Pastor and theologian, Jack Deere, reveals what knowing God is:

"It took me too long to learn that knowing the Bible is not the same as knowing God, loving the Bible is not the same as loving God and reading the Bible is not the same as hearing God. What I am saying is that it is possible to put almost any good thing above Jesus Christ without realizing what we are doing. We can put the Bible and its commandments above the Lord. We can put the spiritual gifts and even various kinds of worship above the Lord. We can put various forms of ministry-witnessing, caring for the poor, praying for the sick-above the Lord. The essence of all of life is loving God and then loving his people." (Matthew 22:36-40) (3)

The bible is clear on certain moral codes for salvation, such as the restrictions on murder, stealing, adultery, lying and other hurtful acts against humanity. Yet even these acts are repeatedly violated in various accounts. For the bible literalist, it is also clear on certain theological doctrines, such as having faith in Christ Jesus, his resurrection, his ransom for mankind and his mediatorship for mankind to God. But are knowing these theological doctrines necessary for salvation? And what about other doctrines in the bible, which are not so clear? Is having correct theological knowledge a requirement? Is belief or non belief on doctrinal issues such as the trinity, hellfire, immortality of the soul, 144,000, heaven or earth destinations, the rapture, God's name and much more, the identifying mark of true Christians ? Are unity on these doctrinal points necessary for salvation?

Apostle Paul stated to the Corinthian congregation that they:

"Should all speak in agreement and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you many be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." 1 Cor 1:10

Was this about doctrinal issues with all having unity on the same theological interpretations of various scriptural knowledge? The context shows it not to be about doctrinal teachings, but rather shows Paul to be speaking about the divisions of the Corinthians in being divided, some following men, others solely the Christ. Some were following the direction of Apostle Paul, others Cephas, therefore "the Christ exists divided." They lacked true unity in being divided to following different men. The same is true today where persons identify themselves with a certain Christian denomination made of men, with their group interpretations of scriptures, reasoning's and name labels, such as "Baptist," "Lutheran," "Catholic," "Presbyterian" & etc., instead of individually identifying themselves solely with Christ. Therefore the "Christ exists divided." What Apostle Paul was appealing for was not a total uniformity of understanding of each and every point in scripture, but rather for the putting aside of divisive attitudes that were splitting them up into fractions, so that they could be of a united disposition and outlook. Not uniformity on every doctrinal issue and certainly not a humanly imposed uniformity by a supposed "slave class" religious counsel or group of men. (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

"Sometimes those of us who treasure right doctrine think we possess and inside track on the truth of God. God informs us, however, that supposed knowledge, lacking in a pure love of God, is a sure route to spiritual arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). There is something about being cocksure of possessing the truth that breeds spiritual cockiness. Sometimes good theology subtly breeds conceit, the greatest cancer of spiritual health." Seeing Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness - page 71 - Tom Hovestol

What about doctrinal knowledge ? Many denominations, along with Jehovah's Witnesses say that this is one of the identifying marks of Jesus' true disciples and they will quote Apostle Paul, who when speaking about the Jews stated

"They have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge." Rom 10:2

But if you simply read the context, in two verses later, in verse 4, it can be shown that it is not detailed doctrinal knowledge with interpretive explanations that Paul is speaking about, rather this "accurate knowledge" is,

"For the goal at which the law (Torah) aims is the Christ, who offers righteousness to everyone who has faith." Romans 10:4

For Christ is the end of those establishing righteousness by the decrees, regulations and works of sacrifices of the old covenant pronounced in the law, so that everyone exercising faith in him may have righteousness. This is the "accurate knowledge" that Paul is speaking about and the basic doctrine for salvation, not one of the thousands of unclear doctrines and zig zagging interpretations of many churches and of the Watchtower such as 1914, the other sheep class, the great crowd, blood components, employment on a military base, joining the YMCA & etc. Instead the "love of Christ surpasses all of this knowledge" And this "love," small acts of individual mercy shown to others, is what we are to "add to our faith." (Eph 3:19; Romans 10:1-4; 2 Peter 1:5-8)

The "Sacred Secret" of God Is Not The Doctrinal And Theological Knowledge That Goes Beyond Faith and Love

The "Sacred Secret" of God Is Faith In Christ and Love.

