IN THE WORDS OF JESUS–Part 1488

ON LOVE; PART MCXXVII

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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).

We began the last essay with some additional thoughts on the Trinity and refreshed our ideas on the way that Jesus IS “the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Again, we should see how this refers to His birth as a Son of God in whom “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). We looked again at the ideas behind the way that those who were needed for the Master’s mission here in this world were available to Him; NOT because of His random choosing of them but because they had the spiritual collateral to be in a position to be His ready help to ensure the success of His work and to carry it on after He left them.

None of the ideas that we presented ARE the view of the various doctrines that ARE Christianity in this world but they ARE based in His words and the words of His apostles and in our understanding of the mysterious reality of reincarnation. We should remember that at every opportunity that the Master has to refute this concept of Life, He DOES NOT. And, as we have discussed, in His discussions regarding John the Baptist he shows the reality of rebirth as He tells us of John that “if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come” (Matthew 11:14).

We should remember as well the words of the angel speaking to Zacharias regarding the relationship between the Baptist and the Master saying: “he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). These ideas plus that the Master DOES NOT refute the mystery of reincarnation should serve as the foundation for our thoughts on the spiritual collateral that each Soul possess as he comes into this world and we should understand as well that it IS this spiritual collateral that helps everyman come ever closer to realizing the Truth of his eternal existence as the Spirit that IS man.

Perhaps it IS one’s spiritual collateral that draws him to the Lord according to the doctrines of men; perhaps here the prompting of the Soul IS aligned by the mind to the doctrines that he KNOWS as a part of his own nurturing, indoctrination and experience. It IS what one comes to KNOW as a man in this world that colors even the prompting of his own Soul and perhaps it IS this dynamic that feeds the glamour which prevents a man from seeking the deeper Truths that ARE Jesus teachings; teachings that ARE largely ignored by the religions that bear his name. Here we should try to see and to understand that the larger part of overcoming the “bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21) IS in overcoming one’s own nurturing, indoctrination and experience….an overcoming that IS ONLY possible in Truly striving to keep His words as we read again in our trifecta:

• “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).

It IS this message that IS the common thread, along with the reality of agape, which runs through ALL Judeo-Christian scripture and it IS this message that IS at the heart of the misunderstood and misapplied words of Jesus’ apostles. With this thought in mind we will complete here our study of the words of the Apostle Paul which he writes to the Romans; words that admonish men to complete the work of Transforming their lives from being “conformed to this world“, being conformed to whatsoever level of carnal living IS one’s Life, “into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). Here we should remember that True Transformation IS that change which begins with Repentance and ends with the reality of Redemption….ALL according to His words which we read above in the trifecta. Repeating again Paul’s words to the Romans:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And 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. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:1-3). 

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:4-21).

We ended the last essay reprising our thoughts on the parts of Paul’s words here that we have previously discussed. We have thus far separated Paul’s thoughts into sections; the first being his admonition to prophecy, to serve, to teach and to exhort “according to the grace that is given to us“; that IS according to the level of Truth which we have realized in the process of “the renewing of your mind“. We have tried to explain Paul’s use of the Greek words in a more spiritual tone as we understand that in prophecy: the prominent idea is not prediction, but the inspired delivery of warning, exhortation, instruction, judging, and making manifest the secrets of the heart  ⁴ as Vincent tells us and as: discourse emanating from divine inspiration ⁹ as Thayer shows us.

In the idea of serving which IS rendered as ministry we should try to see the service ideas that the Master presents to us in the gospels and as Paul shows us in these same words to the Romans as that “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service“. Jesus shows us the depth of this idea of serving as He tells us ” If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12:26); here we should see that the fullness of serving the Lord IS in following Him and the fullness of following Him IS keeping His words. Here, in both prophecy and in serving or ministering, Paul’s caution IS to NOT exceed one’s “proportion of faith” which IS one’s measure of KNOWING.

And so too with one’s teaching and exhorting; Paul’s message IS the same. We should see that behind his words that a man should “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” IS his caution to ALL. And he repeats this saying that each should DO such things “according to the grace that is given to us” and repeats this again in regard to these four ‘gifts‘ saying that they should be exercised “according to the proportion of faith“. We should see ALL of this as his showing us that any more than one’s own measure will perforce rely upon the carnal mind; that part of everyman that IS yet “conformed to this world“.

In this we should try to Truly see everyman; from the most well meaning irreligious to the most seemingly pious man according to his doctrines. Unless one IS in accord with His words, he IS somewhat conformed and ONLY the individual can ever KNOW his own place, his own shortfalls and perhaps glimpse the greater Truths that his own Soul IS ever prompting him to achieve. There ARE some however who ARE so indoctrinated, who ARE so bound by their own ideas of Truth based in their doctrines that they may NEVER see the Light of Truth and this because they DO NOT seek, nor ask nor knock….because the think, nay, they have convinced themselves, that they have found the Truth despite the Master’s words. This was the plight of the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day and this IS the plight of so many yet today.

Paul moves on to the next group of words which work together with his cautions on using one’s own “proportion of faith“. In these we should try to see that one’s “proportion of faith” IS the controlling factor as one CAN NOT Truly give, lead, show mercy or Love sincerely without some measure of KNOWING the Truth that IS God. And we should NOT see these words in the doctrinal nor the common and carnal understanding. Giving should be without any thought of the return and according to the Master’s words saying “Give to every man that asketh of thee” (Luke 6:30) and here we should NOT see ONLY material goods but we should view this as DID the Apostles Peter and John who tell the lame man at the gate “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee” (Acts 3:6).

