IN THE WORDS OF JESUS–Part 1745

ON LOVE; PART MCCCLXXXIV

ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ

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).

ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ•ΑΩ

We ended the last essay with some thoughts on the reliance of Christianity upon the doctrinal ideas of atonement and propitiation which have fed into the also doctrinal idea that it IS “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). As we discussed, the Greek word hilasmos which IS rendered as propitiation DOES NOT by definition directly fit into the way that it IS theologically used. While Strong’s defines hilasmos as atonement ^9a, both Thayer’s and Vincent show us the idea of appeasing ^{9 4} in their defining ideas which leaves with the question of who IS being appeased by the death of the Master. While the church maintains that Jesus’ death IS necessary to appease God for the sins of men and to set them free from their sins, we should note that this IS but a doctrinal idea which IS a carry over from the sacrificial teachings of the Old Testament. We should note as well that the Jews’ sense of sacrifice which was ordained by Moses was NOT a part of the True law but rather and ancillary add-on intended to offer some encouragement to the masses against the hopelessness of keeping the True commandments of the law. The difference between the True commandments of the law and the ancillary add-ons from Moses IS clearly set in the way that the True contribute to the teaching of Love and the idea of Right Human Relations between men against the mundane ideas that were established to offer a sense of community control whensoever the True teachings on Love have failed. We should understand that most ALL of the ancillary ideas have faded away; there IS NO more sacrifice, NO sabbath day except for the still practicing Jew, and NO circumcision, also except for the Jew, to name but a few. These ideas have faded partly because the Master DID NOT promote them and this most likely because they would contribute naught to Jesus’ message of agape which IS at the heart of Right Human Relations. We should understand as well that in the messages of the prophets the idea of sacrifice IS deemphasized against such virtues as mercy; this IS easily seen in the words of the Prophet Hosea who, speaking for the Lord, says “I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Twice the Master repeats this idea to the Jews religious leaders who continued in the rites of sacrifice and seemingly ignored mercy “and the knowledge of God” while believing that they had both. While the Jews’ religious leaders, the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and priests ARE considered by today’s church as villainous groups of people, that they’re self interests reigned above ALL as did their sense of self righteousness, this IS NOT the reality of their story. These Jews followed in the traditions of the ‘elders’ and in the law as it had been interpreted for them into their mitzvah. For centuries they had followed this same path which IS likely fueled by the political pressures put upon their religious laws by the various kings of which we frequently read in such sayings about those kings as: “Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made” (2 Kings 17:19). We should try to see here the establishment of the Jews’ mitzvah in these times and while this may NOT have been the name applied to their interpretations of the law, this mitzvah IS effectively the result. Our point here IS that the changes in the Jews’ interpretations of the law from Moses to Jesus failed to discern the True precepts from the ancillary ideas given by Moses which were intended solely to govern a barbarous and superstitious people. And, similarly to the ways of the Christian churches as we discussed in the last essay, it was the proclivities of carnal men that propelled the Jews in their religious interpretations; Jews who equally could NOT fathom living according to the “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith” (Matthew 23:23).

