ON LOVE; PART MLV
ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α
GoodWill IS Love in Action
ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•Α
FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ
WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God
ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ
PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
We spent most of the last essay on the Apostle Paul’s intent in his words to the Galatians regarding the “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit“. While most ALL doctrinal authorities would disagree with our positions, they ARE founded in the meanings of the Greek words and the foundational message of the Master, a message that the apostles amplify and clarify. These same authorities DO NOT see the way that this amplification and clarification works and this IS evidenced by the way that the apostle’s words ARE configured into their doctrines which ofttimes contradict Jesus’ own words. And there ARE few places in Jesus words that show this doctrinal trait more clearly that our trifecta, which shows us the True Way of salvation, and in what IS called the Great Commission which we repeat here again; we read:
“Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).
In the last essay we presented a clearer and non-doctrinal interpretation of these words from the Master which shows the greater Truth that we should see in his words. Jesus admonition here IS to disciples and this Truth IS clearly presented in the simple logic that it IS ONLY a disciple that can teach the reality of discipleship to others. We must remember here that discipleship IS NOT that simple idea of learner and student but that this idea IS as it IS defined for us by the Master Himself in such words as we have in our trifecta where He tells us that the True disciple is one who DOES “continue in my word“. When we add this to His other words saying “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8) we can see the relationship to “the fruit of the Spirit” and understadn that the disciple DOES express such fruit as we read again in Paul’s words:
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:17-24).
Jesus’ defining ideas on the disciple DO NOT end with these ideas however, they include also those defining ideas from the Apostle Luke’s version of His words where the ending definition tells us that “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). We should try to see how that it IS the apparent severity of Jesus’ definitions that have caused men to look past them and to see themselves as such without DOING as He instructs. Here again we should see how that it IS those who have taken spiritual authority, those that have called themselves saints and disciples, those who believe in their own versions of Truth, that have ever deemed themselves privileged to teach others. They miss the ALL important point that their own guiding Light that comes in the words of the apostles was NEVER intended to create doctrine but was ever intended to amplify and clarify the Master’s words which we find in our trifecta; we read again:
- If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free“ (John 8:31-32).
- “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
- “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).
While Jesus’ words on the disciple ARE clear and CAN NOT be disputed, they ARE at the same time NOT followed nor even entertained as the way of discipleship and there ARE likely millions involved in missionary work that ARE NOT qualified by His definitions to be so. That their intent IS sound and good IS NOT in question, it IS their qualifications as disciples that ARE and it IS this reality that leads to our view on the misinterpretation and the misapplication of the Master’s charge in the Great Commission. It IS overly apparent that few in this world ARE disciples according to the Master’s defining terms; while many DO conform to their own doctrinal norms, few ARE in accord with Jesus’ words of Truth. That this IS difficult, that it IS seemingly impossible to live according to the reality of the Great Commandments, IS NO excuse nor reason to dilute his words as doctrines have DONE nor to teach that dilution as Truth as has been happening for nearly 2000 years.
We should understand that the misinterpretations and the misapplications of the Master’s Truths DO NOT ONLY afflict those who work according to their view of the Great Commission; this affliction IS rather universal across ALL of Christianity and, again, the multiplicity of different doctrinal beliefs should in itself show that this IS True. We ended the last essay with the story of the pickle again; it IS in this story that the reality of baptism IS can be seen and it IS in this story that we should be able to get past the rites and the rituals that baptism has become. And it IS these rites and rituals which vary among denominations that ARE a symbol of the dysfunction of the churches that each embrace ONLY their myopic vision of Jesus’ Truths.
In this we should be able to see the deeper ideas that Paul offers us in “the works of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit“. In “the works of the flesh” we should see the factions and divisions created by the lack of harmony in religion as well as the tendency to focus upon one’s own beliefs rather that upon the Truth that IS presented by the Master. It IS this focus upon one’s belief system and one’s own Life in this world that IS one’s infidelity toward the Godhead according to the first of the Great Commandments and it IS one’s certainty that his view IS right that IS a sign of Paul’s warning about methe and komos which can be see as the glamour of illusion that one holds. The way out of this glamour and illusion IS to find the Truth in Jesus’ words and to strive to keep His words; it IS in so DOING that the bondage to one’s own sense of doctrine can be broken.
And while the doctrinal church may believe that they ARE in accord with the Truth of His words, the greater reality IS found in Jesus’ own rhetorical question that asks “why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). This reality IS also made abundantly clear in the words of the Apostle James who tells us to “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). It IS this deception that IS founded in the illusion to which ALL ARE subjected according to Paul’s words saying: “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same“. It IS when we can understand that it IS by the very Plan of God that this IS so, that men ARE lost in the illusion and the glamour of Life, that Paul’s continuation can show us our Truth; he says “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20, 21).
In these words that we often cite in our posts there IS both the dilemma and the promise, the affliction and the cure, and while this IS the apostle’s prediction of the outcome for ALL, we should KNOW that each becomes a part of that outcome individually. It IS in this idea of deliverance that the simple Truth IS found; in this Greek word eleutheroo, which IS rendered in Jesus’ words above as “make you free“, we have the outcome; and in Jesus words above we have the cause of that outcome which He frames for us as “If ye continue in my word“. And this IS the reality of egkrateia which IS rendered as temperance but which should be seen in terms of self-control, a control that cones to the man who will strive to “continue in my word“.