In leading which IS rendered as ruleth we should see the idea of diligence as earnest care ⁴ as Vincent shows us and in leading others one should ever be aware that this earnest care or diligence must be “according to the grace that is given to us“; surely any more IS carnal and even perhaps selfish. We should remember also the words of the Apostle James saying “be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1) and here, as in most places, we should see condemnation in terms of judgement. We should understand here that the context of the apostle’s words IS words and speech and what IS said and, if we can see this in Paul’s terms of DOING ALL “according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” we can then understand the peril.

In showing mercy or compassion Paul tells us to DO so with cheerful readiness as we discussed in the last essay; in this we should see that this IS NOT a duty to be performed but the natural action of Love. Here without one’s measure of agape, mercy and compassion ARE but carnal virtues and perhaps at the center of this idea we should see understanding….understanding the plight of others who live in the vanity, the illusion and the glamour that IS Life in this world. Finally the apostle touches upon Love which he tells us should NOT be feigned which is the easier idea to understand than “without dissimulation“. The better view here however IS that Love should be sincere and offered in the spirit of the Great Commandments as the natural expression of the man whose focus IS upon God.

The next group of words and ideas should be seen as the working out in one’s Life of these first two groups of words, as Paul’s practical instructions on keeping away from carnal thoughts, attitudes and actions. Much of this IS easy to see and to understand in spiritual terms and according to the ideas that precede this list. Two entries ARE however misleading in the way that they ARE rendered. First IS the idea that “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” and here we should look to the more modern translations and Vincent’s remarks to see the apostle’s intent.

The Good News Translation renders this as “Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody” while the New Living Translation renders “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone“; both of these more clearly show Paul’s intent which IS further clarified by Vincent’s comments on the King James rendering; he says: If it be possible; Not if you can, but if others will allow. The phrase is explained by as much as lieth in you ( τὸ ἐξ ὑμῶν ), lit., as to that which proceeds from you, or depends on you. “All your part is to be peace” (Alford)⁴.

The second point remains yet unclear as to the apostle’s intent as he says “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head“. The first part of this IS founded in the words of the Master who tells us clearly to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). The second part however IS subject to interpretations and there ARE several that DO NOT seem to be aligned to what we KNOW of Paul’s teaching.

There IS, to be sure, NO malice intended here by the apostle. Vincent tells us that: Many explain: The memory of the wrong awakened in your enemy by your kindness, shall sting him with penitence. This, however, might be open to the objection that the enemy’s pain might gratify the instinct of revenge. Perhaps it is better to take it, that kindness is as effectual as coals of fire ⁴. While the latter comment seems closer to the intent, there IS more that IS missed. Can we see the “coals of fire on his head” as an analogy to the equally offensive thoughts, that is offensive to him, that such kindness would spark in the mind of that enemy?

This completes our work on the twelfth chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans and we should see these words, and those that follow, as leading us to the apostle’s words on Love and then his admonition to awake which he frames as “knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly,b as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:11-14).

A few posts back we touched upon the ideas of Satan and devils as these words ARE used in the doctrinal thinking of men and here we can continue that discussion. In his saying above Paul tells us, as aspirants and disciples, to “cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light“. For an example of the doctrinal thinking here we go to John Gill and his Exposition of the Bible where we read: By “works of darkness” are meant evil works, which are opposite to the light; to God, who is light itself; to Christ, the light of the world; to the word of God, both law and Gospel, which is a light to our paths; to both the light of nature, and the light of grace: and which spring from the darkness of the mind, and are encouraged to by the god of this world, and by his angels, the rulers of the darkness of it; and which are generally done in the dark ⁸.

There ARE two things here that we should try to remember; first Paul’s epistle IS written to men of whom the apostle says “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8). These then ARE NOT ordinary and carnal men who would be so readily prone to evil works as this idea IS commonly understood. Secondly, we have the doctrinal idea that there ARE beings, the god of this world, his angels, and the rulers of the darkness, who lead men into such evil works.

On the first part we need no more comment. On the second however we have much to say. The reality of Satan and his angels, and the rulers of the darkness and whatsoever can be understood in terms of devils and demons IS simply the force of that vanity to which ALL ARE subjected. This vanity, this illusion and glamour, ARE the affliction of ALL men in this world and this affliction IS simply the carnal mind which, through its nurturing and indoctrination, sees ONLY the ways of this world and the keen sense of self that this engenders.

The severity of this affliction varies from person to person and can take many forms including sheer selfishness, criminality, and sexual perversions. There IS NO outside force that causes men to sin; there IS ONLY the mind and the emotional makeup, the equipment with which one IS born. If we could see how that one’s spiritual collateral, or lack thereof, contributes to the usefulness of one’s equipment we can then see how that there IS NO happenstance in much of the differences between men. By NO means IS this to be understood in terms of racial difference, there IS a totally different dynamic at play there, but in the differences that make a person what he appears to be and which shows forth the degree of his affliction.

It IS this affliction of vanity that IS overcome in the realization of Truth. We close today with a saying which we have used in past essays. The original intent of this IS very different and we have changed it slightly to show this as a reality of Life that points out for us as the True idea of Satan and his angels, and the rulers of the darkness and whatsoever can be understood in terms of devils and demons…..I HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS ME.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Aspect of  God	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

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts