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THE CELESTIAL LIFE II, BY KIANG P LEE

Greetings Friends! In February 2020 I wrote a post about the ‘celestial life’ in which I said that the ‘celestial life’ is anchored upon this passage of scripture from the Bible, “Just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17, KJV). To put it more simply, it means, we live in God and God lives in us. John wrote this, “God is love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). Jesus is the Intermediary who makes the ‘celestial life’ possible. (John 3:16-17) Jesus is the second Person of the Trinitarian Godhead and is God. The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Godhead, as is the Father who is the first Person. (Matt.28:18-20; Act.7:55) Humanity is God’s offspring by creation. (Gen.1:26-27). John tells us this, “See what great Love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). Let us continue, this post is the sequel to my first post on the topic of the ‘celestial life.’

By stating, “Just as Jesus is” it conjures and invites the question, who is Jesus? (1 John 4:17) The Bible reveals Jesus as the “I Am.” (Exo.3:14). What does that identity mean – “I AM?” Jesus first revealed this truth about Himself during the time of Israelite slavery in Egypt. (Deut.24:18) God was about to send Moses to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. (Deut.5:15) But Moses was concerned that the Israelites may not find him credible much less believable since he was a wanted man in Egypt – having killed an Egyptian. (Exo.2:11-15)

We pick up Moses’ exchange with God in the book of Exodus, and Moses asked God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “Moreover, God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt” (Exo.3:13-17, NKJV).

The name Yahweh is a transliteration of the proper name YHWH (without vowels) that is sometimes rendered “Jehovah;” in this translation it is usually rendered “the LORD” (note the use of small capitals in the passage). Jesus Christ was the second Person of the triune God that Moses and Israel was dealing with in the Old Testament and under the first (old) covenant.

“I AM WHO I AM,” what does that mean and how do we relate with God through this identity of Himself to Israel and all humanity, His children? The words “I AM WHO I AM,” is translated from the original text, אהיה אשר אהיה, (pronounced “Ehyeh asher Ehyeh”), which can mean a few different things: I am that I am. I am that which exists…. I will exist because I will exist… I will be what I will be.

Much later in the New Testament, Jesus said this to the listeners of His day, “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM!” (John 8:58). This shows Jesus’ identity as the second Person of the Triune Godhead with whom Moses spoke. Therefore, the “I AM” in the Old Testament is identical with “Just as Jesus is” we read earlier in the New Testament. (1 John 4:17, KJV). Consequently, “I AM” is who “Jesus IS.” The Bible reveals other identities and names for Jesus like Immanuel, Messiah, King of kings, and others. But we will deal with His identity as the “I AM” in this blog as it relates to the subject of the ‘celestial life.’

silhouette of trees and mountain under blue sky at nighttime — “I look up at Your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
    Your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
    Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do You bother with us?
    Why take a second look our way?
Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
    bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of Your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us Your Genesis-charge” (Psa.8:3-8, MSG). (Unsplash)

Let’s unravel the relationship with the identity of Jesus as “I AM” with humanity. Let us decode what “I AM” means? Paul’s words explains this further, as it concerns Jesus and our relationship with Him, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who Loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20, KJV). By saying we have “been crucified with Christ,” it basically means the fallen, rebellious self inherited from the first Adam no longer lives but was crucified and died on Jesus’ cross. In saying, “Christ now lives in me,” the passage reveals that Jesus’s death brings about a rebirth where the indwelling Christ, the second Adam, is the true spiritual person, whom God is creating in His image and likeness. (1 Cor.15:45; 2 Cor.4:10).

Call to mind what Paul was inspired to write, “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom.8:29). By conforming and identifying humanity with the image of His Son, God harmonizes mankind with the “I AM” in Jesus. Jesus is the image of God in humanity. (Gen.1:26-27; Rom.8:29)

Having been born as Immanuel (God with us, Matt.1:23), Jesus lived the perfect human life, sacrificing Himself for our atonement, then being resurrected and ascended to heaven, Paul explains the truth of what Jesus did for humanity, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:6, BSB). Yes, “God raised humanity up with Christ and seated us with Him in heaven.” What does this mean? It means you and I find ourselves in heaven with Jesus (“I AM”) while simultaneously being human right here on earth. This is the essence of the ‘celestial life.’ I am constantly alive and living in heaven in our walk upon this earth.

Therefore, “I AM” is God’s name and life in humanity. So, we can say, “I AM who I AM in Christ, and Christ is the “I AM” in me.” Or, “Who I AM in Christ, is who He is in me.” Personally, it becomes a personal anthem and mantra to live by. So, when a person asks, ‘who am I?’…and answers by saying, “I Am (so-and-so),” it identifies the gift which Jesus (the “I AM”) has conferred upon the person by which he/she lives life as divine destiny would have. Thereby, all of humanity become interconnected, united and one through Jesus, the great “I AM.” Because of our oneness of our humanity in Jesus, each one of us can say to each other, “I am you!” where we are each identified by gift while unified as one.

There are three steps we undergo I call ‘ascents’ in the process of living the I AM ‘celestial life’:

Ascent 1 (Spirit): We must change our identity from the rebellious self who lives in the sin-condition of the enemy, Satan, and receive the new self in the “I AM” in Jesus by the Spirit. It is a process of death and rebirth. Jesus gave this analogy to depict this eternal truth of rebirth and renewal from corruption we must undergo, not only once, but as a way of life, “Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives” (John 12:24; also, 2 Cor.4:10). Of course, Jesus was the first to initiate this cycle of life by surrendering Himself to the sacrificial death that will bring many to salvation.

Paul said, “Just as one trespass (through Adam) resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (Jesus, the Second Adam) resulted in justification and life for all people.” Yes, “Much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Rom.5:18, 15, italics mine). The first ascent depicts the role of the Spirit in human life who leads all humanity to Jesus as the Messiah, who in turn mediates for humanity and keeps us unified to the Father. (John 16:12-15)

This image has an empty alt attribute — *Dove, Symbol of Friendship of the The Holy Spirit and God’s Gift of Love To Humanity (John 14:26, MSG; Rom.5:5)*

Ascent 2 (Jesus): When Paul said, “I have been crucified with Jesus” (Gal.2;20), this speaks of the process of spiritual death and rebirth through the act of repentance and forgiveness, with the gift of new life in the Spirit. Peter explains it this way, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act.2:38).

Then Paul explains how life springs from death where God raises humans up to new life, “Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives” (Rom.6:2-5). God instituted the ritual of baptism to depict our death and burial in the watery grave, and just as God resurrected Jesus from the dead, we rise out of the watery grave of baptism as newly reborn humans through the Spirit’s power in Christ, the great “I AM.”

With the new life in the “I AM” in Christ, Jesus brings a fresh identity in each of us through the gifts He confers upon us individually and collectively. Paul said this of Jesus, “The Scriptures say, ‘When He ascended to the heights, He led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to His people’” (Eph.4:8). Yes, Jesus confers gifts upon saved humanity. So, every person can say, “I am who I am in Christ through the gifts He conferred by which we are identified in Him (I AM).” Each of our gifts enable us to take Jesus (the Gospel/Good News from God the Father) to others as the wondrous message of salvation from God in order that all humanity can be reconciled and saved.

This second ascent depicts the role of Jesus as Savior and represents the very essence of the Gospel message, for He is the Gospel (Good News). We become the extension of the very Gospel, Jesus Christ, the I AM Himself. Hence, we read, “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Cor.5:20, NLB) Yes, Jesus’ work as humanity’s Messiah continues through the walk of saved humans He has called and assigned gifts. Jesus mediation as humanity’s Messiah is what gives passage for the Spirit to enter human life and accentuate Christ’s gifts in humanity, bringing glory to God. (John 16:7, 14-15)

*The Second Ascent Reveals Jesus, The Savior and Mediator of Mankind Before God (Wiki Commons)*

Ascent 3 (Father): The third ascent represents the Father’s role and act in humanity. The Father stands for the Triune Godhead and brings about the wellbeing of His Kingdom modelled after His Son, who in turn confers and assigns gifts upon humanity empowered by His Spirit (Love). The Apostle Peter tells us this, “And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God” (1 Pet.2:5, NLB). The Father is building a temple through Christ the Son to dwell as a home for God and all humanity.

In saying, “living stones,” the passage is making reference to each human being with specific gifts as guides and mentors, who collectively becomes God’s temple and home. Peter goes further to say, “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people” (1 Pet.2:10). Yes, all God’s children are identified by the divine gifts Christ has conferred upon each person, and by which they live and bring healing and reconciliation to and in humanity.

*God The Father, Creator and Primordial Essence and Mind of The Divine Destiny of Humanity*

So, there we have it. What we saw in the three ascents are the work of the Father, Son, and Spirit, (Triune God) in humanity bringing about the ‘celestial life’ we live simultaneously in heaven in Christ and here upon earth. As we walk this earth, much like the marine life of the Seven Seas, we are swimming in the spiritual ocean of God’s Love-force guiding each of us to our respective destinies in His divine dwelling and temple.

school of fish in water — *The Marine Life in the Ocean is Metaphor for Living the ‘Celestial Life’ In the Ocean of God’s Love–Force in The Spirit (see: http://bulamanriver.net/23075)*

Therefore, the I AM is the identity of Jesus’ Name and Personhood in humanity and vice versa. Humans become the spiritual person, the I AM in Christ. We become the offspring of God, the I AM in Jesus within the Godhead. By identifying our person with the I AM we are linking each of our personhood with the trinitarian God through and in Jesus to the Father and the Spirit. Thus, the ‘celestial life’ is the preeminence of our human/divine personhood in the I AM existence in Christ within the presence of the Triune Life* of God. (Matt.28:19)

Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus who has enabled us to live the Triune Life* through the 3 Ascents. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven seated at His Father’s side, and ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever. You can privately and quietly pray the prayer below in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination – into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the holy temple for God’s dwelling:

Prayer: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, thank you for recuing me and my loved ones, and all humanity, from the enemy’s fearful and destructive waters, and bringing us home into the life-giving waters of your Ocean of Love. Grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon us all so we may serve one another in your Love. May Your Love guide and protect me and my Loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

*Prayer is A Profound One-On-One Spiritual Love Dialogue Between a Person and God the Father in Heaven (Wiki Commons)*

Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s holy, eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by reading and studying your Bible, and visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation – go to: http://bulamanriver.net. You can email me with your questions at the address shown below.

Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you and your loved ones always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the “Triune Life”* in the Bulamanriver** personhood. In closing, Be strong in the Lord’s Joy.

Farewell for now!

Kiang, (Your Servant and Friend in Christ)

*Triune Life: “Triune Life” speaks of the process of theosis or deification of humanity. What is theosis or deification? “It refers to apotheosis, meaning “making divine.” Theosis or deification is a transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with God (as taught by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Church).” (Wikipedia.org) The belief in the process of ‘deification’ is understood in accordance with Jesus’ teaching, when He said, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? If He called them ‘gods,’ to whom the Word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside (cannot be broken)” (John 10:34-35; Psa.82:6). (You can read about the Triune Life at: http://bulamanriver.net/9199, and other posts)

*The Resurrection to Immortality and Deification of Humanity Created In God’s Image (Wiki Commons)*

I have written about this subject of ‘deification’ in my blogs under the theme ‘substitution’ and ‘attribution’ (see, http://bulamanriver.net/564), where I showed how Jesus came as God incarnate (Immanuel) to assume our sinful humanity in order to save mankind from sin and death for the express purpose of human deification. (Matt.1:23; Rom.3:10-12, 18, 23; John 3:16; 1 Cor.15:50-55; Rom.8:29) Further, we read the following, “As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of catharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria (‘illumination’ with the ‘vision’ of God). According to Eastern Christian teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through a synergy (or cooperation) between human activity and God’s uncreated energies.” (Wikipedia.org)

So, the “Triune Life” reveals the intersection of human life and activity and the uncreated divine energy flowing from the Tri-Personal Being of God of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a way of life which explains that process of theosis whereby humans are transformed in body, mind, and spirit by the Love of God. God’s uncreated energy is His Love. So, the foundational tenet of the “Triune Life” is based upon the Love of God, for “God is Love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Thereby, it can also be called aptly, the “Triune Love.”

I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt.28:19) This is opposed to the one-dimensional human way of life influenced by the devil. We see God’s Tri-Personal Love move in an inward, outward, and upward trajectory, in this process of theosis which I have called the ‘three ascents.’ The three ascents are three steps which dovetails into one another showing how all three Persons of the Godhead are in the relationship of Love with humanity – where God reveals the fullness of Himself to humanity, both individually and collectively. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2) That’s to say, the act of one is the act of all three, and the act of three is the act of one, making them unified in Love. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

Every aspect of human living follows this three-step format revealing the three-dimensional aspect of how the Tri-Personal Being of God in the Father, Son, and Spirit, directly and collectively involved in the life of human believers, individually and collectively to bring humanity to salvation. These three steps move in an ascending order, so I will call them ‘ascents.’ Each ‘ascent’ dovetails into the next and finally reveals the ‘manifestation’ of the topic, which we will call the fourth step, in this case, Love!

Hence, all my articles are framed within this three-step format, or ascents. The subject of the article dovetails into each ascent and spontaneously lead to the manifestation of the divine Love and reveals how humanity is enlightened by God, and cleansed in mind, body, and spirit. The ascents reveal three doors one must enter to attain the manifestation of God’s Love relationship with humanity. The ascents are not to be misconstrued as some ‘secret knowledge’ or mystical activity. Rather, each ascent represents the relationship of Love a human enjoys with the Triune God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, throughout a person’s life. In fact, the ascents are actually three Love relationships the believer encounters with the Tri-Personal God. This three-way relationship is what I have called by the term, “Triune Life” or “Triune Love.” These ascents represent the movement of God’s Love in an inward, outward, and upward, trajectory to bring God’s enlightenment in a person. The fourth step reveals how the article is made to manifest in the life of the person, both individually and then collectively in humanity.

The Bible states, “He (God) does great things that we cannot understand and miracles that we cannot count” (Job 5:9; 37:5). If God acts in ways that cannot be fathomed and is beyond human comprehension, then the miraculous life where humans are privileged recipients, cannot be deciphered by the human mind to its grandest manifestation. But we understand its meaning through divine revelation in that God reveals Himself as Love, and His miraculous activities are enveloped in His Love. (Jer.29:11)

The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

**Bulamanriver: To read the different facets of the life of the Bulamanriver, you may obtain a copy of my book, “Bula” Man-River, from Amazon.com; xulonpress.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online book stores. All proceeds will go towards furthering the work of Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

Note: All information is copy-write material. Any information obtained from this website that is used for publication should be acknowledged by citing the website address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship. For general guidelines regarding web citations see The Guide for Citing Electronic Information. Thank you

LIVING IN THE ‘OCEAN’ OF THE DIVINE “LOVE-FORCE” BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings Friends! Jesus used many parables to try to make His listeners understand the Kingdom of God. (Matt.13:10-11) He gave the parable of the talents to show how God has conferred gifts in humanity so they may discover the treasure of their calling and purpose and use them to partner with God for His Kingdom. (Matt.25:14-30) Then He gave a parable of the good Samaritan to depict how being hospitable to our neighbors should always be an organic strength and common human denominator. (Luk.10:25-37) There was the parable of the sower, and the mustard seed, the wise manager, the great banquet, and so on.

Today, I would like to share a parable with you which I believe the Spirit help to inspire. Like Jesus’ parable, I’ll begin with His words, ‘the kingdom of God is like’…the oceans of the Seven Seas teeming with marine life swimming in the ocean of God’s Love – see picture below.

*The Parable of The Ocean of God’s Empowering Divine Love-Force*

Let me elaborate. The water in the ocean is the enabling ‘condition’ which empowers marine life to go about living with other marine species, each fulfilling their individual role in the overall marine ecosystem. So likewise, the waters of the ocean is like God’s Love which enables humans to be sustained in His spiritual ecosystem and live out their divinely conferred gifts and purposes for the eternal destiny of God’s Kingdom. I likened the ‘ocean’ to the life-force of God’s Love as ‘conditions’ because inherent in its oceanic makeup is the power which enables humans to live under God’s purpose for all its inhabitants. The ocean of God’s Love-force immerses humans in the way of life that’s monopolized by God’s Love, and the fruits of His Love. (1 Cor.13)

*God’s Love, The Enabling Force In God’s Ocean of Grace*

There is another ocean of fear and trepidation, that exists opposed to God’s Love. This is the ocean where the enemy of God, Satan, is master. Its waters are murky and therefore hard to navigate. It has many predatory marine species which lay in wait to devour helpless marine life – see picture below.

Great white shark - Wikipedia — *The Ocean of Fear and Sin of the Enemy of God, Satan, Who Seeks to Destroy Humanity with Predatory Species (Unsplash)*

The people who now live in the ocean of God’s Love were once inhabitants of this fearful and dreadful ocean. In fact, because of Adam’s fall when he and his wife succumbed to the Satan’s temptation in Eden, all humanity were fated to become unfortunate and inescapable inhabitants of this dreadful and destructive ocean. (Gen.3:1-6, 21-24) Just as our fist parents were banished from Eden, so humanity has grown in the fearful and destructive ocean. (Gen.3:21-24) We were born and raised in it. But for those who respond to God’s call, they have been given to be extracted out of and saved from this ocean’s deathly and deadly waters and now placed in and inhabit and swim in the ocean of God’s Love-force.

The two oceans are different inherently in the makeup of their waters which provides the energy which generate their respective motivational ‘conditions,’ or, they encourage appropriate ‘conditional responses.’ The ocean of fear and trepidation produces the ‘sin-condition,’ while the ocean of Love generates the ‘Love-condition.’ For it is the ‘condition’ that triggers the behavior and life of its inhabitants. Paul referred to the two spiritual oceans in this way, If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Rom.8:13).

*Sin-Generating Fear, The Force in the Ocean of the Enemy Who Seeks to destroy humanity*

How do people enter into and live in the peaceful, productive, and fulfilling life in the ocean of God’s Love? And how do humans find the way to extract themselves out of the ocean of fear and sin? It is obvious the marine life like fish, turtles, and other species cannot extract themselves out from one ocean into the next. So, it has to take the owner of the respective oceans to let their inhabitants or citizenry in and out at their voluntary free will. God is the owner of the ocean of Love. The devil is the owner of the ocean of fear and sin.

God is the Creator who rules supreme over all, including Satan. (Isa.45:5; Deut.32:39) The devil exists under His divine sovereign rule. Therefore, only God can rescue the people imperiled in the hazardous ocean of fear and sin. And God can execute a rescue plan for humanity, so to speak. And this He has already done by appointing and sending His Son, Jesus Christ, as master and owner of the ocean of Love. (John 3:16; Heb.1:2; 2:8) This is the ‘miraculous life’ that is our human heritage and preordained to live because mankind was created in God’s Love image – you can read more about the ‘miraculous life’ at http://bulamanriver.net/22961, where I share my own personal miraculous story as testimony.

Yes, the enemy must first be defeated, so he is made powerless to hold people captive in his ocean of sin-generating fear and rebellion. Through Jesus’ victory, people are released from their captivity so they may enter the ocean of Love in the Spirit. Jesus has done exactly that by defeating Satan in the temptation, lived a perfect sinless life, was crucified upon His cross for human sins, resurrected and ascended to heaven and made humanity’s High Priest, forever mediating for mankind. (Matt.4:1-11; 27:32-56; 1 Pet.1:3; Act.1:6-11; Heb.4:14-16) The Bible attests through Paul, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery” (Gal.6:1). Yes, Jesus has set humanity free from the sin-conditioned waters of fear and rebellion of the enemy.

Paul further states “For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness (sin-generating Ocean) and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son (Love-generating Ocean)” (Col.1:13, italics mine). John said, “There is no fear in Love. But perfect Love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Here, we see the Bible disclose to us the identity of the two metaphysical oceanic conditions: Love and sin (fear).

Paul explains and makes plain for us what God did through His Son, and provides the answer between the distinction of the two supernatural oceanic conditions as the “law of sin and death,” and the “law of the Spirit (Love)”: “For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:2). Note, the “law of the Spirit of life” frees us from the “law of sin.” The “law of sin” is the ocean that empowers the sin-condition from which the destructive way of life of the enemy emanates. And the “law of the Spirit” is the power that inspires the Love-condition” and Love-force in the ocean of God’s Love, and generates righteous and uplifting living.

*Jesus Gave Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb to Save Humanity From The deathly Waters of the Ocean of fear and Sin, and Bring Humanity Home in The Ocean of God’s Love.*

Jesus gives us the mechanics of how a person is taken out of the murky deadly waters of the devil, and installed in the Love waters of the Holy Spirit. He said, “You must be born again of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5-8). Let me paraphrase the passage as it relates to our topic today, “You must be born again into the waters of the Spirit’s Love.” This is a spiritual birth, as Jesus made plain to Nicodemus. (John 3:3-7) You see, the waters which flow in the ocean of Love is empowered by the Holy Spirit Himself. He is the very personification of the Love-force in God’s ocean.

Jesus made this clear when the Bible states, “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When He said “living water,” He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.)” (John 7:37-39).

So, we see that the waters of the ocean of Love is the Spirit of God, the third Person of the Triune Godhead, empowering and enabling humans to swim in God’s ocean of Love. Paul said this to the Romans, “God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom.5:5). Yes, the Holy Spirit is likened to the cleansing waters which flows in humanity. (John 4:14; 1 Cor.12:13; Rev.21:6; 22:1-2, 17)

So, all the various life forms that exist in the ocean of the sin-condition, has to depend upon God who overpowers its evil owner, pluck humanity out, and resettle them in the life-giving ocean of Love. This is mankind’s true home, it is the home of their birthright. (Gen.1:226-27; Eph.4:20-24; Gen.5:1) It is the ocean where the words of the Psalms is brought to life where human live the celestial life in the Spirit, “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling” (Psa.27:4-5). Yes, in God’s ocean humans are in God’s Love-temple, and vice versa. Let us be clear, the ‘house of the Lord,’ ‘His temple,’ is very much the life and heart of humanity, for Paul affirms this, saying, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Cor.3:16). Yes, the Psalmist is referring to the true temple of God – the very heart and innermost being of believers who now swim and exist in the ocean of God’s Love.

Paul asserted that the Father chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight in Love. We are the focus of the Father’s Love, and it is in the environment of the Spirit’s transcendent oceanic Love-force where we are renewed, transformed, and abundantly blessed. (Eph.1:3-4)

We recall and remind ourselves of God’s trinitarian divine nature of Love in the Father, Son, and Spirit, into which humanity has been inducted. (Matt.28:18-20; 2 Cor.13-14) In their Loving union, they act as one for they are indivisibly One Triune God – so, the act of one is always the act of all three, and the act of three is always the act of one. Since God is a Tri-Personal divine Being, thereby Jesus is very much part and personification of the spiritual oceanic Love-condition in which humans exist and swim.

Jesus said, the Spirit’s role in our lives is to manifest Christ in each of us. Jesus said, “He (Holy Spirit) will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you” (John 16:14-15). Paul makes this plain, “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor.3:17). In the supernatural ocean of God’s Love-force, humanity is always existing in the inner sanctum of God’s Love-Being, for John affirms, “All who live in Love live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16).

Paul goes further, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col.3:3). By saying, “For you died in this life,” Paul means the old life we lived in the enemy’s deathly ocean is gone forever, for Christ has paid the ransom to free humanity from the devil’s deathly waters and bring us to God’s living waters. (1 Tim.2:6; John 4:14; Rev.21:6) Yes, the ocean of God’s Love-force in the Spirit immerses and embrace us so that Jesus through the Spirit is by our side, He is over us and in us, so our every action and impulse are wrapped in the mysteries of God’s Love by which the Triune God reveals Himself to and in humanity. Yes, the scriptures reveal God’s triune nature in the Father, Son, and Spirit, acting as One in their Love for humanity. (Matt.28:18-20; 1 Pet.1:2; 2 Thess.2:13; 2 Cor.13:14)

The ceremony of baptism was inaugurated in the Christian faith to show in a visible form how humans are inducted into the new life in the ocean of God’s Love – notice, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body–whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor.12:13; Matt.28:18-20). Yes, we are drinking from the same Spirit of God’s Love who unites us to Christ and the Father. Peter affirms this process where God, through His Son, brings humanity out of the prison of fear and sin, and inducts them into the ocean of God’s Love, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act.2:37-38).

