Love is the Fulfilling of the Law

ON LOVE; PART CCLXXIII

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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Of all that the Master told us, He considered this as the Greatest of Commandments. So much of what we are to understand as aspirants or as believers is found in the precept that we must KEEP HIS WORDS:

“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 12:30-31).

We ask ourselves 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.

We add to this THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST which can serve to both give us an understanding of what it means to Love oneself and how it is that we can Love our neighbor:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them“ (Matthew 7:12).

We ended the last post with our ideas on the phrase from Paul’s writings to the Corinthians below that says Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” and while we could find safe harbor for “bears all things” and “endures all things“, we could not for believing and hoping as these ideas are counter intuitive in relation to Life here on this Earth. We must ever remember that the words of the Apostles are written to aspirants and disciples and not to the ‘ordinary’ people of that day and this understanding of their writings should continue to today. This IS NOT to say that the ‘ordinary’ will not understand what Paul IS writing, it is just to point out that ALL of these writings can be and ARE seen from the level of the reader and understood from a worldly focus or a spiritual one. Saying this we are reminded that the words of the Master and the apostle on Love are deemed by the many to pertain to that idea of Love that we experience here on Earth and not that deeper Love that is understood as from God and as God, that Love that binds ALL of His creation into ONE homogeneous mass on every level of existence that we can yet imagine. Further, these words that we have been studying over the last few essays are words that can and do work out in the reality of both of these forms of Love; that Love between parents and children, between husband and wife and between close friends and relatives being the one, the worldly, and that Love for one’s neighbor, his brother and the stranger who qualifies as both being the other. The former can be seen as that attraction and attachment of men here in the world to each other selectively and which stretches to the pet, the hobby, and other things of pleasure; the latter on the other hand is a universal, non-selective Love that IS NOT bound in emotion but is flowing from the Soul and we should note that this Love IS flowing in ALL men as a part of that consciousness that we ARE in form and the variability of its expression is directly related to the degree of this expression that is ‘allowed’ to pass by the personality that is yet grounded or partly grounded in the things of the world and the self.

The apostle’s words then, being directed at the aspirant and the disciple who are ‘committed’ to focus upon the spiritual Way, can be seen in several ways by these as well and this too is dependent upon the focus of the man and the degree of that focus that may yet remain on the self and the things of the self in the world. Here then we have instruction on the activities of the who is pursuing the spiritual Way for man that may still need to interpret Life in a more carnal way and we have instruction for the man who CAN see the spiritual Way more clearly and thereby understand the deeper meanings of the words of the Master and the apostles. While this may seem like a clever way to position those things that are not readily understandable, we can find the thread of Truth in this if we look; and, not only in these words that we have before us today but in so many of the things that we told by scripture. In our frequent reviewing of a phrase or a saying, we often see that with each review there IS a clearer and a deeper understanding and this IS a testimony to our premise above about the multiple ways of understanding as based on the ‘level’ of the reader and this ranges from the words being merely words, ALL the way to their being True revelation. In this view we have our premise on these particular words on what IS and IS NOT Love; that some are written for the common understanding of Love as that psychic force in the world and how this force should be seen and administered while others are written with the reality of the universal Love that streams forth from the Soul and which can be understood and expressed in both a carnal sense and in the spiritual Way. Other words, like our subject saying above, are not intended to be understood carnally but CAN and DO have spiritual significance for the man who can discern it and for whom they become as Wisdom from above, as revelation of a Truth that one may already KNOW but only realize when it IS presented. And we should understand that we come to this frequently in our posts and much can be seen in our disagreement with prevailing doctrines which may see the words on a more carnal level than we perceive them; the same words are read and interpreted by the level of focus and the level of understanding of the reader and while our understanding may be deeper spiritually than that of others, there are yet others with still deeper understanding than we and in this thought we should see the Master’s intent in teaching about the growing of the Kingdom in the Life of a man in the world; a growth that comes from greater focus leading us to greater revelation. And, when we can see the enormity of this Creation and how it stretches out in ALL directions inward and outward, we can see that this greater focus leading us to greater revelation IS a never ending pursuit to KNOW God.

For us today however it IS sufficient to focus our focus upon the Life of the Soul in the human form in the world and to understand that it IS ONLY when we CAN say with the Master that “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), that we will be able to even glimpse the Greater Glory that awaits us in the Great Beyond.

But earnestly desire the best gifts.

And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,

I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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,

but have not love, I am nothing. 

