ON LOVE; PART MLXXIV
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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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).
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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
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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).
In the last essay we again discussed the deeper ideas that ARE the Apostle Paul’s list of “the works of the flesh” and how that these ARE his cautions and his warnings to the man who Truly seeks God. We should try to see how that these ideas ARE NOT the gross carnal ideas that men interpret them to be but ARE his list of those thoughts, attitudes and actions that ARE contrary to the Truth the IS the Great Commandments which we again post at the top of our essay. We should understand as well that the thoughts, attitudes and actions that ARE this list DO afflict most ALL men and that they ARE interwoven into Life by the illusion and the glamour which IS the vanity that Paul shows us saying that “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same” (Romans 8:20).
In the last essay we discussed again the confusion that the translators show us in their rather arbitrary approach to the Greek words as they inject the idea of sexual deviation into the first part of Paul’s list over the reality of men’s infidelity toward God which IS contrary to the first of the Great Commandments. And we discussed as well the yet greater confusion that IS found in the way that the second part of the list IS rendered by the various translators who give us the same English word for different elements of the Greek list. And we should understand here again that this entire list IS offered to men who have largely overcome the gross carnal offences and through this understanding we should try to see that these thoughts, attitudes and actions, of which the apostle tells us that “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God“, ARE directed at the man whose foundation may seem to be in the Lord but whose worldly direction IS NOT.
There ARE degrees and measure to ALL things, to ALL ways of Life and to ALL thought and attitude, and with this in mind we should understand how that the apostle IS speaking to those whose heart was right in God but who then “are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel“. While these men were before committed to the Truth and the gospel that IS the words of the Master, they then became attentive to “another gospel: Which is not another” but which IS the teaching of men “that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ“. We posited that this could well be the beginning of the way that the doctrines of men supplant the Truth of the Master’s words and this IS borne out by the way that Paul tells us of such a teacher “let him be accursed“.
At the end of our last essay we defined the idea that should be seen behind the Greek word anathema which we read from the lexicon as: a thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed 2. If we can see in this idea the man who was ultimately responsible for the perversion in that day and then ALL who follow in his footsteps throughout the centuries, we will arrive at the conclusion that ALL that teach doctrines over Truth ARE, by measure to be sure, in this class. While doctrines paint this as an evil thing and show us that Paul IS cursing these men whose sense of Truth IS transferred to their doctrines, the Truth IS that these men bring to themselves the sense of anathema which we should see in the reality of that vanity, the reality of the illusion and the glamour in which men live.
Paul’s intent here should be seen in the idea that these men, these teachers of doctrine, have removed themselves from the prospect of discipleship and have thereby brought themselves to be among “they which do such things“….those that “shall not inherit the kingdom of God“. These things ARE “the works of the flesh“, understood properly, and while this may seem yet another harsh idea against the heart of the doctrinal church, it IS NOT our idea but the words of the apostle which were so seemingly strict that some chose to teach and others to follow the doctrines of men. And while such doctrines ARE seen as the Truth by men in every generation, the Master’s own view of them which He speaks against the Jews should be understood to be against ALL who ARE “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7).
After spending much time discussing the basic Truths that ARE Paul’s lists of “the works of the flesh” and of “the fruit of the Spirit” we have tied his intent to the opening of his Epistle to the Galatians where it becomes more clear to whom and why he IS writing these words. When we can understand this in the context of Truth, in the context that shows us that left to their own devices these “foolish Galatians” (Galatians 3:1), and most ALL men, will find the seemingly easier and more convenient way of doctrine over the Way of God, we can better understand the reality of our affliction which IS that vanity which IS: a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends 4. We repeat again our selection from Galatians along with Paul’s opening statement which we have been discussing:
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:6-12).
“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).
We ended the last essay with some additional thoughts on the illusion and the glamour, the vanity of Paul, and related the apostle’s idea that the man who Truly seeks God should “Walk in the Spirit“, which IS that that his focus be upon God, and that he should “henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart“. When we interpret both of these ideas we can see the dynamic that IS at play in Paul’s admonitions. To “Walk in the Spirit” and to “be led of the Spirit” ARE the same idea that IS the Way of the man whose focus IS upon God and if we can discern the difference between focus upon God and focus upon doctrines which ARE what Paul calls “another gospel“, we can then better understand his overall point.