*Depiction of Jesus’ Baptism by John in the Jordan River*

In short, living in the ocean of God’s Love (Spirit) in Christ is what the whole purpose of life means. Paul goes further, saying, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph.4:22-24). Let us not forget, that in addition to saving humanity from the raging waters of death of the devil, Jesus also handed people gifts so they may live their lives with genuine divine purpose. Note, “That is why the Scriptures say, “When He (Jesus) ascended to the heights, He led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to His people” (Eph.4:8, also, Eph.4:10-13, NLB). Yes, Jesus opened the eyes of the people He saved with the gifts God conferred in His living ocean of Love.

It is within the sovereignty of His empowering Love veiled within His spiritual oceanic environment that all the good, both spiritual and physical, that God has promised in His Word is made possible and brought to reality for all humanity. The inherent and substantive value of human life is all about living a free-flowing metamorphized life through the oceanic currents of the Spirit’s Love-force, so through our gifts He may carry each of us to our respective divine destinies. (You can read of the Promises God gave mankind out of His great Love at: http://bulamanriver.net/15209).

On the other hand, the enemy’s ocean of fear and sin exists for the purpose of establishing false and damaging motivations and activities which opposes God and neutralize His awesome Promises. The entrapped people in this destructive ocean live a life of deception where they are given the false and the dubious aspirations by following self-made promises influenced by the devil. It is a life where people aspire and pursue their own brand of success and are blinded from seeing and realizing their divinely-ordained gift and dream-life intended for them.

*Baptism – The Sign of Rebirth Into God’s Ocean Of Grace and Love*

First and foremost, among God’s numerous awesome Promises is the promise of eternal life, while the devil’s lot has been determined as the very harbinger of destruction and death. (John 3:16; Rom.3:23, 6:23; Rev.20:10). Then, this is what He Promised concerning our human sojourn upon this earth, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer.29:11, NLB). The context of this verse means that God’s plans are always good for us, provided we do not seek our own plans that’s really influenced by the enemy. The Psalmist tell us, “Those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing” (Psa.34:20). Also, we are admonished to, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Psa.27:14, NLB). Those who willingly follow the devil in his sin-conditioned oceanic environment, will finally meet God’s judgement, as the Bible states, “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev.20:10, 15).

*Dove, Symbol of The Holy Spirit* *and The Source of the Life-Giving Divine Love-Force*, Rom.5:5. (Wiki Commons)

To read more about God’s Promise or Covenant of Love for humanity, and how a person is taken from the spiritually deathly oceanic environment to the Loving environment of God’s Love, go to: http://bulamanriver.net/17484.

Prayer: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, thank you for recuing me and my loved ones, and all humanity, from the enemy’s fearful and destructive waters, and bringing us home into the life-giving waters of your Ocean of Love. Grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon us all so we may serve one another in your Love. May Your Love guide and protect me and my Loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

*Prayer is A Solemn One-On-One Spiritual Love Dialogue Between a Person and God the Father (Wiki Commons)*

Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the “Triune Life” as a Bulamanriver.* Be strong in the Lord’s joy.

Farewell for now!

Kiang, (Your Servant in Christ)

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

Note: All information is copy-write material. Any information obtained from this website that is used for publication should be acknowledged by citing the website address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship. For general guidelines regarding web citations see The Guide for Citing Electronic Information. Thank you

“THE MIRACULOUS LIFE – NO ORDINARY LIVING!” BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings Friends everywhere! I would like to share a true-life miracle with my readers in this post. My wife, two family friends, and yours truly, were privileged recipients of God’s saving grace. I remember the miracle like it happened yesterday although it has been years now. I share this miraculous event to impress upon us that when we enter into a relationship with God, we will walk a life of miraculous activity which He intended for humans to live from the moment of man’s creation. Adam and Eve lived with God in Eden experiencing this miraculous life. The Garden of Eden was our first parent’s celestial home on earth which God their Father created miraculously and presented for His gift to them. They existed in God’s likeness and lived a form of human immortality never to be experienced by mankind since. (Gen.2:26-27) God promises to restore human immortality through the second Adam, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor.15:45; Isa.7:14; John 6:47)

When Adam and Eve alienated themselves from God’s presence the miraculous life stopped, and the countdown to mankind’s physical life began ticking from the moment God said this after their fall, “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen.3:19; Rom.6:23). After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humanity must now await the arrival of the second Adam to restore humanity’s birthright, which God proclaimed to our first parents and Satan, the arch deceiver. (Gen.3:15; Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23) The second Adam who would restore humanity’s rightful place in God’s presence was none other than Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God. (1 Cor.15:45-48; John 3:16) Human immortality will be restored at the second coming of Christ, the second Adam. Man has always lived under God’s sovereignty no matter what, but scarcely in relationship of oneness in the bond of Love which produces the miraculous life which the second Adam makes possible. That comes as a matter of choice on humanity’s part as he responds to God’s Love. Recall, as long as Adam and Eve lived in the celestial Garden encased in God’s Loving presence, they enjoyed an uninterrupted miraculous human life and experience.

*Jesus, the Second Adam, Came and Defeated Satan in the Temptations Bringing Human Redemption Through His Cross & Restoring the Human Birthright.*

This momentous event to restore human immortality became possible when the Son of God came as the Immanuel, God in the human flesh in the person of Jesus, fully God and fully man, the “Immanuel” (“God with Us”), to restore man back to the miraculous life which has always been our human birthright. (Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23; 2 Tim.1:7; Eph.3:20-21; Gen 2:26-27) Hence, we see Jesus went about doing good through God’s miraculous power which we read in the four Gospels. (Acts 10:38) By taking our humanity upon Himself, Jesus, through His defeat of Satan’s temptations in the Judean wilderness, His perfect sinless life, His sacrificial death for our atonement, His human incarnational resurrection and ascension, fused our humanity forever to the very Triune Being of God. Man can now enter a life of miracles as his birthright. Miracles come wrapped in God’s Love expression for man. God is divine and we are mere mortals, and when the two intersect in the bond of Love, miracles happen.

Jesus, Using The Divine Miraculous Power to Heal The Blind (Wiki Commoms)

Keep the “end” in mind as it relates to our beginnings in Eden (Rev.21:3; 1 Cor.15:51-52; Gen.1:26-27) That is a vital nugget of wisdom to keep us on an even spiritual keel in this journey we call life. Beasts and other forms of life don’t set goals much less inherit a divine destiny. They behave spontaneously through their God-given instincts in the moment and for the greater benefit of humans to reflect upon the responsibility of dominion conferred by divine edict upon humanity. But humans live in the present relative to the past and with an objective “end” (future) he has set out in his mind to achieve. There are many “ends” humans can craft for himself, but life’s true “end” is to live for our heavenly Father’s purpose of living in His presence. The Creator set for man his “end” from the beginning: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule.’” (Gen.1:26-27; Rom.8:29) Everything we do in life must have this overriding purpose behind it. His image is He is divine and immortal and He is Love by nature. (1 John 4:8: John 4:24; Neh.9:6)

There’s only one way to achieve God’s objective “end” purpose for man – it has to take a hands-on miracle from God Himself. It’s that plain, it’s that simple. Immortality and Love is God’s image in His Tri-Personal Being, and for man to attain that objective requires God’s direct input. It is impossible for humans to attain the purpose of God for him/her so miracles has to be part of the human life. That brings about a constant miraculous activity in man’s journey on this earth.

So the miraculous life we experience as humans is a foretaste of the immortal life we will share with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, for eternity. It is a trailer, a preview, of God’s movie for humanity happening in real life, if you like. It is your birthright and mine to live the miraculous life as a human, and eternally in immortality in Christ. Paul said, “For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Cor. 4:20) The miraculous life humanity is ordained to live stems from God’s power. If we can get our limited human mind off our equally limited material world, and take the opportunity to look deeper at the greater creation and universe, we would undoubtedly conclude that miracles are happening all around us, and especially within our humanity. It is for man to make a choice, as God gave Adam, whether a person will enter into this relational oneness in Love with Him by faith in His Son through the Spirit’s move and power.

The miraculous life humanity is given and privileged to live has always been based upon God’s utterance through the prophet Zechariah, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’” says the LORD Almighty. (Zech.4:6; 2 Cor.13:14).

As we stand at the threshold of life conferred by divine edict and look ahead to this astounding promise God our Father has given humanity through His Son, let us take heed of God’s counsel, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deut.30:19). Yes, as it did with our first parents, it has always been about making a choice – God pleads with us to choose the path of life – the path of living the miraculous life in Christ Jesus His Son by the Spirit’s power. (Zech.4:6; Gal.2:20)

*The Human Resurrection to Immortality-The Divine Gift From God to Humanity John 3:16 (Wiki Commons)*

God affirms the miraculous life He has given humanity through the promises He has given us in His Word, the Bible. To read more, go to: http://bulamanriver.net/11339

Here’s what I wrote regarding my miraculous experience in my book, “Bulamanriver – The Miracle of Triune Living”:

“The year was 1996 – the night of November 9th to be exact. I was living and working in the islands of Fiji in the South Pacific. The day, like any other, was fraught with its usual hectic demands of work. Yes, even in this beautiful idyllic paradise on earth, the strife of life is no respecter of your world. Little did I know the extraordinary event that lay in wait and about to unfold before me—that day will forever change the course of my life.

“Scheduled to take an early-morning flight to Canberra, Australia, my wife and I had to drive to the other side of the main island of Viti Levu where the international airport is located. A couple, friends of the family, traveled with us on this two-and-a-half-hour drive. The night was black as could be, with only the car’s headlights slicing through the pitch darkness. This stretch of the road ran straight and level for about a quarter mile with a bridge at the end and then turned sharply left around a mountain on the far side of the bridge.

“At around 2:30 a.m., the one thing most dreaded by drivers happened: I fell asleep at the wheel. I drove off my side of the two-lane road, drifted into the opposite lane, and finally went off the road onto the stopping lane. By now the car was not aligned with the bridge ahead to take us safely across the river. Instead, we were heading for a nosedive into the waters of the river below the bridge.

*Intense Blinding Light Awoke Me From My Deep Slumber (Pic: Wiki Commons)*

“My short but deep sleep was the kind you just don’t get out of unless you are vigorously shaken. Then something amazing occurred. In my mind’s eye I saw the most blinding white light I have ever seen. The light was so intensely bright it woke me from my sleep. As I opened my eyes, astonishingly, there before me I saw the source of this intense white light – literally in front of me. I now looked directly at a person clothed in dazzling white garment to his feet, standing in front of me. With his right arm outstretched he held up his lamp, the source of the brilliant light that woke me. He would not move out of my way. He never flinched but stood his ground.

“All this happened so fast my immediate reaction was to swerve to evade a head-on crash into the person. As I veered left, I found myself on the road landing on the road again and crossing the bridge. The spot where the person in dazzling white garment stood led directly into the river below. If he had not stood his ground, forcing me to turn sharply to avoid a collision, we would have headed straight into the river and most likely died of drowning—leaving seven parentless children behind.

“What happened next was equally astonishing. The bridge, made of concrete and pipe railings, lit up the dark night. Yes, the whole bridge was ablaze in brilliant white light. So as I swerved to avoid the crash into the person with the lamp, I was unwittingly maneuvered onto the bridge. The bridge’s railings turned into lights, something like fluorescent tube lights with a more intense brightness about them. By the side rails of the bridge I saw more people, all dressed in dazzling white shorts and short-sleeved shirts, walking along happily chatting and delighting in each other’s presence. All I could remember from their demeanor in those fleeting moments was the aura of complete joy and peace that radiated from their presence. It was a short but unforgettable few seconds in my life.

“My mind reeling, I wondered what had just happened. As we crossed the bridge and made the ninety-degree turn, we had a good view of the bridge we crossed. All we saw was nothing but pitch darkness, the brilliant light-show evident no more. I drove slowly for a few moments trying to collect my thoughts. “Did you see what just happened?” I asked my wife. She nodded, equally dumbfounded, and said she did. I asked my friends, and they said they too saw what happened. We all sat silent for a moment as the truth sank in: we had just tasted a miracle of angelic intervention.

Angels to the Rescue

“God sent angels to rescue us from certain death. (Psa.91:11) At the hotel, my wife and I knelt to thank God for His love and mercy for keeping us all safe. Seven children would have lost their parents that pitch-dark morning, but for the grace of God. It would be an understatement to say the event affirmed and solidified our weak human faith in God’s existence, His sovereignty over our lives, and unquestionably, His extraordinary Love.

*A Bridge in Nadi, Fiji, Similar to One Crossed by Author, With Its Steel Pipe Rails Which Lit Up Like Fluorescent Light in The Pitch Black Night (Wiki Commons)*

“I know the Lord saved us for more reasons than His awesome Love for us. You see, a friend from the nearby village had told me stories of lives lost to the awkward bend in the road—but why spare us? I had read about one such tragic incident at this very bridge in the local newspaper not so long ago. As this event kept replaying in my mind, and I recognized God’s unerring hand in my life from before and after the event, I kept asking “why” because I felt no more deserving than the next person.

“When I think of the people who have lost their lives in that river it’s hard not to see yourself as special to Him. God brought me to see that what He did for us that pitch-dark night, He would do for anyone – yes, you and me and everyone. Yes, I was special and so were my wife and friends and all of humanity. Everyone is precious in His sight. I was not any more special or exclusive to Him than the next person. His love is for all, and no one person can claim exclusivity to it. And as for the people who perished in that river? As we shall see, God’s Love never left them.

God is Love

“God Loves all humanity, make no mistake about that. However, the secret to the miracle-life is to have Him Love us intimately – like the “apple of His eye” (Psalm 17:7-9). Doesn’t this make God partial? Isn’t this the selectiveness we just discounted? God gives us the freedom to make choices. Freedom, as we will see later, undergirds the Love God extends to man. There is no Love without freedom and no freedom without Love. Love and freedom are relational and reciprocal by nature, for “God is Love.” (1 John 4:8) Therefore, because of God’s Love, we have a choice to make. We experience God’s Love intimately when we reciprocate His Love through the exercise of our free will—when we Love Him in return. (Read my blog on Loving God absolutely at: http://bulamanriver.net/21412)

Brown Sand Love Text on Seashore — *“God Is Love”* *1 John 4: 8, (pexels)*

“That is the difference. God’s Love is impartial; He has unreservedly set aside His Love for every man, woman, and child for all time, and nothing can make Him change His mind. He sacrificed His only Son to prove His Love for all mankind. However, this intimate relationship can be made to happen in human reality. God waits upon man to choose to freely Love Him as He has chosen to freely Love humanity.

The Person with the Lamp

“As for the Person holding the lamp, I believe He is more than an angel. His attire and the lamp are symbolic of His station. The Person who held that lamp emitting the blinding white light on that black November night was none other than Jesus Christ Himself. The brilliant light emitted from the lamp is analogous of Him as the Personified Word (Psa. 119:105). He is the Light of the world, who guides humanity out of darkness. (John 8:12) He is also the Author of the literal Word of God, the Bible, who wakes us to see our human weaknesses which does not conform to God’s image. The bridge represents the crossover we make when we express faith in Him as our Savior.” (Excerpt from: “Bula-Man-River – The Miracle of Triune Living”)

Simon Dewey: Lead, Kindly Light | Christ, Pictures of christ, Jesus pictures — *“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).*

I hope you found that true story fascinating, but at the same time authentic and relatable because humans are offspring of the divine. My hope is that my story be a teaching moment about the greatness of God our Father in heaven who intimately cares for His human children. Yes, miracles become a way of life when you receive Jesus and the Holy Spirit live in you as His temple, where God says, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Cor.6;16).

*Jesus Died To Make The Miraculous Life Possible for Humanity*

If you wish to read more, please obtain a copy of my book, “Bula Man-River – The Miracle of Triune Living,” from Amazon.com, Banrnesandnoble.com; Xulonpress.com. Also, see appendix below with Book Cover.

Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus who has enabled us to live the Triune Life* through the 3 Ascents. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven seated at His Father’s side, and ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever. You can privately and quietly pray the prayer below in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination – into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the holy temple for God’s dwelling:

Prayer: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon me and all humanity. May Your Love guide and protect me and my Loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

Blessing:Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the “Triune Life” as a Bulamanriver.* Be strong in the Lord’s joy.

Farewell for now!

Kiang, (Your Servant in Christ)

Indemnity Clause: The author does not assume any liability for the misuse of information contained in this post. The content of this post is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as, nor should it be, a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AS EXPERIENCED THROUGH THE TRI-PERSONAL LIFE OF GOD, BY KIANG P. LEE

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Greetings Friends! Relationships are the most important of all human interactions. It forms the basis of human existence and the foundation upon which all decent societies, and ultimately nations, are built. They fundamentally affect how we are judged as a nation, and how we conduct ourselves in international relations. (Pro.14:34) The origin of relationships is founded upon the nature of the Creator God who created all things to reflect Him in His Trinitarian nature. God, who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, lived in Loving relationship with each other from eternity. That Tri-Personal Love relationship is the basis of human relationships.

Notice the plural/collective pronoun/adjective. God did not refer to Himself solitarily, but plurally as the Trinitarian God. He said this when humanity was created, “Let US make human beings in OUR image, make them reflect OUR nature, so they can be responsible for (have dominion) … creation” (Gen.1:26-27, MSG, emphasis added). The original word for “God” was taken from the word, “Elohim,” which is single deity in the plural, or ‘uniplural.’ He did not say ‘let me,’ or ‘after my likeness.’ By declaring His plurality saying, ‘US,’ and ‘OUR,’ He signifies His Trinitarian nature, which is expounded in the scripture as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. (Matt. 28:19; John 15:26; 2 Cor.13:14)

God is Triune and therefore relational. He is not a “solitary” and reclusive Being. God is not a solo, self-contained Being who is trying to subjugate His people as a stern judge and ruler, as many picture Him. God’s underlying nature is Triune, from which their Love unites them in ONE existence – ONE, unified, and inseparable Being. God can only be Love and thereby relational because He is Triune. For Love unites, but isolation breeds fear and division. All of creation was the design of the God who is Trinitarian and reflects His Triune expression.

So, creation reflects His relational and interconnected existence. For there is no dislocation between God’s act of creation and who He is in His Triune Being of Love. Everything from the universe and upon this earth is interconnected reflecting God’s Trinitarian nature. And the energy and essence which unites God is His Love. God Loves precisely because God is Love in His Triunity. (1 John 4:8, 16) Thereby, all creation is the reflection of His Love. There is no other possible way God could have made all things, whether visible or invisible, except to reflect His Loving Tri-Personal Being. Likewise, everything man does, he carries out to reflect his own humanity. For instance, man will not act to reflect the beast of the forest, for he has no inherent identity with beasts. It almost goes without saying that our human accomplishment can never be done on our own without the interdependent contribution from other humans. This reflects God’s interconnected Tri-Personal Being. Science itself, when it digs deeper into the created order cannot deny this wonderful truth that everything is connected as God made creation to reflect Himself in His Triunity. I would like to ask you to see this video from a ‘TedX talk’ given by scientist Tom Chi, which you can view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPh3c8Sa37M I hope you have found the presentation to be both informative and instructive.

Love – The Foundation of Relationships

Man’s relationships will always be based upon God’s interconnected nature of Love, for the Bible corroborates that “God is Love” in His Triune Being. (1 John 4:8, 16) That means it is His narrative of Love … not man’s definition of love. Whether man wish to acknowledge it or not, man’s existence is hardwired with and in God’s interconnected Triune Love. When we deviate from that which we are natured and created to become, we find ourselves in problematic relationships. It seems everywhere we look there’s increasing fragmentation of relations. We question the sincerity of our love for people and wonder if it is worth our effort trying to love others, even on a human level. We have been blind-sided into these relationship knots from which we can’t free ourselves. That is what human love with its limited scope does to us.

However, many times we miss what Jesus tells us clearly: “A brand-new command I give you: Love one another.” If the decree to Love is a brand-new command, then what’s new about it? What’s different about it? Does it make any difference? He answers, “As I have Loved you, Love one another.” How did He Love us? He answers, “As the Father has Loved me, so have I Loved you. Now remain in My Love” (John 15:9). Jesus was speaking from His Trinitarian relationship in the Father and the Spirit. He was making known a new command of the Triune Love of God, which the disciples never saw nor experienced until they met and saw it in the life of Jesus for three and half years.

*“God Is Love” (1 John 4:8) (Wiki Commons)*

Leading Through Loving/Serving

So, though Jesus was the “leader” to His followers, He did not lead by domination. He displayed leadership by the Love in which He has always existed within the Triune Life of God. He reprimanded His disciples when they haggled about who was dominant among them. Jesus said, “whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to everyone” (Mark 10:35-45, esp. V.44) He was first and foremost the Chief Servant. He proved this, when, after performing a servant’s work of washing the disciples’ feet before His death, He asked them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?” He answered, “You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So, if I the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you, “What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life” (John 13: 12-17, MSG). He led them by inviting them to live in the Triune Love and Life of God as He did.

The Triune Love was Never Before Seen in Man’s History, Until Jesus Came

The Triune Love between the Father, Son, and Spirit was something that was never seen articulated in humanity until the Son came and took upon Him His creaturely human body. By taking our fallen humanity in Himself, He crucified the sin-conditioned human from Adam upon His cross, and rescued us from sin, rebellion, and condemnation. Then through His resurrection and ascension, God the Father now introduces Jesus’ new glorified humanity that humans can receive by faith in Jesus in the Spirit’s power. Hence, our “union” with the Triune God makes His new Love command a reality in human life through His Spirit. Peter said this, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but He was raised to life in the Spirit. (1 Pet.3:18; Rom.5:5; Rom.8:11)

Never before in human history was this Triune Love seen or tasted in human experience until Jesus came. Only Adam and Eve enjoyed it for a time until they alienated themselves from God, and followed man’s “solitary” way of fear. This Love was seen in Jesus’ life, where He went about doing nothing but good and healing all who came to Him (Acts 10:38). Jesus came as the Second Adam to rescue humanity from the sin condition which the first Adam consigned humanity at the hands of the devil. By taking our old sinful humanity in Himself and crucified it on His cross upon Calvary. Through Jesus’ resurrection He gave birth and brought into reality the new humanity in Christ mankind now adopt from God. (1 Cor.15:45; Rom.8:10; Col.1:27)

When Jesus took our humanity into Himself, and through His perfect life, sacrificial death, resurrection, and ascension to His Father, this very Love from the Triune Being of God became ours by inheritance. Peter said, “He (Christ) has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature.” (2 Pet.1:4; 1 John 3:16) All it requires is faith, and the Holy Spirit makes Love flow in our lives as spiritual “living waters.” (John 7:37-39; Rom.5:5)

In my Book, “Bulamanriver* – The Miracle of Triune Living,” I explained 3 mandates God gave man from the outset of His creation, by which to develop his relationship with God, other humans, and with creation as a whole. The three mandates reflect the way they existed from eternity in their Triune nature. He desires of humanity to adopt and live like they do in their Triunity. Here are excerpts from my Book on the 3 mandates:

1. The Genesis ‘Helper Mandate’

“The first act of man in his relationship with another human is to use his God-given purpose to promote “creative living” with his fellowman. The purpose of our divinely conferred gift is to be creative as God is Creator. If gifts originate from the divine source, then man’s relationship with one another is mediated by the One who is inherently part of the gift – the Gift-Giver, Jesus – through the “living waters” of the Bulamanriver* (you). (Eph.4:8;1 Cor.12:4) The creative aspect of this relationship was given at the beginning when Adam was created and the original “other” human was taken from him. There God uttered the first of three Genesis Mandates for man through Adam and Eve: to be a fitting “helper” for each other. Though the primary context for this instruction is marriage, the meaning is twofold. Since Eve was the only “other” human besides Adam, by extension she also represented our “neighbor,” whoever he or she may be. For the “helper” can be applied in every context, not necessarily matrimonial. I call this the “helper mandate.” We saw Jesus re-echoed this first principles from Genesis to His disciples in the final hours before His crucifixion.

*We All Utilize Our Varied Gifts to Help One Another In An Act of Love for Humanity*

“Paul encouraged the Corinthians, saying we are “helpers of your joy” (2 Cor. 1:24, KJV). Further, he told the Romans, “Owe no man anything, except the debt of Love” (Rom. 13:8; Gal. 6:2, KJV). Jesus reiterated man’s “helper mandate” when He said we are to “Love our neighbors as we Love ourselves” (Mark 12:31, emphasis added). The famed 23rd Psalm depicts God as the “helper” of mankind. So we see in all this that the “creative living” outline cannot be denied: to be a “helper.” The primary purpose of our calling therefore is ultimately to “help” one another and bring all mankind to unity with the Triune God in Jesus.” (Pg.177)

2. The Genesis ‘Dominion Mandate’

In my book, I continue to say this about the second mandate, “We cease to be “helpers” when we violate man’s “dominion mandate.” What is the “dominion mandate”? It is the second Genesis Mandate that has two parts given to mankind by the Creator: how a human is to interact and conduct himself/herself with creation, and with his/her fellow humans. The first part is the “helper mandate” in man’s relation with his fellowman, while the “dominion mandate” explains a person’s relation in his/her dominion over God’s creation, which doesn’t include dominion over another person (Gen. 1:26-31; 2:19-20).

