ON LOVE; PART MCDLXXXI
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 our expression of agape and how that it IS this expression that IS tantamount to keeping His words. The Apostle Paul shows us this in his Epistle to the Romans saying “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). While these words ARE clear, there IS little True understanding of them as the Way to accomplish ALL things spiritually. Again, this expression of agape IS NOT the common understanding of Love….it IS far beyond those carnal attractions and attachments to others and to the things of this world. This agape Love IS also much more than we can understand through the unexplained doctrinal idea that agape IS the God kind of Love. Our best attempt to show the idea of a God kind of Love IS found in the Master’s words from His Sermon on the Mount where we read that the Lord “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). It IS this sense of equanimity that shows us the Love of God made manifest to men under the agape attribute that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). While the church would rather see this idea of agape through the Apostle John’s words saying “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), the idea from Matthew IS much more direct and explanatory. We should also note that Luke offers us a similar view of the Love of God citing the Master’s words saying that the Lord “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35)., These sayings from Matthew and Luke show us the reality of that attribute of agape, “that God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). This attribute IS shown to us several times in the New Testament either directly as in we cite above or by way of the actions of the Lord in regard to this world of men. Doctrines often align the idea that “there is no respect of persons with God” with the day of judgment as in John Gills Exposition of the Bible where he also tells us that in matters of grace he distinguishes one person from another8. This latter point IS also found in Mr. Gills commentary on the words from Acts where he tries to see this through Peter’s eyes and Peter’s aversion to partaking with gentiles. We however see these words as an attribute of agape from the perspective of the Lord and as a most important attribute in men’s expression of agape in this world.
Regarding the Lord the idea that “that God is no respecter of persons” IS used in several contexts. In the Book of Acts it IS used by Peter to tell Cornelius the meaning of his vision which he relates ONLY to the situation at hand. Peter tells Cornelius “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34-35). Here the apostle IS relating his conclusion to the way that he and Cornelius were brought together. We should remember that in Acts we ARE reading the words of Luke as a his account of what happened in those days. Peter addresses this idea again in his own epistle saying “if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17). While this is out of context, it DOES show us that Peter’s view of the concept “that God is no respecter of persons” IS broader than we read in Acts. In Romans the idea IS similar but more pronounced regarding the comportment of a person. Paul tells us “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:9-11). In both of these uses of the Truth that there IS “there is no respect of persons with God” the apostles make a connection to the works of men with the idea that regardless of the person the ‘judgement‘ of the Lord is the same. Should we read this in broad terms we should see that this would apply to ALL men in ALL religions with the understanding that it IS the works of men that will decide their fate. Doctrines of course DO NOT hold this as True as they see this precept as a matter of judgement ONLY in a strictly doctrinal view. John Gill tells us that God, as a Judge, respects no man’s person; yet in matters of grace he distinguishes one person from another, as it is plain he does by the bounties of his Providence8. Can we see the duality in the doctrinal view, A view that tries to protect the essence of the doctrines regarding grace? In Ephesians the idea IS again similar in that it regards judgement although here the precept IS bring brought down to the lives of men who have servants. Paul tells us “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him” (Ephesians 6:8-9). The same theme IS presented to us in Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, again through the idea of judgement. The apostle says “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Colossians 3:23-25).
