MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 16, 2024
The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 32
LOVE: THE FIRST ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 5)
That PLATONIC LOVE, the philosophical brainchild of the Greek philosopher Plato—is not from and of the eternal God who is “love, light, and life”—-is part of Paul’s bold declaration of the foolishness of men’s wisdom compared to God’s wisdom as quoted hereunder. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):
“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made FOOLISH THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD? For after that IN THE WISDOM OF GOD the world by wisdom [its own] KNEW NOT GOD, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [as considered by the wisdom of man] to SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE. For the Jews require a SIGN [miraculous physical evidence], and the GREEKS seek after WISDOM [of the world]. But we [Paul and the apostles] preach CHRIST crucified, unto the JEWS A STUMBLING BLOCK, and unto the GREEKS FOOLISHNESS. But unto them which are called [and respond], BOTH JEWS AND GREEKS, Christ is the power of God, and the Wisdom of God. Because THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MEN [‘both Jew and Greek’]; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Cor. 19-25, A.V. Two of Paul’s truth-dense epistles were written to and named after two Greeks, namely, Timotheus or Timothy, and Titus. Notice (emphasis mine):
Of Timothy: “Then came he [Paul] to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a CERTAIN DISCIPLE was there, NAMED TIMOTHEUS, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed [in Christ]; but his father was a GREEK: which was well reported of by the brethren. . . .and circumcised him BECAUSE OF THE JEWS for they knew all that his [Timothy’a] father was a Greek.” Acts. 16: 1-3.
Of Titus: “Then 14 years after I [Paul] went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took TITUS with me also. . . . But neither Titus, who was with me, being a GREEK, was compelled to be circumcised [by the troublesome Judaizing Jews].” Gal. 2: 1, 3. Paul makes it crystal clear to both believers and unbelievers through all time, dispensations, and eras that where the gospel of salvation is concerned “God “is no respecter of persons:”
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond [slave] or free, neither male nor female: for ye are all ONE in Christ.” Gal. 3:28.
“For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is NO DIFFERENCE between the Jews and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is RICH unto all that call upon Him. For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be [not already or automatically] saved.” Rom. 10: 11-13. In fact it was the unbelieving Judaizing Jews, not the GREEKS and Gentiles, who fomented hatred and persecution toward Paul and Barnabas as they proclaimed the crucified, risen, and ascended Savior.
“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they both went up together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a GREAT MULTITUDE both of the Jews and the GREEKS BELIEVED. But the unbelieving Jews STIRRED UP the Gentiles, and made their MINDS EVIL affected against the brethren.” Acts. 14: 1, 2 (read chapters 13, 14 for broader context).
These sample verses are cited to prevent any hasty conclusions that this ministry is prejudiced against Plato, atheists, Holy Spirit deniers, antinomians, hedonists, or any fellow finite mortals. Indeed, “All we like sheep have gone astray,” and that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rather, it is the anti-scriptural, counterfeit, erroneous doctrines and philosophies of any and all that we are addressing here—-and all in the LOVE of God and in defense of the gospel “truth as it is in Jesus.”
The love that manifests in the life of the truly converted and spiritually-growing followers of Christ, defined as the “fruit” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is one and the same as that of God the Father and Jesus Christ the only-begotten Son, for “They Three are One.”
We will focus in the following editions on the “agape” SELF-LESS “love divine and excelling” that alone is of the Godhead, emanates from the Father IN Christ the only-begotten Son (both “of God” and “of Man”), imparted through the Holy Spirit, empowers all, packaged the “more abounding saving grace that is greater than the power of temptations of “the world, the flesh, and the devil,” and thus, “greater than faith and hope.”
To be continued next week, God willing. Bless all, NMF.