Remember that, dominion was given over creation but not another human. The Bible is quite clear on this in Genesis. We are to “help” not “dominate” our fellow humans. Only God is man’s ruler because humanity was made in His likeness, and He is humanity’s Creator and Savior. We are to be man’s “helper,” not “ruler.” A person’s relationship with another is either creative or uncreative, productive or unproductive, but is hardly ever neutral. We make the mistake of trying to merge the two when it can’t be done, and we can be one or the other depending on which river we ride – the river of fear or the river of Love. There is no Savior of mankind except Jesus (John 3:16; Act.4:12). Every single human is given equal and shared dominion over the earth under the Creator (Ps. 24:1; Eccl. 5:9; Mic.4:4, NKJV). The passage from Genesis makes clear the dual mandate of man’s dominion over the entire creation, and the mandate of being “helpers” of his fellowman.” (Pg.178)

*Jesus Shown The Devil’s World Dominion That is Driven by Rebellion, Greed, and Sin* (Matt.4)

Mankind has unwittingly, or wittingly, rendered God’s “dominion mandate” ineffective by violating His first mandate of being “helpers” of other’s joy. We have turned the “dominion mandate” on its head by seeking to control (dominate) others. So we see people resist and fight dictators and tyrants that’s littered in the annals of revolutions and uprisings, across the face of human history. They have no freedom to express themselves through their gifts in the shared dominion of this earth where people of all races and cultures are equal inheritors, by Divine protocol (Micah 4:4; Gen.1:26-27)

Instead, in the flow of the Triune Life/Love we have in Christ, we’re to live in the Life-energy of God’s Love-expression, to help people in the shared dominion of this earth. We must not see this earth as the object of our fears, which results in greed and covetousness. This is what we have witnessed in human history upon this earth as people express themselves in their “solitary” way of life, apart from God, and His mandates. The next mandate completes God’s three-fold decrees.

3. The Genesis ‘Triune Mandate’

I continue in my book, “Man will dominate the blessing of the richness of this earth in peace, fairness, integrity, and true abundance when he exercises his dominion as the Creator decreed. God’s decree, vis-à-vis living like his Maker, ushers in the third Genesis mandate in the words, “Let us make human beings in the image and likeness. Male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:26, 27). I like to call this the “likeness mandate.” Man’s only purpose of existence is to live in the Creator’s likeness. As the likeness of God is Trinitarian, I also call it the “Triune likeness mandate.” By adding his “helper” and “dominion” mandates, man’s purpose can be said to be a “helper” of his fellowman in his “dominion” over this earth, by living in the “Triune likeness” of his Maker. Triune living is about a life of interdependence with one another in Christ and the Spirit, helping one another in man’s dominion of this earth.”

The Triune Mandate Founded Upon God’s Divine Nature of Love

“The exercise of authority over another human, whether by coercion, physical force, or even psychological means, is precluded in the Genesis “dominion mandate.” God holds dominion over every man, woman, and child, and He has not abdicated His sovereignty when He fashioned humanity in His own image. Man may live under the sway of his archenemy and his deceptions, but God is the final arbiter over human fate. You see, our Creator placed in humans the aggressive spirit to reinforce and support His earthly “dominion mandate.” That is how mankind has progressed and advanced, which continues to our present day. However, the mandate limits man’s domineering spirit over the earth and all in it, which precludes another human.” (End of quotation. Pg.179)

I go on to say in my Book that trust or faith is the bedrock upon which all healthy relationships are built and made to last.

Trust

“Trust (faith) is the basis of all human and Godly relationships that began in Eden. The foundation of trust is grounded upon the three-fold Genesis Mandates the Creator gave mankind. Those relationships were hijacked by the devil, who introduced his own “domineering” spirit dictated by distrust, fear, self-interest, and greed (Gen. 3). Man bought it lock, stock, and barrel, and the rest is a history of heartaches, sufferings, violence, and death. As a result of fear and the absence of God’s Spirit in man, the devil has wreaked havoc in men’s relationships with one another. God has never abdicated His sovereignty over humanity, and from the beginning promised a Savior (Gen. 3:15).

Not only must we discontinue our control of our fellowman; we are also not to place our trust in them, but in God alone. The mandate is clear: it is to “help” not “trust.” The reason for this is obvious. There is only One who can save in whom man can wholly trust without fear of being betrayed or deceived – Jesus. Where people overextend their dominion to include men and place their wholehearted trust in them, sooner rather than later they awaken to find their trust is seriously misplaced.” (Pg.180)

From the Joyous to the Toxic

As I pen this blog post, I realize the innumerable human relationship issues that exist in all peoples from all walks of life. It is human to be in relationship dynamics where we are seeking resolutions for mutual co-existence. When we speak of humanity and relationships, they are one and the same thing. Our families are the product of relationships. Our work, though we may tacitly assume as matters of happenstance, are outcomes of relationships we have engendered, and continues to be such. So is school, and every other human affiliation we have encountered in life. Relationships come in all shapes, sizes, and hues. At times relationships may seem insurmountable, complicated, and inexplicable. At other times, they may not be so complicated where both parties see eye-to-eye on matters which can be of mutual interest and benefit. So, relationships can range from the joyous to the toxic. But God’s Love works like a balm to heal and bring joy where gloom once reigned.

Joy Is The Bedrock for Love

Man Is Relational…Because God Is!

All human relationship issues and dilemmas can be traced back to man’s ignorance and/or flagrant violation of the three mandates given by God at human creation. It seems, from most accounts, the issue that’s predominant in the world today is the blatant exploitation of the “dominion mandate” which renders the “helper mandate” superfluous and redundant. And we see this spirit of “control” extensive not only in the many facets of the life of individuals, but across the spectrum of human interactions, in communities, the corporate world, politics, of governance, to international relations between nations.

Be that as it may, we cannot see the human relationship dynamism simply through the corrupted one-dimensional “dominion mandate” view alone with self-serving propensity, for the three mandates work connectively as one because of their interdependence and inter-causative nature. Like God’s inter-relational Triune nature, it must be understood that the first two mandates cannot be articulated in its true authentic expression without the all-important third mandate, where a person is existing from within the Triune Life and Love of God. It is the foundation upon which the first and second mandates frame its existence, energy, and purpose. For in fact, the “Triune mandate” is uttered first, as the foundation decree, as shown in Genesis. (Gen.1:26-27; 2:18)

Here, as in all of His creation, we see how man’s relationship (existence) with his fellow humans relies upon this three-dimensional principle, rather than on fallen man’s “solitary” one-dimensional life. It is fashioned after a God who is Triune and lives by this same three-dimensional principle. Man’s relationship dynamics has its underpinning in the Creator who Himself is relational in His divine Tripartite Being and existence.

The Genesis Three-Pronged Principle Basis of Human Relationships

Once we have figured out with the Spirit’s help that God is Love in His Triune existence, and through His utterance at our human/divine image creation, He has included us in His Trinitarian Being through His Son, in the Spirit’s power. Only then, we will see the authentic underpinning of the human relationship with other humans through God’s divine Love nature. The Holy Spirit will be the power working mysteriously and miraculously in humanity, even though we may not be conscious of how He orchestrates life in all its complexity. (Rom.8:28) Or so it seems, but not for Him. We will see human life is to be fashioned and shaped after the Creator who is relational, and we observe what Jesus said, “I have laid down a pattern for you. What I have done, you do” – living the Trinitarian Life. That is the first and all-important base we cover in this matter of human relationships.

It begins with the family unit from which human life begins. Then it extends outside to others as our human connection determines how we cultivate relationships – in our homes, our work places, schools, churches, social interactions, villages and towns, in sporting activities, and numerous other affiliations. The three-pronged principle I have covered in this post is the way God has determined from the outset of man’s existence on this earth, as the essence of how human relationship is cultivated and made to thrive in its authentic expression, undergirded in His Triune nature of Love. (You may read my Book for a broader expose’ of this subject. See my appendix below titled “Bulamanriver” for ordering details)

You must recognize as a human holding the sacred image of God, you have your existence in the Triune Being of God in Christ and through the inspiration of the Spirit, is made to have relationship engagements based upon God’s Love. I end with encouragement to live as Jesus did in the Triune Love and relationship He has with God and His fellowmen. You can read about how humanity is given the new birth to enter into the new life in Christ at: http://bulamanriver.net/17978. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/5525

Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love,* be with you and your Loved ones always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you in God’s Promises possible as you live the Triune Life.* Be strong in the Lord’s joy, and Love Him completely.

Farewell for now,

Kiang P. Lee, (Your Servant In Christ)

Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27). The Bible states, “He (God) does great things that we cannot understand and miracles that we cannot count” (Job 5:9). The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

IS RACISM REAL? BY KIANG P LEE

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“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus” (Gal.3:28, ESV).

Greetings once more my Friends! By now, most of you have heard of the name of George Floyd. I am not going to rehash his sad and utterly tragic death. (If you wish, you can go to the following Youtube link and see the story for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWQ6_BQii_U. Today, I will share the topic of racism with you. Since, the subject is topical and current, I thought it would be relevant to share God’s perspective about racism.

blue yellow and black graffiti on wall — *Street Art Memorialize George Floyd*

Following the appalling death of George Floyd at the hands of the Police, a huge protest march emerged all over US cities, and internationally in other cities of the world like London, Paris, and many more. Leading the charge in this protest against racism was the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Lives Matter is an organized movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality against Afro-American people. (Wikipedia)

Black Lives Matter Protest Tapestries — *Peaceful Protest, A Right of The People Under The U.S. Constitution (Unsplash*)

text — *Read More Placard Slogans Below…*

From the outset, let me quote the words of the Bible so that we are clear on what it says about this affliction of racism, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus” (Gal.3:28, ESV). That statement is so overarching against racism, inequality, and discrimination that we often miss the point it attempts to address. Basically, what it is saying is racism does not exist, for God sees every human person of whatever background, color, religion, or ethnicity as ONE HUMANITY. The Bible makes very clear that this plague of racism is not real by saying, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Act.17:26). That’s to say, the one blood which flows in our veins and produce human life does not determine our racial differences, instead, it determines our one common human species. Your blood gives life (‘lifeism’) not racism. (Lev.17:11)

The United Nations in a statement asserted that all humans belong to the same species and that “race” is not a biological reality but a myth. This was a summary of the findings of an international panel of anthropologists, geneticists, sociologists, and psychologists. You can read that report which appeared in the Newsweek magazine at: https://www.newsweek.com/there-no-such-thing-race-283123 . So where did racism come from? Where did it originate?

Verso — *Slavery – The Bedrock Upon Which Racism Grew and Thrive*. *This Led People to Mistakenly Assume the Superiority of Certain Color Above Another.* *Hence, Slavery is the Birthplace of the Curse of Racism*

The belief in human races, carrying along with it the prejudice and hatred of “racism,” is so embedded in our culture and has been an integral part of our worldview for so long that many of us assume that it just must be true. From ancient times, this was known as the caste system where people were divided into categories with specific identities to “keep them in their rightful place in society.” People do not call the many different stocks and pedigrees of dogs, for instance, by some inferior names or labels. Rather, we regard them as cute, and their variation makes them lovable, even adorable. However their differences, and whatever their looks, makes their canine variation no less of a dog than the whole range of the canine stock out there. Dogs are born from the same dog-kind regardless of labels placed upon them. So is humanity, we may be different in color, culture, and looks, but attaching derogatory labels upon any person does not change the fact he or she sprung from the same humanity that’s fashioned in God’s likeness – the God-kind. (Gen.1:26-27) People of all variation and color deserve nothing less than to be Loved, for “God is Love” (1 John 4:8, 16).

Racism is not real but is an invention of the fallen human mind, and is not of God. God is Love, and is the Creator of human variation and color. The word ‘race’ should remain in the lexicon of sporting circles. There is no human race, only humankind – humans made after the God-kind. God is diverse in His Triune Being (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), so everything He created is a simulation of Himself in His Tri-Personal diversity and Being. (Matt.28:18-20; 1 Pet.1:2; 2 Cor.13:14; 2 Thess.2:13) By the same measure, everything He continues to do has diversity reflecting His Trinitarian nature. The magnificent creation all around us trumpets this beautiful truth of diversity we cannot refute. Mankind is no different. Just as there are three distinct Persons in the Godhead united in Love, He has also made variation in humans to reflect His own Triune image. (Gen.1:26-27). God showed us once for all He is against slavery and racism when the Bible recorded the story of God freeing Israel from slavery in Egypt. (Exo.1:1-13:6)

Is it possible God created variation in the human species so we will learn to accept the variation of His one divine Triune nature in the Person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Appreciation and acceptance of our differences essentially begins in the family unit. It is in such family environment where we first encounter and learn to respect human uniqueness in personalities and responsibilities through variation of gifts, character, and being. It starts early in the family unit before we experience the greater societal diversity in the community. After Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He commissioned His disciples to ‘baptize’ – it means to ‘induct’ humans into the communal family life (a relationship of Love) of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:18-20). That’s to say, humanity consist of one species in the likeness of God in His one (united) Triune ‘Love Species.’ (1 John 4:8)

people holding brown wooden signage during daytime — *Peaceful Protest, A Right Afforded Under The U.S. Constitution (Unsplash)*

There are many issues that evoke human prejudice in humans, but chief among them is the curse of racism, inequality, and discrimination. As I said, it has become so ingrained in our worldview that we look at it as normal and even true. May be now is a good time as ever to change our views and attitudes on the subject, and embrace the divine message of oneness and unity, with prejudice toward none. The parting message Jesus gave His followers was one of Love. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have Loved you, so you must Love one another” (John 13:34). Love must become the cornerstone of our relationship within the human species. The Bible gives a peek into God’s divine Love, and its power, “Above all, Love each other deeply, because Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Pet.4:8). Yes, Love carries the power to appreciate and respect all our differences and uniqueness. Love displaces fear and paranoia which breeds division and inequality through the sense of superiority of one over another, the birthplace of racism. So, Love must be become the cornerstone of human relationship.

Author Jon Tal Murphree gives a succinct depiction of how this divine Love is supposed to influence us just as it does in the divine pattern within the Tri-Personal nature of God, “Each Person of the Trinity transposes Himself into the others without confusing His own personality with the others…the Father, Son, and Spirit do not exist as persons alongside each other as much as they exist in and through each other.” (Pg.29, ‘The Trinity and Human Personality’). Humans were created to exist in like fashion as the divine, and I emphasize the words, “They exist in and through each other,” to mean that as humans we are given to enjoy a relationship of “oneness of being” in each other as God does in His triunity, describing unity of species through the divine Love…regardless and over whatever purported myriads of division we wish to conjure up like racism. (Gen.1:26-27)

*Love is Meaningless Without Freedom (Wiki Commons)*

The definition of Love is freedom, likewise freedom is defined as finding genuine Love. This is the manner in which God has existed from eternity, and He made us in His Tri-Personal image to prepare us for eternity in Love and freedom in His Love-nature and Being. God wants us to get along with one another for eternity – in Love and in freedom. God has given us the vision to look into His divine nature and teach us how to assume and take on His unified Love-nature and image in the manner we live our own human lives today.

Freedom comes with the responsibility to Love so that whatever circumstance will always work out to produce a peaceful outcome. (Rom.8:28) For people, the Bible upholds the principle of respect for authority and this goes with peaceful protest, should we be persuaded to carry out our constitutional obligation for whatever reason and purpose. (Rom.13:1) The Bible states, “All authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Rom.13:1). When non-violent protest and violent acts face up to each other, non-violent protests always wins out. Peaceful protest acts as a means of conciliation which protects people from all forms of violence which destroys lives and property. Without the governing authority we would slide into anarchy which generically serves the enemy of all humanity. The Bible states we are to “Overcome evil with good, and not be overcome by evil” (Rom.12:21).

The Bible speaks of a time in future when people from every nation and color will come together and seek God’s way of Love, “People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths” (Mic.4:2).

woman in black tank top holding white and black banner — *Freedom Comes With The Responsibility To Love*

Here are examples of placards at the recent people’s Protest against racism, brutality, and for freedom. We can see that the undercurrent of the slogans on the placards is a cry for freedom:-

Racism is a Disease, Not a Color + My Skin Is Not a Sin + I’m Not Black But I’ll Stand With You + Break This Generational Curse + For Our Children’s Future -BLM End Brutality + Don’t Shoot It’s Not A Gun, I’m Just Black + We’re Not Trying To Start A Race War We’re Trying To End One + I Can’t Breathe + It Could Have Been My Son + All Lives Can’t Matter Until Black Lives Matter + The Most Violent Element In Society Is Ignorance + I Should Be Writing My College Essay Not My Will + When Injustice Becomes Law Resistance Becomes Duty + We Are For Rights Not Riots + Am I Next? + Silence Is Not An Option + No Justice No Peace + Together We Will Defeat Racism +

Of course, God knows that as humans we will face this seeming impenetrable racial hurdle because we have been conditioned to live in sin, not His Love. Sin is sown in the soil of fear which breeds torment and is the catalyst for generating all forms of division and inequality. God created variation and color in our humanity, man created racism. One is based upon reality, while the other is fabricated and is artificial and not founded upon reality. Racism is sin for the very reason it is not grounded in the eternal truth of God’s reality (Love, 1 John 4:8).

Hence, racism blinds and thereby deprives us to union with the uniqueness and commonality in God’s likeness that uplifts us over our differences. God sacrificed His one and only Son, Jesus, to rescue humanity from sin and all things delusionary, divisive, and transient which can never exist in His eternal reality of His realm and dominion. Racism originates in humans because of the sin-condition which has invaded and taken over our humanity since Eden. The sin-condition under which we exist began with the fall of Adam and Eve at the hands of the devil in Eden and has continued since. (Gen.3:1-6)

But in His unfathomable Love God finds the answers to restore humanity to His Love. Jesus came to usher in a spiritual rebirth so humanity can have lives where Love becomes our predominant nature, in place of fear and sin. John tells us this, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (the evil one, Satan)” (1 John 4:4, italics for emphasis). The devil is the author and instigator of racism in humans. Let us be absolutely clear what we are up against, Paul lays it out, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph.6:12).

Yes, the crafty evil enemy has pitted us against each other with the aim of destroying humanity, but he has failed miserably, because God sent His Son, so that through Him He fulfills His promise “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8; John 16:11; 1 John 3:5); (You can read how Jesus defeated the works of the devil for humanity by overcoming his evil temptations at: http://bulamanriver.net/20216). We live with the assurance of God’s promise to protect us from Satan through His Son, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thess.3:3; John 16:33).

Jesus explains how a person is reincarnated from one life into the next, from the old life into the new, from the former world of sin into God’s world of Love. He said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7b; also read V.3-8). Peter tells us, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God (Jesus)” (1 Pet.1:23). This reincarnation process enables one to undergo a spiritual death and rebirth into a totally new person in Christ’s now-glorified divine/human Person. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). The term to “bear much fruit” relates to the divine way of life where the ‘fruits of the Spirit’ defines everything we do. (You can read about the Love-fruits at: http://bulamanriver.net/9199, and 1 Cor.13)

Jesus calls people to a changed life, He said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). We were born of the flesh with its self-centered way of life, conditioned by sin through Adam. Now, Jesus calls us to undergo a new birth in the Spirit in God’s other-centered Triune way of Love (life), conditioned by the Spirit (Love). (John 3:8; Rom.5:5) Paul says, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor.1:9). God our Father has called us to live the reborn Triune Life* through His Son thus forsaking the “solitary life” in the fallen self from Adam. Yes, humanity is being called to forsake the fallen ‘solitary life’ where we do what seems right in our own eyes, and turn to God and live the collaborative Loving ‘Triune Life’* in Christ. (You may read what being spiritually regenerated through the new birth means at: http://bulamanriver.net/17978)

Unless humans are empowered by the divine nature of Love, we cannot defeat racism. We can install all kinds of man-made programs, which can go only so far, but they are essentially superficial and shallow for they don’t reach down to the primordial level of the human heart where the divine Love can bring about meaningful change. Humanity was created in God’s Love-likeness. (Gen.1:26-27). Deep in a person’s heart of hearts he/she cannot deny this primordial truth. Jesus gave us a picture of our embryonic self, fashioned in God’s Love-nature when He said, “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luk.17:21, NLT). You and I were created to be a temple for the Spirit’s (Love) dwelling. Without the Love the Spirit engenders in us, we will experience an empty life that’s unfulfilled, hollow, and disastrously leave humans open to the devil’s evil manipulation.

No description word freedom inside, ... | Stock vector | Colourbox — *Love Has An Identical Twin, So to Speak.*.. *Freedom!* *Freedom Is A Divine Gift, And Is The Flip Side Of God’s Love*

Before returning to His Father in heaven, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. (Act.1:4-5; Luk.24:49) What was that promise? It was the gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit was poured out upon them at Pentecost, the disciples and followers were filled with the power of God’s Love, and they performed many acts of wonder like miraculously speaking in the foreign languages of many people gathered in Jerusalem from far-flung parts of the known world during the harvest season. (Act.2:1-4) Paul said this, “God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom.5:5). Here is God’s answer to racism – the power of the Holy Spirit to change and fill the human heart with God’s Love, the only power which will unite humanity. Paul goes further and explains how the Spirit relates with each human, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (individually and collectively) (1 Cor.3:16). Paul further asked, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Cor.6:19). If you had not known or doubted, then now you know the astounding truth. Without God’s Love we will continue to live in our fallen state of existence (sin) from which the scourge of racism is born and takes root.

The Southern Poverty Law Center says that in 2019 they tracked 940 hate groups across the United States. All are biased towards others for reasons of race, faith, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, etc. How does humanity defeat racism, or for that matter other hate philosophies? The Bible reveals a vital resource which is part of God’s Love. I have explained the divine Love earlier. We saw how God gives a person the Spirit to enter the human heart and make a person God’s Love temple. (1 Cor.3:16). The presence of the Spirit is what empower humans with and in God’s Love. (Rom.5:5) The Spirit is not just some incomprehensible sentiment or sensation. The Bible reveals He is the “living waters” which flows in the heart of humans. (John 7:37-39) ‘Water’ is the metaphor for the Spirit’s activity. What does water do? It cleanses, rejuvenates, renews, and to use the given biblical term, sanctifies humans before God. That ‘water’ is nothing less than the very Love of God. (1 Pet.1:2; Rom.15:16; 5:5) Humanity is being sanctified by the Spirit and through Jesus’ High Priestly Office presented to God the Father holy and blessed. God’s word of assurance to us rings clearly and profoundly, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Heb.4:6).

However, how exactly does this work of sanctification through reconciliation is accomplished in the lives of humans before Jesus so the Father may dispense His blessing upon us? It depends upon the particular issue a person may be facing at the time. It can be a pressing need, a clear and present danger, and in this instance, with racism, or more rightly ‘human variation.’ God has equipped us with the fruit of the Spirit’s Love to bring to bear upon what we may consider our external difference and how to face it objectively and Lovingly. The fruits of Love are laid out in detail in 1 Corinthians 13.

*God’s Holy Spirit Personifies Love & Freedom in Humanity (Rom.5:5)* *“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the LORD of Hosts” (Zech.4:6).*

On human variation and color, or as it has come to be disparagingly called, racism, God has given humanity the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ as the fruit to help us in our human journey on this earth. The Bible presents this vital fruit in this way, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor.5:17-19). This ‘ministry of reconciliation’ is the tool (fruit) of Love the Spirit uses which deals with human relationships as we encounter our different human variation, culture, and color. Earlier, we read Jesus’ parting command to His disciples and friends to, “Love one another” (John 13:34). Love and its fruits does not just happen, it has to be cultivated, preserved, and kept alive. This is no different with the ‘ministry of reconciliation.’ It has to be cultivated and perfected. (You can read about the Love-fruits at: http://bulamanriver.net/9199).

Just as God’s fullness in His Triune Love cannot be fully known apart from the unique variation in His Tri-Personal Godhead, mankind cannot come around to fully grasp the true depth of our humanity without appreciating our variation and extending the Loving hand to remain united in Love. Our uniqueness in our different variation, color, and uplifting culture was intended to magnify and enhance our universal humanity, not devalue it. When we would have allowed the kaleidoscope of our common humanity to shine through our experiences and appreciate each of our uniqueness and effort and contribution, and realize our differences is supposed to enhance and complete us individually and collectively, we could not say we have begun to take this journey as true humans that our Creator desires for each of us to take in life and ultimately lead us to Him in His eternal destiny as Creator and God. As the Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Pro.14:34). Love is all our universal destiny, it is what will define us and our variation and the color of our skin is intended to magnify our humanity and destiny. Universally, we are all equals under God, just as God is equal in His Tri-Personal Being and Godhead.

