ON LOVE; PART CMXXXIV

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God

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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).

We ended the last essay with the same words from the Apostle Peter that we used to end the previous one and while it may seem that we DID NOT  address these ideas in our last essay, the reality IS that we DID. We DID this in showing the Truths of the Master’s words regarding discipleship. We should try to see that it IS the disciple and the aspirant to discipleship that the apostle IS writing to in this epistle that IS addressed to “them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ“. The idea here of faith IS the same as the idea of faith that IS used throughout the New Testament and this IS the idea of KNOWING, as the mustard seed, the reality of Life; this IS NOT that nebulous idea of faith that IS attached to most doctrines.

Faith, like believing, IS a certainty and faith in or believing in God or in the Christ should bring one to a certainty that results in his understanding of this in Vincent’s terms which show us that: to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is not merely to believe the facts of His historic life or of His saving energy as facts, but to accept Him as Savior, Teacher, Sympathizer, Judge; to rest the soul upon Him for present and future salvation, and to accept and adopt His precepts and example as binding upon the life ⁴. The deeper Truth of Vincent’s view here IS found in the final statement: that one should accept and adopt His precepts and example as binding upon the life; in this we have the essence of keeping His words. We read Peter’s words again saying:

“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:1-4)

In his addressing of this epistle we should see that it IS written, as ARE most epistles, to men who ARE keeping His words or who are ardently striving to DO so. And the apostle DOES NOT stop there bur rather shows this faith as that it IS “like precious faith” which IS faith that IS the same in its likeness to the faith of the apostle himself. As we have discussed in previous essays the Apostle Peter IS our model of discipleship and the gospels and the Book of Acts ARE written in such a way that we can see his growth from a fisherman to a True disciple of the Lord. It IS Peter who has developed such faith, such KNOWING of the Truth, that he can perform those “greater works” that the Master tells us of saying “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do” (John 14:12).

It IS Peter who we read of in this from the Apostle Luke who tells us “believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one” (Acts 5:14-16). Can we imagine the faith of Peter as the KNOWING ability to heal as the Master did, a KNOWING that transcends ALL worldly ability and IS the apostle’s spiritual Presence emanating, that IS being expressed, by, or better through, his mortal body in this world? And can we see here the type of man to whom? Men of “like precious faith ” to whom he IS writing about their also being “partakers of the divine nature“?

In the Greek word isotimos which IS rendered here as “like precious” we have his message of the degree of faith that IS necessary to be such a partaker and while this IS NOT understood by most as we see this idea, Vincent does give us a glimpse of the greater Truth as he tells us: Like precious (ἰσότιμον); Only here in New Testament. The word should be written like precious….Not the same in measure to all, but having an equal value and honor to those who receive it, as admitting them to the same Christian privileges ⁴. If we can see this idea then that one’s obtaining or attaining such faith, which IS of  equal value to the apostle’s, IS the catalyst to becoming “partakers of the divine nature“, then we can understand the apostle’s intent in so addressing his words. As we discussed in the last essay, it IS unfortunate that so many men see themselves in the role of His disciple without DOING such things as that make this a reality in one’s life. It is through these words from Peter, that there ARE many who see themselves as having such “precious promises” as the apostle shows us and that they ARE “partakers of the divine nature“.

We should note here that the word might IS a translators insertion and that the Greek word ginomai IS generally rendered as be alone or in a form that shows becoming. Vincent tells us: Might be partakers (γένησθε κοινωνοὶ); Rev., more correctly, may become, conveying the idea of a growth ⁴. In the use of may here we eliminate the uncertainty in favor of the idea that it IS the “precious promises” that furnishes the Way through which we become such “partakers of the divine nature“. And this IS our point: these “precious promises” ARE those things that we find in our trifecta of spiritual reality; these ARE True discipleship, the Presence of God in one’s Life and the reality of the Kingdom of God as one’s place which IS the realization of one’s “divine nature“. We read the trifold ideas of what we call the trifecta 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).

We should try to see how that these “precious promises” ARE the things that the Master speaks of above; it IS these that become a man’s realization of the Truth of Life and of the Kingdom of God and they ARE promised to the man who will keep His words. When we can understand that this reality of Truth comes to a man as that KNOWING which Peter frames for us as “all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue“, we can then see the deeper meaning of his words that “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord“. And we should try to see that the greater one’s “knowledge of God” the greater his “Grace and peace“.

It IS this knowledge that comes to a man in the revelations and the realizations which come into his consciousness from his own Soul, his own Christ and God Within. Perhaps if we can view the idea of the “precious promises” as that this IS a man’s right when he IS keeping His words, which IS the reality of his expression of Love, of agape, in his Life, we can better understand a deeper part of the mysteries that ARE placed before us as men. It IS these mysteries that ARE “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” and while so many men believe that the KNOW these mysteries, that they KNOW His Truth, the reality IS that this Truth comes only to the man who will “continue in my word“; it IS this man who “shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’“.

