{"id":12669,"date":"2016-08-03T19:08:35","date_gmt":"2016-08-04T01:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newagedevelopments.org\/blog\/?p=12669"},"modified":"2016-08-03T19:08:35","modified_gmt":"2016-08-04T01:08:35","slug":"in-the-words-of-jesus-part-1405","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newagedevelopments.org\/blog\/2016\/08\/03\/in-the-words-of-jesus-part-1405\/","title":{"rendered":"IN THE WORDS OF JESUS\u2013Part 1405"},"content":{"rendered":"

ON LOVE; PART MXLIV<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391<\/span><\/h6>\n

GoodWill\u00a0IS Love in Action<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391<\/span><\/h6>\n
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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<\/em>” (Mark 12:29-31).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/em> which IS generally rendered as Love,\u00a0we 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\u00a0of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our\u00a0One God<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/em>” (Matthew 7:12).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As we ended the last essay we finally got back to our review and expansion of our ideas regarding the Apostle Paul’s list of\u00a0“the fruit of the Spirit<\/em>“. In the two words that we began with in the last post there IS much of the same idea which, because of the similarity, IS likely why one IS rendered in terms of gentleness, kindness<\/em> and\u00a0benignity<\/em>\u00a0and the other in terms of goodness<\/em>. We have previously noted the same sense of confusion as regards those words in Paul’s list of\u00a0“the works of the flesh<\/em>” where the rendering of the Greek words varies from translation to translation with some using the same idea to render different words in the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

While we DO NOT KNOW that the reason for the rather confusing ways that the apostle’s words ARE translated IS found in the similarity of the meanings of the Greek words, this IS the only plausible explanation that we can see. In this we find that the translators could NOT imagine how that the Greek ideas are intended to complement each other and enhance the meaning of the apostle’s point.\u00a0Our point can be seen in these two ideas that we presented in past posts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • In In the Words of Jesus Part 1386 we say:\u00a0The word that IS rendered as envying<\/em> in 1 Corinthians IS zelos<\/em> which IS rendered as emulations<\/em> in Galatians and the Greek word eris<\/em> that IS rendered as\u00a0strife<\/em> IS rendered in\u00a0\u201cthe works of the flesh<\/em>\u201d as variance<\/em>. Add to this that the word rendered as divisions<\/em> in 1 Corinthians,\u00a0dichostasia<\/em>, IS rendered as\u00a0seditions<\/em> in our list above and we can see how that these ideas ARE ALL related and ARE the result of the separating and divisive doctrines of men. It IS the entire sense of division<\/em> and faction<\/em> that IS the denominational sectioning of Christ\u2019s teachings and in this we should see a resounding YES in answer to Paul\u2019s question\u00a0\u201cIs Christ divided?<\/em>\u201c\u2026.He has been factioned<\/em> and divided<\/em> and even torn apart\u00a0with most every part claiming to have the Truth.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • In Part 1324 we say:\u00a0It IS factions<\/em> and the\u00a0glamour<\/em> that accompanies them\u00a0that IS the root cause for most ALL of the other ideas that Paul enumerates in the second segment of his list and when we can see how that several of his words can be rendered as such, we can then come to better understand the fullness of the point that he IS making to the disciples at Galatia. Vincent tells us that eritheia<\/em> should be rendered as factions<\/em> 4<\/sup>\u00a0while the lexicon shows us that\u00a0dichostasia<\/em>, which IS rendered as seditions<\/em>, can be rendered as division\u00a02<\/sup>,\u00a0<\/em>which IS synonymous with factions<\/em> and the result thereof, and that hairesis<\/em>, which is rendered as heresy<\/em>, IS\u00a0also rendered as sect\u00a0<\/em>in the King James Bible, another word that IS synonymous with faction<\/em> and IS the\u00a0result thereof.\u00a0Similarly John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible, tells us that\u00a0dichostasia\u00a0<\/em>should be seen as:\u00a0\u201cdivisions\u201d: schisms and factions, dissensions in things domestic, civil, and religious<\/em> 8<\/sup>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This IS NOT the full idea that we developed in regard to these Greek words, this IS but an example of the way that many of the Greek ideas ARE rendered. In the end we have shown that the series of words that ARE cited above ARE ALL intended to show divisions<\/em> and factions<\/em> and, that they ARE a part of the\u00a0“the works of the flesh<\/em>“, should show us how that these ideas ARE contrary to the words of the Master and our own spiritual Truth. It IS in a similar way that we can view the dual ideas of agathosune<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0chrestotes\u00a0<\/em>which ARE rendered as gentleness<\/em> and goodness<\/em> in our expanded selection from the \u00a0King James Bible translation which we repeat again:<\/span><\/p>\n