*God Sacrificed His Son In Order to Save Humanity from Destruction (John 3:16)*

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt.5:9). A peacemaker is a conciliator, a pacifier, a mediator and adjudicator. He or she is applying the tool of reconciliation. Metaphorically, God saw the virus (sin) of racism in humans and applied the tool of reconciliation by being the first to surrender His Son for us. (Rom.5:8) Listen to what compelled God to act, “For God so Loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Yes, it is His Love that motivated Him to reconcile sinful humanity to Himself.

Throughout the Bible, God our Father, speaks eloquently of His tender mercies for humanity and its effect upon us, here’s one, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace” (Luk. 1:78-79). Yes, He touches us with His light through His Son and leads us in the ‘path of peace.’ And so we are blessed of the Father when it comes to our relationship with all humanity in their diversity, for God has gifted humanity with His Love through His Spirit to become His ‘peacemaker’ children. (Rom.5:5; 1 John 4:16)

*Martin Luther King Memorial, Washington DC. Civil Rights Leader Who Led Protest Against Racism, Inequality, and Discrimination. (Wiki Commons)*.

Martine Luther King, the great civil rights leader, said in his famed “I Have A Dream Speech”: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/) God’s nature and character is Love. (1 John 4:8) He created humanity so we will universally live by His Love-image. In the end, it is God’s Love that draws us to become better humans for each other and bring unity to make us all equal in one whole humanity.

Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus who has enabled us to live the Triune Life.* Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven seated at His Father’s side, and ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever. You can privately and quietly pray the prayer below in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination – into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the holy temple for God’s dwelling:

man in gray t-shirt holding black and white welcome to the beach signage

Prayer: “Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins and particularly where we have not held each other in equal and Loving regard and respect. Forgive me for any and all racist inclination of my heart. I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior from my sins. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon me and all humanity. Bring healing to our nation and the whole world. May Your Love guide and protect me and my Loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

Farewell for now,

Kiang P. Lee, (Your Servant In Christ)

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

THE SAVING LIVING FAITH OF JESUS, BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings again Friends! Faith is the very lifeblood of the Christian life. As a verb and doing word, a human being’s spiritual life rises and falls on the proper understanding and application of faith. What is the purpose of faith in the life of the human believer in Jesus? Faith is about human sanctification and manifesting a person’s status and reality in God’s spiritual realm and how he/she interacts with the divine will in human life. We are mortal humans, and God is spirit. What happens when God reaches out from His spiritual realm to offer you His Love, and you wish to respond and reach out to His offer of grace, how do you get in touch, and what do you do? Yes, how do you make contact with God in His spiritual realm? The answer is simply, faith! The living faith of Jesus to be exact.

*The Insurmountable Chasm Between the Mortal World and God’s Divine Realm*

Realize there is an insurmountable chasm that exist between our mortal human world and God’s divine realm. What can we do to bridge this gap? The answer is revealed in the Bible. The message of the Bible is for all humanity. It is a gross misunderstanding to say the Bible is for “Christians” only. The Bible consist of God’s message of hope and Love for every human who draws breathe given from one divine Source regardless of who we are – the Creator God. So, in this post, we will discuss the subject of the only vehicle given from the Bible by which humans make contact with the divine – faith!

The Bible reveals to us about the important and only vehicle by which humans may navigate the impenetrable divide between mortal humans and the all-powerful unseen Godly realm. That vehicle is called by the name: faith! Yes, faith is the bridge upon which we travel to cross over from our mortal realm into the spiritual realm of God. There is the human faith, and there is the spiritual faith. Both are used differently.

The human faith is exercised through the five human senses of hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch. I add a sixth, human feelings by how we express our emotions. The spiritual faith is explained this way, “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor.5:7). In other words, the human faith (sight, etc.) is powerless to transport us into God’s realm, it requires a more powerful faith that’s unseen and spiritual. Paul told the Corinthians, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor.4:18). Once again, we see Paul makes comparison between the human faith (what is seen through human eyes), and what is spiritual faith (unseen with the human eyes).

*Faith is The Vehicle Which Transports Mortal Humans into God’s Presence*

The Bible goes further, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb.11:6). Notice, this faith is powerful because it convicts humans of the reality of God’s existence – (“anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists”). Faith also assures humans of God’s care and concern for human well-being – (“He rewards those who earnestly seek Him”). Most importantly, this awesome faith creates a Loving relationship with God – (“It’s impossible to please God apart from faith”).

The Bible explains how this enabling faith acts as a bridge into the unseen spirit realm of God, “Faith is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Heb.11:1). What we cannot see is spiritual and cannot be detected by the five physical senses. There are physical things that are unseen but detectable by the senses, like the wind, gravity, human thoughts, etc. But the divine realm where God dwells is totally different. This is the realm of the Creator of all things known and unknown, of things seen and unseen, who holds all power and who chose to have a relationship with humankind whom He created in His image and likeness. (Gen.1:26-27; John 15:16)

Paul speaks of the different species the Creator made and how humans were set apart from other species. He said, “Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form…The (human) body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body” (1 Cor.15:39-44).

Paul makes us see how God created the human species unique and entirely different from the rest of creation. Humanity was fashioned in God’s own likeness, with the ultimate destiny of human immortality in God’s realm. This is mankind’s lot and destiny. (Gen.3:17; 1 Cor.15:54; John 3:16) And for this reason, humanity is given the gift of faith, the vehicle of faith, to enter into the God’s realm and presence to worship and engender a relationship of Love that’s uniquely exclusive to Him in His Triune Being in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor.13:14; Matt.28:19). This is the Promise of God, “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25, NKJV).

Humans can only enter into a Loving relationship with the Triune God when they can prove the reality of His existence, and that His care and Love is equally real. So, God has left humans with many Promises as proof of His grace and care. (1 Pet.5:7) The Bible states unequivocally, “God can be trusted to keep His Promise” (Heb.10:23, NLT). (I will delve deeper into God’s Promises in another aspect of faith later in this post). What pleases God is when humans rely upon Him for their well-being, both spiritually and physically. (Psa.147:11; 149:4; 37:23; 41:11)

Peter said this, “And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious Promises. These are the Promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Pet.1:4). All of God’s Promises begins with faith, for without faith we are left with doubt and emptiness.

Doubt creates disbelief, rift and confusion, and is the opposite of faith. It is the destructive fire which burns and destroys the bridge of faith which provides access into the divine realm. James tell us this, “When you ask, you must believe (have faith) and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (Jam.1:6-8). This is the ploy of the evil one, he seeks to create a divided loyalty in the heart of humans, so we will lose our way into God’s divine realm.

James informs us what to do when we are faced with a crossroad between faith and doubt in life, “If you need wisdom (to help make right decisions), ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver (doubt).” (Jam.1:5-6, NLT, italics mine). Yes, we require divine wisdom, which is the foundation God’s living spiritual faith.

The Bible says, “The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Cor.1:25; also, Zech.4:6). You and I must believe Him in His reality as the all-powerful God, and not some figment of the imagination. So, we see how faith explains He is a caring God. The bridge which gives access to all His Promises is the bridge of faith. Faith gives us that sure hope in God’s many Promises for us. (2 Pet.1:4; 3:13)

Directory, Away, Wisdom, Education — *God Supplies Wisdom to Build Faith* *(pixabay)*

To enter God’s realm and most especially His presence, there are three fundamental yet profound determinants to keep in mind. First, God is eternally holy in His Being, therefore, nothing short of His equivalent supreme holiness can appear before Him. (Isa.6:3) Second, humanity is required to be clothed in God’s Love, the essence of His holiness, to enter into His holy and Loving presence. (1 John 4:8) Third, since humans don’t have the prerequisite holiness to come before God, there is the absolute necessity for an intermediary to step into the place of fallen humanity to bridge this impassable holiness chasm which exist between fallen mortal man and the holy God. (1 Tim.2:5; Act.4:12)

From the foregoing, we will proceed through the three ascents depicting life in the Triune Life* of God of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt.28:19) That’s to say, the three ascents show humans are inducted into the life of Love in the Father, Son, and Spirit. For that is what “baptizing them (believers) in the name of the Triune God” means, “to be inducted into the life of God in His whole Being” (Matt.28:19). Only through His Triune Being, and no other way, can humans be made to enter His holy presence.

Before we get into the ascents, let me add a word about holiness. God is utterly holy in His Being. Sometimes we imagine this to be something that’s untouchable and unreachable, that His holiness is beyond humanity and we can never attain such a state of existence. Nothing could be further from the truth. Granted, mankind has lived a fallen state of existence since Adam’s fall, but that is only temporary, and He has given His Son who saved us for His holy purpose. (John 3:16) Yes, God created humanity for this very holy destiny we are privileged to have with Him in His family. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 Cor.3:17, ESV; Eph.3:17-19)

He revealed His holy act for sinful mankind by giving His Son to die for and save us. The Bible says, “For God so Loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). They key word in that passage is Love. Love, not only reveals God is holy, but makes us comprehend His holiness on the human level. God, to exist in holiness, means He is totally Loving in His nature. God’s holiness is immeasurable because His Love is unfathomable. (1 John 4:8; Psa.111:9)

Being holy means making right choices through the power of His Love. Holy (Love) means to shun evil and embrace the good through the fruits of Love. (1 Cor.13) It means making the necessary change from what is wrong (sin) to what is good (holy). In His holiness and Love, God reached out and touched sinful humanity to save us from rebellion and evil and restore us to His holiness and Love.

We see the three ascents through His Trinitarian life unfolding in the life of humans as follows:

Ascent 1: Holy Spirit – Sin Defeated. The third Person of the Triune Godhead is called Holy Spirit because He enters human life to defeat sin and darkness and sanctify and make humans holy in Christ so that a person can appear before the Father holy.

*‘Pure* Water’ – Symbol for The Holy Spirit’s Cleansing Power

Ascent 2: Jesus – The Savior and Mediator, the Light of God. Before the Holy Spirit can be given to enter human life, the person must first be cleansed of all sin, for sin and holiness are incompatible and can never coexist. So, the Mediator Jesus was sent by the Father to enter our human existence as “Immanuel” (God is us), live the perfect sinless human life, and die the sacrificial death to become the complete human Savior to release humanity from the bondage of sin and rebellion. (John 3:16: Matt.1:22-23; Rom.5:8)

But Jesus did not remain dead upon His cross. He was buried and on the third day was resurrected and appeared to the disciples and others for forty days. (Act.1:3) Then He ascended to heaven where He was seated at the right hand of God the Father as humanity’s High Priest, for the purpose of forever mediating on behalf of fallen humanity. (Matt.28:5-6; Heb.4:14-16)

Cross, Christ, Faith, God, Jesus, Clouds — *Jesus – Savior of the World and Mankind (Pixabay)*

Ascent 3: God The Father – The Gift of New Life through and In His Holy Presence. Paul tells us the all-important role of Jesus as our human High Priest before the Father in heaven, “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” (1 Cor.1:30-31)

I emphasize the words, “He made us pure and holy” to stress the vital cleansing mediatory role of Jesus as our Savior and High Priest who seats at the Father’s right hand today. Later Paul said, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Cor.5:21). Yes, Jesus is the intermediary that humanity needed to keep us in God’s holy presence forever.

*The Holy Creator God, Father of Mankind (Wiki Commons)*

There is another vital picture of the Father’s role which makes all the difference, and that is, in His holy glorious presence everything is renewed and becomes new. His light and glory brings about renewal and rebirth upon all life and everything He touches. And even humans that enter the Father’s presence through Christ is restored and regenerated through the light of His holy renewing energy and presence. The Father’s place is the place of healing and miracles where humanity is cured from all sickness and disease both spiritual and physical. The Bible states, “He (God) does great things that we cannot understand and miracles that we cannot count” (Job 5:9; also Act.10:38; Psa.119:50; Jam.5:15).

Therefore, in the Father’s presence the old fallen self from Adam is forever cast-off and abandoned through repentance and baptism for the new person that you are in His Son. (Act.2:37-38) Paul affirms this wonderful truth, saying, “God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who Love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him” (Rom.8:29-30). This miraculous act of regenerating humanity through His Son is absolutely crucial concerning how we enter into God’s holy presence.

*Jesus’ Personal Faith – Bridge Into the Presence of the Holy Creator God (Wiki Commons)*

Humans enter God’s holy presence through and in the glorified body of His Son as High Priest. Listen to what Scriptures tell us, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a Great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Spirit)” (Heb.10:19-22, italics for emphasis).

Yes, each of our place in God’s presence was initiated by Jesus Himself when He took our fallen humanity upon Himself as the Immanuel, rescued it by living the perfect human life, then sacrificing Himself for our redemption, and after His resurrection from the dead, ascended and took our now glorified humanity in Himself to heaven and into the Father’s holy presence where Jesus is seated at the His right hand. Humans are not only saved from our Adamic sin-condition by Jesus, but He also glorified our humanity with immortality in Himself by His resurrection and ascension became the first human to receive immortality so all humanity may follow in His footsteps. (Rom.8:29)

There is no other way for humans to enter God’s spiritual realm and the Father’s holy presence other than through faith in His Son who has introduced and glorified our humanity by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension to His High Priesthood. (Act.10:38; John 3:16; 11:25-26; Act.1:9-11; Heb.4:14-16) Let’s listen to Paul again, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom.5:1).

Since Jesus is constantly mediating in His High Priestly role for humanity’s right standing with God, the Father fulfills His promise of giving mankind the gift of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:26) The Spirit is God’s power of personifying the new glorified life of Jesus in humans. (John 16:13-15) The Spirit is the cleansing power of God that renews and regenerate humans. (Tit.3:5-6) Jesus informs us in John of the role of the Spirit, “He (Spirit) will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me. All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me’” (John 16:14-15). Note, how God acts in unison as One Tri-Personal God (Trinity).

In one of the most profound and life-altering passage Paul was inspired to write, he said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal.2:20a). In that brief but powerful statement, Paul reveals the secret of living the Christian life. Christianity is a life of reliving the death and new life (resurrection) in Christ. So, in the Father’s glorious presence, humans undergo this deathlike experience of disrobing the sin-conditioned old self from Adam, and stepping into the new life of being robed in the glorified life of His Son, Jesus. (Rom.8:29)

Paul tell us how this rebirth takes place, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him (Jesus) so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin, because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Rom.6:6-7, italics mine). Thus, renewal and transformation emerges and springs from the Father’s holy majestic presence. Yes, that is what happens in the Father’s holy presence – the spiritual death and rebirth of humanity.

A complete renewal takes place in the life of humans because the glorified life of Christ now resides in the believer. It’s helpful to recollect that at the last supper before His death, Jesus initiated the communion event of partaking of the bread and wine. These two elements were emblems representing Jesus’ body and blood, or the new life we have in Him, and that He now, symbolically in flesh and blood, walks in and through us. (1 Cor.11:23-26)

*“I Have Been Crucified With Christ..And Christ Lives in Me” – Gal.2:20. (Wiki Commons)*

John speaks of this rebirth event when he quoted Jesus as saying, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). Note again, no one can enter the spiritual realm of God’s kingdom unless they are reborn by taking on Christ’s very life through the Spirit’s power, in the Father’s holy presence. Yes, every human who appears before God must undergo a rebirth from his/her sin-conditioned self and made to enter into a holy union with Christ’s glorious life who has already taken our humanity in God’s holy presence at His own resurrection, ascension, and High Priestly office. This is the only way a human is made to enter into the presence of our holy and Loving God. (1 John 4:8; Psa.99:3; Lev.19:2)

Through Jesus’ mediation as High Priest, the Father fulfills His promise and sends the Holy Spirit to regenerate humanity. The Spirit is God’s power that personifies the new life of the glorified holy Jesus in humans. Jesus informs us in John the role of the Spirit, “He (Spirit) will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me. All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me’” (John 16:14-15). The Spirit is the power who initiates the rebirth into the new life in Jesus.

Recall, we are covering the topic of faith as the bridge into the sanctity of God’s presence. Nothing we have discussed above happens without faith. Beginning with life in the Triune Being of God, nothing spiritual becomes our reality in the human sense without faith – but not any faith, just the Personal living faith of Jesus, as we shall see. We have seen that only through the vehicle of God’s Tri-Personal Being in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (3 Ascents), can humanity be brought into His holy presence, specifically, through the Person of Jesus as the world’s Savior.

Yes, it is Jesus’ personal living faith that brings us into the presence of God. Note what Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ (Ascent 2, above): nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20, KJV). Many translation say “in” instead of “of.” We cannot have faith in Jesus without the ‘Faith of Jesus’ – not the reverse. Faith in Jesus relates to our weak human faith which is incapable of pleasing God, as we shall see, but nonetheless necessary. Both go hand-in-hand.

Yes, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” There is no other way to come before the presence of the holy God except through the faith of Jesus. The glorious life of Jesus as our human High Priest and the living faith of Jesus are one and the same. As High Priest He supplies His extra ordinary faith to trust in His mediation to infuse the power in doing the divine will. Paul told the Ephesians, “I pray that Christ will make His home in your hearts through faith” (Eph.3:17). God’s relationship with sinful humans is constantly mediated in the life of His Son as our High Priest.

At the beginning of this post, I asked what ultimately is the purpose of faith in humanity – specifically, Jesus’ living faith? It’s purpose is to bring humanity to the place of sanctification where humans are made holy in the Father’s presence, so we may experience true freedom in Christ. Paul said, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal.5:1).

At another milestone in God’s appointed plan, He will bring all humanity to glorification by resurrecting mankind and be conferred the promise of immortality at His Son’s coming return to earth. (Act.1:10-11; Rev.19:11-16) The Bible Promises, “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25, NKJV).

*The High Priest In Ancient Israel Serving in God’s Temple – A Copy of Jesus’ High Priestly Role Today Before God Mediating For Humanity In Heaven – Heb.4:14-16. (Wiki Commons)*

Notice the mechanics of how the Father’s plan to make His children holy. Since Jesus has taken our place with and in Himself in heaven at the Father’s right hand, the Father took the vital step of sending the Holy Spirit to indwell and sanctify humanity and enable us to appear in God’s holy presence in Christ. Jesus said before His crucifixion, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate (Friend) to be with you forever…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:16, 26, italics my emphasis).

Before His ascension to the Father’s right hand, Jesus reminded the disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift (of the Holy Spirit) my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Act.1:4, italics mine). With the gift of the Spirit, God now unites Himself in His whole Triune Being with humanity.

Then, when the day of Pentecost came, God poured the Holy Spirit upon those who were gathered as Jesus instructed. (Act.2:1-4) On that day, Peter was empowered by the Holy Spirit, spoke to the people and essentially gave them the divine mechanics by which humans are made holy, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act.2:38).

So, what does “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus” mean? To “repent” means to “change,” or take on the new life of Jesus – this is the act of the Father in the 3rd Ascent we saw above. And to be “baptized” in Christ is a ritual symbolizing death and rebirth, from rebellion to Love, from sin to holiness, from mortal to divine. (1 Cor.1:30-31) Here, we witness the depiction of the 3 Ascents (Love relationships) in the Father, Son, and Spirit, we have covered earlier taking place.

*Baptism – Affirmation of Death and Rebirth in Christ (Wiki Commons)*

This is how Paul explains what happens when humans undergo repentance and baptism. He told the Romans, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God” (Rom.6:3-10).

Every word in this passage packs so much meaning and how it impacts humanity’s eternal future. I ask you to read it often in your spare time. So, baptism is the believer’s affirmation to bury the sin-conditioned person from Adam’s fall in the watery grave of the baptismal waters. This baptismal affirmation is equivalent to dying with Christ upon His cross in spirit, as we read earlier of Paul’s words above, and to the Galatians. (Gal.2:20)

Then, immediately upon rising from the watery grave, we are portrayed to have risen in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and thereby embrace the new life we have in Christ in heaven and made holy in the Spirit’s power to appear before the Father.

We call to mind when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended from the Father upon Jesus, and this depicts the reality of our own baptism and how the Father extends the gift of the Spirit who spiritually transports humanity into Jesus’ holy presence as High Priest and the Father where mankind is embraced as God’s holy children. Also, we are reminded of what the Father did and said to Jesus at His baptism in the Jordan. The Father sent His Spirit, and says the words He would forever say to all humanity who follow Jesus by undergoing His baptism, “You are My Son, (‘children’ for all humanity) whom I love; with You I am well pleased” (Mark.1:11; Luk.3:22).

As children of God, we are always in God’s holy presence through His Son’s constant mediation, and made holy by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. This is the life we are all called to live – in holy union with the Triune God in the Father’s holy presence. (1 Cor.1:30-31)

Dove, Hand, Trust, God, Pray, Prayer — *Dove-Symbol of the Holy Spirit And God’s Sanctifying Power in Humanity*

From the above, we have seen how God has played a prominent and Fatherly role in saving humanity and laying out a hope and future, that in the words of the Bible holds out humanity’s eternal destiny, “It is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who Love Him“ (1 Cor.2:9).

But God calls upon humanity to play a vital role in His plan for each of our lives. For such is the nature of God that His Love calls for a participatory life. The Triune Life* is the divine participatory life we are called to share with Him in Love. So, there is the vital collaborative union of the divine life and the mortal human life with each of our input in God’s grand design and purpose.

Therefore, we must ask, and deservedly so, what part does humanity play in God’s purpose for mankind, and in particular as it relates to you as a person that God Loves above Himself? (John 3:16) Up to this point, we have seen the predominant preponderance of the divine will and Love in the human condition. As Paul said perceptively, “But God showed His great Love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Rom.5:8).

So, humanity would have been lost were it not for God’s Loving intervention. Yes, as fallen humans, we must justifiably ask what part do we play, if any, in God’s purpose for humanity? Our walk in this human life is the walk of Jesus in each of us in the Spirit’s power. (John 15:7) But what does that look like as we respond to God in the Love relationship within the 3 Ascents.

Recall, God’s Love calls for a participatory life, just as He is intrinsically participatory in His divine Triune Being in the Father, Son, and Spirit. This human participation with the divine life of God is the 4th Ascent representing the ‘manifestation of renewal’ arising from the three Ascents we have seen above, and in particular the 3rd Ascent in the extension of the Father’s gift of the Spirit upon humanity, in whose power human participation with the divine is made possible.

Ascent 4: Humanity – Rebirth and Renewal. There are three parts to humanity’s participation in the 4th Ascent I will share. The first part of the 4th Ascent concerning human participation calls for our human faith. I said earlier that our human faith alone is inadequate to transport us spiritually into God’s spiritual realm. Be that as it may, our human faith is not entirely lacking or hopeless.

As deficient as our human faith in spiritual matters, it is still relevant because God’s work of salvation in humans cannot be done without human participation. Through God’s Tri-Personal nature as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we saw in the 3 Ascents, He reveals Himself to be a Loving participatory God. So, the human faith enlists human participation within the Triune Life of God. That’s how He desires His Love to work with humans He made in His image. (Gen.1:26-27)

*Each Person Has a Part to Play (4th Ascent) as God Unites Himself with Us Through the Love Relationships in The 3 Ascents* *(Wiki Commons)*

So we use our limited human faith to believe and trust in the spiritually all-powerful faith of Jesus to change us in ways man’s faith can ever imagine or think of doing. This is what Paul makes clear in this passage to the Romans – “The righteousness of God which comes by the faith of Jesus to all and on all that believe (with their human faith).” (Rom.3:22, AKJV, italics mine for emphasis).

As Jesus’ faith grows in our hearts and minds, we’ll find our ‘faith-scale’ begin to tip in favor of the faith of Jesus – our limited human faith will have less and less of a role and impact in matters of both the mortal and the divine realms. As John said succinctly, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30).

We live powerless lives when we rely solely on human faith, and many people have fallen into this trap, and deny the powerful Personal faith of Jesus, which comes through the Spirit’s energizing activity in humans. By not recognizing there are two faiths, just as there are two realities, the physical and the spiritual; there are two spirits, the fallen human spirit and God’s Holy Spirit. So, people have naturally stood upon and lived entirely through their inadequate human faith, and denied the Faith of Jesus. Both must compliment each other.

Just as the Bible says that “faith without works is dead,” it is just as true that, “works without faith is equally dead.” What do I mean? It means unless our human bodily works become the temple for Jesus’ living faith…unless Jesus’ faith become the power behind our human works, all we do is just a hot air of human arrogance of meaningless bragging. The wise King Solomon affirms this, saying, “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Eccl.1:2).