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease;

whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke 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 in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:1-13

As we said in the last post, the first words on what Love IS and DOES and what Love IS NOT and DOES NOT are intended for the use of the man in the world who is the aspirant and the disciple and is a reminder and an instruction on the way s that Love is to be used in a man’s interrelationships in this world, that he should be patient and not let the hurriedness of judgement of the personality interfere with this patience. Similarly we should understand being kind as the effectiveness of GoodWill but in both of these there IS as well that deeper aspect of understanding why Love or the expression of Love should be patient and kind and, even from a purely carnal perspective one would have to say that without these qualities, there is hardly Love on any level. Without patience and kindness there IS NO form of Love that can survive and the lack of these things is likely responsible for so many breakdowns of Love relationships in the world and this reality is a part of the realization of the man whose emotions and thoughts are not clouded and obscured by the illusion and the glamours of Life in this world. For the awakened and the awakening there is the understanding that ALL men are the same, ALL are struggling through this same carnal existence, and just as we would like an understanding, patient and kind view of our own Life, we should offer this same to ALL; and, of course, this CAN and DOES work out in ALL forms of Love. The next few ideas are in regard to the outward showing of the aspirant and the disciple and are good instruction for Right Relationships for ALL men in the world as well; Love or the expression of Love IS NOT proud and the man expressing Love does not present himself as above others and this too CAN and DOES work out in most ALL type of Love relationships. The same is True for acting unseemly which we see as not relating to others in a proper and appropriate way which includes the pride and presentation above and goes on to likely ALL self serving behaviors that one can imagine which IS the next topic as we read that Love “does not seek its own” which IS basically selfishness and on ALL levels. Although selfishness on the part of the aspirant is likely more concerned with spiritual matters, in the duality of Life of the aspirant and the disciple who is not yet free there can be reversion to thoughts of the world and perhaps here is the greater caution. Being provoked and thinking evil in any direction is the next caution that we get from Paul and these can ALL be seen as cautions as well as instructions; these ideas can also be seen in the Master’s words that tell us to turn the other cheek and other like sayings from the Sermon on the Mount. Spiritually one CAN NOT be provoked nor think evil, these are traits of the personality ONLY as are ALL of our terms so far and in this we should see our point, that the Soul KNOWS the Truth of Love but that this is misinterpreted and misunderstood by the personality in the world and that the aspirant and the disciple WILL KNOW this and act accordingly as to act contrary to the apostle’s words is indication that one IS not expressing Love.

Now there are levels of Truth with which a man must deal but real Truth IS constant and not subject to interpretation. The Truth to the man in the world without religion is different from the Truth of the man in the world who has religion but these ARE NOT real Truths; they are rather formed opinions and beliefs and this reality can be seen in most every human endeavor. From this perspective we can see the apostle’s words on Truth, that Love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” and in this we should see the practical application in the relationships of personalities as well as the cause of much strife in the world. For the aspirant and the disciple however this is again a caution that one DOES NOT allow the personality to either define Truth, unless it IS measured as Truth from above, or to use one’s perception of Truth as a tool or a weapon to get across one’s point of view or to revel in the mistakes of others. In this we should see as well Paul’s words that we previously discussed regarding “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) which he uses to tell the aspirants and disciples at Ephesus of the Way to continue to grow in Christ and we understand this saying, with Vincent’s ⁴ help, as telling us to walk in Truth in Love, to be in Truth in Love. Here we should see the intimate relationship between Love and Truth, a relationship that we have found in other sayings as well and this should tell us that there IS NO Love without Truth and likewise there IS NOT Truth with out Love and, if we can believe that the Christ, the Son of God, as a principal and as the expression of Jesus, IS Love, then we should see this relationship where the Apostle John tells us “but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Here then IS GoodWill as grace with Truth in the Love, the Christ of God. Seeing Truth then from the perceptive of the Soul, we see Truth as a part of divinity just as we see Love and here in Paul’s words we should see that impressions of the Truth by the man grounded or even partially grounded in the world CAN NOT  reflect that divinity but can only reflect a man’s interpretation of that Truth.  One’s interpretation is usually based upon how it effects him and here is our caution as the aspirant and the disciple, that we not let this happen, and this also according to ALL his previous words among which can be found iniquity.  An example of this rejoicing can be tied the the above ideas of pride and self promotion; as the disciple or the aspirant looks at the Truths as others see them, there should be NO cause for joy in his consideration that another’s Truth is wrong but should see this as a factor of  spiritual growth or of carnal interpretation and in both understand that this is just a brother’s reaction for the day.

We are being a bit wordy here on this subject of Truth and this because Truth is one of the more important accomplishments in the expression of the Soul in the world and is an integral part of the Power and Love of the Soul. Iniquity IS not the opposite of Truth, it is the actions of the man in the world which can cover much of human endeavor and is a part of the same concepts of sin and evil in our view. The spiritual man, the aspirant and the disciple, IS steadily moving away from ALL worldly views and in so doing he IS here cautioned that ONLY Truth can prevail in Love. While there may be many ways to view Paul’s intent here regarding iniquity and Truth, in the end this IS the likely reality to the apostle’s words: that as a comment and a statement we ARE NOT to rejoice in iniquity of any kind but ONLY in Truth. Ultimately there IS but ONE Eternal Truth and most of the truths that we see in the world of men are just opinions and beliefs that are easily burned in the crucible of reality.