It IS against the Jews’ interpretations of the Truth, interpretations that fail at the “the weightier matters of the law“, that Jesus rails in His most general comments to the Jews’ leaders who considered such ideas as sacrifice and adherence to the sabbath laws above those “weightier matters“. It IS against the resultant behavior that the Master speaks in His list of woes. Few have learned from the Master’s words 2000 years ago; neither in the remnants of the Jewish religions nor in the ensuing Christian religions ARE the “weightier matters” considered above the rote following of doctrinal precepts which Jesus clearly tells us ARE but self proclaimed religious men “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). To a man the church will deny that this IS their state and our point here IS that most ALL religions teach ONLY their doctrinal interpretations while finding justifiable reasonings for their doctrinal views. Few teach the most basic Truths of religion; fewer still can see the error of their own ways. In Christianity much of the doctrinal approach IS justified through the idea that Jesus IS speaking to the Jews and that His message IS for them and IS against their ways; NONE seem to be able to see the greater message despite their using of His words selectively for their own doctrinal purposes. And much of what IS selectively used by the churches IS from the more obscure ideas that the Master presents, ideas that can be interpreted to the will of men. Perhaps the best example of this IS Jesus’ saying that “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). This single saying IS NOT used in its context of explaining the very nature of God and of the Spirit of man but rather IS used by the church in reference to the person of Jesus. Taken in context we should be able to see that the underling Truth IS the reality that the spiritual man, and Jesus surely IS this, IS representative of the Godhead, that seeing a man through whom the Christ Within and the God Within IS expressed fully IS tantamount to seeing God. Even the outmost points of His words ARE missed; Jesus IS speaking about His leaving them while showing them in surely parabolic ideas that He IS NOT leaving them at ALL. The Master IS telling His apostles that they DO KNOW where He IS going as well as the Way of His leaving; He tells them this as He likely understands that while they KNOW they DO NOT yet have that realization in their yet carnally oriented minds. So His words saying “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me“, being parabolic in nature, ARE taken literally. They ARE applied to the person of Jesus in ways that have defeated the very core Truths the Christ’s own teaching which was ever the intended reality of this new religious movement. The church’s literal interpretation of His words has caused a sense of separation between the Christian and most every other world religion and while it creates an aura that reflects the supposed supremacy of the Christian, it DOES at the same time cause a sense of hatred against the Christian by ALL whose religions ARE defamed. To be sure the Christian’s interpretation of Jesus’ words IS a self-centered and selfish attitude that has afflicted both the individual and the corporate church and should remind us of the Master’s interaction with His apostles James and John. We read this saying:

“James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them,What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them,Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them,Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John” (Mark 10:34-40).

If we could see the church in the role of James and John asking for special dispensation; although the church DOES NOT ask but rather accords that dispensation to themselves, the reality IS the same. Placing then the role of the Lord on Jesus who clearly serves the purpose, we can see that the idea IS NOT accepted by the Lord and this despite the way that Jesus acknowledges that “Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized“. We should note that there IS a future sense to Jesus’ words. We should note as well that while the request IS clearly self-centered and selfish, the Master DOES NOT call them out for this. Can we see the point here? Can we see that the desired preferential treatment of the Christian IS contrary to the very nature of God which IS, as we discussed in the last essay, that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). We CAN NOT make moot this very nature and quality of the Godhead yet the Christian religion has DONE so; and this most likely because they DO NOT understand the meaning of these words that ARE intimately tied to the reality of agape. Christianity DOES NOT see the error and seems today to be more entrenched in their perspective of having that special dispensation than the church ever was. Continuing on, we see the disdain of the other apostles and here we should try to see the other world religions in the role of the other apostles who ARE clearly “much displeased“. While Jesus’ intent here IS NOT likely a prediction of the future, the ideas DO fit into the state of religion in the world and while many have learned to ignore the claims of the Christian churches regarding their supremacy, this has NOT helped the Christian world to accept the reality that they ARE NOT the ONLY religion that can find “the way, the truth, and the life” which exist as the Spirit and Soul of everyman. To be sure there ARE likely similar feelings of supremacy within other world religions and we should understand that their claims ARE as invalid as ARE those of the Christian. It IS ever in interpreting the words of scripture according to the “natural mind“, the carnal mind if you will, that religious error begins. For the Christian this error IS greatly multiplied by their ever carnal interpretations of parabolic ideas as well as their fixation upon their various doctrinal themes which vary greatly among denominations and sects. Such error IS then exacerbated by their willingness to justify their positions through unfounded doctrinal ideas that render moot the words of the Master and any scriptural ideas that DO NOT allow for men to live as men in this world. It IS in this justification that the most clear ideas enunciated by the Christ can be relatively ignored and, again, perhaps chief among these ideas IS the text of our trifecta which we repeat 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).