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. "Everyone who loves, both knows God and is born from God." for "God is love." "This is God's commandment, that we have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and be loving one another." (1 John 3:23; 4:7-8, 5:12) The sacred secret of God are two things: Faith in Christ and Loving our fellow man. Those who put faith in Christ, receive God's Spirit. Those who receive God's Spirit are then able to walk in love by following this spirit that dwells inside of them. Faith in Christ does not require having orthodox, absolute knowledge of doctrinal theology, for we see in a "hazy mirror of knowledge and it will remain this way until the second coming of Christ. But our faith, along with our mercy and love (not sacrifice) will bring us everlasting life. (John 17:3; 1 John 4:7-8; Romans 8)

"Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16 Revised Standard Version

"God's plan is very great as we all know. Here it is: we saw God as a man; God's Spirit proved he was right; angels saw him; the nations were told about him; people of the world believed in him; God took him up into heaven." 1 Timothy 3:16 Worldwide English Version

Others state Jesus words at John 4:24, that we must:

"Worship God in spirit and truth." John 4:24

What is the "truth" Jesus is speaking about? It is as Jesus said:

"I am the way, the 'truth' and the life." John 14:6

He is the "truth" and the only way to get to the father, God, not the thousands of doctrinal interpretations that change from year to year because of supposed "new light" or understanding. The "truth" of Jesus Christ is known as the "sacred secret of God." He is the gift God gave mankind, for those who put faith in him. The requirements for mankind are faith and love. Without both, neither one is valid. (1 Tim 3:16)

"For "the bearing witness to Jesus is what inspires prophesy." Rev 19:10

It is only faith in this man that pertains to the sacred secret. It has absolutely nothing to do with the believing or unbelieving of the thousands of unclear teachings and manmade interpretations such as the rapture, the year 1914, the trinity, the use of the tetragramaten, a faithful and discreet slave class, ... a literal kingdom government of God and much, much more. However, this faith must be accompanied by works of love and mercy towards our fellow man. Apostle John states the meaning of this "sacred secret" in 1 John:

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 3:23 "Everyone who loves, both knows God and is born from God," for "God is love." 1 John 4:7-8 "This is God's commandment, that we have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and be loving one another." 1 John 5:12

God's Will Is More Than A Concept - But A Mystery

God's will is a profound and holy mystery and the fact that we live our everyday lives engulfed in this mystery, should not lead to so underestimate its holiness. Living, knowing and acknowledging God's mystery is not some cop-out. God's ways are "higher than our ways," and are progressively revealed to us in our stages of growth and maturity. God's will is not a mere concept nor formula that can be solved as problem with a quick fix or perfectly fitted sized garment.

A mystery is unlike a problem and unlike a puzzle. It is not something that can be thought as objectively figured out with a neatly packaged and formulated answer. Mystery is not something we solve, but something we enter into. We enter into a mystery, as we become living in it, walking in it, breathing in it, we progressively grow in it and have revelations of understanding and insight there of. We enter new levels of insight and perception that no page in a book can say in mere human words. Our experiences living inside of life, watching God's creation, living with His Spirit within us, observing, looking, walking with, moving forward, correcting, adjusting, learning in growth as we progressively become revealed to deeper layers of God's will in our lives.

Peter Gomes relates:

"Nowhere in the Bible are we given to understand that by faithful study and good works, or even with a little bit of luck, we will be able to understand all that we need to know about the fundamental mystery of our relationship to God. Those who think that a careful, painstaking study of the scriptures will reveal all to them in the fullness of time have understood neither the scriptures nor God. If there were to be found such clarity, such a lifting of the veil of ignorance, as it were, there would be no need for all of the extra-biblical devices of theological and philosophical speculation by which we have long sought to make our way form the unknown to the unknowable by way of what we thing we know. It always amazes me that certain of my Presbyterian friends think that because the Westminster Confession is so thorough, so eloquent, and so convinced of its own virtuous logic it somehow is able to take them where scripture, unaided by the marginal notes of those seventeenth-century divines, cannot. The Westminster Confession and the Shorter Catechism take the prized for theological immodesty. Thank God for the Bible. It is there, after all, that in 2 Chronicles 8:1, "The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness." It is in scripture, in that marvelous assault upon virtuous knowledge, in the book of Job, where the great question is asked: "Can you find out the deep things of God" Can you find out the limit of the Almighty" It is higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know?" (Job 11:7-8)