This IS control of the outer expression by the inner man, the Soul which IS the reality of the Christ Within. In the revelations and the realizations that come to the man who will strive to keep His words comes this ability to express “the fruit of the Spirit” of which egkrateia IS a part. And NOT a part ONLY; the apostle’s words should be seen to show us that this sense of self-control IS one’s expression of the totality of “the fruit of the Spirit“; and in this we should understand that ALL of these fruits DO work together. We should understand as well that this expression of “the fruit of the Spirit” IS the works that the Apostle James refers to saying “I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18).
There IS a fundamental difference in ideas between these words from James and those on faith and works from Paul but the difference IS NOT as it appears to be; when we can understand faith as that KNOWING rather that that nebulous Christian idea, we can more clearly see how that this difference works. Speaking to the Jews primarily, Paul IS showing them that their own rites and rituals….their works if you will….will NOT lead them to the Truth nor to salvation. The Jews were never privy, except perhaps in the most hidden parts of their religion, to the idea of KNOWING God even though the ideas had been presented to them by the prophets over hundreds of years. It IS the words of the prophets that first modified the words of the law which Moses presented and it IS the words of the Master that gives the final word; not to change the essential law but to change men’s perception of that law.
The change, the difference, IS founded in the heart and of this the Master speaks extensively. This word, kardia, however has taken on nebulous meanings similar to the ideas of faith, believing and the Truth of agape. This sense of kardia, of heart, IS the very consciousness of the man in the world and this consciousness IS an aspect of the Soul, the Christ Within. It IS the kardia that KNOWS and reflects whatsoever IS presented to it and, be it carnal or spiritual, it IS kardia that becomes the expression of the man in this world. And this IS the reality of the Prophet Jeremiah’s words saying “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33) but for this to be so requires the cooperation of the man.
Paul then takes the failure of men according to this idea of having the Truth of the law “in their hearts” and shows us that it IS this failure that IS overcome by faith, by KNOWING some measure of the Truth. And contrary to this faith IS the works of men that ARE NOT based in that faith, the works that ARE done by the Jew for the works sake….because it IS written and NOT because he KNOWS. James merely shows us the other side of this equation of faith and works; James IS showing us that if one DOES KNOW that he will express the Truth and it IS this expression that IS one’s works.
And it IS kardia that IS “made subject to vanity“, it IS the heart of man that IS deceived and it IS the heart that IS caught in the illusion and the glamour of Life in this world. It IS by Repentance as Jesus teaches this idea that the focus of one’s Life here IS moved off of the carnal and onto the spiritual and it IS when one can glimpse the Truth that the fog of illusion and the mists of glamour begin to dissipate. This IS the Truth of Jesus’ words saying “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). This treasure IS the focus of the Life of a man and so long as that focus IS tied to the self and the self in this world, a man will NOT have that realization of Truth that becomes his deliverance.
Paul shows us this idea as he tells us to “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). Here we should see that while the Life IS “transformed by the renewing of your mind“, the mind IS renewed by the change of focus of the heart, of the consciousness of the man in this world. The fundamental difference between the mind and the heart IS presented to us in the first of the Great Commandments that says “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength“. Here in the Apostle Mark’s list which we repeat at the top of most every post we can see the differences and the separation of these aspects of Life.
The kardia, which IS rendered as heart; the psuche, which IS rendered as Soul but which can also be understood as Life; the dianoia which IS rendered as mind but which can also be seen as understanding; and the ischus, which IS rendered as strength but which can be seen as Power and ability; ARE ALL aspects of Life by which one should Love the Lord. While we should NOT take them in the order that they appear, as this order varies in the several presentations of this idea, we should note that the kardia IS always the first aspect presented. It IS the consciousness, the heart of the man in the world, that governs the activities of the other aspects and this IS especially True for the man who has accomplished the fullness of this Love.
ALL of this sense of Love however IS the product of egkrateia, a product of the self-control that the Soul has over his expression, and while kardia dictates that expression, the psuche, seen as Life, follows that Path as DOES the understanding and the Power of the man in this world. This IS NOT however so simple as it IS presented as even when the heart may seem right, the illusion and the glamour of living in this world still drains on a man’s focus of Life, pulling it hither and thither, and this illusion still obnubilates one’s ability to see clearly as he can come to question his own sense of strength.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect |
Potency |
Aspect of Man |
In Relation to the Great Invocation |
In relation to the Christ |
|
GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Spirit or Life |
Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN |
Life |
|
Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Soul or Christ Within |
Heart of God |
Truth |
|
Holy Spirit |
Light or Activity |
Life Within |
Mind of God |
Way |
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
We repeat here a Quote of the Day that we spent much time with over the course of our essays. In this affirmation we find the Truth of discipleship as we have been ever been expressing and here we can relate our themes of the last few days; “take no thought” for the things of the world and that we approach the Kingdom and discipleship in the nature of the little child, in humbleness, meekness, unashamed in any way and unassuming. The message that this imparts for us today IS that it IS the Soul that is at work in the world of men as it expresses to some degree the purpose, power and the will through Life in this world. These words are from a meditation offered to his students by our Tibetan brother and in which we find greater understanding of the message of the Master. This IS Truly the way of the disciple.
My Soul has purpose, power and will; these three are needed on the Way of Liberation.
My Soul must foster love among the sons of men; this is its major purpose.
I, therefore, will to love and tread the Way of Love. All that hinders and obstructs the showing of the Light must disappear before the purposes of the Soul.
My will is one with the great Will of God;. that Holy Will requires that all men serve. And unto the purposes of the Plan I lend my little will.
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