The clarity here should be deafening to the man who Truly seeks the Lord. The entirety of these words shows us that “the Way, the Truth and the Life” IS found in keeping His words which IS possible for everyman who will submit himself to the Master’s Truths. And more, both Jesus and His apostles have distilled down his words into the singular concept of agape as they show us that should we practice, express if you will, this concept of Love, ALL else that IS in His words and in the primary tenets of the law ARE accomplished. We should understand that while the concept of agape IS affecting the secular world in ways that tend toward uniting men in the absence of prejudices and hatreds, it IS the self-proclaimed religious world that has taken up ‘arms’ against this unstoppable progress into the reality of this concept which IS of One World, One Humanity and One God. This Unity IS agape and it IS the essence of God according to the accepted principle that “God is love agape” (1 John 4-8, 16). ALL should understand this through Paul’s words to the Ephesians saying “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:40); there IS NO greater “good works” that our expression of agape. This expression however IS NOT the common understanding of Love as it exists in the world today; the word has come to reflect ONLY the idea of personal relationships and whatsoever or whomsoever one likes; this view of Love actually depresses the True concept as it tends to heighten the prejudices and hatreds that consume the world. True agape IS selfless; it IS NOT self-centered and DOES NOT incorporate the idea of my this and my that as the things that we may Love. Agape sees each individual as a part of the whole and this Truth must perforce cover ALL aspects of Life from the personal to the corporate to a Universal view of ALL men. Jesus shows us this in such ideas as “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). This IS likely one of the biggest hindrances in the minds of men to True spiritual understanding as most CAN NOT fathom a world where we could Love ALL men equally with our sons and daughters or fathers and mothers. But this IS the reality of True agape which James frames for us saying that “if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:9-10). Can we see how that our singling out our Love towards our relations and others held close IS contrary to having NO “respect to persons” and how that this sense of respect IS the very nature of God and of Christ and thereby the nature of our Spirit and Soul? While many CAN NOT see this idea of worthy in regard to loving others as the words imply Loving Jesus more and NOT others, the idea IS completed in His words, parabolic to be sure, saying “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). While these words ARE parabolic because of the story to which they ARE attached, most ALL Christians understand the Master’s intent here, the idea IS NOT hidden. Then, in the combination of these ideas we should easily see that even “the least of these my brethren” must be held in the same esteem as our sons and daughters or fathers and mothers. Can we see the point here?

Jesus makes this ever more clear in Luke’s version of these ideas as the Master includes more than merely our sons and daughters and fathers and mothers. He includes a panoply of persons and things that men hold dear as He includes the Greek word miseo which IS rendered as hate but should be understood as ‘Love less than’ according to the Master’s usage and His eternal intent. Jesus tells us “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple“. We should try to see the way that being “worthy of me” and being “my disciple” ARE synonymous and we should understand that the spiritual objective of the New Testament IS NOT to ‘go to heaven’ but to live and act as His disciple in this world of men; this IS the ultimate reality of salvation. Jesus’ adds to his panoply of persons and things with an ALL inclusive statement and one that IS largely ignored by the church….even treated as though these words DO NOT exist. The Master tells us “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26, 33). In these words the reality of discipleship and the reality of our being “worthy of me” IS completely exposed and should we look at Jesus’ words as aspirants to discipleship we could see the intimate link here to the precepts of the Great Commandments which seem also to be held in low esteem by the doctrinal church. While discipleship and being worthy of Him ARE held here as important spiritual goals, we should remember that there IS great difficulty in ascending to such heights, difficulty that the Master shows us saying such things as “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able“. We should note here that this IS Jesus answer to one who offered a question on His teachings on the Kingdom, a question that IS framed as “Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:24, 23). Here we should see the Master’s acknowledgement of the reality of salvation which IS NOT to be found in the doctrinal wrangling of men but rather in the depth of the Master’s words. It IS however the depth of Jesus’ words that men have ever sought to change as they have ever sought the ‘easier’ way to spiritual fulfillment; it IS in this seeking, from the early church until today, that the doctrines of men have been formed in the same way as was the doctrines of the Jews against which the Master speaks loudly and clearly. Men have for centuries applied to themselves the ideas of discipleship and being “worthy of me” based in their doctrinal ideas of ‘holiness’ which they themselves see as the result of following in the precepts of their doctrines. They never however apply to themselves such words as “Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 6-7).