In other words, human activity is completely meaningless and pointless unless we do with our lives what God guides us in His love to do with it. And He has given us His Son as our example. (Eccl.12:8, 13-14; John 13:15; 1 John 2:6)

When I deny the spiritual Personal faith of Jesus, then my work, which spring up and emerge completely out of my human faith, is just a smokescreen and distraction, despite the fact that it may appear ‘successful’ before the human eyes. (Psa.37:7) The Psalmist said, “You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from You” (Psa.16:2, GNT). Yes, apart from God’s grace we stand bereft of His divine goodness and without the powerful faith of Jesus. God blesses our lives with good when we are, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Faith” (Heb. 12:2, NASB)

James tells us, “Faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone” (Jam.2:17). It is also true in the reverse, “Works without faith is dead.” What do I mean? How is one different from the other? The difference is the living faith of Jesus. Our works must become the temple for the Jesus’ living faith. In other words, the mover of our works must be the living faith of Jesus. The faith that is ‘alone’ and dead is the human faith. (You can read more about “Jesus’ Faith” at: http://bulamanriver.net/2811)

The second part in the 4th Ascent is the act of ‘repentance and baptism’ we have covered earlier. (Act.2:38) It depicts the ‘surrender’ of the fallen human will and spirit on our part whereby we crucify the false self upon Jesus’ cross, and receive Him, His new life in the Spirit who empowers Jesus’ Personal faith, who now lives in and occupies the human heart. (Gal.2:20; 1 Cor.3:16) Jesus said this of the Spirit’s work, “He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine (faith) and declare it to you” (John 16:14).

Freedom is intrinsic to the divine nature of God, and springs from and is part of His Triune Love. You cannot have Love without freedom, nor freedom without Love, for they are one and the same. Thus, human freewill is unified with and integrated into God’s Love. Therefore, the act of surrender is given freely, just as the Father freely surrendered His only Son out of His deep Love to save humanity. (John 3:16)

Hence, we are made to freely and gladly live the surrendered life. The positive expression of human life through personal freedoms was intended to manifest the unique personal gifts conferred by the Creator in each person at birth, which manifests our individual human freewill. (Matt.7:9-11) (You may read my post about divine freedom at: http://bulamanriver.net/16956)

Religion, Meditation, Faith, Light — *Meditating Upon The True Values* *In God’s Promises*

The third part in our human participation (4th Ascent) has to do with the interaction with the Holy Spirit whose role is to empower and humanize Jesus’ glorified new life in humanity. (John 16:14-15) Here, humans utilize the tool of meditation and visualization principally upon the precious Promises God has given humanity out of His great Love for us. (2 Pet.1:4)

The role of meditation and visualization relates to the Spirit’s occupation of our human hearts, who is depicted as a “Friend” (Advocate) and Helper in every human He indwells. (John 14:26; 1 Cor.3:16; John 16:14-15) The fallen human heart and spirit from Adam’s fall (Adamic humanity) has been replaced by the Holy Spirit who now occupies the human heart and mind to bring the ‘Immanuel humanity’ of Jesus with His living, powerful, faith. (1 Cor.3:16; 6:19; Isa 7:14; Matt.1:23))

Meditation is really about mediation where a person seeks to solidify the divine mindset in one’s life through the Spirit’s help. The Spirit is our Friend. (John 14:26) As a Friend, how does the Spirit help, what exactly does He do? Paul makes an astounding statement in this regard, he said, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words” (Rom.8:26, NLT). Did you notice that? Mediation is the Spirit’s act of praying for us before the Father. He also gives us power to defeat human weaknesses.

Paul goes on to tell us about the outcome of the Spirit’s prayerful mediation on our behalf, “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who Love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son” (Rom.8:27-29). God’s will and purposes for humanity are revealed in His Promises. (2 Pet.1:4)

Yes, the Father makes circumstances to work in our favor because of the Spirit’s prayerful mediation to fulfill His divine will in each of us. How awesome is that, where mostly we don’t know how to pray to the Father, our Friend Herald* (Holy Spirit) steps into our place and prays for us. Herald lives in our hearts, so He knows everything about our lives, and how to present us before the Father. Through the Triune Life* in the 3 Ascents, humans exists in the midst of God’s Loving power. The Psalmist said, “Because Your steadfast Love is better than life” (Psa.63:3, ESV). Yes, how do we value human life if it were not for God’s Loving kindness. (*Herald is the Spirit’s name I have given and call my personal Friend).

It is vital to understand why this tool is crucial to our spiritual life and the vitality of Christ’s personal faith in humanity. The tool of meditation reflects the divine providential means by which the Spirit enhances Jesus’ reality in the human heart and life. (Rom.8:9) We must recognize that as humans we grow up and quickly learn to shape and reinforce values and culture (personal and collective) through our human experiences and circumstances.

Thereby, in our fallen humanity, coupled with the deception and sway of the devil, we naturally attach human values upon things that are worldly and ungodly. Many of these values were instilled by the enemy, the devil, through the world’s system. John affirmed this, saying, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s” (1 John 2:16). Note, how these worldly values were framed and planted into our lives – principally through the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life.

Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting our own way, wanting everything for ourselves, wanting to appear important—is all about self-worship which is instigated by the devil, and has nothing to do with the Father. It destroys our relationship with the Tri-Personal God, and countermands the divine participatory life we are given to share in the 3 Ascents we have covered above. John gives how our victory over the world comes about, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith (in Christ’s Faith) (1 John 5:4; Rom.3:22, KJV; Italics mine for emphasis).

But through the second step of baptism we have surrendered and repented of the old fallen self and have changed the status quo so that we can now establish new values based upon God’s Promises made possible through Christ’s faith. However, we must be circumspect and careful about the values we allow to accept and influence us. We must now choose God’s values through His precious Promises for us, and not the worldly false values and culture that were disposed and abandoned at baptism (repentance and change). (2 Cor.6:17)

Nevertheless, we ought to be mindful about living circumspectly because the worldly values we once treasured does not just evaporate and disappear magically at baptism, granted that we are given the Spirit’s ‘first Love’ impetus at the time. (Rev.2:4, KJV) The years of practice and assimilation before conversion (baptism) have formed stubborn habits which can be difficult to eradicate at once. These habits have become fixed and stubborn which will take time and experience to remove, with the help of the Spirit who sanctifies us, while we shift our allegiance to the values that God calls upon us to uphold in His Promises in Christ. (2 Pet.1:4)

Trusting in God's Promise — *Meditating Upon God’s Promises and Values*

And meditation and visualization in the Spirit’s power is about establishing God’s values (Christ’s mindset), while uprooting and eradicating the false values we once upheld and possibly cherished. In biblical meditation, the meditator fills his/her mind with the purpose and dreams God desires to share with mankind through His Promises, and made possible in Christ and by His faith in the Spirit’s move. We articulate the Promises over in our hearts because they are true and point us to our destiny.

Paul shows us the way to meditate, he said, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts (meditate) on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think (meditate) about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you” (Phi.4:8-9).

The honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things are contained in God’s Promises, not in the worldly things we once treasured and have given up for His precious promises. One of the ways the Spirit sanctify us is by infusing us with the right mindset to “know thine enemy” and how he works through the false and futile values he promotes. (2 Cor.2:11; 4:4; 1 Pet.5:8)

Paul goes further and speaks about destroying the false values that once influenced our decision-making, and recapturing the true values which define our true and glorious humanity in God’s Promises, saying, “We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Cor.10:5).

Yes, the ‘proud obstacles’ are the false values that once influenced our lives, must be ‘destroyed’ upon the cross of Jesus. As God has promised, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who Love Him” (1 Cor.2:9, NKJV).

Hence, it is important for humans to be well versed with God’s Promises, for all that God has prepared for humanity are revealed in His Promises, and more. It must be upon these Promises that we define our values in the new life on this earth which we have in Christ.

>You can read my post titled, “Standing On The Promises” to read more about God’s encouraging promises for humanity at: http://bulamanriver.net/15209.

>You can read about God’s Promises to protect us from Satan, at: http://bulamanriver.net/11339.

>For additional information on God’s many precious Promises you may visit the following web site: https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/bible-promises.

>You can also explore YouTube sites which have videos and recordings where God’s promises are presented and spoken eloquently, like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imJZlhOsPKM .

It is upon these many sure Promises of God which form the basis of our true and lasting values. (2 Pet.1:4) We are to meditate upon these precious Promises to create a new mindset in Christ, and thereby replace the false values we once upheld.

The human brain is regulated and directed by the subconscious mind which in turn directs the numerous conscious thoughts that enter the brain for processing and potential actionable outcome. God’s Promise must take up its place in our subconscious mind to form and become the ‘sponsoring thought’ which acts as a filter in our thinking process, thus remove any opposing thought which confront God’s Love and purpose as reflected in His Promises.

Therefore, all our activities must be sponsored by the words of His Promises. In this process, we are immersed in the mind and Love of Christ. (2 Cor.10:5; 1 Cor.2:16)

So, where does faith play its part in this new foundational values of life? The living faith we have in Jesus must take possession of our lives and works “being fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises” (Romans 4:21). So, there we see the Love relationship we have with God in His Triune Being through the 3 Ascents, and our human response in the 4th Ascent, and how the Saving Living Faith of Jesus become reality in each of us as we live the surrendered life in Him.

Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven seated at His Father’s side, and ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever.

You can privately and quietly pray the prayer below in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination – into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the holy temple for God’s dwelling:

Farewell for now,

**Kiang P Lee** (Your Servant in Christ)

*Triune Life: “Triune Life” speaks of the process of theosis or deification of humanity. What is theosis or deification? “It refers to apotheosis, meaning “making divine.” Theosis or deification is a transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with God (Wikipedia.org) The belief in the process of ‘deification’ is understood in accordance with Jesus’ teaching, when He said, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? If He called them ‘gods,’ to whom the Word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside (cannot be broken)” (John 10:34-35; Psa.82:6). (You can read about the Triune Life at: http://bulamanriver.net/9199, and other posts)

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

LOVING GOD ABSOLUTELY, BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings once more, Friends! The most important command in the Bible is about the human Love for God. God gave humanity the most important command when Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mar.12:30). In the book of Exodus, God told Israel, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exo.20:3). In other words, we are to be Loving God unquestionably above all else. Let us get one thing straight right off the bat, without giving a second thought, in our fallen state of existence in sin, it is not possible for humans to keep this command. The Bible states, “Can anyone really say that his conscience is clear, that he has gotten rid of his sin?” (Pro.20:9, GNT). For emphasis, “No one in this world always does right” (Eccl.7:20, CEV)

Realizing we are living through unprecedented times when we are in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic, I am moved to share the title of this post with you, my readers far and wide. This is what God says about Love, “The LORD says, “I will rescue those who Love Me. I will protect those who trust in My Name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation” (Psa.91:14-16, NLT).

(You may be interested to read my previous post titles that are relevant to our disconcerting times on the ‘3 Genesis Mandates,’ and the ‘spiritual virus,’ at http://bulamanriver.net/21174 and http://bulamanriver.net/21006).

black fountain pen on white paper — *“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Unsplash)*

Paul said this about all mankind, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23). The “glory of God” simply means who and what God is in His holy divine Being of Love. (Luk.1:49) God’s holiness is immeasurable because His Love is unfathomable. (1 John 4:8; Psa.111:9) So, if in our depraved state of existence, we fall short of His glory and Love, how can we possibly follow His Love command to “Love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength?” We can live a pretentious or fake life, but God knows our motives and heart, saying, “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve” (Jer.17:10, NLT).

Yes, why did God give mankind a command that humans could not possibly follow in the first instance? But that is exactly the point, the command was given to be followed, or else why would God command it? Or is it possible that God was echoing a harmonious relationship which once existed with humanity. Yes, why would God issue the Love commandment which once was? Now, that is the million dollar question. The answer can be found by unraveling and understanding the rationale behind the Love command. Yes, God in His Love, will remain an eternal mystery we will never get to the bottom of or fully comprehend. Our minds will never be able to contain God. We can know Him only to the degree He chooses to reveal Himself, or He remains forever unknowable. (Eph.5:32-33; Psa.145:3; 1 Tim.3:16, ESV; 1 Cor.2:7)

This revelation of Himself to humanity God has already done by giving His Son, Jesus, to be our human Savior. (Heb.1:1-3; John 3:16) The Bible tell us this, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His Being” (Heb.1:3). Yes, Love (God) requires untethering to comprehend His mind-blowing beauty. In fact, much of creation is wrapped in mystery, so much so that people like scientists delight in discovering them. And there are countless matters that remain mysteries waiting to be laid bare for its splendor and gravitas. The human mind, for example, remains a mystery that continues to baffle scientists for its complexities. Both the complex human mind and our equally complex and unknown universe are physical creations God has filled with Himself in His awe-inspiring Love and mystery. (Isa.66:1-2)

Both, the mind and the universe, are replicas of one another in their infinite mystery as God Himself will remain a mystery to His creation. The seemingly ‘chaotic’ universe with its constellations, solar system, star system, meteorites and meteor showers, shooting and exploding stars, in their awesome beauty and grandeur, live in ‘orderly’ governance through the mantle of God’s presence and mystery. (Jer.23:24; Heb.4:13) Love is the exercise of the mind and comes through a decision-making process, not something hard, fast, and inflexible. Love can be lived selfishly or unselfishly, inwardly or outwardly, and we are given the freedom to choose. Life beckons to us to ‘choose’ for all have the gift of divine freedom as the intrinsic makeup of His Love. (see Blog Post “Freedom“ at http://bulamanriver.net/10980) The devil has always had a counterfeit to God’s outgoing Love in order to deceive humans – self-centered human love that’s generated by fear, and rebellion. In all His creation, God has given humanity a peek into the mystery of His Love and why we are to share in and Love Him absolutely.

*“God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in them” 1 John 4:16. (Wiki Commons)*

Firstly, we have to grasp the full story of mankind as a species upon this earth. When this command was first given at Sinai, historically, humanity was a third of the way into the story of humanity’s sojourn on earth. So, it is fair to ask, what was man’s journey from the beginning, what happened, and what led to the giving of the Love command at the hand of Moses. The truth is the human species, through Adam and Eve, had once lived in perfect harmony with their Creator in the paradisal garden of Eden He planted for them. So, God knew what He was talking about when He gave the Love command. Humans have lived that perfect life once before, but Adam and Eve were the only known humans to have experienced such a life. After their rebellion and sin for eating the forbidden fruit at the hands of Satan, the perfect Love union with God was broken. (Gen.3:1-6) Our first parents were banished from Eden and God’s presence. (Gen.3:23-24)

To fully understand the rationale for God’s Love command, there are three realities which forms the essential mindset. It shapes our conviction about God’s primordial Being and nature from which He imagines, acts, and deals with His creation, and from which He cannot shrink away or falter because they are inherent in His divine nature as God. It is from this God-reality that His command sprung to create the human species in His own likeness, and all creation. These three realities about God has remained unchanged and constant from eternity and explained briefly below, with a comprehensive ‘explanatory note’ for each at the end of article. The three divine realities, briefly, are:

Vintage Wtlb Love Art Print — *“If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not Love, I am nothing” (1 Cor.13).*

God is the uncreated divine Creator who has existed for eternity without beginning nor end, in absolute power. See Explanatory Note: (a) below.
God’s motivation for all He does is inspired by His Love. Without Love, nothing would exist. The supreme holiness of God cannot be plumbed apart from His absolute and immeasurable Love. See Explanatory Note: (b) below.
God’s Love stems from His divine Triune Being of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Love is never ‘solitary.’ Love is communal as God is plural in His divine Being. See Explanatory Note: (c) below.

It is from the reality and His divine qualities we see above that the following momentous words were uttered by God when He created humanity, “Let us (Father, Son, and Spirit) make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Gen.1:26, italics mine). It is upon the foundation of these three realities that we attempt to find the rationale for God’s command to “Love Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind” (Luk.10:7). How do we transpose the Love command across from the divine so mortal humans can internalize it? Recall, this is not an impossible feat, for humanity has lived it once before because he was created for this very purpose. (Gen.1:26-27)

Since humanity was created in God’s likeness, therefore, the three qualities/realities reveal and establish the image commonality between God and mortal humans. That’s to say, when God created humanity in His own likeness, He forever predestined humanity to reflect His own divine realities and qualities. Although humanity lives a fallen state of existence from Adam’s sin, this is only temporary and not permanent, however, his primordial essence with the divine will never be erased or eradicated. Jesus affirmed this truth, saying, “Nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luk.17:21). There’s a two-pronged meaning here. First, it refers to Jesus who was in their midst, and about Christ’s Person who has taken up residence in the heart of humans. Yes, deep down in the wellspring of the human heart we can never escape the reality of who we are in our primordial essence mirroring God’s image in Christ. (Gen.1:26-27; Rom.8:29) Jesus came and saved humanity by removing the cover of sin and rebellion which has blinded humans to their true potential and destiny. (John 3:16, 36; 6:47)

From Adam’s fall, humanity was led to live a lower level of existence from His higher divine purpose and attribute. Mankind was led down the crude path of rebellion against God and His way of life of Love, grace and generosity. They followed Satan’s way of rebellion, fear, self-centeredness, deceit, greed, lust and sin. So, upon reflection, God was reiterating a harmonious episode in human history when God once lived in perfect Love with mankind which was not an impossible dream for humans. It was God’s purpose for creating humanity from the start. In fact, God created a celestial Edenic environment which made it possible for humans to live at a higher level of existence infused by and immersed in God’s unfathomable Love. By repeating the Love command, He was essentially reminding humanity of the purpose for their creation and what is possible, not impossible. (Gen.1:26-27) Despite humanity’s fall from grace, God’s plan for creating humans in His image will not be impeded but will ultimately prevail. (Hab.2:14)

God created other species, but none was made in God’s likeness. Animals were given instincts which regulated their behavior in a fixed intractable manner as divinely preordained. Fashioned after the divine, humans have a mind with the gift of freedom to choose one way or the other. Since the first divine reality reveals God has everlasting life, thereby, humanity’s destiny is to attain immortality. Paul said, “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Cor.15:50-55).

In Eden, God denied our first parents the gift of immortality because of their rebellion and sin. (Gen.3:22) But God had to reset His original plan for humanity by surrendering His Son, so humanity may be saved from sin and death through rebirth by His Spirit (Love) to receive the gift of immortality. (John 3:16-17; John 3:5-7; Rom.8:11) This rescue plan of God speaks of the process of human deification of mankind who was made mortal from the earth in the beginning, “For dust you are and to dust you will return” (Gen.3:17). (To read more on human deification, see “Triune Life” in the appendix below).

So, let us be clear on a vital point about God’s Love command. The command to Love God is not about some unique ability humans alone can do for God. God is deficient in nothing, and to imagine humanity holds something that God lacks is nothing short of sacrilegious. Often, we hear people say they want to do something for God as if he/she is doing God a favor. But God lacks nothing, He needs no favors from us. In truth, the Bible says that no one can do anything unless he/she is “given” to do it. Jesus said, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven” (John 3:27; Jam.1:17; Rom.10:14-15). The Jews had boasted of their special status because of their genealogy to the patriarch Abraham, but Jesus said, “And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham” (Matt.3:9). So, humans have nothing of any substance to give to God. But God possesses everything humanity needs. The truth about God’s sufficiency is one of consummate wholeness in His Triune Being that He lacks nothing, nor is He in need of anything. He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (ever-present). (Isa.46:9-10; Dan.4:35; Jer.23:23-24) God is Creator and Sustainer of all creation, of both things seen and unseen. If He does not need our love to exist, so why did He command that we Love Him unquestionably? Now, we are unraveling the rationale for His command.

As Creator, God is also Enabler. He is the enabling Father, for Paul said, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Phil.2:13; Luk.11:2). Humans lack the depth and vision to even realize that God’s presence and reality is only a thought away from them. No one can think thoughts without the divine will. So, this raises the human need to be responsible for them (thoughts) before God. (2 Cor.10:5) No thought is hidden from Him. (Psa.139:2; Heb.4:13; Rev.2:23) The human capacity to think, decide, and act upon one’s thoughts, is the property and attribute of the divine realm. French philosopher René Descartes says aptly, “As I think, so I am.” The dismal lack of appreciation in this basic fact of our divinely yoked human persona, shows how distant we have drifted away from our primordial Godlike origin since the fall of Adam.

Therefore, the Love command must begin with God who alone can enable humans in His divine ways and will. Humans must not be presumptuous as to imagine he/she holds some tangible resource God needs and cannot do without. Mankind is part of the created, God is the uncreated who existed eternally in His Triune Love-nature, how can we imagine we have something apart from what God Himself first conferred upon humans to begin with. Everything about human makeup including intellect, abilities, governance, human resource and power, was endowed by the Creator. Besides, as humans we must understand our position in our fallen condition from Adam’s first sin and the enemy’s resulting beguiling sin-condition under which he has held humanity spellbound and trapped.

So, emotionally and motivationally, we cannot Love God genuinely within our fallen humanity, even if we tried, to say nothing of our human, self-centered, pretentious, and powerless love. What is seen and practiced in human experience that is called love, is self-righteous love. It is love based upon man’s expression in his fallen state of existence which began from the fall of Adam with the evil influence of the devil himself. The enemy’s work is to proffer and advance a counterfeit to God’s Love: fear! Humanity has been led by fear, torment, and rebellion since Adam’s fall. The Bible provides the only answer, “There is no fear in Love. But perfect Love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in Love” (1 John 4:18). Yes, the truth is we lack the divine Love to be able to have a lasting Loving relationship with God. God has a plan to bring humanity back to his rightful inheritance in creation and His Love.

Paul said, “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money,… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God… For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim.3:2, EST; 2 Tim.3:4; Phi.2:21). So, we are left to wait upon God to enable and bring His Love to us. (Psa.27:14; 25:3) So, for humanity the Love command in Luke is predicated upon God’s enabling humans through the intermediary step of sacrificing His Son who came to rescue and restitute humanity from his fallen sin-condition, and then be given to walk in the newness of Christ’s life in the Spirit’s power – only then can mankind is made to take ownership of the Love command and relate fittingly with God.

Therefore, God’s work of restitution started by giving up His only Son to enter our fallen human condition, to save and restitute mankind for the sake of God’s Love. Through Jesus’ mediatory work as Savior, the gift of God’s Spirit is made available to empower humanity with the Love to follow God’s Love-command. (John 16:7) Paul enlightens us, “For we know how dearly God Loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His Love” (Rom.5:5, NLT). So, the rationale for the Love command continues to unfold.

Peaceful Journey - White Dove Peace Art Art Print — *The Dove, Symbol of the Holy Spirit who Is the Personification Of God’s Love in Humans (Pixels)*

Jesus made reference to this act of Love by God when He said, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If He called them gods to whom the Word of God came—Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:34-35). By saying, “You are gods,” Jesus was reaffirming God’s utterance at creation when He said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Gen.1:26). A human is a god because he/she was created in God’s image, and the Bible affirms that Jesus is the one true image of God, and humanity is being conformed to the “image of His Son” (Rom.8:29). Jesus, as God incarnate, is the prophesied Immanuel who entered and took our fallen humanity and glorified it in Himself through His sinless life, sacrificial death, glorious resurrection and ascension. (Matt.1:21-23; Act.26:22-23; Isa.7:14; John 3:16-17)

Through Jesus, God rescues humanity from sin and rebellion, and all the evil proclivities of the human heart that was inherited from Satan through Adam’s fall. Through Jesus, God makes His Holy Spirit of Love available to humans. The Spirit represent God’s divine favor which enables us to Love Him genuinely, thus fulfilling the first Love commandment. The Spirit is the personification of God’s Love and grace in humanity. (Rom.5:5) And the Spirit comes as consequence of Jesus’ mediation as Savior. Peter told the people on that memorable Pentecost day, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act.2:38; John 16:7). Humans cannot come to know Jesus truly, and fittingly on a personal level without the Holy Spirit, for both are united and one with the Father in the Triune Godhead. (see explanatory note ‘c’ below; and, 2 Cor.13:14) Thereby, through the Spirit, humans are given the Love and power to follow the divine Love command. There is no other way humans is made to Love God than through His own divine Triune Being.

To Love God in whose likeness humans were framed, is to Love oneself authentically in one’s primordial being mirroring God’s image in His divine attributes. Because of the human image commonality with the divine, Loving God first becomes the only way for humanity to express Love for oneself. The Bible states, “No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it” (Eph.5:29). We have heard experts tell us that we must Love ourselves first before we can Love others appropriately. And that is true, but the method is questionable and dubious, because the true way of Loving yourself authentically is to Love God first and absolutely. The Love command was God’s way of enabling humans to Love themselves justly, not selfishly. We cannot genuinely Love our fellow humans without Loving ourselves honorably by first Loving God absolutely. If you are given a command to Love Someone who is the reflection of yourself in every way, doesn’t that make it easier to Love that Someone? Of course! That is the premise and rationale from which God gives us His command to Love Him unquestionably.

