Monthly Archives: January 2017

ON LOVE; PART MCXI

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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 some thoughts on the Apostle Paul’s use of the Greek words parakaleo and paraklesis which ARE the verb and the noun forms of the words that ARE rendered as exhorteth and exhortation in the King James Bible translation of our verses from Romans. We should note that this IS a very complex idea that the apostle IS presenting and that this idea IS NOT well demonstrated by the common understanding of any of the English words that ARE used in the various translations. A kindred word, parakletos which IS rendered as comforter and advocate and which IS defined by the Master in most spiritual terms saying “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” (John 14:26), IS rendered by some without translation as the paraclete.

This word has become a part of the English language which has the meaning of: an advocate; one called to aid or support; hence, the consoler, comforter or intercessor,a term applied to the Holy Spirit ¹ according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary and as: an advocate or intercessor with a secondary definition of: the Holy Spirit; the Comforter in our more modern texts ⁷. These English language ideas ARE related to the doctrinal view and the various ways that this idea IS translated. An interesting note in this regard IS that the lexicon tells us that parakletos IS a root word while Vincent tells us that it IS: from παρά:, to the side of, and καλέω , to summon  which IS the same etymology as he gives us for paraklesis saying that this IS: from παρά , to the side of, and καλέω, to call or summon ⁴.

We should note here as well that Paul uses this same idea, in the verb form, in the opening of this twelfth chapter which we read as “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service“. Taking ALL these ideas together along with Vincent’s comparative words we should be able to get a True feel for the apostle’s intent which tells men that when they exhort or beseech others that they should DO so with exhortations that ARE “according to the proportion of faith“, according to the measure of KNOWING the Truth, that they have achieved as aspirants and disciples who have or who ARE striving to “present your bodies a living sacrifice“. Vincent tells us of paraklesis that it IS:

From παρά , to the side of, and καλέω , to call or summon. Literally, a calling to one’s side to help; and therefore entreaty, passing on into the sense of exhortation, and thence into that of consolatory exhortation; and so coming round to mean that which one is summoned to give to a suppliant – consolation. Thus it embodies the call for help, and the response to the call. Its use corresponds with that of the kindred verb παρακαλέω , to exhort or console….Neither the noun nor the verb appear in the writings of John, but the kindred word παράκλητος the Paraclete, Comforter, or Advocate, is peculiar to him. It should be noted, however, that the word comfort goes deeper than its popular conception of soothing. It is from the later Latin confortare, to make strong….Underlying the word is the sense of a wise counsel or admonition which rouses and braces the moral nature and encourages and strengthens it to do and to endure. When, therefore, Christ says “they that mourn shall be comforted,” he speaks in recognition of the fact that all sorrow is the outcome of sin, and that true comfort is given, not only in pardon for the past, but in strength to fight and resist and overcome sin. The atmosphere of the word, in short, is not the atmosphere of the sick-chamber, but the tonic breath of the open world, of moral struggle and victory; the atmosphere for him that climbs and toils and fights ⁴.

Leaving aside the doctrinal ideas that Vincent presents we should see the greater idea of these words and if we can partition this and see Paul’s word as spiritually working in the world of men and John’s as spiritually working in man who follows Paul’s words, perhaps we can see why these ARE so related and yet so different. From the perspective of the aspirant and the disciple, the man whose focus IS upon the things of God, we should be able to see how that the Parakletos IS the very Presence of God that comes by measure. From this same perspective then we should try to see how that the paraklesis IS that which IS offered by the aspirant and the disciple with care to NOT exhort or beseech another with such zeal that IS beyond his “proportion of faith“.

Can we see the point here? Can we see that Paul IS telling us that we should NOT tell another to do or to think this way or that way in terms that ARE beyond our own realization of Truth and if this IS so for us whose focus IS True, how much more so IS it for those whose focus IS upon their doctrines. Doctrines however DO NOT see this in this way nor DO they see any of these first words of Paul’s list as we DO. There IS yet a greater point here that can be gleaned from the words of the apostles; words that support, that clarify and that amplify the words and the commandments of the Master and the Lord; words that should show us that ALL whose focus IS NOT fully upon the words of the Lord should always KNOW their own measure of Truth. 

First James tells us that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). In this IS a great Truth that IS missed by most ALL men whose Life IS focused in this world and in this IS our KEY to understanding that it IS such focus that IS sin, that IS missing the mark, which IS a prima facie reality of sin. It IS the carnal and finite mind of man that has defined the common understanding of sin and NOT scripture which IS rather clear; the lexicon tells us of missing the mark in their defining of the Greek word harmartia and the synonymous word hamartano; and the lexicon shows us as the first definition the idea of the result of missing the mark which IS: to be without a share in ².

And what mark IS this? As we ARE speaking of spiritual things, we should try to see this in a spiritual way; we should try to see this as missing the whole point of Repentance and that change of focus….one can ONLY miss the mark if he IS looking at the wrong target. And what IS the prize that this missing causes a man to be without a share in but the Truth, the Presence of God and His Kingdom in one’s Life here and now as we read again in our trifecta of spiritual reality below. The whole point IS focus and NOT the individual carnal activities of men who ARE lost in the morass of illusion and glamour;

This IS James’ message which can ONLY be seen by one who IS looking past his doctrinal ideas and who maintains his view upon what the apostle’s subject IS…..that it IS Love as agape in its fullness. And Love IS ever the KEY; agape IS ever the Way as this IS attested to by the Master and His apostles throughout the New Testament, a Way that has its foundation in the Old Testament. Here we should try to see how that to exhort or to beseech another to any spiritual pursuit without the teacher’s foundation in agape, in Love, IS folly and IS beyond being “according to the proportion of faith“.