This IS the way of those doctrines of men: to deflect from themselves in any way possible what would seem to be Jesus’ condemnation of the thoughts and attitudes that keep men bound in their vanity….trapped in their own “bondage of corruption“, while believing that they ARE free through their indoctrination into the spiritual precepts of men rather than the Truth of God. In many ways this IS the spiritual definition of vanity. We should NOT however forget that this defining idea IS intimately related to the secular ideas shown us by Vincent as both serve to be a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends ⁴. The reality of this sense of vanity IS found in the way that men, secular and religious, see their carnal lives; most ALL are focused upon the things of the self and whether this IS a focus upon their own doctrinal ‘salvation‘ or upon their mundane lives in this world the results ARE the same. We should note here that there IS extreme crossover for most whose focus IS doctrinal as they too ARE focused upon the mundane albeit from a different perspective, a difference that for most IS NOT so dynamic as to make men appear different. We should understand that even those with a church ranking have mundane lives which keep their focus upon the self and we can venture to say that this afflicts most ALL with such ranking as they too concern themselves with their own worldly affairs. Few if any have forsaken ALL for the Lord which, as we cite in Jesus’ words above, IS the necessary Path to discipleship and being “worthy of me“. That these points ARE NOT accepted by most ALL of the church IS a testimony to the vanity that yet enthralls the human family which IS, from a spiritual perspective, separate from God, and pursuing false ends. Again, while we speak of the ‘ALL out’ nature of True spirituality, there ARE stages of accomplishment that will allow for a man to step upon the Path long before he IS ‘able’ to forsake ALL as the Master tells us. It IS on these stages of accomplishment that we find the aspirant to discipleship and here we should try to see that from a cosmic perspective, ALL are aspirants even up the the Master Himself. We have NO comprehension of the cosmic realities beyond our Earth scheme but we should KNOW that ALL things ARE NOT limited to this tiny spec of the Universe that we call the Earth. Neither DO we have any comprehension of the inner spheres of existence, the nature of Spirit and of Soul, nor their interaction with the cosmic reality that we CAN NOT deny exists when we look into the heavens from an unlit place. While it may be comforting to believe in a heaven where one can go and live for eternity among Loved ones and friends that have passed on before us, this IS but wishful thinking and, to be sure, IS NOT at ALL like the dreams of the prophets whose descriptions ARE at best metaphors. And we should understand that it IS the machinations of men that have created this idea of a heaven and of an eternal Life that IS like the lives of men in this Earth. These machinations ARE crafted by the clever combining of unrelated sayings from the Old Testament and the New, from men’s interpretations the words of the prophets and those of the Master and of His apostles. The result IS but that different perspective on vanity that IS the affliction of the doctrinal thinker who, while believing that he has found some Truth, has ONLY plunged deeper into the abyss that IS the illusion and the glamour of men.

