MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
October 23, 2024
The Third Person of the Godhead Series – Part 33
LOVE: THE FIRST ‘FRUIT’ OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 6)
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul, “the apostle to the Gentiles,” wrote what is famously known and quoted from as “the love chapter”of 2 Corinthians 13.
Paul was unique among the first apostles in a couple of aspects; one outstanding one was he alone was “caught up to the third heaven. . . Into paradise “either by vision or dream-vision (like Jacob) “to the third heavens, even paradise itself.” Writing in the third person, he humbly relates this in 2 Cor. 12: 1-11. Be sure to read it unhurriedly and without preconceived ideas for it reveals the context on which the familiar words, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (verse 9) applies to.
As might be normally expected, Paul did not, however, describe what his EYES BEHELD there, like “gorgeous mansions,” or any of the familiar patriarchs, prophets, and kings.
Why? Simply because they returned to the dust from where man was made from, and will only be arise from their dusty graves in the “resurrection of the just” when Christ, in His “love that conquers all,”
returns in His second advent, bringing His “reward of eternal life” to “all who loved Him by keeping His commandments.
Rather, the only “good report” Paul brought back down to earth with him as it were, of his sacred, otherworldly experience and trip to the third heavens to share with us finite, mortal earthlings was (emphasis mine):
“I HEARD UNSPEAKABLE WORDS, WHICH IS NOT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO UTTER.” Verse 4. Without “uttering these heavenly words Paul nevertheless provides more spiritual insight but not any details elsewhere, writing (emphasis mine):
“Eye hath not seen, NOR nor EAR HEARD, nor has entered into the heart of men what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Cor. 2:9. The rest of the chapter says that the Holy Spirit is prepared to reveal “the deep things of God” but can only be “spiritually discerned.”Thus, when we read again, even repeat by rote memory the love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, we now know that this love, called “charity” in the KJV (A.V.) has absolutely nothing of “eros” in it, is not based on “philos,” neither its substitute though of “brotherly love,” nor ever “platonic” but exclusively “agape,” selfless love.”
Fallen, sinful mortals with carnal minds and hearts are all born with sinful propensities, which are all “at enmity,” not in agreement or harmony with truth, righteousness, self-denial and self-sacrifice. Selfishness is part of the nature of fallen mortals. The love that it is capable of is precisely that. One cannot expect pure water from a polluted well or spring. The source must first be purified.
But where the plan of redemption is concerned, there is absolutely no provision whatsoever for “self-cleaning,”
self-cleansing, or self-atonement, even if we “give our bodies to be burned,” etc.
It is only by living faith in the cleansing power of the blood life sacrifice of the Lamb of God “to take away sin and its guilt, and receive by “asking, seeking, and knocking for the Holy Spirit” and His “baptism by fire” to “consume sin” (Matt. 3: 11, 12; Mal. 3: Mal. 3: 1-6; Heb.13: 28, 29; Deut. 4:24; 9: 3; Isa 5:24) will any striving believer be able to “overcome even as Christ overcame”(Rev. 3:18-22) “the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
By these enlightenment we can better understand and appreciate the sublime privilege of knowing the LOVE OF JESUS that reveals the fullness of God, as declared by Paul herewith (emphasis mine):
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory [glorious character] to be strengthened with might by His [Holy] Spirit [dwelling] in the inner man [heart, mind, conscience];
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. That ye, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to COMPREHEND with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE, THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
“Unto Him be glory in the church through Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph. 3:14-21, KJV. To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.