Love by Julie Feb 15
From the Dual Plan
Prophets of different castes and of pronounced wisdom have raised their voices in
explanation, pretending to solve the question. But time has exposed them all as
falsifiers of the truth and as promoters of the very confusion they have meant to
clear up. The prophecies of the Holy Scriptures have been applied in many
different ways as means of explanation, but all in vain. Yet the prophetic
language of the all-wise God is the only source from whence a light may be
expected whereby the mystical darkness can be explained, and by it alone can we
mortals penetrate into the future. But God does not let the Prophetic Light shine
until the lights produced by man have been proved failures. He does not mix his
prophetic light with the false illuminations. Hence, he suffers the falsifiers to go
on until their pretended light, by the influence of time, has been turned into utter
darkness. The confidence of the people in the false leaders must turn aside,
before God's light is valued and accepted in love.
The redemption established by the
All-wise God, is for the purpose of preparing a people, worthy of his majestic
greatness, for a holy and intelligent kingdom. Experience cannot be created nor
can it be inherited from father to son. It means a practical knowledge gained
through observation and trials. It comes by action on the part of the person that
gains it. In order to develop a mind capable of distinguishing between good and
evil in all its different grades, circumstances and time are required. In order to
learn to know the attributes of God, such as love, mercy and patience, it was
necessary to place man in a condition where his corresponding qualities would
come in touch with the character of God; hence the redeeming process with man.
We read about Christ, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of
eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebr. 5: 8, 9.)
The experience Christ gained by suffering, made him perfect as the author of
eternal salvation, and if he, being sinless, had to gain his position by experience,
how much more so then, do not we, who have been degraded and polluted by
sin, need experience through suffering. Experience develops the character for the
good or for the bad.
The eternal kingdom will be an immortal kingdom, where life in all forms will
manifest and display its power. Being the intelligent link between the Life-giver
and his subjects of the lower creation who then are controlled by the immortal
force, man consequently must partake of the nature of God. And that, as the
apostle Peter clearly explains it, must be done here by taking hold of the
promises and "by giving all diligence" to the adding of virtue to faith, knowledge
to virtue, temperance to knowledge, patience to temperance, and godliness to
patience, etc. By its continuance, year in and year out, this experience of adding,
brings both the mind and the body in close contact with the Word of God. "God is
the Word, and the Word is God." Developing thus by the influence and power of
the Word, the being partakes of the "divine nature" and his mind becomes one
with God.
Christ, the Redeemer of the World
As the perfect personification of the Word of God and partaker of the divine
nature, Christ is not only the Redeemer of man, but also of the world. The world
was made by the Word of God and was intended as a home for man in the
presence of God. When man lost his inheritance, the whole possession became
subject to the redeeming, act which includes both the heaven and the earth,
because both were created at one and the same time by the same process and
for the same purpose—it all came into existence by the Word.
The world, as the creation of God, has not fallen away from its original position;
but as the home of man and celestial beings, who have severed themselves from
the harmonious chord, both the heaven and the earth have become defiled.
Hence they are subject to redemption.
Christ, when he promised them seats on kingly thrones, referred his disciples to
the regeneration of the world. John declares that "the Father sent the Son to be
the Savior of the world." (1 John 4: 14) . And the Son himself says, "For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." That does not mean all the
world of wicked men, for he does not even pray for their salvation. (John 17: 9) .
The gospel proceeding out from God, dominates all the creation made by the
Word. Man from the beginning, was made subject to the Word by which he and
the entire creation came into existence. By failing to persevere in the first test, he
lost his home, but the gospel from the Maker announces the glad tidings that it
shall be restored to him finally. That gospel has been proclaimed by all the
prophets, and the gospel of Christ is the same as that which "is written in the
prophets." (Mark 1: 1, 2.)
Paul, speaking of the redemption brought to light by the first coming of Christ,
says to the Ephesians:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy
Spirit of promise, which Is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of
the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Eph. 1: 13, 14.)
The Holy Spirit, comforting the heart of the true believer in the gospel of Christ, is
the earnest, the pledge or security for his inheritance—not that he shall inherit
the heavens above, but that his lost possession shall be redeemed. By the blood
of Christ it is purchased, but the time of redemption has not come yet.
The_Dual_Plan.odt [rev 0.1.1] 17
Even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish: because they received not
the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be
damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we
are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our
gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren,
stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word,
or our epistle." (2 Thess. 2: 1-15.)
No one who loves the truth and stands by it, can misunderstand the meanings of
such plain testimonies. This is the God-power, that in the coming warfare will
prove itself superior to the god-power which has been christened by the Catholic
church.