The Apostle Paul writes much about the mysteries and in much the same tone as DOES the Master who tells His disciples that “it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11). Then, as a commentary on the Master’s words, the Apostle Matthew repeats the words of a prophet saying, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35). We should note two things here: first that the idea of “it is given unto you to know“ IS Peter’s “precious promises” in action; these disciples of the Lord have “like precious faith” and by this they have “all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue“. Can we see how that this ALL works together?

Second we should try to understand that the very nature of these mysteries which “have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” IS the reality of “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” which Paul frames for us as “Christ in you, the hope of glory“. This IS the revelation and the realization of the Truth in the conscious awareness of the man in this world; this IS the KNOWING that comes in the fullness of keeping His words, and we should remember that it IS by measure that men grow into this fullness. Here we should see the “precious promises” that ARE the Presence of God in the Life of the man in this world: that this IS his realization of the Christ Within as the True man who must act through his form in the expression of Love as agape IS intended to be expressed in the Master’s words.

And this IS ALL the reality of the grace of God as one’s realization of the Truth. We have often said that grace IS ALL things that come from God and we should be reminded here that naught but spiritual things DO come from God. There IS NO worldly thing as ALL of the things of this world ARE in opposition to the things of God as the apostles tell us; this IS the deeper reality found in the end of Peter’s words above where we read that to “be partakers of the divine nature” one must have “escaped the corruption that is in the world“. This IS another picture of the dichotomy that DOES exist between the carnal and the spiritual and we should understand that the very nature of this corruption IS the vanity, the illusion and the glamour that we often highlight and as we discussed in the last essay.

In Paul’s words that we frequently repeat saying “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in expectation hope, that Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21) we should see the separation between the carnal and the spiritual as men ARE delivered, freed that IS, from the one in order to enter fully into the other….this IS the reality of the journey that ALL men ARE on. It IS Paul’s own realization of the effect of this vanity that he shows us in the idea of “the bondage of corruption“, and for us this IS the  illusion and this glamour in the Life of everyman.

While Paul shows us that we “shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption” he DOES NOT here show us how in simple words; the apostle’s Way IS the essence of most ALL of his writing which show the way to God according to his own prayer saying: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened ; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe , according to the working of his mighty power” (Ephesians 1:17-18). In the apostle’s idea of giving here we should see the reality of grace as it comes to the man who will keep His words; it IS this understanding that we get from the totality of Jesus’ own words and the words of His apostles. This “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” DOES NOT come simply to the man who believes in the common understanding of the word but in the expanded idea of KNOWING and DOING.

Peter however DOES show us the Way in simple words as he tells us that we must escape from Paul’s “bondage of corruption” that IS “in the world through lust“. It IS in this reality of the intent of this idea of lust that the KEY to men’s dilemma IS found; the dilemma of Life according to the desires of the flesh, the mind and the emoticons as this IS opposed to Life according to the words of the Master. In this idea of lust we should see ALL desires that ARE based in the things of the world as these ARE based in the corruption which IS the vanity or the illusions of Life itself….illusions that cause a man to see the “cares and riches and pleasures of this life” (Luke 8:14) as of more importance than the Truth of Life as the spiritual man in this world.

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.

This Quote of the Day is the antithesis of glamour and illusion. In this mantram are the thoughts about ourselves and our brothers in the world that can diffuse these forces that hold a man in the world of things and prevent his spiritual progress.

Mantram of Unification

The sons of men are one and I am one with them.
I seek to love, not hate;
I seek to serve and not exact due service;
I seek to heal, not hurt.

Let pain bring due reward of light and love.
Let the Soul control the outer form, and life and all events,
And bring to light the love that underlies the happenings of the time.

Let vision come and insight.
Let the future stand revealed.
Let inner union demonstrate and outer cleavages be gone.
Let love prevail.
Let all men love.

The Mantram of Unification is a meditation and a prayer that at first affirms the unity of all men and the Brotherhood of Man based on the Fatherhood of God. The first stanza sets forth several truly Christian ideals in Unity, Love, Service and Healing. The second stanza is a invocation to the Lord and to our own Souls asking that from the pain (if there can truly be any) incurred in focusing on the Spirit and not the world will come Light and Love into our lives and that we begin to function as Souls through our conscious personalities. We ask that the spiritual control of our lives will bring to light for us the Love that underlies world events; a Love that the world oriented man will not see working out behind the scenes and also that the Love that we bring forth, individually and as a world group, can be seen by all and ultimately in all. Finally, in the last stanza we ask for those things that are needed for Love to abound. Vision and insight so that we can direct our attention properly; revelation of the future in the sense that all can see the Power of Love in the world; inner union so that we do not fall back into the world’s ways, that we faint not; and that a sense of separation, the antithesis of brotherhood, ends as we know it today. Let Love Prevail, Let All Men Love.spiritual control of our lives will bring to light for us the Love that underlies world events; a Love that the world oriented man will not see working out behind the scenes.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts

• ⁴ Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888