Recognizing then that these ideas of what IS and what IS NOT Love can be viewed in many different ways depending upon the level of focus of the viewer, which ranges from being fully focused upon the things of the world to being fully focused upon the things of God and every possible degree in between, we come upon the saying with which we ended yesterday and began today: Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things“. We gave our best understanding of this as its being only Truly discernible by the man focused on the things of God as the trend in his Life and we should note that it IS sayings like this that, when they are rightly discerned, can help to bring a man closer to his spiritual goal. From a worldly perspective we CAN NOT understand this as a way of Love and aside from the type of allowances we made for bearing and enduring, there are none to be found for believing and hoping in this context of ALL things. John Gill in his Exposition of the Bible tells us much about this verse but we will reference here only the first words of each part of this saying; Mr. Gill says ⁸:

• Beareth all things; The burdens of fellow Christians, and so fulfils the law of Christ, which is the law of love; the infirmities of weak believers, and the reproaches and persecutions of the world……
• believeth all things; that are to be believed, all that God says in his word, all his truths, and all his promises; and even sometimes in hope against hope…..
• hopes all things; that are to be hoped for; hopes for the accomplishment of all the promises of God; hopes for the enjoyment of him in his house and ordinances..
• endureth all things; that are disagreeable to the flesh; all afflictions, tribulations, temptations, persecutions, and death itself, for the elect’s sake…..⁸

Now this IS NOT necessarily the view of the man in the world but it is representative of the view of doctrine and from our perspective it DOES NOT rightly represent the ways of Love, what Love IS or what Love DOES but RATHER narrows the words to the reality of the man who sees God through doctrine, whose focus is doctrinal. In our final words on this in the last post, believing that we are seeing this from the perspective of the Soul, and viewing this as Wisdom from above as we interpret that Wisdom into words, we said: Viewing this then as Love, as that Potency of God and of the Soul, we should try to see that this Love bears its existence in the world of form subjected to the vanity, to the illusion and the glamour of Life in the world as he tries to wrest control of the Life from the personality that he created. We should try to see as well that in the believing and the hoping is that expectation of God as it works out in the KNOWING of of the Soul that he WILL BE delivered from this existence in this world through his eventual expression through form and we should try to see in the enduring, the patient waiting for the consciousness in form to awaken to the Truth of the Soul, the Truth of Love. Now into each of these points from which we see the Life of the Soul in form moving through we can add the idea of ALL things and say that the Love that we ARE, the Truth of Love, bears ALL things in its existence in this world of glamour and illusion; it believes ALL things and hopes ALL things which are the KNOWING and the expectation of deliverance through the eventual expression of divinity in form, and this Love endures ALL things in his patient waiting for the awakening, the Transforming of the Life in the world.

This IS Love from the perspective of Love, from the perspective of the Soul, and in understanding these things we can understand the actions in the world of the other ideas that we discuss above and in the last posts. It is in this bearing and this enduring that we ARE patient, kind, and act seemly; it is in this KNOWING and expectation that we can act without pride and self-promotion, in a selfless way that IS NOT provoked nor sees or thinks on the evil in others in our recognition of the True nature of man; and it IS in ALL our Love that we see only Truth. This IS the Soul and the expression of this IS the disciple and this IS the goal toward with we as aspirants strive. The apostle ends this segment saying that “Love never fails” and we should try to see in this ALL of the realities above and relate them to our understanding that God IS Love and that as God IS, we ARE so that we can see, in the final analysis, that we ARE, as Souls, Love as well and ALL that the apostle tells us of Love, he tells us of our True selves. 

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

Aspect of God	Potency	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Great Invocation	In relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Spirit or Life	Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Soul or Christ Within	Heart of God	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Life Within	Mind of God	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

We should ever understand that the purpose of our aspiration and of our discipleship is to bring into the world our expression of the Love and the Power of the Soul both as an example of the righteous Life and as a ready aid to our brothers, our neighbors and the stranger who qualifies as both. Our intent should be to serve and in our service to instill in others that same sense that we have; from a spiritual perspective to the spiritual man, and from a worldly perspective to the man who is yet grounded in the world. The Apostle Paul puts it this way for us from his own Life and personal experience:

“for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and wo is to me if I may not proclaim good news; for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly — with a stewardship I have been entrusted! What, then, is my reward? — that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news; for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain; and I became to the Jews as a Jew, that Jews I might gain; to those under law as under law, that those under law I might gain; to those without law, as without law — (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) — that I might gain those without law; I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some. And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;  have ye not known that those running in a race — all indeed run, but one doth receive the prize? so run ye, that ye may obtain” (1 Corinthians 9:16-24).

With this in mind we redo a past Quote of the Day and one that we have been using from very early on in this blog. The sentiment here is the fulfillment of our duty as aspirants and disciples and our duty it to instill these ideas in the hearts and minds of others.

Values to Live By

A Love of Truth—essential
for a just, inclusive and progressive society;

A Sense of Justice—recognition
of the rights and needs, of all.

Spirit of Cooperation—based
on active goodwill and the principle of right human
relationships;

A Sense of Personal Responsibility—for
group, community and national affairs;

Serving the Common Good— through
the sacrifice of selfishness. Only what is good for all
is good for each one.

The world of the future depends on what each one of us chooses to do today.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!

• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com