Loving Humanity

“In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it’s impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them. . .I destroy them.” ― Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” ― Romans 9:13

Each and every son of God had his beginning in God, and existed in Christ before time began - not as a human, but a spirit. When each of God’s sons is born into this dark realm there is encoded in the depths of his or her spirit the secret knowledge of why we are here and what path the Father has marked out for us in our journey through this shadowy land of sin and death. The goal of humanity is that we should come to the knowledge of good and evil, fully overcoming in it, that we may stand at last before our Father in perfection and power like unto His own. You see, when Adam was created, he was full of Light - that is, absent of sin. So then, the thing that makes us “human” is the fallen nature or, in other words, the carnal mind. . .which seeks to keep us separated from God. This veil of carnality has blinded our spirit nature and made us forget our beginning in Christ Jesus. . .to forget our way home to the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, BUT BY ME.” Jesus is the road. . .the straight gate, and the narrow path that leads to the Father. That is where we are going! We are on a journey back to the Father and JESUS IS THE WAY! The WAY is not a route through the earth’s oceans, nor the Milky Way, the WAY is a PERSON! And the DESTINATION is likewise a PERSON! "No man cometh unto the FATHER, but by ME." It is IN CHRIST that we are enabled to enter into intimate relationship and vital union with the Father.

So then, in the struggle between Esau and Jacob, we see that Esau represents the fallen nature of man, whereas Jacob represents the overcomer whose name has been changed to Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל Yisrâʼêl), meaning “He will Rule as God”. Esau and Jacob - twins - were locked in battle from the womb. Because of this, I believe it is possible to love humanity, and also want to destroy it at the same moment. In fact, I find it impossible not to. This struggle is the epitome of the knowledge of good and evil. Paul says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not”, yet Ephesians 5:29-32 says, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord [nourishes and cherishes] the church” - even though they err time and time again. Paul goes on to say, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Ephesians 5:25-33

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Every usage of the word “Flesh” here is G4561 (σάρξ sárx), meaning: flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul [or spirit], or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties [physically or morally] and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such): carnal, carnally minded, flesh(-ly).

Aside from the sexual experience, we know that two humans cannot physically become “one (literal) flesh”. Therefore, in order to understand the SPIRITUAL meaning intended here, we must look at the root word G4563 (σαίρω saírō), which means: (to brush off); a broom; to sweep. G4563 is akin to G4951 (σύρω sýrō) meaning: to draw, drag: of one before the judge, to prison, to punishment.

“And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

Isaiah 28:17

Let us compare the definitions above with another verse which speaks of being “preserved blameless”. This, I believe, is the true essence of the love of Christ toward the church as represented in the spiritual bond of the husband and wife, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”.

I Thessalonians 5:23-24. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."

J Preston Eby writes: “This incorrect translation of the Greek text suggests that the apostle Paul believed that those believers at Thessalonica would be preserved physically, enjoying health and longevity for 2,000 years, until the so-called "rapture." Those of you who are qualified to read the Greek text may be surprised to learn that the Greek words meaning "until" (MECHRI, HEOS, ACHRI) are not to be found in this passage. These verses say nothing whatsoever about being preserved "until" or "unto" the coming of the Lord. The word translated "unto" is the Greek preposition EN which is the equivalent of our English word IN. The Greek preposition EN clearly defines LOCATION or POSITION. Dr. Robert Young, author of Young's Analytical Concordance, in his Literal Translation correctly translates the verse, "And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameable IN THE PRESENCE of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Concordant New Testament renders, "Now may the God of peace Himself be hollowing you wholly; and may your unimpaired spirit and soul and body be kept blameless IN THE PRESENCE of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Diaglott reads, "And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your whole person - the spirit and the soul and the body - be preserved blameless IN THE PRESENCE of our Lord Jesus Christ."

There is a whole world of difference between being preserved blameless UNTIL THE COMING of the Lord and being preserved blameless IN THE PRESENCE OF the Lord! Is it not by HIS ABIDING PRESENCE that we are able to be kept and preserved blameless, faultless, without blemish or spot? It should be apparent that the primary thrust of this scripture is a sanctification and preservation of the whole man in a state of holiness and perfection by the power of the presence of the Lord. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). This is utterly amazing! Vile sinners such as we - assured that it is the purpose of God in election and predestination that we should be WITHOUT BLEMISH before the Father! Such a condition is first stated to be true in our forerunner, Christ: ". . .the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb WITHOUT BLEMISH" (I Peter 1:19). Wonder of wonders! that there should be a people, a firstfruit company, a royal priesthood, a seed of blessing which is AS FREE OF BLEMISH as is the precious lamb of God Himself! Dear chosen one of God, dare you believe it? Ah, if this were not the case, why would God be dealing so severely in your life? "Now He that hath wrought us for this self-same thing is GOD" (II Corinthians 5:5). Thank God - HE shall perform it!