Similarly the idea that men should “walk not as other Gentiles walk” has the same ideas behind it especially when we can view gentiles as the human family 2 which IS the more direct meaning of of the Greek word ethnos when viewed in the absence of doctrines. If we can see this as “walk not as other Gentiles men walk” we will have the same idea as to “Walk in the Spirit” and to “be led of the Spirit” and, when we can see how that this comes about by measure in the Life of a man, how he becomes a spiritual man, we can then understand our own course. The more important part of Paul’s words to the Ephesians however IS in his portrayal of vanity….his picture of the illusion and the glamour in which men live. We read the apostle’s words again saying:
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24).
Paul’s picture IS a picture of the man in this world who IS yet trapped in the “bondage of corruption” and how that this man can be “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). It is these men whose focus IS upon the self and the things of the self that walk “in the vanity of their mind” and when we can understand this vanity as the illusion and the glamour, we can better see that apostle’s point that these ARE “Having the understanding darkened” by the mundane things of this world. They DO NOT see the Truth and they ARE “alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart“. Here, except a man’s focus IS Truly on the Lord according to the trifecta, we have most ALL men; it IS in their ignorance and their blindness that they DO NOT yet see the reality of Jesus’ words saying:
- “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).
In the apostle’s words saying of such men whose focus IS yet carnal he tells us “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” and this idea of “being past feeling” IS rendered in such a way as to show a lack of feeling which Vincent shows us as apathetic 4. This idea is rendered as callous by some and as “having ceased to feel” by Young’s Literal Translation and there ARE several others that use their own doctrinal understanding that the words that follow ARE sexual deviation. These render the idea in terms of unchastity, impurity, lustful pleasures and lewdness. In rendering as such they ARE implying that ALL other men, ALL gentiles and, in our view of ethnos, ALL of the human family, ARE committing such sexual sins and it should be easy to see that this IS NOT Paul’s point.
It IS when we can relate these ideas to the Paul’s primary idea that we can more clearly see the state of the man whose focus IS upon the things of the world and NOT upon the things of God. This IS the man who Paul shows us as “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart“; this IS the man who DOES NOT Truly seek the Lord but who fills his Life with aslegeia and akatharsia, NOT in the sexual tone that doctrines set, but in the tone of being contrary to the first of the Great Commandments. As we discussed in the last essay, these words have to DO ONLY with men’s focus upon the things of the world. Again, if we can see that akatharsia IS the apostle’s reference to the desires and the lusts for carnal things over one’s True striving toward the Godhead in the absence of selfish desire, we can then perhaps see that aslegeia, which IS rendered as lasciviousness, IS the similar idea of wantonness where one’s desire for the things of the world overwhelms the desire for the things of God.
These ARE the natural and most common failings of men, of most ALL men, while the doctrinal ideas of sexual deviation afflict but a small portion. The idea of sexual deviation however IS the easier and more convenient way for the doctrinal church to view this as to DO so IS to free oneself from the burden of this sin which IS contrary to His words. And the apostle DOES make his intent rather clear as he adds the idea that these ARE DONE with en pleonexia which IS rendered as “with greediness“. Pleonexia IS most always rendered as covetousness except here where the idea of greed IS substituted and most ALL translators pick up this same idea which apparently plays better with the doctrinal ideas of sexual deviation.
We should try to see here that the idea of covetousness, in covetousness to be more clear, Paul uses another Greek word that shows the intent of the first two where we have the desires and the lusts for carnal things over one’s True striving toward the Godhead and the wantonness where one’s desire for the things of the world overwhelms the desire for the things of God. Covetousness takes these ideas and amplifies them to show how that the carnal man will strive for more and more of those things which ARE the object of his focus.
And the idea of “being past feeling” IS an important part of Paul’s idea as it shows the solidity of one’s view of Life in the state of vainity, of illusion and glamour, in which he lives. If we can see this idea of vanity as Vincent shows us, if we can see that this IS: a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends 4, then we can better understand how that this affliction of vanity IS our “bondage of corruption” from which we must escape.
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
- 2 New Testament Greek Lexicon on BibleStudyTools.com
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
