ON LOVE; PART MCDVIII
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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).
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We ended the last essay with some additional commentary on our new selection which IS from the fifth chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. It IS in the fifth chapter that Paul turns his attention away from his thoughts on how the Galatians had been “so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” and onto his teaching on how that they can get back on track, back to “him that called you into the grace of Christ“. In between these points the apostle continues to question the way that the Galatians were so easily moved away. As we have said, whether they were moved back to their Jewish roots or whether this “another gospel: Which is not another” IS an alternate teaching offered by men who wish to hold onto the idea of the gospel but, at the same time, feel the need to lessen the impact of the Master’s words DOES NOT matter. What matters IS the reality that there IS “another gospel: Which is not another” and as history shows us this has become the latter; this has become the doctrinal approach of men who wish to hold the idea of the gospel but at the same time had felt the need to lessen the impact of the Master’s words. It IS unlikely that Paul saw his confrontation with the Galatians as an omen or as a harbinger of the future of the church that he IS trying to establish just as it IS unlikely that the apostle foresaw the doctrinal use of his words and the way that so much of the ‘church’ has come to rely almost solely upon them. If we look intelligently at the doctrines of men we should be able to see that the idea of “another gospel: Which is not another” has become rampant in the church over the centuries to the detriment of the words of the Master which ARE the “gospel of Christ“. Of course there will be few if any in the church that will agree with our assessment as 2000 years of doctrines IS a strong indoctrination into men’s alternate beliefs but there IS yet hope for the masses. The ‘church’ has gone through many changes over the centuries and most ALL of them are against the teachings of the Master and His apostles; most ALL ARE anti-Truth and anti-Love and could firmly be classed among those ideas that ARE relegated by themselves to antichrist. From the purges in the early church, to the arbitrary conclaves of the church fathers that proclaimed its future, to the crusades and ultimately to the Reformation, most ALL sanctioned activities were contrary to the Truth that Jesus ordained in His brief time with us in this world.
Our point here IS simple: ALL of what has happened over the last 2000 years IS the result of “another gospel: Which is not another” and while we KNOW here of the happenings at Galatia, this IS NOT the single source of the way that men would begin their crusade that “would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6, 7). We should note here that Paul also cautions the Corinthians regarding this perversion of the Truth saying “I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). We should try to understand that ALL of this IS connected to a single source that IS the vanity of men which Paul tells us IS inherent in the whole of creation. It IS through this vanity that men see themselves as the final arbiter of Truth and it IS through this vanity that the human family has made doctrines to live by which ARE ofttimes a far cry from the teaching of the Sons of God that brought Truth to the world. While the church holds onto the symbolism of Adam and Eve, their sin if you will, to explain the ways of men in this world, the greater Truth IS shown to us by Paul who says “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because expectation that the creature itself also shall be delivered made free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21). This vanity IS the forever cause of the ways of men in this world and it IS this vanity that must be understood and challenged if men ARE to free themselves from their bondage. And, it IS this vanity that IS the ultimate cause of “another gospel: Which is not another” and we should try to see that this IS a problem with the Jews which Elijah calls out and which IS repeated by Jesus as a prediction for His time and forward. We read this in Jesus 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 7:6-7). Again, the church DOES NOT see this; they DO NOT see past their doctrinal ideas. In their vanity they see ONLY what they choose to see in themselves and in their doctrinal approach that has been seething in the church for 2000 years.
Few if any understand the role of vanity in Life in this world despite the way that Paul explains it for us. The apostle shows us that ALL are subjected to this vanity and, according to the King James rendering of the apostle’s words, it IS vanity that ALL must be delivered from. Although the idea of vanity IS NOT defined outright, it IS clear from Paul’s words that this IS the human condition in this world and that this condition IS men’s “bondage of corruption” when viewed spiritually. It IS this bondage that keeps men from the Truth, a bondage which Vincent shows us IS: a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends4. We should see this Truth in the way that men have sought out, created if you will, the many versions of “another gospel” that serve as the doctrinal approaches of the various denominations, sects and even cults that ARE in the world today. Bringing this back to our selection from Galatians we should try to see how that Paul first calls out the way that the Galatians were “so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel“, as he then tries to show them why his teaching them of the “gospel of Christ” was based in the Truth that Paul had received and, finally, he tries to bring them back to that Truth through agape. Repeating our selection we read:
“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. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit“.