So, it would make every sense to say, the more we Love God in the Spirit’s power, the more we love ourselves ethically and honorably. By giving us the command to Love Him absolutely, He was setting His sight upon us, not Him. God lacks nothing. He is infinitely generous, and wants nothing less for mankind. The Love command was God’s way of enabling humans to Love themselves impartially by not loving egotistically. When we Love God absolutely, He Loves us completely, and infuses and envelopes us in His unspeakable joy. Joy comes from a place of discovery of a person’s true celestial identity with and in the divine. That my friends, was and is the only rationale for the Love command.

Renowned theologian Thomas F. Torrance said this about God’s Love, “For in refusing to spare His Son whom He delivered up for us all, God has revealed that He Loves us more than He Loves Himself.” (The Christian Doctrine of God, One Being Three Persons, by T. F. Torrance). Can you imagine a God who Loves you more than He Loves Himself? This is the bedrock of human adoration of God who is Love, and in whose image we are created. We have read about pagan gods that demanded human sacrifice from hapless worshipers, and other forms of carnage against humanity like wars, bloodshed, and genocide. These are redundant lackeys from the dark world of evil, inwardly driven and inordinately self-absorbed. (Duet.12:31; Lev.18:21) But we serve the true Creator God who has never stopped Loving mankind, and would not spare any pains to prove His Love for us. And I ask, how much would it take to Love Someone with such an outgoing disposition for humanity and for you personally? I leave that question for you to contemplate and meditate upon. His undying Love was upon us, and He could not give a greater command to prove His Love for us above Himself!

It would not be in keeping with our primordial essence to regard the Love command purely from a humanistic self-centered posture of ‘us verses them’ as if God is trying to extort every ounce of loyalty from humans. That is furthermost from God’s mind for we have seen He is entirely self-sufficient in His Triune Being, and has no need whatsoever from us. (Deut.10:14; Job 41:11; Psa.50:12) Humans have been brought up with the self-centered mindset because they live and have been motivated by the spirit of fear and sin in this world that has been largely influenced by the devil. Rather, the Love-command is founded upon the essence of the primordial commonality of the divine and mortal humanity, so when the Love command becomes a Love relationship life becomes a joy to live, not a burden. The Love command is a burden only to those who imagine it as a legalistic demand from God. This is not about obedience through legalism, but loyalty through Love in all its wonder and mystery. And ultimately it is about you as a person who is lovably treasured in the eyes of God. (Psa.17:8; Eph.2:4; John 3:16; Gen.1:26-27) The divine Love energy is manifested in human form, and inevitably breaks through and overcomes every barrier and whatever adversity and ushers in the mystery of divine unity in the Love of the Triune Being of God and with our fellow humans. (Matt.22:37-40) Hopefully, our eyes are opening up to the rationale for the Love command.

The Art Print featuring the painting The Death Of Jesus by Tissot — *Self-Sacrifice – A Love Above Self (Pixels)*

God, being Himself of the very substance of Love, knows no other way to relate with humanity but in Love. John was inspired to write, “And so we know and rely on the Love God has for us. God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). The Bible proclaims, “The people I treasure most are the humble–they depend only on Me (Love) and who fear and obey Me (Love)” (Isa.66:2, italics my emphasis). That’s to say, God is seeking a Love relationship with humanity He made in His image. (1 John 4:8) In the passage prior to this verse, God says He is not seeking a material temple building from us (something we imagine we can give and do God a favor), but instead He seeks a living temple of the human heart which is built upon the human free will where we choose to Love Him unquestionably. (Isa.66:1-2; also Isa.57:15-16; 1 Cor.3:16) This Love relationship is a matter of the human will given out of freedom, faith, trust, joy and Love. (Heb.11:6; Prov.3:5-6; Psa.37:3-6; Isa.66:2)

If God’s Love is so overpoweringly selfless, then our rationale must also delve into the very essence of God’s Love – the very substance of which He is composed in His divine nature. (1 John 4:8) Remember, we are dealing with the substance of the divine that has existed eternally without a beginning, and will continue with no end. So, to know God truly is to know the power of His Love. Love is never self-centered or self-indulgent, but is forever moving in an outgoing and other-centered motion. In short, Love is the only substance that is inherently miraculous rebounding and automatically accelerating outwards and brings overflowing life and vibrancy to all living things. Conversely, fear and rebellion recede and disintegrate inwards and bring corruption, ugliness, pain, and death. These are the two forces which God in His sovereign rule makes allowance for in the universe. But God assures us His Love will triumph over destruction and death, saying through Paul, “But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom.5:20).

Just as the two forces exist in our physical world, so in the spiritual realm, with God’s Love energy functioning as the overarching mantle which brings equilibrium in all creation. God’s Love is expressed in humanity through Jesus who is our High Priest who holds all power and authority. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matt.28:18). Paul said that God “Raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself” (Eph.1:19-23).

For how else can we explain the complexities of all life forms upon earth, and the limitless universe with its even more complex existence. It can only be explained because God in His outgoing Loving Presence radiate and give off the energy and substance of life which fills and cover the whole universe like a mantle. The prophet Jeremiah said this, “Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the LORD” (Jer.23:24). Another translation renders this, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.” Yes, God’s very substance is the essence of life in His Love which fills everything everywhere, including our very person as human beings. (read Psa.139) And to imagine that God our Father created us – you and I – to reflect Him in His eternal Love, is truly an astounding and sobering thought to even ponder.

*Adam and Eve Banished From Eden (Wiki Commons)*

Therefore, it is not farfetched that in relation to the human experience, His selfless Love would rebound miraculously like a boomerang, so that the more we Love God the more He Loves us – for we are all one Being through His divine likeness. The more God Loves us, the more we Love God. In our image commonality, the more we Love God the more we Love ourselves and all humanity appropriately and selflessly. The Bible gives us a peek into this Love-miracle which moves in the life of humans, saying, “He who waters others, will himself be watered” (Pro.11:25, NASB). This speaks of a generosity that comes through self-sacrifice, a vital fruit of Love. Yes, God’s Love is intuitively miraculous that it rebounds subliminally and blesses those who are exercised by it. Jesus attest to the same miraculous action in God’s Love, this time as it relates to a vital fruit of God’s Love: mercy: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matt.5:7; 1 Cor.13:1, 4). The Bible speaks about abundance, “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine” (Pro.3:9-10). Once again the grace of honor and generosity is emphasized here, not materialism and greed.

Concerning human destiny and immortality, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me has eternal life” (John 6:47, KJV). Further, He said the person who receives Him “has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24). Through faith in Jesus, humans receive God’s Love and answers the eternal question of ‘divine image’ uttered at creation. (John 3:16; Gen.1:26-27; Rom.8:29) Jesus is the personfication of God’s Love in mankind who miraculously deify humans with the gift of immortality which He initiated by His own human resurrection and ascension. Paul said, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Phi.4:13).

Let’s be mindful how Jesus framed the Love command. Contingent upon the command to Love God absolutely, Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luk.10:27). In other words, we cannot genuinely Love our fellow humans without Loving ourselves honorably by first Loving God absolutely. Yes, God’s Love miraculously rebounds and makes our relationships with other humans grow and flourish in His divine purpose. This is the way to Love our fellow humans unselfishly and truly wholeheartedly. Any other way is pretentious and hollow. John tells us this, “Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16). Yes, in that powerful and compelling scripture we see the rationale for God’s Love command. What we see here is the temple existence where God and humanity live for eternity in Love.

*Jesus Inaugurated Human Immortality Through His Own Human Resurrection (Wiki Commons)*

The Spirit (Love) through His indwelling our person makes it possible to Love God unquestionably and makes the divine realities our own as we pursue and live by His Love-likeness in our mortal and subsequent immortal life. (1 Cor.3:16; Rom.5:5; Rom.8:11; John 5:21) God promises to protect those who Love Him faithfully, saying, “The LORD says, “I will rescue those who Love Me. I will protect those who trust in My Name. When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation” (Psa.91:14-16, NLT). Jesus promised, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27, NLT).

Humanity’s final destiny is immortality in Jesus’ image. (Rom.8:29; 1 Cor.15:53) John says this to us, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2; Rom.8:29; 1 Cor.13:12) Humanity will finally be made a people of one substance of Love with the Triune God in Christ, with identical spiritual attributes in the Father.

Mankind will become the temple of Love for the living God to dwell, and vice versa – humanity will find their true home in God (Love). (1 John 4:16) Peter said this of humanity’s oneness with God in Christ, “You are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple” (1 Pet.2:5). Humanity will be given dominion over the earth with Jesus forever. (Rev.22:5; Gen.1:26-29) In God’s future millennial dominion over earth, mortal humans will come to God’s temple to worship and learn about God and the true destiny of humans, and will reign in Love over all the dominions of earth with Christ forever. (Rev. 20:6). The Bible gives us this prophecy about that future time, “Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa.2:3; Rev.20:6). What a glorious future awaits humanity.

“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord. (Pixels)

Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven at His Father’s side ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever. You can privately and quietly pray this prayer in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination – into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the temple for God’s dwelling:

Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by reading and studying your Bible, and visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation – go to: http://bulamanriver.net. You can email me with your questions at the address shown below.

(Explanatory Notes:

(a) The first reality is the deity of God who is Creator and lives in absolute power and rules His creation with Love and wisdom. (Isa.46:9) He is eternal without beginning of days, nor end. The Bible says, “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psa.90:2). Yes, God’s primordial divine existence reflects His ultimate reality. He is the Originator of the vast universe, the earth, and all forms of life, be it spiritual, physical, material, and the source of humanity’s purpose and ultimate immortality. Since God is the Creator, then He is the uncreated eternal Being. He has always existed Personifying all the qualities of His Godness through His Love. That is the first aspect of God’s reality – He is the uncreated Creator who is Spirit and has always existed from eternally in absolute power, without beginning and without end.
(b) The second reality of existence is the answer to the question – what was God’s motivation behind His creative works and all creation? Whatever God’s motivation reveals will reveal His underlying divine nature. That is, He becomes what He is by nature. Therefore, His creation, in whatever form, is motivated by who He is in His divine nature. Thus, all of creation is the reflection of His divine attributes. God reveals Himself as a God who is Love in His divine nature, and because Love motivates all He does and creates, God is a “giver” not “taker.” God is generous, not greedy. God is other-centered, not self-centered. Therefore, God is the “Giver of life” (Psa.104:30;1 John 4:8, 16; Psa.103:17) God is inter-mutual in His Triune Being, never autonomous. His supreme holiness cannot be plumbed apart from His absolute and immeasurable Love. The second reality is God’s motivation as Creator is His holy divine nature of Love, that is, “God is Love” (1 John 4:8).
(c) The third reality is to answer as to why God’s nature and motivation is Love in the first place? The answer is because God has revealed Himself not as a ‘solitary’ God, but a Trinity. By revealing His trinitarian Being He reveals Himself in the three hypostasis of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit existing in their Love for and in Each other. (Eph.4:4-6; Jud.1:20-21; Matt.28:18-20) Thus, God’s motivation of Love can exist only because of God’s plural nature in three Persons of the Trinity sharing their existence of Love with and in Each Other. Love cannot survive in a being who is “solitary.” Love is communal as God is plural. God created humans to have Love relationships similar to the relationships that exist for eternity within the Triune Being of God. When God created humanity, He said, “Let Us (Father, Son, and Spirit) make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness” (Gen.1:26). Existing in three hypostases, they are united in Love so the act of one is the act of three, and the act of three is the act of one. The third reality is God exists in His Tri-Personal Being in the Father, Son, and Spirit, who exist in one substance of Love, thus, making Love their underlying motivation, and everything else they do as acts of holiness within the Triune Godhead.)

Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love,* be with you and your Loved ones always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the Triune Life. Be strong in the Lord’s joy, and Love Him completely.

Farewell for now,

Kiang P. Lee, (Your Servant In Christ)

I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is opposed to the one-dimensional human way of life influenced by the devil. We see God’s Tri-Personal Love move in an inward, outward, and upward trajectory, in this process of theosis which I have called the ‘three ascents.’ The three ascents are three steps which dovetails into one another showing how all three Persons of the Godhead are in the relationship of Love with humanity – where God reveals the fullness of Himself to humanity, both individually and collectively. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2) That’s to say, the act of one is the act of all three, and the act of three is the act of one, making them unified in Love. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27). The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

LIVING THE THREE MANDATES GIVEN TO HUMANITY AT CREATION, BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings once again to you, my Friends! Ever since mankind walked this earth, human life has been defined by the natural attributes they aspire and seek through the shared lens of their common humanity. These attributes are, freedom, dominion or identity, and physical resources. These three attributes reflect humanity’s common heritage given by the Creator. Freedom means the individual’s right to choose, mainly where one resides geographically, one’s occupation, the right to free speech, gathering, education, well-being, and other affiliations and relationships. These freedoms are protected in universal charters supported mainly by the United Nations and other institutions. Dominion means the human identity that’s distinct to a nation, tribe, ethnicity, culture, language, etc. It is usually geographical. Physical resources means the material riches, tangible or otherwise, that’s particular to a dominion and enjoyed by its people.

No matter who we are, or whatever our nationality or color, wherever we live, these three attributes defines our commonality as humans. Without any one of these three attributes humans cease to enjoy having a substantive and meaningful existence as humans. They define who we are as a people. That these attributes are claimed to be God-given, is never disputed by people throughout the world. The unique expression of each attribute may differ from nation to nation, depending to a large extent upon their geography and resource, nonetheless, they are identical attributes which form the foundation for human existence in all peoples.

The history of mankind has shown how peoples have disregarded these God-conferred attributes, sadly, to humanity’s detriment and untold suffering. Humans have coveted dominions not theirs, subjugated and destroyed people’s God-given freedoms, and raped the natural resources of others and regrettably their own. When God created humans, He not only gave us free-will to choose, but supplied us His nature of Love to guide our liberties so we will not misuse much less abuse our prerogatives. God did this so humanity will show respect and honor for each other in these three attributes that God has so richly blessed peoples the world over. In short, God wanted humans to Love others as they Love themselves. (Gal.5:14) If everyone did that, individually and collectively, the ‘golden rule’ would form the cornerstone of our relationships: “Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets” (Matt.7:12, ISV).

But humanity has disregarded their Maker’s Love and rebelled against His Loving will. Of all species created by God, only humans are given the mind with the freedom to choose good and evil. Other species are given preset instincts to live according to the Maker’s distinct and intended purpose for them. From herbivores and carnivores, from the avian to the insect species, from reptiles to marine life, and all the variant species in between, every species are gifted differently and magnificently to live according to God’s purpose for them. Of all species, only humans have lived in rebellion to his Maker. Why is this? This can be explained through the three mandates given to humanity at creation.

In the beginning when creating humans, God gave mankind three mandates to live by which would guide them in their relationship with God and with other humans and the world around them. The three mandates are found in the Book of Genesis which records human creation. They are: 1. the ‘Triune Love mandate,’ 2. the ‘dominion mandate,’ and 3. the ‘helper mandate,’ Let me expound on each in relation to three ascents (steps), depicting God’s Tri-Personal Being in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with each dovetailing into one another showing how all three Persons of the Godhead are in the relationship of Love with humanity. (Matt.28:18-20) Through the ascents we can understand the dynamic of the human spirit in relation to God’s Spirit, where humanity has gone astray, and make the necessary changes in relationship with His Maker and his fellow humans.

Ascent 1: Triune Love Mandate – The Father: The first ascent is centered in God the Father. The “Triune Love Mandate” speaks of the purpose of human creation in relation to mankind’s primordial nature at creation. God said this about humanity, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them. Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen.1:26-27).

So, God created humans in His image. What is God’s likeness or image? John tells us this, “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). Love is God’s image and likeness. Love is His divine nature. We can say it in the reverse, ‘Love is God,’ and it conveys the same inseparable meaning. God is not made of Love, He is the uncreated everlasting Creator Being who is Love. So, humans were created in God’s divine Love – that is mankind’s primordial nature. God said at the creation of humanity, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen.1:26-27). If God’s divine image is Love, then there is no other way humans could reflect God’s likeness except, in His Love!

There is another aspect of God’s nature which defines His Love-nature, God is a Trinity. That’s to say, God consist of three free Persons in one Godhead – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt.28:18-19) When Jesus commissioned His disciples to take the Gospel message into all the world, He told them, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt.28:18-20).

To ‘baptize’ means to ‘induct’ into the life of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or in short, the Trinity. Recall what God said at creation, He said, “Let Us…Our image…Our likeness.” This highlights the plurality of God’s Trinitarian divine nature. Paul said this about God’s Tri-Personal nature, “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. ” (Eph.4:4-6; also, Jud.1:20-21). God is not a solitary God, but Is the Triune Godhead in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is not three Gods, but One God. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

Besides fulfilling His mission as mankind’s Savior and Redeemer, Jesus came to reveal the true nature of God, that God is His Father, and He is His Son. He told the disciples at the last supper before His death upon His cross, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4).

The disciples were puzzled, so Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Then Jesus replied, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him” (John 14:6-7). The disciples were even more perplexed now, primarily because of the novelty of Jesus’ teaching of God the Father, as their view of God was derived from and grounded in Judaism. God the Father is a central tenet of Christian theology. The Jewish concept of God is that God is non-corporeal, transcendent and immanent, the ultimate source of love, and a metaphorical “Father.” Jesus taught that God is the real and true Father of mankind, not a metaphorical Father. So Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8).

“*Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Wiki Commons)*

Jesus reply was one of the most important He ever made in revealing the Father to the disciples and His followers, “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing his work. Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it” (John 14:9-14).

Here, Jesus was revealing the Triune nature of God, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing his work. Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me” (John 14:9-11). Jesus cannot be separated from the Father because they consist in one substance of Love, One Godhead with the Spirit. When He taught the disciples to pray, He opened His prayer with the words, “Our Father…” (Matt.6:9). Today, as believers we take God as our Father for granted, but it was not so in the time of Jesus where people live under the teaching of the Jewish leaders.

Then, at the point of death when the Jewish council charged Jesus with blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God, He was unjustly sentenced to death. In a prior encounter with the Jewish leaders about this touchy subject, Jesus told them, “Do you say of Him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe Me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father” (John 10:36-38). Even then, He maintained His mission to proclaim the truth of the Fatherhood of God in His Triune existence.

The members of the Jewish Sanhedrin were looking for any reason to put Jesus to death. They did not believe Jesus’ claim of being the Son of God as consisting of one Godhead, but their disbelief did not mean Jesus made an untrue statement. He was asked a direct question, and He gave a forthright answer. Even at His last moments of death, He prayed for His tormentors, saying, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He continued, “Father, why have You forsaken Me?” Then finally, He called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. When He had said this, He breathed His last” (John 19:30; Luk.23:46). Until His final breadth, Jesus never shrunk from His commitment to declare God as His Father, and our Father. (Matt.26:63-66; John 20:17)

Author Jon Tal Murphree gives us a profound description on how the divine nature of the Triune God in the three Persons exists in the divine pattern of the Triune Life, “Each Person of the Trinity transposes Himself into the others without confusing His own personality with the Others…. the Father, Son, and Spirit do not exist as persons alongside each other as much as they exist in and through each other.” (Pg.29, “The Trinity and Human Personality”). Murphree gave us a succinct explanation of God’s Triune nature, “the Father, Son, and Spirit do not exist as persons alongside each other as much as they exist in and through each other” showing God is indivisibly One in His Triune Nature.

Yet, Each Person of the Trinity is distinctly gifted and free Person manifesting unique Love-tasks that are special to Each Person within the Godhead. They live freely as Personalities , or as theologians would precisely render as hypostasis, but united in One Godhead. And herein we discover the origin of human freedom – the cradle of human freedom springs from the very divine nature of the Godhead consisting in three free Persons. It is also from the Godhead that multitude of human gifts and talents spring forth to emphasize our human freedoms, imitating the different Personalities of the Tri-Personal Being of God.

So, we see God’s divine nature of Love as having a flip side – freedom! Therefore, freedom and Love are flip sides of the same divine nature of God. Within their collective freedom are three gifted Personalities. So, our freedoms come with the responsibility to Love God and our fellow humans through our divinely-conferred gifts. For the two characteristics, Love and Freedom, are indivisibly one! There is no Love without freedom, and no freedom without Love, for they are one and the same. The Bible says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through Love serve one another” (Gal.5:13; 2 Cor.3:17).

Word freedom. From the old dictionary, a close up — *Freedom – The Flip Side Of God’s Divine Love-Nature (Stockvault)*

The heart of the Triune Love Mandate speaks of the message of the deification of mankind. What does that mean? You may read my appendix below under the heading Triune Life* for a complete commentary on what ‘deification’ mean. In a nutshell, the Bible tells us this about deification, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Cor.15:51-53; 1 Thess.4:16-18). Yes, mankind’s ultimate destiny is to be made immortal (deified) conforming to the image of Jesus who took our fallen humanity, saved and immortalized (restituted) and presented it before the Father. (Rom.8:29-30; Act.3:19-21, KJV)

Humanity become God’s children because we have a God who is a Loving Father, and Jesus is God’s Spokesman, our Loving Savior and elder Brother, while the Spirit is our Loving Friend and Helper who enters human life to manifest God’s Love, freedom, and power. (John 20:17; John 3:16; Rom.5:5) They act indivisibly as One Triune God. Paul’s parting benediction upon the Corinthian church was, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God (Father), and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor.13:14).

I have dwelt on the topic of God’s divine nature at some length for a vitally noble and consequential reason. That is, our concept of God is pivotal to our spiritual health, besides our physical well-being, I might add, and ultimately for humanity’s eternal destiny. Can we profess to believe in and follow the teachings of the Bible, while our concept of God’s nature is incorrect and unquestionably misleading? This is fundamentally important because the right concept of God and His divine nature will shape everything we read and understand about Him in the Bible. All our assumptions and conceptions are faulty if our concept of Him is equally flawed from the start. It is from this conceptual foundation of God’s true nature that we form every aspect of our understanding of the Bible and its teaching, and our eternal destiny.

The Bible says, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (John 1:18). Many times, humans and believers present a concept of God sitting solitarily and remotely alone on His throne, passing judgment and exercising control over our lives. Jesus corrected that image and showed God to be a relational Being who is our Loving Father in His Trinitarian nature. In His Love for mankind, He did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for our salvation. That is the kind of God we are talking about. He never stops Loving mankind, and would not spare any pains to prove His Love for us.

The Bible makes a plea for our understanding as to the greatness of God’s Love for each one of us personally, saying, “That Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s Love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His Love is. May you experience the Love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Eph.3:17-19). How awesome and how personal to each of us the Father’s Love is!

The proper concept of God as the Loving Triune God stands in contrast to the view of the ‘solitary’ God. This solitary life of fallen humanity was inherited from Satan resulting from Adam’s rebellion and sin in Eden. From that time forth, humanity’s journey throughout the earth and his relationship with fellow humans and especially with God has been dictated and crafted in his ‘solitary’ mindset, philosophy, and resulting self-centered way of life. This is exactly the opposite from the ‘trinitarian’ perspective that is based upon God’s Triune Love and outgoing way of life. (You may want to read my blog on “Loving God First” at: http://bulamanriver.net/11833 and http://bulamanriver.net/12043 )

I wish to share a parable given by Jesus, which I would like to apply here. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven (God) is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matt.13:44, italics mine). The kingdom of heaven is essentially about God, and if it is, then it begins with the true concept of God. That “treasure” is our knowledge and understanding of God as revealed in the Bible. Therefore, our concept of God is a “treasure” which we ought to be willing to pay whatever price to procure. For it is from this wellspring that all things relating to God and His purpose blossom and grow spiritually for humanity. And our collective responsibility in the areas of our human freedom, dominion, and indigenous resource, will be generated by the influence of His divine Triune Love.

Ascent 2: Dominion Mandate – Jesus Christ: The second ascent is centered in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The “dominion mandate” was given to humanity at creation. Let’s read it, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen.1:26-28, KJV, italics for emphasis).

*Jesus, Humanity’s Savior & Mediator*. *The Historical Silhouette of Calvary with Three Crosses is Symbolic of the One-ness of the Triune God in the Death of Jesus upon His Cross*

The word “dominion” is here mentioned twice as it relates to man’s dominion over God’s earth. Other translations have rendered this term, as, “Let them be masters…;” and “They will have power over…” The Psalmist repeats humanity’s dominion, “You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen—Even the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!” (Psa.8:6-9). So, dominion relates to rulership over God’s creation and by extension earth’s other resources.

