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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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\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, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9\u2022\u0391\u03a9<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\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).<\/p>\n\n\n\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<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ended the last essay with some thoughts, a reprise if you will, of one of our main themes in writing this blog: the reality that we ARE One World, One Humanity with One God. While some world religions DO see this reality, others DO NOT quite understand its ramifications in the carnal lives of men. One of the biggest failures of many religions IS their sense of separation, the way that the divide humanity into religious segments: the Christian, the Muslim, the Buddhist, the Hindu and so on. While each of these, as well as those NOT listed, believes that their way IS the Way to God, the reality IS that NONE Truly ARE; it IS ONLY when we can grasp the Unity of Life, both carnal and spiritual, that we can Truly progress spiritually. Carnally men ARE different and the underlying reality shown us in the idea of One Humanity has never seemed enough to overcome the apparent differences caused by race and culture. It IS this Unity that the Christ taught us 2000 years ago as He reiterated and reinforced the spiritual theme of agape <\/em>that had been given to the world 1500 years earlier by Moses in what the Master would call one of the Great Commandments….that “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself<\/em>“. Neither Moses nor Jesus have shown us that IS it ONLY those who we see as brothers that ARE our neighbor but rather ALL others ARE regardless of race or color, regardless of social status or culture and regardless of religion. Unfortunately the intended idea of this expression <\/em><\/strong>of agape<\/em> has been diluted and changed by the religious; in Christianity this expression <\/strong>IS often portrayed as needed ONLY toward fellow Christians and the same type of philosophy IS likely True in many of the other religions. This sense of separation ofttimes even fails to see that the Christian community itself IS One; while being diverse in color and culture many still differentiate such differences. Much of the prejudices and hatreds that exist ARE ever more pronounce in religious communities and while this IS NOT universally True, such prejudices and hatreds still abound and afflict the church in ways that ARE NOT seen as wrong. The singular KEY to correcting this error in vision IS of course agape<\/em>; in the reality of agape <\/em>ALL such divisions <\/strong>and separations disappear against the reality of our theme of One World, One Humanity and One God. As we discussed in the last essay this dynamic IS changing but, unfortunately, it IS changing moreso in the secular world than in the religious and here we can ONLY speak in regard to America and Christianity; we ARE NOT versed in the philosophies and trends of other religions. In the end ALL must come to the reality that there IS but One Humanity and ALL of it lives on this One World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This IS the primary goal of the whole concept of agape <\/em>as it has been taught by the Master who took a rather undefined idea from the law of Moses and expanded it to reflect the intended reality of agape <\/em>Love in the world. That it has taken 2000 years for this concept to be evidenced in this world IS likely NOT spiritually unexpected as the tides of change ARE slow and we should understand here that the trend toward agape <\/em>today IS fraught with far too many contrary ideas, ideas based solely in the selfish attitudes of men. This selfishness IS based in the vanity <\/em>that the Apostle Paul shows us saying that “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in While the problems of the doctrines of men ARE far more expansive than the religious ideas that we generally discuss; it IS our nurturing and indoctrination that helps us to form whatsoever thoughts and attitudes will govern our early lives. And it IS the illusion <\/strong>that this IS the real and True Life that keeps us bound in this state of vanity <\/em>where we then develop a sense of glamour <\/strong>that tells us that whatsoever group we ARE in and whatsoever we have been indoctrinated into IS True. While some can break free <\/em>from this, the majority of men will continue in their illusion <\/strong>and glamour <\/strong>until such a point where one IS unsatisfied with what he has made himself to be if one should ever reach that point. Some