That ALL of these examples that state that “God is no respecter of persons” concern some form of judgement should NOT detract from the essence of the idea but unfortunately it DOES. Doctrines DO NOT see the idea that the judgement of the Lord IS a continuous thing that IS NOT related to death nor men’s ideas of the end times. ALL of these examples DO show us a view of the equanimity through which ALL grace IS dispensed and it IS in this equanimity that we should see a better reality of the God kind of Love. We should try to see here that there IS NO parallel between the idea of the expression of agape in equanimity to ALL and the way that judgement works out. The latter IS a matter of karma if you will; it IS this that the apostles ARE showing us saying that karma affects ALL men equally as “God is no respecter of persons“. Karma IS a natural process that works out in this world through the actions or inaction of the Soul, the Christ Within. When the Soul IS somewhat expressing through the Life of a man in this world there IS likely karmic action while there IS NONE in the Life of the man whose Soul CAN NOT reach the conscious mind in this world. What appears as karma for such a person IS best seen as part of the happenstance that governs the lives of such men. James shows us this spiritual idea saying “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). The idea here IS tied to the way that a man “knoweth to do good” and we should try to see here that whensoever the Soul has influence over the body, this KNOWING would be sure. Despite the way that karma IS shown to us clearly in the New Testament, the church continues to ignore the ideas; this IS likely the the origin of the term Is from Eastern religions. The reality that “God is no respecter of persons” IS clearly stated in the words of the apsotles’ that relate the idea to judgement, self-judgement through karma, and must be added to the words of the Lord who so simplifies the idea in His words regarding the equanimity of His approach to men as agape. This sense of agape IS dispensed to ALL equally and it IS this that the Apostle James clearly shows us as he makes an indelible connection to agape as expressed by the man in this world. While James shows us this Truth in connection with the wealth and appearance of a man, we should understand that this IS but an example and one that was perhaps most important in those days. James tells us “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But 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 2:8-10). The point here should make it clear that in men’s expression of Love there CAN NOT be any sense of preference regarding one person over another; this IS of course a difficult idea to grasp especially for the church. The problem of course IS the universality of the saying as it tells us that we must see everyman the same including family, friends and those we choose to be close to.
The idea of having NO “respect to persons” supersedes ALL other views of persons in this world; Jesus shows us the depth of this idea saying such things as “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:48-50). While these particular words ARE specific to those that “do the will of my Father which is in heaven“, this should NOT detract from His other words that go beyond this as He also tells us that the Lord “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust“. These words should NOT be taken lightly. This IS perhaps the deepest part of the whole idea that there IS NO “respect to persons” from the perspective of God when viewed in terms of judgement: that ALL are judged equally. We should try to see however that this sense of judgement IS of the self, of one’s own Soul which KNOWS that there should be a reward or a failure to achieve one. It IS the Soul, the Christ Within, that KNOWS the doings of a man in this world, that KNOWS his heart through his actions, his thoughts and his attitudes. It IS the Soul that we should try to see in the midst of the rewards promised by the Master in our trifecta which we read here again 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 rewards of the trifecta ARE clearly stated as the Truth, discipleship, the Kingdom and the Presence of the Lord actively in our lives. These can easily be seen in terms of judgement according to such ideas that “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free“. In these words the idea of good should be understood in spiritual terms and NOT in carnal, regardless of the level of virtue involved; “whatsoever good thing any man doeth” should ever be understood as keeping His words and, by extension, striving to DO so. It IS such a man that gains a measure of Truth, discipleship, the Kingdom and the Presence of the Lord actively in his Life. It IS our Souls that judge that we ARE keeping His words and through this sense of judgement the Soul pushes into the hearts and minds of men a realization of some measure of those “exceeding great and precious promises” by which “ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). ALL men, regardless of any separating factors as religion, race, culture or status in this world, ARE entitled to these rewards and here we should see a picture of the God kind of Love in action; it IS through this that His equanimity abounds. It IS through this that we can see that “there is no respect of persons with God” and it IS through this, through this realization of our spiritual rewards, that we ARE expected to follow the words of James in having NO “respect to persons” as an integral part of our expression of agape.