Galatians 5:13-25
As we closed the last essay we discussed the idea of the law as this IS presented by Paul above. Law is rendered from the Greek word numos and DOES NOT necessarily mean the law of Moses as IS commonly thought; numos has a much broader range of meanings as Thayer’s shows us saying that the idea IS: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, usage, law9. This defining idea works better in Paul’s continuing words than DOES the common idea of the law and can be seen as the carnal customs and established way of living prevalent in Galatia and likely ALL of Judaism at that time. In this we should try to see men’s desire to “fulfil the lust of the flesh” which qualifies the following idea that “ye cannot do the things that ye would” if one IS Truly “led of the Spirit“. It IS this scenario that Paul brings into the next part of his teaching as he defines the components of “the lust of the flesh” by declaring what he sees as “the works of the flesh“. As we proceed here it IS our objective to take Paul’s words out of the realm of doctrinal interpretation as we analyze the True teaching quality of these words from a more spiritual perspective. Paul’s list begins as many of his lists which ARE presumed to be against carnality DO with adultery which IS from the Greek word moicheia which IS always rendered as adultery in the King James Bible; this however IS NOT enough to properly understand the idea. Adultery has many aspects which ARE akin to men’s sharing their affections with others that they ARE NOT committed to; on a strictly carnal level this reflects the ways of men who potentially forsake their marriages or any romantic involvement with commitment as there need NOT be any formality except in legal terms. It IS likely because of the many references to marriage as Christ and His church and the ideas that come from the Book of Revelation that the idea IS so firmly tied to marriage. However, a clearer picture of the overall intent of the idea of moicheia can be taken from James words where he IS calling his readers “adulterers and adulteresses“; here the reference IS NOT to breaking marriage vows but rather to something much more common in the ways of men who ARE yet bound to their vanity. Spiritually we should try to see that James’ accusation IS NOT against the sexual activities of men but rather against the way that they have looked past their commitment to the Lord in favor of living their lives as men in this world. The most basic spiritual idea here IS that the True follower of the Lord IS committed to his following and when this man deviates from that calling he IS acting in adultery. From a even higher perspective it IS the Soul that IS ‘forever’ married to the Lord and when the carnal mind has reign over the Life we should be able to see an adulterous situation; a situation in which most ALL men live.
A similar scriptural idea can be found in the use of such words as poneros which IS rendered as evil. When Jesus addresses ALL men as such we should KNOW that the reference IS NOT the common ideas that ARE understood from the word poneros but rather to a much broader understanding that ALL that IS NOT spiritual IS evil. In this we should see our carnality as the evil that IS most mentioned in the New Testament and NOT some individual actions of men in this world. Our reference here IS Jesus’ words saying “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11). Luke takes this idea to an even higher spiritual level saying that “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13) thus better explaining another doctrinal falsity as the “good things” offered ARE shown as Truly spiritual. This IS NOT unlike James words which ARE a rather blunt and clearly stated version of the Master’s. The apostle tells his readers, which at that time were followers of the Master to some degree, many things to clarify their own vision of Truth; here he says “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). James offers this ‘accusation’ as part of painting an overall picture of the perils of living in the carnality of “the lust of the flesh” as he affirms for us Paul’s words saying “these are contrary the one to the other“. James also writes of the opposition between the things of God and the things of the self in this world. The point here IS that the Greek word moicheia IS NOT always in reference to the sexual sins that can occur in a marriage; the idea IS much more universal referring often to the way that a man in this world, whose sole objective as a Soul IS to express Truth and Love through his Life in form, begins with and often returns to a adulterous relationship with the Lord….with his own Soul. The idea of adultery begins in the Ten Commandments in the non-specific idea that “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Moicheia gains some specificity further on in Moses writing as he says “the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death” (Leviticus 20:10); it IS here that carnal adultery IS defined. While the Old Testament IS filled with references to carnal adultery, the idea IS mixed in with adultery from a spiritual perspective as we read in this from the Prophet Jeremiah:
“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD“
(Jeremiah 3:6-10).
