IN THE WORDS OF JESUS–Part 1494

ON LOVE; PART MCXXXIII

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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 ended the last essay with the words of the Apostle James regarding the tongue. We should see this idea of the tongue as much more than the physical organ and as more than the words that may roll off of it. We should see this idea of the tongue as the totality of the thoughts and the attitudes that a man may have in his Life and this in line with the teaching of the Master who tells us that it IS “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:24). And here, to correlate this idea with the focus of a man, we should look to the idea that we discussed in the last post regarding the difference between walking “after the flesh” and walking “after the Spirit“. This IS the essence of focus and this IS the reality of Jesus’ words saying “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

The man then that IS focused upon the things of God which ARE measurably divorced from any relation to one’s self IS the man who by measure IS walking “after the Spirit“. This leaves the man whose focus IS upon the things of this world yet walking “after the flesh” and we should realize here that most ALL men ARE in this condition. The dividing line IS ever found in keeping His words and, to be sure, His words on agape which should be seen through the Master’s words that ARE the Great Commandments which we repeat again at the top of our essay.

Just because doctrines teach that to live in accord with these Great Commandments IS NOT possible for men, DOES NOT mean that this IS impossible; we should KNOW and remember Jesus’ words saying “with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). And more importantly we should remember that in the fullness of keeping His words we ARE One with God. This Oneness is the reality of the “the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:21) which Vincent shows saying: the adopted son of God becomes, in a peculiar and intimate sense, one with the heavenly Father ⁴.

We should understand here that this unity IS a universal reality which Paul tries to show us saying that “in him we live, and move, and have our being” and in this he shows the ‘heathens’ of Greece that ALL ARE “the offspring of God” (Acts 17:28). The idea of offspring here IS from the Greek word genos which IS alternately rendered as kind, kindred, and nation and the idea we should take here IS kind….we are of the same kind. Thayer’s lexicon shows us this in regard to genos: the aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort ⁹ and if we can take this past the physical ideas of doctrines, we can better understand Paul’s primary thought that his saying “in him we live, and move, and have our being” applies to Life on every level of existence.

When we can see that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) and understand this from the perspective of our Oneness with God we can then better see that it IS ONLY our realization of the Truth that IS lacking. Understanding this same idea in James’ words on the power of the tongue and understanding that while he seemingly IS saying that “the tongue can no man tame” from the perspective of impossibility, should show us that unless this IS seen this in regard to the spiritual endeavor that changes the heart, Repentance, his words ring True. In this we should understand that the balance of James words which follow DO show us the way to avoid such impossibility. Repeating His words on the tongue we read:

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be” (James 3:6-10).

In the reality that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” we should be able to understand that the apostle IS NOT speaking literally about the tongue but rather about those things that the tongue may reveal in speech, those things of the heart which ARE the thoughts and the attitudes of men. And we should understand here as well that much of the thoughts and the attitudes ARE inflamed by one’s emotional nature. Vincent tells us that the literal idea of James’ words that “the tongue can no man tame” IS: no one of men, and here perhaps we can see deeper into James’ intent.

Much of James’ Epistle IS stated in terms of the duality that IS the Life of the man focused upon the self and the Life of the man whose focus IS upon God. James, in his own direct and blunt way of speaking, shows us the nature of the man who IS focused on the Lord and compares this to one whose focus IS yet upon himself, and this includes those whose focus IS divided; this last idea he shows us saying “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). If we can take the apostle’s ideas here to his point about “the tongue no one of men is able to subdue” as Young’s Literal Translation renders this, and combine this with the continuation of his thought we can perhaps see this duality in action.

James goes on to say “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13) and here he IS asking us on what side of the duality we live; the Wise man, spiritually Wise according to his measure of Truth, will express this and “shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” and here we should understand this idea of conversation as one’s: manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment ² as the lexicon shows us and NOT in the idea of words that would be related to the theme of the tongue. Again, we should see here that it IS the thoughts and the attitudes of men that ARE the subject.

Can we see here that James IS showing us that the “wise man and endued with knowledge” DOES have some control over his expression and that he continues in this idea, the main idea of this part of his words, by defining for us the expression of the man who Truly has “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17) as he compares this to the man who DOES NOT. Here we should see the former idea of the tongue and understand that the man whose expression IS “the wisdom that is from above” IS NOT among that “no one of men” who CAN NOT  control his expression. We should understand here that this “wisdom that is from above” IS that Wisdom that IS the Truth and remember that the source of this Truth IS found in our trifecta which we repeat 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).