The idea of expressing agape should be understood in the same way as keeping His words and it IS the former that actually defines the latter. While this concept IS alien to much of the church, the idea IS presented to us by Paul whose other words define today’s Christian doctrine through out of context snippets of his sayings. In the midst of those ideas adopted by the church to define doctrinal Christianity ARE such sayings as “all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” Galatians 5:14). The precept that we should “love thy neighbour as thyself” IS universally seen as a precept in both the Old and the New Testaments which IS risen to great prominence by the Master who calls it one of the Great Commandments. While this IS True, it IS also True that few understand the deep meaning that these words hold as men seem NO closer to understanding the idea of the neighbor than they were 2000 years ago; and this despite the Master’s Parable of the Good Samaritan. Additionally, Jesus offers us another ‘explanation’ of the precept in what has come to be called the Golden Rule; here the idea IS redefined to show the idea of the self while the neighbor IS reclassified simply as men and as them. The Golden Rule IS however become but a trite statement that IS ONLY loosely based in the intent of the Master who tells us “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). In these words we have the epitome of the idea that we should “love thy neighbour as thyself“; and, in the idea of the thyself, we should try to see an alternate idea that concerns “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you“. This realizes what we would want for ourselves and transfers it to others, transfers it to the neighbor. The idea of others, while NOT mentioned specifically here where the reference IS simply to men and them, IS found in the same way in the companion saying from the Gospel of Luke where Jesus’ words ARE reported as “as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). The common refrain taken from the words of Jesus has become a common secular virtuous idea that reads as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. This IS become the most common idea of the Golden Rule which again IS become but a trite saying that while embraced by the few IS generally ignored by most. As we have often said our posts, these words from the Master should serve to ‘explain’ the more ancient saying that “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself“; in the Golden Rule we have, at a minimum, an explanation of the idea of neighbor although we really should NOT need one. Others IS an ALL encompassing way to see ALL as neighbors. There IS more here however as this Golden Rule also ‘explains’ the idea of how that one DOES Love thyself. We should remember here that this idea of Love IS NOT the common carnal understanding of Love but the reality of agape, ‘the God kind of Love’ expressed by men.
The idea has never been that one should Love himself in a carnal sense but rather to see one’s neighbor, to see others if you will, through the single eye that can reflect on how one would want others to see himself. It IS here that the idea of expressing agape with NO “respect to persons” comes into play as a point of focus for men who desire to follow the admonition that “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” and the equally important precept that “as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise“. There IS a simple reality here that if followed can result in our coming to Christ and this regardless of our religion or culture. To see ALL men equal IS the most basic way to accomplish this. To DO so however men must fight off their preconceived ideas regarding others, they must escape from whatsoever indoctrination and nurturing may have planted their preconceived prejudices. And the whole of the idea IS so simply stated by the Master that it IS overlooked by most ALL men as they live in their own little worlds of self. The same equanimity that IS expressed by the Master and His apostles IS to be expressed by men and this IS the foundational basis for our expression of agape in this world. Perhaps KNOWING that the precept that Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” was NOT Truly accepted by the Jews resulted in Jesus giving us the same idea in the Golden Rule. As we have ofttimes stated, the religious Jews DID KNOW that the precept was an important part of their religion albeit ONLY in words and phrases. We see this in the synoptic gospels where the Master IS confronted by the Jews regarding the ‘law’ and asked “which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). In this discourse the Jews admit to KNOWING the Truth by telling the Master what ARE the Great Commandments or by acknowledging that the Master DID cite them properly. It IS the Jew that speaks to the Master in Mark’s Gospel saying to Him “thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:32-33). While the precept from the teachings of Moses IS KNOWN by the religious Jews, they DID NOT practice the expression of this Love and this lack of expression of True agape IS still missing in the church for the last 2000 years. As a part of his words that tell us that we must have NO “respect to persons” James also shows us the need to DO as we say in our religious pursuits; the second time that he offers us this Truth. The apostle tells us first that we should “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22); here we ARE told to keep His words and NOT to merely hear them. Second he tells us, as part of his words on agape and our need to express that Love with NO “respect to persons“, saying “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:12:13).