We should understand that there IS but one Truth and while the ‘refusal’ of the doctrinal thinker to accept this IS a testimony to the vanity that yet enthralls him, the way that there ARE countless different doctrinal approaches to that Truth IS an even greater testimony to the way that the doctrinal thinker IS yet bound to his Life in this world which keeps him separate from God, and pursuing false ends ⁴. Men’s Unity with the Godhead IS founded in agape, in Love as the Master teaches us and which His apostles amplify and clarify for us. And while doctrinal men look toward that blissful heaven after death, the reality it that True bliss comes to us here and now in this Life whensoever we can step upon the True Path that IS agape; a Path that leads us to the fulfillment of the Great Commandments as we learn to change our focus from ourselves to the things of God. This brings us back again to our selection from Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians and his showing us that ALL that we can DO and believe regarding things spiritual ARE for naught in the absence of our expression of agape. Paul tells us that whatsoever we DO and believe spiritually IS worthless without this sense of Love; our words ARE but noise, they ARE “as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal“. He tells us that with ALL our ideas of prophecy, understanding, knowledge and faith we ARE nothing as he declares for himself saying that to have such things “and have not charity agape, I am nothing“. And he tells us that whatsoever good we may DO in this world without Love IS profitless to us and this must be understood spiritually as we may well have the admiration of men; of this sense of good Jesus tells us that “They have their reward” (Matthew 6:2). Repeating our selection:

“covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity agape, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity agape, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity agape, it profiteth me nothing. Charity Agape suffereth long, and is kind; charity agape envieth not; charity agape vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity Agape never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:1-13).

While the points listed above ARE clearly Paul’s intent, the ideas that such things as ‘speaking in tongues’, prophecy and its affiliated spiritual ‘gifts‘ and the acts of men in giving and sacrificing ARE ALL worthless in the absence of Love ARE generally ignored by the doctrinal church. This IS NOT because the apostle’s words ARE unclear, it IS because the Christian has convinced himself that he IS living in Love. This IS True despite the reality that there ARE few that can Truly understand the total impact of agape as they interpret this idea into the common understandings of Love. And this IS True despite the additional reality that most ALL fail even in their own understanding of the ideas behind the Greek word agape. There ARE yet fewer that can see the reality of the objective that IS placed before men; the spiritual objective has always been to so imbue one’s heretofore carnal mind with the agape sense of Love and the Truth that ever flows from the Soul and which, rightly expressed, will meet the Master’s own defining ideas of discipleship. While men have never been able to see the reality of these ideas but rather have chosen out doctrinal ways to justify their own doctrinal assertions of Truth, the greater Truths of the Master’s words have ever been available. Granted this availability IS more to the elite than to the masses and in this we should see the greater responsibility that falls onto the lives of the elite; here this word IS meant to show the availability and NOT any cultural or social eliteness. The Master tells us such things as “That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37) but these words ARE made moot by the doctrinal ideas of ‘salvation‘ and especially such ideas as ‘once saved always saved’. ALL of men’s ideas about ‘salvation‘ and the purpose of it ARE but the reality of men’s “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” and here we should be able to glimpse the error of the elite who choose to teach such doctrines over the Truth. These teachers ARE using words and while they may NOT be considered as idle words by the speaker or the church, they can be so defined whensoever they DO NOT embrace the teachings of Truth of which Jesus tells us “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). Can we see the point here? Can we see that “the way, the truth, and the life” ARE incorporated into the Master’s words which ARE never idle but ARE active as the writer of Hebrews shows us saying that “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

These words from the Book of Hebrews ARE often used in Christian talk and sermons but the emphasis on the idea that such Truths that ARE “the word of God” has been set aside in favor of the doctrinal ideas of men which in many cases directly say that to “continue in my word” IS NOT a necessary part of one’s personal ‘salvation‘. Too many believe that they ARE saved by their doctrinal approach to the Lord while adhering to the doctrinal ideas into which they ARE indoctrinated; ideas such as that by one’s confession and affirmation of Christ as Lord or that by following in the rites and the rituals of other doctrinal approaches one IS forever ‘saved‘ and need NOT DO anything according to “the word of God“.

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition
• ⁹ Thayer’s Greek Lexicon on blueletterbible.org
• ^9a The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible on blueletterbible.org

Those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.

Voltaire, Writer and Philosopher