As the name of the true God, Jehovah, and his power become revealed to the
people, the deceiving god-power with all its host of agents will be cast down to
the earth in the same manner that they have cast down the servants of God when
the latter have protested against the false gospel. As that deceiving power is
broken, the people on the side of Michael and the Truth will raise their voices in
praise for God and say:
"Now Is come salvation (the true salvation) and strength and the kingdom of our
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The Dual Plan
Written by: C and J Lee
XX. MICHAEL AND THE WAR IN HEAVEN
God, and the power of his Christ."
This shows that„a false salvation, a. false kingdom and a false Messiah have had
the power and the strength of the people before.
3. Their final fate. "And when they shall have completed their testimony, that wild
beast ascending out of the bottomless pit will make war with them, and will
conquer and kill them." Those who try to hurt them will fall dead before them in
the same manner as Ananias and Sapphira did before the feet of Peter. The Spirit
of God will kill them. But at the closing up of their testimony, the nations will
unite in bringing their dragonic forces against them and will capture and execute
them. Satan will possess the wicked masses so thoroughly that they will even
hate the dead bodies of those two beings, who, in love of humanity, have warned
the world concerning the judgment of God. They will not suffer them to be buried,
but will let them lie on the streets of a wicked city, where all the passers-by can
spit on them and give them a kick.
False Prophets:
Paul
says that "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be
saved," "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
"Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of
Ephraim. But chose the tribe of Judah, the Mount Zion, which he loved." (Ps. 78:
67, 68.)
Then the glory of God will proceed from the heavenly throne situated in the new
and living Jerusalem like a mighty flood of life-power over the new creation.
Unspeakable joy fills the heart of every being there—no more oppression, no
more toil or struggle for bread, no more parting from dear and loved friends, no
more sorrow and death.
"Blessed are those who wash their robes so that their right may be to the wood of
the life, and they may enter by the gates into the city (the way Abraham was told
to go). He who testifies these things says: Yes, I am coming speedily. Amen!
Come!—Lord Jesus."
OUT OF LOGOS:
The law of faith consists of the following commandments:
1. "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15: 12.)
Into this commandment enters the first part of God's ten commandments, quoted by Christ:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
Logos.odt [rev 0.1] 39
LOGOS
by C. and J. Lee
Logos In the Form of the Law of Faith
mind. This is the first and great commandment." (Mat. 22: 37, 38.)
2. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15: 13, 14.)
In this might be included the next greatest commandment in the law of the Father, and this
reads as follows: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Christ adds that, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." In the
5th, 6th and 7th chapters of Matthew we find ten commandments given by Christ which
correspond to God's ten commandments. The sabbath is not mentioned, because those who
believe in Christ are supposed to practice love towards God and neighbor also on the seventh
day, for thus the commandment is honored,, even should love require work on the part of the
individual. Neither are images mentioned, this because none who believes in Jesus and has
had the law of the Father engraved in his understanding and heart can or will break this
commandment.
What will be the appearance of God's own people after the Mediator of the New Covenant
has written these laws in the hearts and minds of the believers? The description of their
appearance is given in Acts 4: 32-35. The love towards God as Father and Giver of their
spiritual and temporal blessings unites them all as brothers and sisters, who eat at a common
table. The love of Christ, which has brought about this union, impels them to sacrifice their
lives with a fervent devotion in order that they might rescue as many as they can induce to
follow them in obedience and faith.
No compulsory sacrifices are now accepted, for no one who unwillingly offers of his temporal
good will reach to the Mediator. Only love will penetrate the veil, for even faith will strand at
the resurrection. If, in faith in the imminency of the Lord's day, I sacrifice all my possessions
and also die for the sake of my faith, but do not love the Giver of the law, it will avail nothing,
says Paul in 1 Cor., 13th chapter.
The letter brought forth dead works, admired by all, but the law of faith shall bring forth the
fruit of perfection, consisting of the fullness of love, so that Christ might, in the everlasting
kingdom, without any reins (law and promises) rule over the creation and bring forth a
perfect kingdom. It is for this purpose a more perfect law is offered to us.
Therefore, those who do not love God above all things and, impelled by this
feeling offer their sacrifices, they sacrifice on the altars of idols, because their sacrifices are
not accepted by the Mediator of the law of love.
of sin is the law of God -- the commandments which place a limitation on the prerogatives
and privileges of God and man. The law is a spiritual light, revealing God as the universal
Lawgiver. But this law, without the guidance of the Spirit, remains only a dead letter. The law
brings to light all manner of sin. And sin is injustice committed against God or our fellowman.
The object of the law is to establish and promote peace between man and man, also to unite
all law-abiding to a relationship of peace with the Lawgiver. When the law is considered with
respect to its substance, or sum total, without paying attention to the special commandments
and limitations, it means, as Jesus says: "Love God above all things, and thy neighbour as
thyself."
Those who love darkness more than light
feel hurt because of the testimony of truth and resist it, endeavoring to do away with the
representative of the truth. Since he is the means used by the Spirit for the purpose of
exposing the darkness and kindling the light, the opposition is aimed directly against the
Spirit. This is illustrated very plainly in the struggle between Christ and the spiritual leaders of
the Jews.