There ARE many such references in Jeremiah, in Ezekiel and in Hosea as well as in Malachi where we read “I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:5). While there ARE many references to the idea of turning away from the Lord in favor of the things of the world, the churches seem to ONLY see the carnal side of adultery. We should understand that there IS a natural obligation to the the Lord for the Jews as well as for the Christian and any other religion, an obligation that IS centered in the Oneness of the Soul with the One God as part and parcel. Carnality IS itself an adulterous relationship with the Lord and this IS James point in calling out “Ye adulterers and adulteresses” which IS one of several New Testament treatments of adultery as a spiritual sin. Jesus addresses the masses saying “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Matthew 12:39) and, to be sure, He IS NOT accursing an entire generation of carnal adultery nor IS He referencing the common idea of evil but rather carnality in general. The Master repeats this further on (Matthew 16:4) where the same Greek word poneros IS rendered as wicked by some translators revealing their preconceived ideas regarding evil. Jesus tells us as well that adultery IS more than an act saying “from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders” (Mark 7:21) and we should understand that each of these accusations has a spiritual counterpart that resides in the un-Repentant heart. We should try to see that the simple idea that “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Matthew 19:18) IS much more revealing that the carnal act. While most ALL of Paul’s references to adultery ARE interpreted as in regard to the carnal acts of men, Peter shows us more clearly the spiritual side saying “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children” (2 Peter 2:14); Vincent compares Peter’s intent here to the verses in Matthew that we cite above. The Book of Revelation also reveals the spiritual betrayal that IS adultery saying “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds” (Revelation 2:22). Our point in ALL this IS to show that the Greek word moichos and its derivatives ARE NOT always intended to reveal the carnal act and this IS True in Paul’s use of the idea as the lead item in his list of “the works of the flesh“. While Thayer’s shows us the more metaphorical idea that moichos IS being faithless toward God, ungodly9 which the lexicon repeats saying that the idea IS one who is faithless toward God, ungodly2a, the carnal idea IS still widely held as the meaning most taught in the churches.
We should note here that the idea of adultery IS NOT found in most translations that ARE translated from later found manuscripts which ARE earlier written. However, because we use the King James Bible as our primary reference we have analyzed the Greek word moichos and we should try to see how that the dual nature of this word helps us to understand what follows. The next word in Paul’s list of “the works of the flesh” IS rendered in our King James Bible as fornication, another word that also has both a spiritual and a carnal meaning. Despite this duality, the idea of pornia IS almost exclusively rendered and understood in terms like “evil desire“, “sexual immorality“, “illicit sex“, “sexual sins” and whoredom as in Young’s Literal Translation. This IS based on the Christian mindset that sees sexual conduct as the ‘great’ fault of humanity and while pornia DOES definitely trap men in the bondage that IS their carnal nature, this IS but one aspect of their carnality and far from the most important. Before we embark on our discussion of the meanings and usages of this idea we should look at the way that this IS reported among the patriarchs of the Jewish religion; most ALL, from Abraham and on to the kings of Judah and Israel, have participated in some form of fornication which IS NOT generally seen in terms like “evil desire“, “sexual immorality“, “illicit sex” and “sexual sins” but rather as the more natural reality in the Life of such men. This of course DOES NOT make the carnal idea of pornia any less an obstacle to our escape from “the corruption that is in the world through lust” but we should try to see that this IS ONLY a small part of that corruption. Paul tells us that “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same” and we should understand in this that our “bondage of corruption” which IS our vanity; the natural mode of living for most ALL men until that time where they can experience True Repentance. The spiritual aspects of both adultery and fornication ARE embedded in our vanity and it IS from this that Repentance allows for our escape. It IS this vanity, when viewed spiritually, that IS our perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends4 as Vincent defines this idea and we should note the carnal effects of this idea as well. One may NOT see how that his Life in vanity makes him separate from God nor can he likely see that he IS pursuing false ends as he pursues his Life in this world according to the ways of men.