of this majority of men can and DO partially revolt against their nurturing and indoctrination and this IS likely more True when their degree of learning the ways of the world and of their religious and cultural place IS NOT so strong as to forge immovable attitudes. This IS the effect of that vanity<\/em> which Paul shows us IS our “bondage of corruption<\/em>” and we should understand to be freed <\/em>from this requires the actions of the man responding to the promptings of his Soul and NOT by any doctrinal ideas of rites and rituals or confessions and affirmations. While our birth into this world causes us to be separate from God<\/em>, it also, through our nurturing and indoctrination, ‘forces’ us to begin pursuing false ends<\/em> which ARE the ways of men in this world. These ideas, being separate from God<\/em> and pursuing false ends<\/em> ARE from Vincent’s defining ideas on the Greek word mataiotes <\/em>which IS rendered as vanity<\/em>. We should understand here that the idea of vanity <\/em>IS a better choice that those rendered in other translations which include being “subjected to frustration<\/em>” and “to futility<\/em>” along with ideas that ARE clearly based in the ‘fall of man’ theology including “was subjected to God’s curse<\/em>“, and that “Everything God made was changed to become useless<\/em>“. Weymouth renders the idea as “the Creation fell into subjection to failure and unreality<\/em>” and this IS a most accurate portrayal when the whole IS viewed from the perspective of the Soul which IS so subjected<\/em>. The Greek word IS defined by Strong’s as inutility <\/em>9a<\/sup> which DOES NOT help us to understand the idea being presented while Thayer’s defines mataiotes <\/em>as: what is devoid of truth and appropriateness; perverseness, depravation; frailty, want of vigor<\/em> 9<\/sup> with each of these ideas based upon the perceived intent of the passages which contain the Greek word. Thayer’s begins their commentary saying that mataiotes <\/em>IS a purely Biblical and ecclesiastical word as they trace the idea through the Septuagint to Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes where the idea of vanity <\/em>abounds. While vanity<\/em>, like so many other words, has a common understanding that DOES NOT pertain to the ideas of scripture, the Truth can be unlocked through Vincent’s words which amplify the ideas from Weymouth’s bible translation. Vincent tells us that the use of mataiotes<\/em> in Romans IS: a perishable and decaying condition, separate from God, and pursuing false ends<\/em> and, from a spiritual perspective we can surely see Weymouth’s idea that this vanity <\/em>IS both men’s failure <\/em>and their focus <\/em>upon unreality <\/em>which ARE both separate from God, and pursuing false ends<\/em>. Can we see the point here? Can we see that from the perspective of the True man that his birth, his nurturing and his indoctrination have separated his consciousness, his heart<\/em><\/strong> if you will, from a sense of Truth and from the Godhead and that in his carnal condition he IS ever pursuing false ends<\/em> and this because such ends ARE ALL that he has KNOWN? Vincent adds that: All which has not God for the true end of its being is \u03bc\u03b1\u0301\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2<\/em> where this Greek word IS mataios<\/em>, the root word for mataiotes<\/em>, which IS rendered as vain <\/em>and vanities<\/em> 2a<\/sup>. Strong’s defines mataios <\/em>as: empty, i.e. (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol<\/em> 9a<\/sup> and we should be careful here to remember that what IS vain <\/em>IS profitless <\/em>to the Soul whose objective IS to express <\/em><\/strong>his nature through his form which IS engrossed with an endless variety of idols<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The point here IS that this vanity <\/em>IS ever contrary to the Truth that the Soul ever tries to flow into the personality, a Truth that IS agape <\/em>and thereby the nature and the Way of God. Men’s vanity <\/em>keeps them focused <\/em>upon the self, the greatest of idols, and until such time as one’s vanity <\/em>can be overcome, he IS yet caught in his own “bondage of corruption<\/em>” from which the ONLY escape <\/em>IS Repentance <\/em><\/strong>and Transformation<\/strong><\/em>. The dictates of doctrines, the rites and rituals, the confessions and affirmations, prescribed by the churches ARE NOT a viable substitute for men’s change of focus <\/em>away from the self and onto the things of God; a change which IS the reality of that Repentance <\/em><\/strong>which Jesus came and preached to men saying such things as “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand<\/em>” (Matthew 4:17). While the Way to the Kingdom IS clearly shown