    “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.\u00a0For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.\u00a0But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.\u00a0This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.<\/em>\u00a0For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.\u00a0But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.\u00a0Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,\u00a0Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,\u00a0Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.\u00a0But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,\u00a0Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.\u00a0And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts<\/em>” (Galatians \u00a05:17-24).<\/span><\/p>\n

    Both agathosune<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0chrestotes<\/em>\u00a0have defining ideas of goodness<\/em> and the rendering of the latter as\u00a0gentleness, kindness<\/em> and\u00a0benignity<\/em>\u00a0by the various translations IS likely to separate these ideas into translatable words. It IS the complementary nature of these ideas of goodness<\/em>\u00a0however that ties them together and enhances the point that the apostle IS trying to convey. Again, both ARE parts of\u00a0“the fruit of the Spirit<\/em>” and as such we should see them as expressions<\/em><\/strong> by a man in this world. On the one hand we have the expression<\/em><\/strong> of chrestotes<\/em>\u00a0which IS the free flow of the goodness<\/em> quality of Love through the disciple and, by measure, through the aspirant which IS the man who strives<\/em> to keep His words<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And again we should remember and understand that it IS keeping His words<\/em> that IS the KEY to the True grace<\/em> of God; the KEY to “the truth<\/em>”\u00a0that “shall make you free<\/em>“, the KEY to\u00a0“the kingdom of heaven<\/em>” and the KEY to the Presence of God which Jesus frames as “we will come unto him, and make our abode with him<\/em>” according to our trifecta<\/em><\/strong> which we repeat here again:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    • 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<\/em>“ (John 8:31-32).<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
    • “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<\/em>”\u00a0(Matthew 7:21).<\/span><\/li>\n
    • “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”<\/em>\u00a0(John 14:21-24).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      In the other word,\u00a0agathosune<\/em>, we have the same idea but to a deeper degree than merely the expression<\/strong><\/em> of the goodness<\/em> quality of Love; we have the God-like expression<\/strong><\/em> of this quality which idea we take from the words of the Master and the Apostle James. James shows us the idea of\u00a0agathosune<\/em>\u00a0saying that “Every good<\/span>\u00a0gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights<\/em>” and in this we should see the source of this goodness<\/em>. Without going too deep into the apostle’s words, we should see the idea of gift<\/em> as whatsoever comes from God, that IS, whatsoever He may give. In this we should see the deeper idea of grace<\/em> as ALL things that come to the realization<\/strong><\/em> of a man from the Godhead; and there IS naught that Truly comes from God save for the revelations<\/em><\/strong> and the realizations<\/em><\/strong> of Truth which ARE His Presence.<\/span><\/p>\n

      This view of\u00a0agathosune\u00a0<\/em>IS in regard to the things from God which ARE NEVER carnal or material in nature; ALL that IS\u00a0good<\/em> spiritually IS from God. In regard to persons however the idea IS different and IS defined by Jesus who tells one that called Him good<\/em> that\u00a0“there is none good but one, that is, God<\/em>” (Matthew 19:17). In this we have the idea of God-like and by measure one’s striving<\/em> toward God-like; and perhaps here we can try to see how that Jesus DOES NOT equate himself with God despite the Truth\u00a0that “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily<\/em>” (Colossians 2:9).<\/span><\/p>\n