That our Father shall bring this work to its final consummation and present us FAULTLESS is certain! Ah, under the searchlight of His holy presence, have you not beheld your own weakness and unworthiness and despaired that your life could ever be conformed to the image of God's lovely Son? True, in your own strength and initiative such a feat can never be performed, but the word is sure: "HE HATH CHOSEN US. . .THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME before Him!" Chosen - to be without blemish! What a calling! And the One who has so chosen is the same who is well able to bring it to pass! "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath HE reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, TO PRESENT YOU HOLY AND UNBLAMEABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE in His sight" (Colossians 1:21-22). Furthermore, “. . .unto HIM THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING, and to PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory" (Jude 24). He IS ABLE! He - is able to PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS! Yes, beloved, He can and will do it. Let us trust Him. Perfection is not a thing He gives us apart from Himself. Perfection is nothing but Christ Himself, most compassionately and most faithfully intervening in our daily life, most really and fully giving and living HIS LIFE IN US. The mighty CHRIST WITHIN is the guarantee of our perfection as sons of God.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Holy, without blemish, unblameable, unreproveable, blameless, without spot or wrinkle - all are related terms. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH" (Ephesians 5:25-27). There is much difference between a spot and a wrinkle. A spot is "a stain coming from defilement," indicating an eruption of unrighteousness in one's life. A wrinkle is "a fold, a drawing together." A wrinkle is a blemish, though there may be no defilement with it. A garment may be spotlessly white with no stain upon it, but if it is wrinkled, its beauty and usefulness are marred. A wrinkle is a blemish revealed UNDER PRESSURE, bespeaking a weakness, such as discouragement, distraction, confusion, immaturity, etc. - not defilement, no wickedness, evil or sin involved, but marring the beauty and usefulness, nonetheless. The body of Christ, God's house of sons shall not have even a wrinkle! Our precious Lord is going to cleanse the members of His body with the washing of water by the Word and make them whiter than snow. The hand of the Father will smooth out every wrinkle by the intense heat and pressure of His dealing hand, until the body of Christ appears in all the glory and beauty of CHRIST'S COMELINESS.

Holy and without blemish! In linking holy and without blemish so closely, the Holy Spirit would lead us to rejoice in the Father's declaration, to reach out after nothing less than to be fully holy AND mature - without blame, without lack, fully furnished and COMPLETE IN CHRIST in every aspect of our being. The hour is coming and now is when the sons of God who are coming into the image of the firstborn Son, Jesus Christ, find themselves drawn irresistibly by the Spirit into the state of being of that blessed company of the 144,000 redeemed ones John beheld in vision upon the holy mount of Zion: "These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. . .and in their mouth was found no guile: for they are WITHOUT FAULT (blemish) before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:4-5).

Now we can understand what Paul really meant when he expressed the confidence that the Thessalonians would be preserved BLAMELESS IN THE PRESENCE of the Lord. Oh! what a mess men make of God's Word! This beautiful passage of scripture has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the so-called "second coming" of Christ! When the simplicity of the wording in the Greek language is understood, how PLAIN it all becomes! But precious and simple truths such as these have been altogether lost by the religious systems in general. The world is altogether too full of babblers of every description, who resist the truth of God to the uttermost. It is high time for the truth to be told in no uncertain terms, and high time for all who love the truth to abandon the pews and doctrines of Babylon to be truly separated unto the Lord in this momentous hour. Truly, as we seek HIS PRESENCE and live and walk in the POWER OF HIS PRESENCE, in ever-increasing measures we shall experience the mighty operation of His life within that conforms wholly into the image of God! And so, we shall be preserved BLAMELESS IN AND BY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD right here and now!” - End Quote

When we come to the point in our lives where we truly understand our fallen nature. . .understand it well enough to defeat it, only then are we able to accept and love. . .not only ourselves, but all humanity. Here, we are stripped of “self” and clothed with Jesus Christ. Only here. . .in Christ, are we able to see humanity as Jesus does - blameless, and without blemish - without so much as a spot or wrinkle. Only here, in Christ, can we love humanity as Jesus loves it and gave Himself for it. . . unconditionally, yet not without price. Only here, in Christ, can we enter the straight gate. Only here, in Christ, can we travel the narrow path which leads us home to the Father. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18).

Looking at Hebrews 12:18 & 22 we see this. . .

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest. . .
22 But ye are come unto MOUNT SION, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

A city, which according to David, CANNOT be moved. In Israel, Jerusalem was the capital city. . .the seat of government comprising all the ruling class. Yet within Jerusalem there was only ONE who, along with his entire household, dwelt on mount Zion. He was the king! Mount Zion is the highest mount in Jerusalem and David - the king, established his throne there. His was the highest pinnacle of glory attainable. But that Zion was only a shadow of the true mount Zion to which we are come in the Spirit. David was king over natural Israel. Christ is king over spiritual Israel. David dwelt on the natural mount Zion. Therefore Christ dwells on the spiritual mount Zion. And this spiritual Zion is composed of those who in union with Christ the Head, have reached the very highest pinnacle attainable in the heavenly Jerusalem - those who have followed the Lord all the way to His throne. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

“Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”

Loosed From Our Sins

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