James’ message IS clearly that KNOWING the Truth in words IS meaningless unless we DO according to that Truth. In this we should try to understand how that hearing a ‘good’ sermon or reading a ‘good’ book regarding such Truths results in the same plight as Paul shows us in regard to agape; that when we fail to express it we too ARE nothing from a spiritual perspective. Paul tells us “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” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). In these words we should see more than charming words on agape; we should try to see that Paul IS calling out the practices of those who deem themselves religious and showing them that to follow such practices without one’s expression of agape Love, IS meaningless. We should understand here that this IS Paul’s follow up to the concerns he raised in the previous chapter where the whole of his dialogue IS in regard to such practices. Paul begins with the idea of diversity in what he calls spiritual things. this later becomes the idea of gifts from the Greek word charisma, a derivative of charis which should ever be understood as grace. Such graces come to everyman that strives and we should try to see that such striving IS NOT for the gifts but rather toward keeping His words. While we see the idea behind charis, behind grace, as ALL that comes from the Lord, we should also try to see this as that this grace comes from and through one’s own Soul, one’s True connection to the Godhead. Again, there IS naught from this carnal world that IS attained through the ‘grace‘ of God and grace IS NOT a gift per se as it IS treated by the doctrinal church. The dispensing of gifts to men defies the idea that “there is no respect of persons with God” which IS a fundamental attribute of the Lord. Can we see the point here? Should we read Paul’s words that ARE chapter 12 of his First Epistle to the Corinthians with this in mind, we could perhaps get a glimpse of the greater Truth. Paul IS emphasizing first that there ARE different spiritual ‘gifts‘, graces if you will, that ARE available to men and we should try to see this in accord with the progress of the Soul and the revelations that ARE ‘dispensed‘ to the minds of men. There IS NO standard regarding such graces, ALL men will receive what their own Souls ARE eager to provide and this likely based upon what it IS that can be expressed. As the apostle goes on he tries to emphasize that in this diversity IS Unity and that ALL should be viewed according to his words saying “now are they many members, yet but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:20). Paul’s words ARE spoken through a comparison of body parts but the spiritual meaning IS to the point that in the diversity of gifts there IS a Unity among the men that have them. This however IS NOT our point; our point goes to the closing idea of the chapter where the idea IS that men should strive for their measure of this diversity of gifts but the first one that should be strived for IS agape. Without the separation of chapters and verses it IS apparent that Paul’s reference here IS to agape; the apostle says that we should “covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). His next words ARE our selection above from chapter 13 that show us that without this expression of agape, this expression of “a more excellent way” ALL other ‘gifts‘ ARE meaningless. It IS sore unfortunate that this idea goes unrealized in most of the church.
We should remember that it IS the Apostle Paul that the church has chosen as their de facto leader, it IS His words that have become the doctrines of men. Today the church supports that leaning by declaring that it IS the apostle’s words that comprise about half of the total number of books in the New Testament. For us this IS a meaningless number as IS the percentage in words that ARE attributed to Paul and we should note here that there ARE yet today authorship questions regarding some of the epistles. One encyclopedia writes on the subject of authorship that “Although St. Paul was not one of the original 12 Apostles of Jesus, he was one of the most prolific contributors to the New Testament. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 or 14 are traditionally attributed to Paul, though only 7 of these Pauline epistles are accepted as being entirely authentic and dictated by St. Paul himself3“. Most of the church would likely disagree with these ideas but the reality IS that there IS NO certainty save for the proclaimed ideas based in the ‘faith‘ of those who claim to KNOW. Our point here IS NOT that we should be deemphasizing Paul’s contribution but rather that it should NOT be emphasized over the words of the Master. Additionally, the church has been remiss as they have emphasized ONLY selected portions of Paul’s words, portions that allow their doctrinal ideas to flourish. Much of today’s Christian doctrine IS from out of context sayings and phrases that support their doctrinal contentions and much of this changes from denomination to denomination and sect to sect. Nonetheless, it IS Paul’s words that ARE amplified by the church at the expense of the Truths that the Master taught us and which ARE His commandments. In our trifecta we ARE told clearly that we must keep His commandments if we ARE to gain the stated reward and if we DO Truly Love the Lord. These ARE NOT idle words and we emphasize them in every post to show that there IS NO doctrinal alternative. His words that tell us that “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” (John 14:21) clearly state a Truth that has been diluted and changed through the doctrines of men who have assumed the authority to dictate their own Truths. Of course there IS but One Truth and this IS NOT found in the many doctrinal ideas that ARE held by men; that there ARE points of Truth in doctrinal teachings IS True but the overall tenor of most IS lacking in True Christian substance. Their ‘Truths’ ARE based in the assumed authority of the churches and the bestowment of this authority upon those who attend their seminaries and like educational forums. To be sure there IS little similarity in the teachings of these ‘Christian’ colleges and schools; ALL teach their own brand of ‘truth’ to mortal men and it IS these mortal men that exercise their self-assumed authority over the spiritual lives of the masses. And more, in many instances today this ‘pastoral’ authority IS used to promote carnal ideas and points of view regarding cultural issues, politics and a wide variety of ideas that cause continued separation and enhance prejudices. In previous posts we cited the words of the Rev William Barber, an apparent outlier in doctrinal religion, who tells us:
“that is why I’m so concerned, about those that say so much—about what God says so little, while saying so little—about what God says so much. And so in my heart, I’m troubled. And I’m worried about the way faith is cynically used by some to serve hate, fear, racism and greed“
Reverend Doctor William Barber
As the authority of the churches goes unchecked however many people ARE checking-out of organized religion while many others DO NOT see any benefit to their checking-in. And while the churches see their own failure as persecution, the reality IS that their positions ARE ofttimes anti-Christian, positions that DO NOT go unnoticed as they contribute to the dismantling of organized Christianity. At the same time there IS a new reality in world affairs as millions upon millions choose the Truth over the illusion as they come to understand the Power of agape without ever grasping the meaning of this Greek word. While the secular world IS beginning to embrace inclusion and tolerance and while such ideas ARE being held up for ALL to see, the ‘religious’ world continues to fight, often tooth and nail, against ALL that they consider ‘woke’. These ideas ARE NOT intended to disparage those who believe in the doctrinal church, they ARE intended to show the dichotomy between the church and the reality that they ARE fighting against; a reality that embraces inclusion and tolerance; a reality that embraces the deeper meanings of agape. While it IS easy to say, as Christians DO, such things as ‘love the sinner but hate the sin’, this IS but another trite saying without meaning when viewed in the Light of the Master’s words that tell us to “love thy neighbour as thyself“. In the end we must realize that our expression of agape IS boundless, it sees beyond the vanity of those in this world as it sees ALL men as Souls and ALL men as equal. Trapped in our vanity we ARE spiritually in a: perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends4 as Vincent defines this idea. And while it IS this vanity that we see as we look at the world of men, this must give way to our view of ALL men as equal and ALL men as Souls on the very same journey as we ourselves ARE on. This IS the starting point for our expression of agape.
We close today with some thoughts on a verse from James’ Epistle that we have always had difficulty in understanding. James tells us “Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” (James 4:5) at the close of his dissertation on dichotomy between the Lord and this world. There IS little clarity in the churches regarding the apostle’s intent in these words and we have long been without a useful explanation until now. First the idea of scripture IS NOT where James intent lies and there IS NO agreement on what scripture he refers to. John Gill tells us the origin may be in an apocryphal book; he cites these words from Wisdom 1:4 where we read “For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin“8. While there IS Truth in this saying, this IS clearly NOT James’ intent. Breaking down James’ words we should try to see that we ARE speaking of the Spirit, the Soul if you will, and the idea that this Divine Aspect lusts and DOES so with envy. When we think of the Soul we should try to see that its goal IS to let the Love and Truth that IS the Soul to be expressed through our minds and emotions here in this world. This spiritual lust and envy then ARE directed at the control that the carnal mind has over the Life with the Soul’s desire to be in the envious position of directing that heretofore carnal mind.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect | Potency | Aspect of Man | In Relation to the Great Invocation | In relation to the Christ |
| GOD, The Father | Will or Power | Spirit or Life | Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN | Life |
| Son, The Christ | Love and Wisdom | Soul or Christ Within | Heart of God | Truth |
| Holy Spirit | Light or Activity | Life Within | Mind of God | Way |
- 3 Encyclopedia Britannica; https://www.britannica.com//list/st-pauls-contributions-to-the-new-testament
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition
- 8 Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com
Those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.
Voltaire, Writer and Philosopher