We should try to understand that the very purpose of scripture IS to turn men away from their natural carnal inclination, forged in vanity and enhanced by years of nurturing and indoctrination, and towards the greater Truths that ARE the essence of spiritual living. In Paul’s words, the turn IS away from “the works of the flesh” and towards the “fruit of the Spirit“. What prevents this IS NOT sex nor the sexual deviations presumed from Paul’s words that ARE “the works of the flesh“; what prevents this move toward the Truth IS men’s basic carnal instincts which ARE ever centered in the self. And while sex and sexual deviation may play a role in the ways of the self for some, it IS the greater arena of self thought and emotions regarding “the lust of the flesh” which IS the foundation of men’s “bondage of corruption“. It IS this inherent and learned cycle of thought, emotion, attitude and action that Peter tells us we must escape and it IS this by this escape that we ARE able to gain any measure of our goal which IS ever to become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Our point here IS that while sex and sexual deviation ARE hindrances for many these ARE NOT the primary drivers that keep men from even seeking to be “partakers of the divine nature” and when we can understand that such ideas as Paul cites in his list of “the works of the flesh” have a spiritual component, we can perhaps begin our journey into Truth.
We return now to next word in the apostle’s list of “the works of the flesh“, porneia, which IS rendered in the King James as fornication. Again, it IS based in the church’s fixation on matters of sex that the idea IS rendered by others as “evil desires“, “sexual immorality“, “illicit sex” and whoredom. We should note that this influence has resulted in the use of the Greek word in establishment of the English ideas of porn which have been used to define the visual media of such human actions. Strong’s shows us both the carnal and the spiritual ideas behind porneia but we should note that the spiritual idea IS NOT found in much of the churchs’ dialogue which has been consumed by matters of sex. Strong’s defines porneia as: harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry9a; we should note here the duplication of ideas regarding the carnal understanding of adultery as this IS included in the definition. Thayer’s defining ideas for porneia ARE a bit more revealing of the use of the word as they list, as their secondary definition, the more spiritual idea saying: In accordance with a form of speech common in the O. T. and among the Jews which represents the close relationship existing between Jehovah and his people under the figure of a marriage πορνεία [porneia] is used metaphorically of the worship of idols9. It IS this idea of the worship of idols that has ever been the greater hindrance to spiritual Truth and we should note here that this word idols has far reaching meanings in both the carnal and the spiritual realms of living. We should try to see how that one’s personal fixation on sexual matters IS itself an idol as ARE so many of the carnal endeavors of men; the idea of idols should NOT be restricted to “other gods” as a literal idea as found in the Ten Commandments where it IS written “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The reality of idols IS ALL things that take away the attention of men from the Good, the Beautiful and the True, from the things of God. Thus ALL carnal ‘pursuits’, good and bad, can be defined as idols in the Life of everyman and this according to the Master’s interpretation of the Commandment as He tells us of the Great Commandments saying: “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).