      While we CAN NOT say why the Master shows Himself this way to the rich man and IS in full admission of His Godliness in His words elsewhere, we can note that most of His points of admission ARE made to His disciples for their benefit, and that most of these ARE found in the Gospel of John. Nonetheless the idea here IS of being God-like and in this we should try to see the reality of that righteousness<\/em> of which Jesus tells us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness”<\/em> (Matthew 6:33). We should try to see here how that it IS\u00a0“his righteousness<\/em>” that makes one God-like and we should try to see this idea in combination with His earlier admonition that men should “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect<\/em>” (Matthew 5:48).<\/span><\/p>\n

      In these ideas of righteousness<\/em> and perfection<\/em> we should be able to glimpse the reality of God-like and then understand this as that goodness<\/em> that IS a\u00a0“fruit of the Spirit<\/em>“. ALL of the ingredients in Paul’s list ARE difficult to achieve or, better, to express<\/em><\/strong> fully, and while the whole of the apostle’s idea IS to show us the fullness, we should NOT forget that men can ONLY arrive there by measure. The point then IS that\u00a0we can express<\/em><\/strong> an ever increasing measure of agape,<\/em> we can express<\/em><\/strong> an ever increasing amount of chara<\/em>, which IS a function of charis<\/em> which IS grace<\/em>, but IS rendered as joy<\/em>;\u00a0and we can express<\/strong><\/em> an ever increasing measure of eirene<\/em> or that Peace of God that becomes the nature of the man who DOES\u00a0stand<\/em> in His ever increasing Presence.<\/span><\/p>\n

      The same can be said of makrothumia<\/em>\u00a0which IS rendered as longsuffering<\/em> but which has much deeper meaning as that steady sense of understanding of the way of men and their plight in this world.\u00a0Makrothumia <\/em>IS this understanding through\u00a0an ever increasing realization<\/em><\/strong> of the need of having NO “respect to persons<\/em>” (James 2:9), while understanding that to see men in their differences IS contrary to His words. Then\u00a0there IS\u00a0chrestotes<\/em>\u00a0which is one’s ever increasing measure of expression<\/em><\/strong> of the goodness<\/em> that IS God and that flows through the personality of a man according to the measure of fruit<\/em> that he IS able to bear.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

      And finally\u00a0there IS\u00a0agathosune<\/em>\u00a0which is the summation of ALL of this as the God-like nature of the man who will keep His words<\/em> and the ever increasing measure of this in the Life of the man who strives.\u00a0Agathosune\u00a0<\/em>IS surely that fruit<\/em> by which one can KNOW the saint and by measure the man who Truly strives<\/em>; It IS likely\u00a0this expression<\/em><\/strong> of Love that we can most clearly see according to the Master’s words saying “by their fruits ye shall know them<\/em>” (Matthew 7:20).<\/span><\/p>\n

      In the expression<\/em><\/strong> of these fruits<\/em> we have the man in the world expressing<\/em><\/strong> the Presence of God that comes by measure to the man who will strive<\/em> to keep His words<\/em>. While the reality of this IS lost in doctrines, it can be found in the Jesus’ words that ARE our trifecta<\/em><\/strong> but ONLY when we can see how that this Presence, the Truth and His Kingdom ARE the realizations<\/em><\/strong> of men that come in the revelations<\/strong><\/em> that ARE the grace<\/em> of God. So long as men understand His grace<\/em> in a carnal way, these Truths will NOT be seen by the masses who\u00a0ARE taught and indoctrinated in the precepts of doctrines that confuse the spiritual and the carnal.<\/span><\/p>\n

      It IS this confusion that IS spoken against in ALL of those sayings by the Master and His apostles which show us the dichotomy between the carnal and the spiritual. That this division<\/em> and separation ARE NOT seen IS the result of the doctrines of men which DO NOT see past their carnal lives and those\u00a0that see their spiritual lives as a function of their lives here in this Earth. We have often posted a list of ideas from the Master and His apostles that show this dichotomy and we repeat these ideas here again for the clarity of understanding how that it IS the psychic Life of the man that IS of importance and NOT his carnal Life in this world.<\/span><\/p>\n