Christ's Acts of Salvation
by C. and J. Lee
VIII. The Law and Commandments of Christ
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now
justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more,
being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy
in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement." (Rom. 5:6-11.)
This foundation of love and forgiveness surpasses everything else, and on this
foundation rests the commandment of Christ. In Him, as the object of the law,
God has centered all authority, hence all commandments and orders concerning
the children of faith, the spiritual seed, come from Him. Those who carry on with
other commandments and ordinances than those which emanate directly from
Christ, turn away from the foundation and use another foundation than the one
which God has authorized to Christ.
The Commandments of Christ for Spiritually Minded
The commandments of the law are for the natural seed — the natural man in his
efforts to learn to know God and to abide by Him. But Christ's commandments
concern those who are spiritually minded — those who, through the co-operation
of the Spirit of God and the Word, have experienced a renewal of mind. It is
therefore to be presumed that they seek that which is good and right — that
they are righteous — and, "knowing this, that the law (written law) is not made
for a righteous man." (1 Tim. 1:9.)
Christ Himself says that He has received a special commandment from His
Father. He Himself expresses it as follows:
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might
take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment
have I received of my Father." (John 10: 17, 18.)
The object of the law — both the moral law and the sacrificial — enters into this
commandment. The moral law surrounds the love of God and that of our
fellowman, and the sacrificial law constituted a door on this wall of restriction,
through which it was made possible for the transgressor to come inside or into
the sphere of love. Christ went still farther, that is, beyond the barrier of the law,
when He even gave His life for His enemies.
Through this He became a new foundation of love, one which rises by virtue of faith above
the frame of the commandments of the law. And being raised above this, it is evident that it
cannot be mixed with it. And the commandments going forth from this elevated
foundation are also, as a result of the foundation upon which they rest, of a
superior value, hence so adapted that those concerned take a higher position
than those who are subject to the restrictions of the law. The latter, with its
commandments, concerns the natural seed, but Christ, or the law of the Spirit,
concerns the spiritual seed. Hence we must learn to differentiate between the
law of Christ and the prefigurative law, also between the natural and the spiritual
seed.
The Import of Christ's Law
Paul says: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Gal.
6:2.) This goes farther than the letter of the law. The testimony of the law was:
Love thy neighbor as thyself, but the law of Christ demands that one carries the
burdens of the weaker, also that if anyone compels you to go one mile, you
should voluntarily go two miles, and if your brother offends against you up to
seventy times, and regrets it and asks forgiveness, you should be willing to
forgive him from your heart.
This goes much farther than the law with its prescribed commandments. Faith is,
as mentioned, unlimited, and the law of Christ is the law of faith. Man will learn
to understand the contents of Christ's law and walk accordingly in the proportion
faith molds the spiritual mind. But those who are not spiritually minded, do not
know the law of Christ, and no matter what commandments they keep, it avails
nothing.
The Intermingling of the Two Laws
Christ says: "He that bath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me.... 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.)
And it is from this and similar passages of Scripture the interminglers of the
typical law and that of Christ take support. They do not know the difference
between the two separate laws, but mix them together, as if Christ were still
subject to demands of both the moral law and that of the temple law, and that
He handed them over as a heritage to His followers. But the Scripture differentiates
very clearly between these two laws. Just as clearly as it differentiates
between the natural or carnal-minded person and the one who is spiritualminded,
it differentiates between the law of ordinances and that of faith. The
author of the epistle to the Hebrews says:
"For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the
weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but
the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
(Hebr. 7:18, 19.)
This hope was founded outside of the frame of the law, and Peter expresses this
in the following spiritual words:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3.)
This living hope no commandments of the law could illustrate, nor could they
limit the love that accomplished it. And hence the commandments of such a law
cannot apply on those who by virtue of faith have linked themselves with the
One resurrected from death. The sum total of Christ's commandment to His
followers is the following:
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken
unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This
is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are
my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not
servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you
friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto
you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever
ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I
command you, that ye love one another." (John 15:10-17.)
His own sacrificing love, which led Him into death for His friends, constitutes the
law of faith, and this He impressed on His spiritually minded followers. He Himself
had completed the law of ordinances in all of its demands, and on the road
of love He had excelled all of its commandments. And now, therefore, He
presents to His friends the same law of faith that controlled Him unto death,
hence this law, and no other, is their guide.
The object with the law of ordinances, namely, perfect love of God and
fellowmen, is personified to perfection, yes, excelled, hence there are no
regulations that turns the mind back. They look to and follow the One resurrected
from the dead, and they await His return. In the love which actuates them
because of this, they proceed in the law of faith, doing their deeds in accordance
therewith.
VERSES
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1 John 2 ALL
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1Jn 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1Jn 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1Jn 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.