While we often write about the Great Commandments, the context here IS a bit different as the above should show us that ALL that men DO that IS self-serving IS also contrary to these commandments; the idea IS NOT ONLY that we can Love others thus taking away our focus upon God. While the point here can seem harsh, the reality IS that there IS a dividing line between the carnal focus on family and Loved ones and our spiritual Love for the Lord. The dividing line IS simply that the former CAN NOT overwhelm the latter; one’s Love for family and Loved ones must remain in its perspective of one’s mortal Life while spiritually there IS naught that one Loves more than the Lord. We should understand here the the expression of this Love IS that we keep His words according to the Master’s words from our trifecta. There IS a natural progression in this idea and that IS that when we keep His words, when we “hath my commandments, and keepeth them” as Jesus frames this, we DO come to a realization of the Truth of our worldly relationships. While the whole idea of Loving family and Loved ones less in any way may seem alien to the masses, this IS ONLY because the Truth was NOT presented by the churches over the last 2000 years. The idea IS clear in the Great Commandment where the objective of agape IS totally on the Lord as the idea IS framed that this Love IS “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength“. Jesus’ later words ARE a bit more lenient but the point IS the same regarding Love for God. The Master tells us that we ARE NOT worthy of Him if we Love our family and Loved one’s more than the Lord and again we must understand that the reality of our Love for God IS bound to our keeping His words. Jesus tells us “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). It IS in this same context that we should see Luke’s version of Jesus’ words; Luke tells us the Master’s said “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” (Luke 14:26). In these ideas we should see an amplification and a clarification of the the Great Commandment and try to see that ALL Love that IS contrary to these sayings IS effectively idolatry as we ARE putting ‘other’ things ahead of our Love for the Lord.
As in most ALL human to spiritual endeavors there IS ever a scale of measure for this idea of having idols that we focus upon, idols that may consume our attention. And whether these be persons, things or attitudes, the result IS the same; Love for wives and children, pursuit of careers and positions, desires for riches and bigger and better worldly possessions, and any attitudes that divide us from our brothers, our neighbors as Jesus frames this, ALL result in fornication which IS better understood without sexual attachment in terms of idolatry. We should remember that the Way to overcome idolatry IS simply by keeping His words as in so DOING there IS a twofold effect. First this IS our evidence that we Love the Lord according to the commandments and Jesus’ words. Second IS that in the realization that comes from keeping His words we come to KNOW the Truth, we come to understand the reality of the “kingdom of heaven” and we come to have the Presence of the Lord in our lives; ALL of this IS a part of becoming “partakers of the divine nature” which IS the unseen objective of everyman. It IS against this objective that the Master gives us 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 point here IS that while the church relegates pornia and its renderings into strictly sexual ideas, there IS a wealth of scriptural ideas that show us the contrary spiritual reality embedded in this word. Paul, who frequent uses this word seemingly in both contexts, carnal and spiritual, IS writing to Galatians that have fallen away from his teaching on “gospel of Christ“; he IS writing to men that have been “so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel“. His objective in writing on the “the works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit” IS to rectify their falling away from whatsoever measure of Truth they had achieved, a Truth that would perforce have taken them out of the carnal ideas of adultery and fornication. We should try to see that he IS showing them that whatsoever IS offered to them in “another gospel” takes away from the singular focus on the Lord that IS founded in “gospel of Christ” and that it IS in the more carnal ideas of “another gospel” that they have again focused upon their lives as men in this world. We should remember that most ALL doctrinal approaches to the Lord ARE but shadows of the Truth that allow for men to live as men and NOT be concerned about the reality of the Great Commandments; most ALL free men to focus upon whatsoever idols have taken their attention. The apostle’s ideas ARE NOT about sex. It IS the effects of “another gospel; which is not another” that can be seen in Paul’s words to the Corinthians, words that precede his comments to them regarding “another gospel” which we cite above. Paul tells them and us that we must ever be “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). What ARE these imaginations; what IS it “that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God“? ARE they NOT men’s sense of freedom from the ‘harshness’ of Jesus’ words and the amplifying and clarifying words of His apostles that IS found in the doctrines of men. Doctrines which allow, nay encourage, men to live as men in this world with restrictions ONLY in matters of harming others, killing, stealing, etc., and in matters of sex and sexual deviations. Doctrinal allowances are made for carnal ‘sins’, for adultery, for acceptable modes of fornication, for covetousness, and for men’s failures in regard to the Great Commandments. It IS against such doctrinal allowances afforded by “another gospel; which is not another” that Paul IS writing to the Galatians; and the same IS True in ALL of his epistles when read in the absence of the preconceived ideas into which most ALL Christians ARE indoctrinated.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
- 2a New Testament Greek lexicon on biblestudytools.com
- 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