Ambitious people have driven themselves to great lengths motivated by the “dominion mandate” to do great things upon this earth. (Gen. 1:26, 28; Ps. 8:6-8). Whether they are all good and done in the service of all, or for human harm, is the burning question. In the exercise of human dominion upon earth, we do so under God, for He is Creator. The Bible utters God as saying, “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Hag.2:8). Further God says, “For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it” (Psa.50:10-12). Therefore, the Bible speaks about stewardship, hence, our God-given dominions exists as such. (1 Pet.4:10). If we were to let history be the judge, we will have to say that much harm than good has flowed under the river of time in our human history. The history of humanity concerning the God-given dominion of people has been one where people’s freedoms have been trampled on with impunity. Thus, we are reminded of God’s Love which can never be divorced from His freedom which cannot be applied without the other for they are one and the same.

With Adam and Eve, God gave them an immediate stewardship over the Garden of Eden which God personally planted for them. God brought various species of animals, of birds, and other life forms to Adam to give names for them. (Gen.2:18-20) Then God instructed them, “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen.2:15, KJV). So, the dominion mandate came with God’s direction to “dress and keep” their dominion. That command is still valid today where we are responsible stewards of this earth to look after all life forms and species, the resources of the earth, and respecting people’s dominion. Yes, this earth and all in it is given under the stewardship to mankind to dress, keep, and protect.

Today, humans celebrate ‘Earth Day’ in honor of our blue planet which hangs like a jewel in outer space. Yet, today mankind is facing serious environmental issues which threaten life as we know it upon this earth. Issues like the choking pollution of our air, water, oceans and land, of climate change, deforestation of the tropical rain forest, the melting of the polar ice-caps and rising sea levels, the loss of earth’s biodiversity, to name a few. Mankind has obviously not done a good job of maintain and keeping our only collective dominion and home – this earth.

File:As08-16-2593.jpg — *Earth, the Blue Marble, Given for Mankind’s Dominion Under Christ (By NASA, Photo of Earth From Apollo 8)*

In the final analysis, God has determined that dominion of this earth has been given to the human who will do what is necessary to save it from destruction – His Son Jesus. He came to save us – not only from human sin, but for all things that has to do with human dominion upon this earth. (Rev.11:18) Today, Jesus sits glorified at the Father’s right hand in heaven as mankind’s Savior and Mediator. (Mar.16:19; Heb.10:12; Psa.110:1) At the climax of human dominion and civilization in the Book of Revelation, the Seventh Trumpet is blown, and we read, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom (dominion) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever'” (Rev. 11:15). Revelation goes further, and says this, “On His (Jesus’) robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). Yes, Jesus will reign over all the dominions of earth forever, and humanity will reign with Him. (Rev. 22:5).

There is an all-important proviso we must not omit to take away as it relates to our fellow humans and how we are to relate with each other concerning the dominion mandate. The dominion mandate was given with a stipulation we may have overlooked and ignored to our detriment and harm. The dominion mandate covers God’s created species and resources, however, humanity is never mentioned in the context of this mandate. The text we read above is crystal clear on this point. That means, there is a separate mandate concerning how we relate with our fellow humans.

What then should govern human to human relationship. Paul gives us a peek which we will cover in depth later in the helper mandate. He told the Romans, “Owe no man anything, except the debt of Love” (Rom. 13:8; Gal. 6:2, KJV). Why is this human proviso important to observe? Of all the species, only humans were created in God’s Love image and likeness. Therefore, humans are deserving of nothing less than God’s Love. Only humans were created to live this outgoing way that is based upon God’s Love. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 John 4:8) God has Loved us dearly and did not spare His Son, but gave Him up for us. We must be willing to do the same for each other.

*The Dominion Mandate – The Debt and Duty of Care and Love Upon Humanity & All Creation (Wiki Commons)*

Therefore, humans are subjects of God’s dominion (kingdom) under Christ, not man’s self-driven, self-imposed, solitary, dominion. God is humanity’s Savior and therefore answerable to Him, not another human. God is mankind’s Ruler, not another man or woman. Therefore, we violate the dominion mandate when we try to include humans when there is no mention of humans in the dominion mandate.

Let us be clear, the dominion mandate was given to be exercised over the earth and over species and resources excluding humanity. Every single human is given a shared dominion over the earth under Christ, even on an individual basis, as God reminds us, thus, “Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken” (Mic.4:4; Psa.24:1; Eccl.5:9, NKJV) That brings us to the third attribute in Genesis of the “helper mandate.”

Ascent 3: Helper Mandate – Holy Spirit: The third ascent is centered in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triune Godhead. What is the helper mandate? Like the previous two mandates, this third mandate was uttered by God in Eden at the creation of humanity. The word ‘helper’ conveys the existence of other human beings with whom the ‘helper mandate’ may be contrived and carried out. However, Adam was alone. Then God created the second human upon earth, and with that the helper mandate was born.This is how the mandate was decreed and given by God, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him…So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.” “At last!” the man exclaimed. This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man’”(Gen.2:18, 21-23).

In short, the helper mandate helps regulate the ‘dominion mandate’ where humans are prevented from exercising dominion over another human, but rather become “helpers” of one another in their God-given dominion upon earth.

*Utilizing Our Gifts and Talents As Helpers (Wiki Commons)*

Whenever we read the 23^rd Psalm, we are reading the King Jesus’ philosophy of being a Helper in His rulership over His dominion. (Psa.23:1-6 – “The Lord id My Shepherd”) So, God is first a Helper and calls upon humanity to imitate His likeness. (Gen.1:26-27)

Even though this passage from Genesis concerning the “helper mandate” is often quoted on matrimonial occasions between a man and woman, nonetheless, it applies to every human being, regardless of who they are in relation to sex, race, language, nationality, culture, and whatever walk in life. Recall, that Eve was the only “next” human after Adam with whom the helper mandate can be applied. Be that as it may, it must be appreciated that it is from the foundation of families proceeding from the matrimonial bond of a man and a woman, that humans are raised from childhood to become “helpers” in the larger human society. But why was the helper mandate established first through the marriage union? Paul gives us insight and has this to say to husbands, “Husbands ought to Love their wives as their own bodies. He who Loves his wife Loves himself” (Eph.5:28). What was Paul saying? When God made Eve, He did not create her separately like He did with Adam directly from the soil of the earth, no. God took Eve from Adam’s side or rib. (Gen.2:18-23)

Thereby, all of humanity proceeded from Adam’s single creation through Eve. Therefore, by extension every human is indivisibly part of the greater humanity, and our own bodies proceed from the single creation of Adam. This shows that God created humanity to reflect Himself, where He is One in three hypostasis in the Father, Son and Spirit. Each reinforce the oneness or unity of God. Therefore, when we help other humans, we are in effect helping our self. Many today don’t have a clue, much less conceive of the sheer wonder of this awe-inspiring ‘mystery of our one humanity consisting in one body’ from the single creation of Adam. Paul calls it a mystery. (Eph.5:31-33) It is from the mystery of our ‘hypostatic’ union consisting of one humanity from Adam, that the helper mandate springs forth. That’s to say that all humans are part of each other in the same body, and what we do to others, we do to our own selves. This is a principle based upon God’s trinitarian principle: “the act of one is the act of all, and the act of all is the act of one.”

*The Dove – Symbol of The Holy Spirit Who Empowers Humanity to Be Helpers (Wiki Commons)*

What does the helper mandate call upon our common humanity to do? First, let us read how the Jesus Himself has showed us the example of the Helper. In line with the 23rd Psalm, Jesus told His listeners, “I am the good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so, the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me, just as my Father knows Me and I know the Father.

“So, I sacrifice My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice, and there will be one flock with one Shepherd. The Father Loves Me because I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again. No one can take My life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what My Father has commanded.” (John 10:11-18) So, the helper mandate is founded upon the principle of ‘self-sacrifice,’ and self-sacrifice is the heartbeat of the divine Love-nature of God. And the Son of God led the way by sacrificing Himself for our redemption.

How does God manifest Jesus’ helper mandate in humanity? Jesus gave the answer when He said to His disciples, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). What Jesus meant was the Helper was the Holy Spirit who would come and empower humanity to become true helpers in His mold. Jesus said, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John13:15; also 1 Pet.2:21).

Jesus said humans must go through a rebirth in the Spirit to live the Triune Life and manifest the three mandates. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (experience the God-Life at the Triune level) (John 3:3, italics mine). For emphasis Jesus repeats Himself, “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). Paul said this of the Spirit, “God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Rom.5:5).

So, we see the Spirit is the very Personification of God’s divine nature (Love) and power in humans. It is He who liberates and enables the Helper Mandate in mankind. He also inspires the other two mandates in us. When Jesus said “If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you,” it presumes specific events to take precedent like His sacrifice (death), resurrection, ascension, and office of our heavenly High Priest, which gives passage for the Helper (Spirit) to come and indwell humanity as God’s very temple. Paul uttered a profound statement about the Triune Life, when he said, “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor.3:16; 6:19).

*The Fruits Of Love (1 Cor.13) Expression of The Spirit’s Love-Fruits (Wiki Commons)*

The Spirit enters and live in the temple of saved humanity and empowers them with the fruits of Love. It is through the fruits of the Spirit that we make the helper mandate come to reality in humanity. What are these fruits? Paul teaches us by way of his letter to the Corinthians. We utilize the Love-fruits of the Spirit in the exercise of the helper mandate through our divinely-conferred talents and gifts each person is born with. Like Joseph of the Bible, our dreams (gift/calling/work) will always be consistent with God’s purpose for each of us. We perceive and achieve our dreams by living the Triune Life of God through the dynamic of the three mandates.

As we will see, God reveals to us clearly what Love means in the expression of its fruits, so we are without excuse. We see this revealed to us in 1 Corinthians 13. Here is a summary of God’s Love-fruits: *patience, *kindness, *contentedness, *the fruit of being modest and unboastful, *humility, *the fruit of honor, *the fruit of unselfishness, *the fruit of calmness and dignity, *the fruit of forgiveness and compassion, *the fruit of delighting in good and shunning evil, *the fruit of tolerance, *the fruit of responsibility, *the fruit of enduring hope, *the fruit of steadfast perseverance, *joy, *peace, *goodness, *faith, *gentleness, *self-control, *the fruit of zeal and spiritual fervor, *The fruit of gratitude and thankfulness, *the fruit of friendship, *the fruit of sharing and generosity, *the fruit of prayerfulness, *the fruit of hospitality, etc. (1 Cor.13; also Gal.5:22-23; Rom.12:9-21) You may go to: http://bulamanriver.net/9199 to find the Spirit’s Love-fruits and their antithesis to help us see at a glance the work of the Spirit as opposed to the fruits (works) of the enemy. Think about and meditate on these fruits and see how you and I can exercise the helper mandate through them.

Words To Live By Love Art Print — *Love Is… (Pixels)*

4^th Ascent “Triune Life Mandate” – Humanity: the Triune Life Mandate is centered in humanity. It is where the three mandates and human life intersect. It is where the dynamic of human life and the spiritual energy of the Tri-Personal Being of God come together in the bond of Love, and so fulfill our responsibilities to the three attributes common to our humanity: to honor other humans because they are made in God’s Love-image, to respect their freedoms and rights, and to be faithful and honest stewards of the resources our Maker has blessed all peoples.

The three Love relationships we saw in the three mandates comes alive where God engages humanity and takes the human mind and spirit to new levels of creativity. In short, a person experiences what it means to be reborn in the power of the Spirit. The first manifestation is one of sheer joy which springs from engaging God in the fullness of His Love and we’re made to reach out to our fellow humans in the flow of Christ’s Love in the areas of people’s freedoms, dominion, and resources.

The 4^th Ascent is about God bringing the three mandates which reflect the divine Love energies through the presence of the Spirit. (Rom.5:5) So, the Triune Life Mandate is the constant flow of the divine Love energy of God from the three Persons of the Godhead into humanity energizing us to find God’s will for our lives and making it a reality through the three mandates. In short, it is the miraculous life that is lived at the human level in the power of God’s Love to fulfill our responsibilities in the three attributes of freedom, dominion, and indigenous resource. This is the activity of deification even in our human fleshly existence. Paul explains it succinctly, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image” (2 Cor.3:18; also 1 Cor. 13:12; Rom.8:29).

*The Triune Life Is The Expression of The Three Persons of the Trinity In Humanity (Wiki Commons)*

Yes, fundamentally humanity’s conformity with the Triune God at the primordial level is only made possible by man’s compliance to the three mandates through a surrendered life to Jesus in the Spirit’s power and Love. But God has not left this awesome divine purpose in humans to do on his own. He understands our fallen state of being which came through Adam and Eve’s rebellion from the start is an insurmountable hurdle to mankind. He knows that in our deceived and sinful state, we are blindly led by Satan who stands as the barrier between man and God. Satan introduced rebellion and brought fear and sin as a way of life. This has blinded humanity to the Love of God hidden in the deep recess of their being. Jesus taught the disciples, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luk.17:21). Yes, God had placed the reflection and image of His kingdom in mankind at creation, but Satan has blinded humanity through deception and sin starting with Adam. How can humanity defeat this crafty and evil unseen enemy? He has given that responsibility of bringing humanity from the path of destruction into true life to His Son, the second Adam, Jesus. (1 Cor. 15:45) You will read about Jesus’ role as Savior and Mediator of humanity, at: http://bulamanriver.net/15813.

Through Jesus, as the second Person of the Triune Godhead, He opens the way for the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Godhead, to enter our fallen world saved by Jesus, to unite Himself with humanity and defeat Satan and fulfill the provisions of the three mandates as God had predestined for mankind from creation. Humans are now back on track to the path of becoming divine offspring of the Almighty. (You may read of humanity’s new birth in the Holy Spirit at: http://bulamanriver.net/10075)

On a human personal level, the Helper Mandate becomes the dominant feature of the Triune Life we live in the 4^th Ascent. The preliminary Triune Love and Dominion Mandates are preparatory steps which energizes the Helper Mandate in humanity. Jesus reiterated man’s helper mandate when He said we are to “Love our neighbors as we Love ourselves” (Mark 12:31). Paul does the same and encouraged the Corinthians, saying we are “helpers of your joy” (2 Cor. 1:24, KJV). He goes on to say, “Owe no man anything, except the debt of Love” (Rom. 13:8; Gal. 6:2, KJV).

When humanity has fundamentally conformed himself to God’s primordial Triune Love nature through the three mandates, humans can now rule all creation under Christ as God would have him.

Having said all of the above, let me conclude with the following. The most basic and pivotal knowledge a person must have is to understand God is Trinitarian. The mention of the name of God, must always convey His Loving Tri-Personal Being in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is from this vantage point that we see God, out of Love and sheer generosity of His divine Triune Being chose to reproduce Himself by creating a species who can freely choose to follow His outgoing way of Love, joy, and generosity. Thus, all our human interaction with others will find their just and proper place as it concerns people’s freedom, dominion, and their indigenous resources. We continue to live by and are sustained by His Triune Love image when Jesus instructed the disciples before He ascended back to His Father in heaven, to induct humanity in the life of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matt.28:18-20)

Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven at His Father’s side ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious humanity made children of God forever. You can privately and quietly pray this prayer in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, regardless of your background. All are inducted into the one mankind Jesus saved, not into any religious sect or denomination – into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the temple for God’s dwelling:

Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation – go to: http://bulamanriver.net. You can email me with your questions at the address shown below.

Farewell for now,

Kiang P. Lee (Your Servant In Christ)

I have written about this subject of ‘deification’ in my blogs under the theme substitution and attribution (see, http://bulamanriver.net/564), where I showed how Jesus came as God incarnate (Immanuel) to take the place of sinful humanity to save mankind from sin and death for the express purpose of deification. (Matt.1:23; Rom.3:10-12, 18, 23; John 3:16) Further, we read the following, “As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of catharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria (‘illumination’ with the ‘vision’ of God). According to Eastern Christian teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through a synergy (or cooperation) between human activity and God’s uncreated energies.” (Wikipedia.org)

So, the “Triune Life” reveals the intersection of human activity and the uncreated divine energy flowing from the Tri-Personal Being of God of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a way of life which explains that process of theosis whereby humans are transformed in body, mind, and spirit by the Love of God. God’s uncreated energy is His Love. So, the foundational tenet of the “Triune Life” is based upon the Love of God, for “God is Love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Thereby, it can also be called aptly, the “Triune Love.”

I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We see God’s Tri-Personal Love move in an inward, outward, and upward trajectory, in this process of theosis which I have called the three ascents. The three ascents dovetails into one another showing how all three Persons of the Godhead are in the relationship of Love with humanity – where God reveals the fullness of Himself to humanity, both individually and collectively. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2) That’s to say, the act of one is the act of all three, and the act of three is the act of one, making them unified in Love. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

Hence, all my articles are framed within this three-step format, or ascents. The subject of the article dovetails into each ascent and spontaneously lead to the manifestation of the divine Love and reveals how humanity is enlightened by God, and cleansed in mind, body, and spirit. The ascents reveal three doors one must enter to attain the manifestation of God’s Love relationship with humanity. The ascents are not to be misconstrued as some ‘secret knowledge’ or mystical activity. Rather, each ascent represents the relationship of Love a human enjoys with the Triune God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, throughout a person’s life. In fact, the ascents are actually three Love relationships the believer encounters with the Tri-Personal God. This three-way relationship is what I have called by the term, “Triune Life” or “Triune Love.” These ascents represent the movement of God’s Love in an inward, outward, and upward, trajectory to bring God’s enlightenment in a person. The fourth step reveals how the article is made to manifest in the life the person, both individually and then collectively in humanity.

Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27). The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

SPIRITUAL CORONAVIRUS IS REAL TOO, BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings Friends everywhere! Today the whole world is held in a grip of fear by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. This is not the first pandemic to grip the world, there have been various pandemics in the past. See chart below:

The History of Pandemics by Death Toll — As humans have spread across the world, so have infectious diseases. Even in this modern era, outbreaks are nearly constant, though not every outbreak reaches pandemic level as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has. Today’s visualization outlines some of history’s most deadly pandemics, from the Antonine Plague to the current COVID-19 event.

Physical virus which brings on sickness and death has a spiritual counterpart. The spiritual virus is called, sin. Just as the current Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) originate from a non-human source reportedly in China, so did the spiritual virus of sin. It started with the devil who has no affinity with humanity but is an evil spirit who seeks to destroy mankind. (1 Pet.5:8) However, God allows certain events to linger within His sovereign will. And we pray He will open our eyes to His will – both individually and collectively. God’s purpose in humanity will prevail. One of God’s purpose for creating humanity is that we become “helpers” of one another. Jesus, God’s very Son and the second Adam, came and showed humanity the way. The first Adam had taken mankind astray by following Satan in Eden. How can humanity defeat this crafty and evil unseen enemy who infect us with sin with the equally unseen Coronavirus? (Gen.3:1-7, 11, 23-24; 1 Cor.15:45; Rom.5:18-19) Humanity was created in God’s image and Love-likeness. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 John 4:8) Anything, whether it is physical or spiritual, which seeks to destroy humanity finds its source in the enemy of humanity, the devil. Both the physical and spiritual viruses are related. The physical cannot be divorced from the spiritual.

The cure for the spiritual virus of sin is God’s Love. The divine Love is the vaccines that cures humanity. God’s Love is expressed in humanity through God’s Son whom He surrendered to become our Savior. (John 3:16-17) Jesus walked this earth and cured every form of sickness and disease to show God’s Love for humanity. All diseases begin with sin, or can be traced back to sin. The Bible states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23). That’s to say, humanity is infected with the spiritual virus (sin) without exception. But we have been cured when God surrendered His Son, who is the spiritual vaccine for the spiritual virus. Humans are cured by placing their faith in the cure God has provided in His Son. The Bible says this about Jesus, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them” (Matt.4:23-24; Act.10:38; Isa.53:4-5).

The cure for the physical Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) is the vaccine that is yet to be discovered. God’s miraculous Love move humans to find the antidote to defeat this virus. Its discovery will be an act of Love by those who are called to make the invention as they are inspired by God through His Spirit (Love). (Rom.5:5) Today, on an individual person to person basis, we are called upon to Love our fellow humans through measures we take to help contain this virus.

Experts say that unlike previous pandemics the contagious nature of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) has not only spread widely and rapidly but has upended every aspect of people’s lives in ways large and small. So much so, that the term “social distancing” has become a byword in the effort to limit the spread of the virus. The term means: children are no longer attending school; people are working from home where possible; others are no longer able to work where businesses has been severely affected, like the travel and associated industry; social and public gathering is limited or discouraged altogether, this includes closure of bars and restaurants, including sports stadiums and entertainment events. Travel by planes and other public forms of transportation has more or less ceased altogether through travel bans. In drastic situations, “lock-downs” (confinement) of towns and cities have become a necessary inconvenience for millions. The economic impact is immense, so much so that a recession seems inevitable.

God’s nature is Love, and thereby “social distancing” indirectly maligns and is an affront to His communal trinitarian Love-nature. (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor.13) Thereby, we pray for God’s intervention in this dire and urgent life and death situation. Author Jon Tal Murphree gives us in succinct and profound description on how the divine nature of Triune God in the three Persons exists in the divine pattern of the Triune Life, “Each Person of the Trinity transposes Himself into the others without confusing His own personality with the Others…the Father, Son, and Spirit do not exist as persons alongside each other as much as they exist in and through each other.” (Pg.29, “The Trinity and Human Personality”). So, God is not about “social distancing” and isolation, but is about union, oneness, interdependence and relationships. Humans were created to become one inseparable humanity, like God is three Persons but indivisibly One God. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

Notwithstanding the negative effect of social distancing, we can do things so we are not isolated from each by any means. We can stay connected through constant communication by phone, through Skype and Facebook, and other means. We must pray the evil curse of this Coronavirus will be stopped at its tracks so we may live as people created in God’s image and Love-likeness. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 Tim.6:19) Living in harmony with the divine will has always been the Creator’s intention for every human. It is about how we use our freedoms which He freely confers upon humanity. God created mankind to be “helpers” of one another. I encourage you to read about the “helper mandate” God gave humanity at the time of human creation, at: http://bulamanriver.net/8208

This current pandemic calls upon humanity to make an inner examination of itself as to whether it has the wherewithal to combat this insidious menace of a virus pandemic. We must not look inward but outward to help our fellow-humans beat this deadly weapon of this unseen enemy. Only God’s Love will help us overcome this pandemic. If the current pandemic is a metaphor for spiritual pandemic, then only God our Maker can save us. And He did save humanity by sending His Son to die for us, thus, saving humanity from the spiritual pandemic. But not only spiritually, but also physically in our bodies. God created humanity to be His temple and He will save us. Paul said, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God (Love) lives in you?” ( 1 Cor.3:16). When Jesus walked this earth, He healed people (human body) of all kinds of sickness and disease. (Act.10:38; Matt.4:23-24)

*God Gave His Son Jesus To Save Humanity and His Spirit As The Vaccine To Cure the Spiritual Coronavirus*

Here is the Love-promise from God regarding pestilences like the virus, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely, He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday” (Psa.91:1-6). Let us ceaselessly pray for God’s intervention and salvation.

Deliverance, both physical and spiritual, come to mankind through Jesus, who took our humanity in Himself and joined it to the divine — “Immanuel/God with us” — Isa.7:14; Matt.1:22-23. The Bible reveals how He delivered us, “Surely He (Jesus) took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isa.53:4-5). Yes, it was the act of Love where Jesus gave Himself up to be our Savior is what cured both the spiritual and physical virus. The same will be repeated today when we won’t allow fear but Love to influence and control our lives. Fear and sin (virus) are synonymous.

We must pay attention to the guidance given by the local authorities and each do our part. (Rom.13:1) Love is about realizing our dependence upon each other for the common and greater good. On the other hand, we can still have negative relationships with others where sin (virus) through selfishness and egotism moves our thoughts and actions, instead of Love. Paul’s prayer reveals the human destiny to conform to the image of His Son, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in Love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Love)” (Eph.3:17-19; 1 John 4:8). You may read my post titled, “Living God’s Love Day-By-Day” at: http://bulamanriver.net/16467.

Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity of calling upon them to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven at His Father’s side ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious life for humanity. You can privately and quietly pray this prayer in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, not into any religious sect or denomination, but into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the temple for God’s dwelling:

“Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon me and all humanity. May Your Love guide and protect me and my loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”

Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation. Or you can email me with your questions at the address shown below.

Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love,* be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the Triune Love. Be strong in the Lord’s joy.