The first reality of KNOWING “what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” IS the Truth of Love which IS James’ subject and he defines this according to the Truth of Jesus’ own teachings. We should understand here that ALL spiritual pursuits revolve around the Truth of agape and for one to follow the ideas of the trifecta, for one to gain the Truth that sets him free, His Presence and His Kingdom in one’s Life, that man must be able to see how that agape IS the fundamental reality of keeping His words. Repeating our trifecta we read:

• “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).

This IS the reality of agape….that we keep His words. There IS NO expression of Love as agape that IS NOT the Master’s words. Agape IS the central point of ALL of His teachings. And so our point here IS that one cannot exhort or beseech another in spiritual matters without a firm foundation in agape and this same idea can be extended to the other words which ARE listed by the apostle. This IS because the foundation of the man whose focus IS Truly upon God IS agape and without this there IS NO True prophecy, there IS NO True service and there IS NO True thing to teach.

And most importantly, without a foundation in Love there IS NO exhortation. For the man who IS in the process of Transformation however there IS a measure of agape operating in his Life as this IS an essential part of that Transformation of which the apostle speaks. Paul’s words here in this twelfth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans should not taken out of context but viewed as a continuous thread of ideas that ARE intended to show the aspirant and the disciple the reality of this Transformation as a process by which one can “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service“.

And then, as this IS underway, the apostle offers us not ONLY the reality that we ARE “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith“, but some specific ideas on how that our conduct should be towards others. We read Paul’s words again in the order that he gives them to us:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:1-3).

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:4-21).

We should understand here that these words ARE also a continuation of the previous chapter and ARE continued into the next chapter; Paul’s words here in this epistle must be taken as a whole treatise and NOT in separate parts. We say this while we too take pieces and parts of his writing into our discussions but, at the same time, we DO consider each as a part of the whole, as a steady stream of thought that shows us the reality of spiritual Life and of spiritual living. Vincent tells us about the wholeness of Paul’s writing here as he says of Romans: The epistle must be grasped entire. No portion of the New Testament lends itself to more dangerous distortions of truth through fragmentary use. No one of Paul’s epistles is so dependent for its just effect upon the perception of the relation of its parts to the whole. Its logic and its feeling are inseparable. It answers the highest test of eloquence in stimulating emotion with profound thought, and in fusing thought in feeling ⁴.

For us the reality of ALL New Testament scripture IS found in the way that the writings of the apostles DO harmoniously work together to amplify and clarify the Master’s words and while this IS NOT the view of doctrinal thinkers, or at least NOT the view that they present, ALL IS the reality of prophecy as we have defined it; ALL IS divinely inspired utterance or revelation ⁷. And revelation IS the KEY here; the point of ALL divinely inspired utterance or revelation ⁷ IS that it IS revealed divinely and this begins with one’s realization of the Presence of God, the Presence of one’s own Soul as the revealer of Truth to the man who will strive to keep His words.

There IS NO purpose to revelation if there IS NOT a corresponding realization of the Truth in the mind of the man in this world; it IS the realization that DOES allow the man to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” and this for the sole purpose of gaining the ability to “prove discern what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God“. And so Paul tells us about his own teachings versus the teaching of “another gospel” as he tells us “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).

Today many DO also certify that they have the Truth of the Master’s words and teaching but when we consider the idea we will see that they mostly have the words of their own instructors which IS their own doctrines that dilute and change the Truth. The greater reality of revelation can be seen in the tone of the apostle’s closing to this very epistle as he tells us that “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:25-26).

While there IS much confusion about these words which appear in some manuscripts at the end of the fourteenth chapter and in others in both places ⁴, these words DO show us the reality of revelation and realization when they ARE correctly read. Many call these words a doxology which ARE words of praise but for us they ARE words that show that the teachings of the Master have revealed a part of the Plan of God that had heretofore been hidden and which IS yet kept covered over by the doctrines of men. And what IS this Plan but the reality of His words and the amplifying and clarifying words of His apostle’s. It IS the reality of God which IS realized as His Presence that DOES “stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ“.

It IS this admonition that the reader should be steadfast in His words and be aware of ALL the cautions that the apostle offers and to live “according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest“. And we should note here that the apostle IS showing us that the message IS the same and that these same mysteries ARE revealed “by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God“. It IS these mysteries that ARE revealed to be the Christ Within and the Way that one can come to realize this Presence in Life in this world here and now.

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 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 repeat here a Quote of the Day that we spent much time with over the course of our essays. In this affirmation we find the Truth of discipleship as we have been ever been expressing and here we can relate our themes of the last few days; “take no thought” for the things of the world and that we approach the Kingdom and discipleship in the nature of the little child, in humbleness, meekness, unashamed in any way and unassuming. The message that this imparts for us today IS that it IS the Soul that is at work in the world of men as it expresses to some degree the purpose, power and the will through Life in this world. These words are from a meditation offered to his students by our Tibetan brother and in which we find greater understanding of the message of the Master. This IS Truly the way of the disciple.

My Soul has purpose, power and will; these three are needed on the Way of Liberation.

My Soul must foster love among the sons of men; this is its major purpose.

I, therefore, will to love and tread the Way of Love. All that hinders and obstructs the showing of the Light must disappear before the purposes of the Soul.

My will is one with the great Will of God;. that Holy Will requires that all men serve. And unto the purposes of the Plan I lend my little will.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts