Declares the Central Revelation

“The Kingdom of God is within you.” — Luke 17:20–21

This is the axis of the entire Gospel.

This is the key that religion ignores.

This is the revelation that transforms the soul:

God is not external — God is internal.

The divine is not elsewhere — it is within the human spirit.

Jesus demonstrates this repeatedly:

John 14:10 — “The Father who dwells in Me does the works.”
John 14:20 — “You shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
John 10:30 — “I and My Father are one.”
John 17:22–23 — The same oneness given to believers.

Jesus came as a man to show:

What humanity truly is.
What the Spirit of God in man looks like.
What life looks like when the mind is renewed to truth.

He is God functioning in a body, revealing that God desires to function in your body likewise.

IV. Why Humanity Struggles To Know God: The Primary Challenge

5. Jesus Identifies the Problem: Not Sin — But Religion

The central opposition to Jesus’ ministry came not from:

Thieves
Adulterers
Drunkards
Tax collectors

But from the religious system.

Religion is the primary challenge because it:

Blinds the mind
Substitutes rituals for relationship
Exalts materialism and status
Institutionalizes fear of God
Glorifies outward works
Hides the inner Kingdom
Creates dependence on human teachers rather than the Spirit
Promotes self-righteousness instead of truth

Jesus said to the most religious people:

“You shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men… and hinder those entering.” (Matt. 23:13)

He warned:

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” (Matt. 16:6)
“You nullify the Word of God by your tradition.” (Mark 7:13)

Thus, the greatest hindrance to knowing God is:

Religious tradition controlling the mind.

This is especially clear in Western society, where:

Material prosperity is equated with divine favour
Religious institutions seek glory, influence, and wealth
People are taught to seek God externally
Individuals chase spiritual approval from others
Systems exalt “success” over inner transformation

This is precisely the opposite of Jesus’ revelation.

V. The Apostles Continue Jesus’ Blueprint

6. Their Writings Confirm the Same Message

Paul

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27)
“We worship God in the spirit… not in the flesh.” (Phil. 3:3)
“The Kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”(Rom. 14:17)
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2)

John

“You have an anointing within you, and you need not that any man teach you.” (1 John 2:27)
“As He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)

Peter

“Partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Pet. 1:4)

James

“The implanted word… saves your soul.” (James 1:21)

The early Church was built entirely on:

God dwelling internally, not externally.

The Apostles fought against:

Religious law-keeping
External righteousness
Dependence on human mediators
Materialism (1 Tim. 6:6–10; Acts 8:18–23)
Glory from men (Gal. 1:10; 1 Cor. 3:21–23)

They preached the same message as Jesus:

The Kingdom of God is within you.

You are the temple of God.

The Spirit of God dwells in you.

(1 Cor. 3:16)

VI. The Requirement For Entry: Complete Mind Renewal

7. Why the Mind Must Be Renewed

Jesus emphasizes:

“Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind.” (Matt. 22:37)

You cannot love God with a mind controlled by:

Tradition
Fear
Materialism
Religious expectations
Cultural conditioning
Man-made doctrines

Mind renewal means:

Shifting from external to internal
Shifting from fear to sonship
Shifting from religion to relationship
Shifting from law to grace
Shifting from material to spiritual
Shifting from seeking approval of men to knowing God directly

This renewal is what transforms the soul and awakens the inner man.

Paul calls it: “The mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16)

VII. The Blueprint Summarized In Sequential Form

Genesis: God breathes His Spirit into man — divinity within humanity.
Fall: Religion begins as fear, separation, and self-effort.
Law & Prophets: God exposes religion’s inability, pointing to a coming revelation.
Incarnation: God functions on earth through Jesus to reveal God already in man.
Teachings of Jesus: The Kingdom is within; religion blinds; truth sets free.
Cross & Resurrection: The veil of separation removed forever.
Pouring of the Spirit: Humanity awakened to divine indwelling.
Apostolic Doctrine: Christ in you; mind renewal; divine nature; inner transformation.
Primary Enemy: Religion, tradition, externalism, materialism.
Great Commandment: Love God with all the heart, soul, and mind — inner union.
Great Commission: Make disciples by teaching what Jesus taught — the inner Kingdom.

VIII. The Transforming Message

The spiritual message for the reader and hearer:

God is not far from you.

He is not in buildings.

He is not in systems.

He is not in rituals.

He is not in material wealth.

He is not in traditions.

He is in you.

Jesus came as a man to show you:

What humanity looks like when awakened to God within.

This is the blueprint.

This is the revelation.

This is the transformation.

This is the Kingdom.