Farewell for now,

Kiang P. Lee (Your Servant In Christ)

*Triune Life: “Triune Life” speaks of the process of theosis or deification of humanity. What is theosis or deification? “It refers to apotheosis, meaning “making divine.” Theosis or deification is a transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with God (as taught by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Church).” (Wikipedia.org) The belief in the process of ‘deification’ is understood in accordance with Jesus’ teaching, when He said, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? If He called them ‘gods,’ to whom the Word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside (cannot be broken)” (John 10:34-35; Psa.82:6). (You can read about the Triune Life at: http://bulamanriver.net/9199, and other posts)

I have written about this subject of ‘deification’ in my blogs under the theme substitution and attribution (see, http://bulamanriver.net/564), where I showed how Jesus came as God incarnate (Immanuel) to take the place of sinful humanity to save mankind from sin and death. (Matt.1:23; Rom.3:10-12, 18, 23; John 3:16) Further, we read, “As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of catharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria (‘illumination’ with the ‘vision’ of God). According to Eastern Christian teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through a synergy (or cooperation) between human activity and God’s uncreated energies.” (Wikipedia.org)

So, the “Triune Life” reveals the intersection of human activity and the uncreated energy emanating from the Tri-Personal Being of God of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a way of life which explains that process whereby humans are transformed in body, mind, and spirit by the Love of God. God’s uncreated energy is His Love. So, the foundational tenet of the “Triune Life” is based upon the Love of God, for “God is Love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Thereby, it can also be called aptly, the “Triune Love.”

I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We see God’s Tri-Personal Love move in an inward, outward, and upward trajectory, in this process of theosis which I have called the three ascents. The three ascents dovetails into one another showing how all three Persons of the Godhead are in the relationship of Love with humanity – where God reveals the fullness of Himself to humanity, both individually and collectively. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2) That’s to say, the act of one is the act of all three, and the act of three is the act of one, making them unified in Love. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

Hence, all my articles are framed within this three-step format, or ascents. The subject of the article dovetails into each ascent and spontaneously lead to the manifestation of the divine Love and reveals how humanity is enlightened by God, and cleansed in mind, body, and spirit. The ascents reveal three doors one must enter to attain the manifestation of God’s Love relationship with humanity. The ascents are not to be misconstrued as some ‘secret knowledge’ or mystical activity. Rather, each ascent represents the relationship of Love a human enjoys with the Triune God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, throughout a person’s life. In fact, the ascents are actually three Love relationships the believer encounters with the Tri-Personal God. This three-way relationship is what I have called by the term, “Triune Life” or “Triune Love.” These ascents represent the movement of God’s Love in an inward, outward, and upward, trajectory to bring God’s enlightenment in a person. The fourth step reveals how the article is made to manifest in the life the person, both individually and then collectively in humanity.

Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27) The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

LIVING THE ‘CELESTIAL LIFE’ IN CHRIST BY KIANG P LEE

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Greetings again Friends around the world!

The previous two posts I have shared with you were written with the intention of helping you visualize life and preempt challenging life experiences, so you can face the year 2020 victoriously with the right mindset as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. And that means for all humanity, not just so-called Christians, because Jesus is the embodiment of the new humanity God created and gave for mankind to adopt. You can read and review them at http://bulamanriver.net/19496 (January), and http://bulamanriver.net/20216 (February).

Jesus came to die to save all of humanity regardless of color, nationality, ethnicity, or station in life, and deliver us from the spirit of rebellion and sin that the first Adam bequeathed upon mankind. Jesus is the second Adam. The first Adam who followed the devil has been crucified upon Jesus’ cross and no longer lives. (1 Cor.15:47) Paul spoke about how humans go through the process of adopting the redeemed humanity of Jesus Christ in his letter to the Galatians. (Gal.2:20) I shall continue along this grounding theme as we approach the season of Passover when we will commemorate the death Jesus as mankind’s Savior.

*The Heavens, Reflection of the Celestial (Wiki Commons)*

This month I will touch on a title and topic I have been moved in my spirit to share with you, entitled: The Celestial Life! What is the celestial life? It can mean many things, and they are all good. There is nothing wrong or negative about living the celestial life. In its simplest form, it means to live a life that is ‘hidden in Christ.’ Paul explains it this way, “Your real life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col.3:3). Jesus is the embodiment of the new glorified and sinless humanity God has given mankind to adopt to take the place of the fallen Adamic humanity from the first Adam.

Before uttering this statement about our human reality, Paul gave a proviso which leads to this wonderful truth in the Scripture we quoted. The full verse states, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col.3:3). “For you have died to this life” – what does that mean? It means the first fallen Adam from whom all humanity have descended, and from whom rebellion and sin has persisted under the sway of the devil, has been put to death upon Jesus’ cross, and God has given mankind a new birth through His Spirit into the new glorified humanity of His Son. Jesus took out humanity upon Himself as Immanuel (“God with us”) to save, glorify, and bring humanity to immortality in God’s presence. (Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23)

Paul explains the beautiful truth to the Galatians like this, “My old self (rebellious humanity from fallen Adam) has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who Loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20, italics mine. NLT). Paul says that as you are being “hid (covered) in Christ,” you have been “made complete.” Again, we turn to Paul, “You have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority” (Col.2:10, BSP). So, the “celestial life” is about humanity “hidden in Christ” and thereby “made complete in Him.”

*The Two Trees of Celestial Eden, Two Ways of Life, Two Adams*

What does all this mean? The word celestial means heavenly, supernatural, miraculous, and simply Godlike. I will be sharing Scriptures to prove this celestial life is not false and/or made-up, but is true and reflects our reality today as we walk this human life. The apostle John wrote these inspiring words which forms the basis of the celestial life, “Just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17, KJV). Let’s expound this passage deeper. The phrase, “Just as Jesus is” speaks volumes about who Jesus is as humanity’s Savior. First, it speaks of Jesus’ glorious life in heaven today where He is seated at the Father’s right hand. (Eph.1:20) That is where He is. The phrase also refers to who He is, and what He is. Jesus is God’s Son, Savior, and High Priest who forever mediates on humanity’s behalf. Jesus took our humanity by becoming the Immanuel, glorified it with immortality in Himself, and brought mankind into the presence of God for the Father to Love and caress as offspring.

Therefore, humanity today has been made like Christ is in His glorified state. His glorious life in heaven is the reality of our own existence today upon this earth. The Bible explains this principle of substitution, “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (humanity)” ((Rom.8:29, my emphasis). Jesus stands as the firstborn in line of the new human species God gave mankind through His Son. The Bible goes on, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Cor.5:21, NLT) Paul informed the Romans, “He (Jesus) was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God” (Rom.4:25).

That’s to say, we are also glorified just as He is. That is the basis of the celestial life we are privilege to have with and in Him upon this earth. Paul seals the truth about this celestial life when he said, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:6). Yes, you and I and all humanity were all resurrected with Him and made to seat today with Jesus in heaven forever beholding the face of the Father. This is the new reality for humanity that the Father and Son had in mind at the beginning of human creation. (Read about the Overarching Principle Of Imputing Christ’s Mediation Upon Humanity, at: http://bulamanriver.net/12351; and, http://bulamanriver.net/564)

*“As Jesus Is, So Also Are We In This World” (1 John 4:17, ESV)*. *The Resurrected Jesus, and Ascension To Heaven as High Priest Before the Father in Heaven, and Mediates for Humanity Today (Wiki Commons)*

Let us now see how the Trinitarian God of the Father, Son, and Spirit, relate and interact with humanity to bring and make the celestial life possible in human life. As my readers will recall, I have called this life a three-step process or the three ascents. Each ascent dovetails into the next showing how God in His Triune Being blesses humanity and brings about the celestial life. They reflect the inward, outward, and upward, Love activity of God in humans. The first ascent starts with the Spirit (inward). Then the Spirit takes us into the second ascent where Jesus stands (outward), who in turn brings us before the Father in the third ascent (upward). There is the fourth ascent which comes into play in humans as a person freely chooses to participate in God’s Trinitarian Love through the preceding three ascents. An ascent is a step that takes a person progressively up and culminates with the Father and the Triune Godhead in an inward, outward, and upward trajectory. No ascent works independently by itself but are inter-related so that the act of one is the act all, just as God is of one substance in His Trinitarian Being. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)

In the celestial life, these are the ascents and what they represent. Let us begin…

Ascent 1 – Work of the Holy Spirit – Defeating Rebellion. The first ascent in the Holy Spirit is aptly labeled ‘defeating rebellion.’ It reveals the work of the Spirit who defeats the spirit of rebellion of the devil and introduces God’s Love in human life. In the Scriptures we read, “God’s Love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom.5:5). It reflects God’s inward Love activity in humans. The celestial life is one where a person is covered in God’s Love like a cocoon where rebellion is non-existent. However, humans are still mortal and descended from fallen Adam accompanied by the rebellious spirit. But we will see how God takes care of rebellion as we progress through the ascents.

Paul reveals what happens when the Spirit is made to enter humanity and human life. “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body” (1 Cor.6:19-20, ESV). Here we see God revealing that the human mind and body is literally the temple where God lives. If human life (mind, body, spirit) is God’s temple, then it is the temple of Love, for “God is Love” (1 John 4:8).

“God Is Love” The “Celestial Life” Is Lived In God’s Love. “God’s Love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” – Rom.5:5. (Wiki Commons)

The account of ancient Israel reveals to us how God instructed them to build a grand temple in Jerusalem. King Solomon did not spare any expense to make the temple the crowning jewel of edifices in Israel, where the people worshiped. That was the physical temple and God’s purpose was to convey a spiritual message about the true spiritual temple He desired. Temples are still physical structures, so we read this, “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?’” (Act.7:48-50).

In a manner of speaking, God is here contrasting the physical temple humans would like to build against His physical temple of the infinite universe He has created. Think of our Milky Way, and the vast expense of the universe with its magnificent planetary systems and beyond, both known and not yet known to man. God asks if humanity can build a temple more grand than the limitless universe in which He dwells and has made the earth His footstool? We pause with bowed heads, dumbfounded and silent. Yet, God admits that there is something that is uniquely more amazing to Him. He said, “But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word” (Isa.66:2). The writer of the Book of Acts was quoting from the prophet Isaiah, where I have just quoted the complete text. (Isa.66:1-2) Yes, God thinks highly of a person who responds to His Love with an equally Loving participation by freely choosing His will for him/her. God is Love, so His will for humanity is always anchored in His unfailing Love. (1 John 4:8)

God does not dwell in buildings and temples made with hands, or any physical creation. Ancient pagan religions have worshiped the sun and moon as gods. The temple God seeks and desires is a building made of the heart of humanity which rejects rebellion against Him, and freely submits to His Loving will. Peter knew this and said this about humanity, “You are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple” (1 Pet.2:5). God made humans to become part of His image – that is, to join Him in His divine Love existence forever. (Gen.1:26-27) It is the temple of mankind where the human heart and will is freely given to God in Loving relationship. And Christ is the cornerstone of this human habitation and building made immortal who makes God’s divine temple possible and complete in Himself. (1 Pet.2:4-7)

There is a prophecy from the prophet Malachi which makes reference to this human temple in a futuristic sense: “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies”. (Mal.3:1, NLT). (You can read in-depth the details of the human temple at: http://bulamanriver.net/11230; and, http://bulamanriver.net/10700 )

*Depiction of Temple Built By King Solomon*

There is an important proviso given by Paul in the above passage we read from Corinthians. It says, “For God bought you with a high price” (1 Cor.6:20). Here, Irenaeus explains a vital caveat that this was not something done by violent or unjust means where a ransom or compensation was paid to the devil, no. Rather, the redemption was the mighty and intervention of God on our behalf, rescuing us from the tyranny of Satan and delivering us from the thraldom of evil and death through the blood of Christ in atoning expiation of guilt in the reconciliation and justification of the sinner.” (“The Trinitarian Faith,” Pg.173) Jesus’ saving act was complete, and so was the devil’s defeat.

What is the end-result? Peter said, “And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple” (1 Pet.2:5). So, “Your human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,” is correlated to the “high price” God paid to make you and humanity His temple. What is that “high price?” The Bible speaks of a song that will be sung in future whose lyrics goes like this, “And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev.5:9). Yes, the high purchase price God paid in full was the very life of His Son Jesus, when Jesus sacrificed Himself upon His cross for our forgiveness and redemption. So, the Holy Spirit that brings the celestial life was purchased through Jesus’ work of Deliverer. That brings us to the second ascent.

Ascent 2 – Jesus Christ’s Work of Deliverance – The Purchase Price for The Holy Spirit. Remember how the trinitarian God works: “The act of One is the act of Three, and the act of Three is the act of One.” (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4) No One operates in isolation from the other. They cannot work without the other, for They act out of one existence, one Love, and One God, revealing one outcome and manifestation. (Eph.4:4-6; Mar.12:29) With that in mind, we read the words of Jesus concerning the Spirit. He told the disciples, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper (Spirit) will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7, ESV). So, Jesus reflects God’s outward Love activity in humans by giving Him to save humanity. Here we witness how the Spirit’s work and Jesus’ work complement each other, so there is no disunity but oneness.

It is vital to cast our minds back to Adam and Eve in Eden when separation with the divine celestial life first occurred, making it necessary for the Spirit to reenter human life and bring the celestial life back again. With that separation, the celestial life was lost until Jesus came to restore it. Recall, what was recorded, “So the LORD God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and He sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the LORD God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And He placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the Tree of Life (Spirit)” (Gen.3:23-24).

*Adam and Eve Banished from Eden and the Tree of Life (Wiki Commons)*

So, the Spirit cannot enter humanity and bring the celestial life until humans were redeemed and declared sinless through Jesus’ sacrifice and atonement. Only then, can the Holy Spirit enter human life and indwell mankind and make the human temple holy for God. Thus, Jesus’ work is one of deliverance where mankind is rescued from sin and rebellion. Hence, the celestial life where rebellion is replaced by holiness, where the spirit of rebellion is displaced by the Spirit of Love, cannot begin before Jesus’ ongoing work of absolving humans of sin and rebellion. Now the Holy Spirit can enter and declare mankind as the temple suitable for the the Father and Son to dwell and find rest. This bring us to the third ascent.

*“For God bought you with a high price” (1 Cor.6:20). “By Your Blood You Purchased for God Those From Every Tribe and Tongue and People and Nation” (Rev.5:9). (Wiki Commons)*

Ascent 3 – The Father Finds Rest in His True Temple. Here, we see Jesus’ work of mediating for humanity has brought rest to the Father and the Godhead. This reflects God’s upward Love activity where God brings humans in union with Him through His Son. The rest means God has found His temple of humanity He created in His likeness in which to dwell in peace, and humanity has found peace with God. (Gen.1:26-27)

In all this, we see how the activity of the Trinity complement each other. The Spirit can only indwell the temple of humanity and make humans vessels of divine Love through Jesus as Savior who has declared mankind redeemed and holy, and the Father makes everything possible by giving up His Son to take unto Himself our fallen humanity and glorify it for all eternity. With the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit, filling the temple of humanity made ready and holy, the temple (humanity) is filled with divine Love, God finds rest in His Son’s redeemed humanity, and humanity finds rest in God’s Love. This amounts to the celestial life that have existed and will exist into eternity. Now, we step into the fourth ascent…

Ascent 4 – The Celestial Life in The Human Temple. For humanity, the celestial life can be said to be celestial only because of the unbroken activity of Love of the three Persons of the Trinitarian God. The three Love relationship is seen in the three ascents we have covered above. The fourth ascent is about God bringing the celestial life to humanity. So, the celestial life is the constant flow of the divine Love-energy and life from the three Persons of the Trinitarian Godhead.

In order to live the celestial life, a human must always exist in a spiritually unblemished state of being. Remember, the celestial life means a person or persons exists in the presence of the God who is holy and sinless. Sinful and rebellious humans cannot be a dwelling place for God. Adam and Eve were banished from Eden because of it. (Gen.3:1-11) Jesus says humans must become reborn humanity. (John 3:3-7) What makes humanity a dwelling place for God is the divine Love-energy that is constantly flowing in the relationship with the three Persons of the Godhead through the three ascents. (2 Cor.13:14) This is the character of the celestial life humans are given to live by.

*The True Temple of God is Humanity Living the Celestial Life in God’s Love-Likeness (Wiki Commons)*

As humans, we find it hard to believe that a human being can have such a perfect existence before God. However, it must be understood from the outset that this is God’s doing, not any human effort. (Mar.10:27) The main reason for human unbelief is because we are still living under the performance-based mindset of the legalistic old covenant. People are taught erroneously that to exist in God’s presence, one has to be perfect through obedience to all the laws or commandments. However, the life of ancient Israel as a nation has proven once and for all that the best of humans cannot keep God’s laws perfectly. Besides, it must be clear to us that our obedience, even if it were ever possible to attain, does not and cannot save us. The law, though perfect, defines sin when transgressed, and condemns us. No human is perfect, for the Bibles states, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23, ESV). The law cannot save, it condemns us. Perfection before God comes only through His Son, Jesus. (1 Tim.2:5)

The Bible reveals only one way whereby humans are saved – through Jesus. That does not invalidate observance and following God’s commandment, which is fine. It is the question of the difference between legalism and faith. (Rom.7:16) Let’s be clear, since the law defines sin when broken, therefore, it holds the power to condemn, but only Jesus can overcome sin’s power and saved humanity. (Rom.3:23; John 3:16-17) Paul tells us, “But God demonstrates His own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” (Rom.5:8-9). As for ancient Israel, ultimately Israel as a nation was driven away from their homeland as slaves of the enemy nations around them. The law had no power to save them, but instead became the cause for their downfall and subsequent bondage. (Mar.7:6; Jer.11:8,; 13:10)

After Israel was driven from their homeland, God rescinded the Old Covenant, and introduced the New Covenant through His Son. (Heb.8:8-12, 13; 9:15; Jer.31:31-34) Whereas the Old Covenant was sealed in the blood of animals, the New Covenant was ratified in the blood of Jesus, the Son of God, and Savior of mankind. (Matt.26:28; Heb.13:20) There is another vital distinguishing difference between the two covenants. The Bible can become dangerously legalistic and impersonal if we allow it to be. In the final analysis, knowledge is not merely about one’s intellectual capacity, or some assumed legal standard of right and wrong through the law. But true knowledge is a person, and the proclamation and utterances of that person. The Bible reveals Jesus as the “Word of God,” God’s Spokesman. (Rev.19:13; John 1:1, 14). “The Word,” or the Person of Jesus, is God’s Spokesman who speaks true knowledge in contrast with false knowledge. In literal form, the “Word” is the Bible. So, true knowledge is not some legalistic standards, but the Person of Jesus as the Spokesman of God from whom truth proceed through His utterances, and with whom humans can cultivate a Love relationship in the Spirit’s power.

The Old Covenant was based upon the law, while the New Covenant was and is based upon faith. What is the difference between law and faith? Knowledge, including Bible knowledge can become harmfully legalistic where one’s value is judged by one’s relationship with the law, rather than a personal relationship with Jesus, the Personified Word of God, through faith. It’s a behavior-based (legalistic) life verses a faith-based (Love) life-relationship. When life become strictly legalistic, a person’s value is esteemed by his/her standing with the law, without exceptions. Legalism requires strict adherence to the law. It’s a life that’s impossible to attain for the Bible states that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23).

In other words, the law defines sin and humanity has broken the law without exception. The national life of ancient Israel is proof that no human is perfect. What mankind needs is a Savior. Faith means to believe in the Messiah God the Father has provided so that though we may fall short, and we will, He has provided an eternal Mediator in His Son, who is constantly mediating as humanity’s High Priest in heaven for mankind’s absolution in order that we may remain in right standing with God. (2 Cor.5:21; Rom.1:17) (You can read more about Jesus’ High Priestly Office in Heaven today, in my post titled, “Living the Surrendered Life Day-By-Day,” at: http://bulamanriver.net/17978)

However, God’s grace in Jesus does not give humanity the license to disregard, much less, disobey the law, not in the least. Paul said the law is good. (Rom.7:16). Rather, it is about understanding that while the law condemns (legalism/fear), Jesus saves us (faith/Love). Paul explains it this way, “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith” (Gal.3:24). The law defines sin, but the law cannot save us from sin, no matter how much we try to obey it. The law holds humanity in condemnation. (Rom.3:23) Only faith in the saving work of Christ saves. (read Rom.7:7-25; Col.1:22-23) Paul goes on to say, “Christ is the end of the Law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom.10:4). Christ is the mitigating intermediary who unifies the obligation under the Old and New Covenants into one concentric circle.

*“The Righteous Shall Live By Faith” – Hab.2:4; Rom.1:17. (Wiki Commons)*

We often overlook to the point of forgetting that the one sole purpose of the Bible, both in the old and new testaments, was to point humanity to the Messiah God would send and has provided for humanity’s salvation. It is worthy of note to realize that even though Israel’s religious and national life was governed by the Old Covenant through its many ritualistic formats, virtually every ritual they observed was a picture of and foreshadowed God’s promise of the Messiah. (Isa.9:6; 11:1-2; Mic.5:2; John 3:16-17) The Passover, the Day of Atonement, and the ritualistic sacrifices, were pictures of Christ coming work as Messiah to Israel and the whole world. (Heb.10:4-10)

Too many people are living life based upon their current circumstance – whether adverse or otherwise. They are buffeted about by the trials of life until they face the next hostile episode and so forth. When circumstances and the trials of life dictate how we value human life, that is legalism arising from a behavior-based conviction and philosophy to life, rather than a faith-based value infrastructure. Paul said, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who Love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Rom.8:28, NLT). That means no matter what the manner of circumstance, everything has a divine purpose and is meant for our good, not evil. The only way to hold such a positive universal perspective to our circumstances is through the living faith of Jesus that is energized by the Spirit. (Read more about “Jesus Living Faith” at: http://bulamanriver.net/2811)

God’s plan for humans He created in His likeness is a life of eternal Love and joy! Paul speaks to Timothy about “a life that is truly life” (1 Tim.6:19). Our heavenly Father makes that beautiful life possible when He gave His Son so that Jesus may bring humanity to live the celestial life, where all human circumstances are in God’s control which He miraculously work out for human good. (Rom.8:28-30) The verse which keeps us grounded in God’s grace says simply, “You have been made complete in Jesus” (Col.2:10). If “we are complete in Jesus,” then it is true that, “Just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17, Berean Literal Bible). Such is the celestial life we are privileged to have in Christ by faith.

Hence, humans ought to be constantly living and activating the three ascents in Loving relationship, being mediated for by Jesus so the Spirit and God’s Love may fill the human temple where God and mankind dwell in unity and find rest. Whether the person has received Jesus as Savior and become God’s temple at this moment in time, or has been for a longer period, the activation of the three ascents in human life is a constant relationship that makes the celestial life possible and ongoing.

Regardless if a person is new or a veteran believer, no one is perfect. So, in order for the temple to remain holy for God’s dwelling and rest, constant mediation is taking place through the work of Jesus and the Spirit who resides in the human temple so it remains the spiritual unblemished celestial life. (1 Cor. 1:30) Living the celestial life is the only reason and purpose for Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and High Priesthood in heaven today. (Col.1:22-23) And the ultimate answer to the celestial life is the humanity’s resurrection to immortality at Jesus’ return in future.

architectural photography of buildings interior — *The 3 Ascents Reveal the 3-Step Love Relationship With God Humans Experience In the 4th Ascent (Pic: Unsplash)*

Petition: Friends, Humanity was created and is called today to live the celestial life in Jesus. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious celestial life for humanity. You can privately and quietly pray this prayer in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human Christ died for, not as a member of any religious sect or denomination:

Welcome to the Celestial Life of Love in God’s eternal Triune Being and Family. Then keep in touch with God’s word for you by visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation. Or you can email me with your question at the address shown below.

*The Final Answer to the Celestial Life is The Human Resurrection to Immortality – 1 Cor.15:50-58. (Wiki Commons*)

I will close with the passage I began with concerning the foundation of the celestial life, “Just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17, BLB). If you have any thoughts and observation you wish to share, please don’t hesitate to write to me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com

Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love,* be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the Triune Love. Be strong in the Lord’s joy.

Farewell for now,

Kiang P. Lee (Your Servant In Christ)

*Triune Life or Triune Love: The “Triune Life” is a way of life. Its foundational tenet is based upon the Love of God, because Love is the nature of God. (1 John 4:8; Rom.5:5) I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the three-dimensional life, the human experience of God’s Love is always moving in an inward, outward, and upward motion (3 ascents) where all the three Persons of the Godhead are in relational oneness with humanity. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2)

Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27) The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. You can read more at: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.

Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

Triune Life – Miracle of Triune Living

"Live the Triune Life… Change the World"

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