us by the Master, the doctrines of men paint a very different picture and should we see this picture in terms of an idol(s), we could then perhaps better understand the realities that ARE set before us. In our trifecta <\/strong><\/em>we have the Way to the Kingdom through keeping His words<\/em> or, better, DOING “the will of my Father which is in heaven<\/em>“. This IS stated very clearly for us as ARE the Master’s other Kingdom sayings, some of which we should list here and comment on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality of Life IS that ALL can be “born again<\/em>” by the interaction of their own Soul with their mortal personalities and we should try to see how that this interaction IS attained ONLY through Repentance <\/em><\/strong>and Transformation<\/em><\/strong>. These ARE that change of focus<\/em>, that virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice<\/em> 4<\/sup>, that results, through our Transformation<\/strong><\/em>, in our keeping His words<\/em> and our ever increasing expression <\/em><\/strong>of agape<\/em>. This IS the point of most ALL of the New Testament which should be seen as a guide book to spiritual Truth based in the words of Jesus and the amplifying and clarifying words of His apostles. It IS this guidebook that is summarized for us in our trifecta <\/em><\/strong>of spiritual reality where the Master’s own words show us the way to His Kingdom, to His Truth and to the Truth of His Presence, the Christ Within, in our lives. Repeating our trifecta <\/strong><\/em>we read;<\/p>\n\n\n\nhope, Because<\/s> expectation that the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God<\/em>” (Romans 8:20-21). Again we should explain the change from hope <\/em>to expectation <\/em>and because <\/em>to that<\/em>; as we discussed in the last essay, Strong’s tells us that the True ideas behind the Greek word elpis <\/em>ARE that it IS: from a primary \u1f14\u03bb\u03c0\u03c9 \u00e9lp\u014d (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence<\/em> 9a<\/sup> and while they list hope <\/em>as an English word that can be rendered from it, they DID NOT mean that common idea of hope <\/em>as it IS understood today, and idea which IS most always used in terms of wishful. From God’s perspective there IS NO hope <\/em>as this wishful thinking but there IS an expectation<\/em><\/strong> that over time men will be able to free <\/em>themselves from that vanity <\/em>into which ALL men ARE born. Simply, God DOES NOT hope<\/em>, neither Universally nor individually as the Souls of men which ARE grounded in agape<\/em>, the very nature of the Godhead. God, individually and corporately, expects <\/strong><\/em>to be able to share the Truth with the carnal man through his Transformed <\/em><\/strong>carnal mind. The change from because <\/em>to that <\/em>IS much simpler; it IS based in Vincent’s commentary that regarding the phrase says: In hope because (\u03b5\u0313\u03c0 ‘ \u03b5\u0313\u03bb\u03c0\u03b9\u0301\u03b4\u03b9 \u03bf\u0314\u0301\u03c4\u03b9)<\/em> that The best texts transfer these words from the preceding verse, and construe with was made subject, rendering \u03bf\u0314\u0301\u03c4\u03b9 that instead of because<\/em> 4<\/sup>. Another idea that IS a diluted one from the King James Bible IS in regard to the phrase “shall be delivered<\/em>“; this phrase IS from the Greek word eleutheroo <\/em>which IS rendered by most in terms of being made or set free<\/em>. This word IS rendered as such in Jesus’ words saying “If ye<\/em> continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free<\/em>”\u00a0(John 8:31-32) and should we connect the dots we can then understand that such freedom <\/em>IS the result of that same expected <\/em>Transformation<\/em><\/strong>. The doctrinal gist however IS that one will be delivered <\/em>or made free <\/em>by the hand of God and it IS ONLY when we can discover that the hand of God IS the Power of our own Souls which ARE ever One with the Godhead, can we Truly understand the realty of the vanity <\/em>in which we live. While Paul’s words from Romans regarding this idea of vanity <\/em>ARE yet construed by the churches as the ‘fall of man’, the reality IS simply that by birth into this world we ARE, as Souls, made separate from God<\/em> as we lose sight of our True identity; we ARE born as infants that have NOT the capacity to DO ought but what we may learn. And learn we DO through our nurturing and indoctrination into the ways of the world and this dynamic IS constant across races, cultures, religions and any other term that separates mankind into groups. In effect we ARE born blinded to the realities of Life as we learn ONLY the carnal ideas and this regardless of what ‘group’ we ARE born into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n