In this Truth that comes to the man who will “continue in my word” as Jesus tells us IS the reality of James description of that Wisdom which IS rendered as that this IS “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). If we can see this list as components of Love, of agape, then we can understand the reality of one’s expression of Love in this world. It IS this expression that will be one’s thoughts and attitudes and it IS this expression that will roll off of one’s tongue and here we should see the conclusion to James’ thoughts on this idea.

We should try to understand that the underlying point IS that for the man who DOES NOT “continue in my word“, there IS NOT sufficient measure of “the wisdom that is from above” to change his thoughts and attitudes away from the self in this world. This man’s “wisdom descendeth not from above” (James 3:15); this man’s wisdom IS then “the abundance of the heart” which becomes his uncontrolled expression….that IS, uncontrolled by the spiritual nature of that “wisdom that is from above“. Here again we have that same dynamic of focus at play and the difference between walking “after the flesh” and walking “after the Spirit“. This brings us back to the words of the Apostle Paul who tells us:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:1-10).

Vincent reminds us that this first idea from the eighth chapter IS a continuation from the end of the seventh chapter; he says: Connecting with Romans 7:25. Being freed through Jesus Christ, there is therefore no condemnation now ⁴. Vincent also tells us that the sense of focus that IS found in the idea of those “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” IS NOT found in what he calls the best texts ⁴ and these words ARE NOT included in many translations. What we should see here however IS that these words ARE describing “them which are in Christ Jesus” in the same tone as the apostle uses in saying “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24); it IS these “affections and lusts” that ARE the essence of everyman’s worldly thoughts and attitudes.

The idea here of condemnation, from the Greek word katakrima which IS used ONLY by Paul, IS NOT to be understood in terms of damnation as this idea IS often doctrinally understood. The idea of katakrima should be seen in the same sense of focus as the words that follow and understood as contrary to “they that are Christ’s“….if one IS NOT Christ’s in the fullest sense of the idea, then he IS still of the world and this IS his spiritual condemnation. We must ever remember here that there IS the sense of measure to be accounted for and that one can be measurably focused upon the things of God; we must remember here as well however that “they that are Christ’s” ARE fully focused….fully in accord with His words.

It IS this point that IS missed by most ALL doctrines which teach that in the simplicity of one’s affirmation and confession of Christ as one’s True personal Saviour ALL things ARE accomplished and that one IS thereby among “they that are Christ’s“. This view IS the view of men and NOT the view of the teachings of the Master nor the amplifying and clarifying words of His apostles. This IS the view of men which IS gleaned from the out of context and misapplied words of the apostles; this IS a view that IS created by men for the convenience of men and while it may bring many closer to the Lord, it IS NOT the Truth of salvation nor of the freedom which comes in keeping His words.

And it IS this freedom that IS at the core of the doctrinal dilemma, a freedom that IS misunderstood because it IS based in the doctrinal misapplication of the spiritual idea that IS Love. Paul tells us that, in his personal Life’ experience, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” and if we can see past the doctrinal ideas, we can then better understand the apostle’s intent. Simply put: “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” shows us the basis of this idea; “they that are Christ’s” have come to KNOW “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” and these ARE “free from the law of sin and death” because they “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts“.

It IS ONLY when we can understand the ideas of “sin and death” from a spiritual perspective that we can understand the apostle’s words and relate them to the teachings of the Master. Sin IS simply the focus of men upon the self and the self in this world and this focus can and DOES take on many shapes so that most ALL that men DO as men in this world IS sin. Not sin as this idea IS commonly understood but rather sin as it was the affliction that Paul shows us that he too had to overcome; and here we should NOT confuse his thoughts and attitudes when he was yet a Pharisee with his ongoing perplexities of which we read such things as:

“I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:18-25).

This too is the dilemma of focus, of dual focus to be more correct, and this IS the same affliction which ALL who strive toward His Kingdom must endure. Here the apostle IS NOT speaking about his colored past but about his more present condition and it IS here that the greater Truth of being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2) can be seen. What we should see here IS Paul’s admission of Truth, the Truth of ALL men, as he tells us that whensoever he IS focused upon the flesh “evil is present with me” and that while this process of Transformation causes “delight in the law of God“, there IS still the residual effect of being in the world which he frames for us as “I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members“.

Much of doctrine destroys the apostle’s message here, a message that we can also see in the words of James who tells us “let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:4-8).

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