Gomes relates mystery to the distinction between the amateur detectives who are short sided to see limited answers in solving their problems. Being "tidy-minded" they look for an answer that they fail to find, looking at the surface. But the skilled detective, such as Sherlock Holmes, uses his imaginations and enters into the mystery of the situation, looking, listening and watching for surrounding and inner happenings that do not have explanations. Slowly his investigation progressively reveals facts about his case.

Knowing that special attributes of mystery bring revelation, growth and understanding, we can perceive that God's will is just that,

"God's will is a profound and holy mystery, and the fact that we live our everyday lives engulfed in this mystery, should not lead us to underestimate its holiness. We dwell in the will of God as in a sanctuary. His will is the cloud of darkness that surrounds His immediate presence. It is the mystery in which His divine life and our created life become "one spirit," sine, as St. Paul says, "those who are joined to the Lord are on spirit." ( 1 Corinthians 6:17) There are religious men who have become so familiar with the concept of God's will that their familiarity has bread an apparent contempt. It has made them forget that God's will is more than a concept. It is a terrible and transcendent reality, a secret power which is given to us, from moment to moment, to be the life of our life and the soul of our own soul's life. It is the living flame of God's own Spirit, in Whom our own soul's flame can play, if it wills, like a mysterious angel. God's will in snot an abstraction, not a machine, not an esoteric system. it is a living concrete reality in the lives of men, and or souls are created to burn as flames within His flame. The will of the Lord is not a static center drawing our souls blindly toward itself. It is a creative power, working everywhere, giving life and being and direction to all things, and above all forming and creating in the midst of an old creation, a whole new world which is called the Kingdom of God. What we call the "will of God" is the God's presence cannot be brought back by our knowledge and our effort of memory, any more than it can be elicited by the work of imagination. It is a "discovery," and each time the discovery is new. movement of His love and wisdom, ordering and governing all free and necessary agents, moving movers and causing causes, driving drivers and ruling those who rule, so that even those who resist Him carry our His will without realizing that they are doing so. In all His acts God orders all things, whether good or evil, for the good of those who know Him and seek Him and who strive to bring their own freedom under obedience to His divine purpose. All that is done by the will of God in secret is done for His glory and for the good of those whom He has chosen to share in His glory. (2a) "The "remembering" of God, of which we sing in the Psalms, is simply the rediscovery, in deep compunction of hear, that God remembers us. In a sense, God cannot be remembered. He can only be discovered. "God cannot be remembered." If taken completely literally, just as it stands, without qualification, this statement would be false. We can have a valid conceptual knowledge of God. This knowledge can be stored in the memory and called back to mind. But the aphorism derives its point from the fact that there is another knowledge of God which goes beyond concepts, which passes through concepts to attain Him in the mysterious actuality of His presence, grasped in some sort, in an "experience," Even these experiences of God remain deeply engraved in the memory: but when we remember them, their actuality is no longer present, but past. This actuality of God's presence is something that does not belong to the past or to the future but only to the present. It cannot be brought back by an effort of memory, any more than it can be elicited by the work of imagination. It is a "discovery," and each time the discovery is new.(2b)

The Danger of Knowledge

Religion and vast amounts of knowledge though it works to produce good external behavior, it does not transform hearts. Religion and knowledge can blind us to personal depravity. Even though we may understand that knowing about God is not the same as knowing from God, it is easy to blur that distinction. The Pharisees knew the Word of God extremely well, the same as many of us do today, as Tom Hovestol comments:

"The Pharisees know the middle verse and letter, had counted all the commands, and no doubt some had memorized all 613 of them. (In contrast, few people today can recite the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.) The Pharisees were insistent on the correct interpretation of the Scriptures. Moreover, the Pharisees were not content, as frequently we are, to simply know the content of God's Word. They desired to obey it as well. So they aided its application by devising religious rules. But for all their Bible knowledge about God, many of them did not know God and therefore did not recognize God incarnate. Why? Their right doctrine had produced wretchedness, instead of righteousness. Proper doctrine is essential, yet even today it can give a false sense of spiritual security and superiority without true spiritual reality. Bible knowledge can calcify rather than tenderize the hearer. It can blind and bind. How can that be? bible instruction can easily be diverted from its God intended purpose: love of God and fellow human beings. In its place is a new, lesser purpose; the bible as an object of curiosity and fruitless spiritual debate (1 Timothy 1:3-11). The Bible can become an end in itself instead of the means to an end. Subtly almost everything of God can and will be counterfeited by appearance of goodness with a hidden dark side. The ultimate danger of being people of the Book is that we can acquire knowledge about God without actually coming to know God." (3a)

Like us, the Pharisees had the knowledge of the letter of the Word; however, some did not understand or incarnate

Academic Knowledge Vs. Spiritual Intimacy

"Shortly after my conversion I went out preaching in the villages. I had had a good education and was well-versed in the Scriptures, so I considered myself thoroughly capable of instructing the village folk, among whom were quite a number of illiterate women. But after several visits I discovered that, despite their illiteracy, those women had an intimate knowledge of the Lord. I knew the Book they haltingly read; they knew the One of whom the Book spoke. I had much in myself; they had much in the Spirit. How many Christian teachers today are teaching others as I was then, very largely in the strength of their carnal equipment!" - Watchman Nee (4)

it's spirit. Their foreheads literally contained copies of the scriptures, yet they failed to realize and see the hardening of their hearts, loosing sight of the fact that God's word is not an end in itself. They became knowledgeable in an academic way rather than a practical way. They put legal requirements and their interpretative molds of theology ahead of flexibility, mercy, kindness, and justice which bend according to truth, truth that can differ from our conception and interpretive standards. The Pharisees teach us that Bible study can be a dangerous profession. It can blind the eyes, puff up the head, and harden the heart.Knowledge can also become a source of pride rather than humility. Charles Swindoll asserts:

"Knowledge can be dangerous when it isn't balanced by love and grace. Such knowledge results in arrogance, which leads to an intolerant spirit, an exclusive mindset." (3b)

Knowledge can also cause focus on the letter of the law and miss the Spirit of the law, to know the word of God, but not the God of the word. John White in The Fight wrote,

"Knowledge, especially biblical knowledge has the same effect as wine when it goes to your head. You become dizzily exalted. But Bible study should be conducted not with a view to knowing about Christ but to knowing him personally." (3c)

The Context of John Chapter 17

"Knowing God" - Knowing About vs. Knowing From

"This means everlasting life, to know (have knowledge of - not about) the only true God and the one that you sent forth Jesus Christ" - John 17:3

In John chapter 17, Jesus raises his eyes to heaven and speaks to his Father, saying, "the time has come for you to glorify your son, that he may glorify you." Jesus who was one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man, gave up his glory that he had "before the founding of the world," to become a mortal man, to sacrifice himself for man and pay the penalty of sin, buying back mankind in favor with God, reconciling man, the price being his blood. Jesus did all this, so mankind could have everlasting life and receive the very same glory Jesus had. Jesus is the everlasting life, the way and the truth. This means everlasting life, knowing (having knowledge of) the Father and the Son, Jesus. To know (have knowledge of) God is to know him intimately, personally, from him, experiencing him. This was not knowing about him, nor learning academic theology, but rather an intimate spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ and the Father. In turn, this would mean everlasting life. Knowing God is not knowing the bible, nor theology but knowing God is knowing the person. Scriptural knowledge is God's way of getting to know him, the person.

Jesus requests of his Father,

"And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." John 17:5-17

We are not to be taken out of the world but to be watched over by God, to be protected and sanctified by God's word, the truth. Jesus prays for us to be protected. He has obtained his glory through us. His prayer asks the Father that we who know him, may be one in complete unity with all others who know him intimately, which in turn is knowing the father personally on an intimate level.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Ephesians 1:4-5

The knowledge of God does not come through simply a bible study. No question and hour sessions, written reviews, nor the attachment to others who claim to be in union with Christ brings one to know God. Rather the knowledge of God is a 'oneness' that can only be obtained by knowing from God, not about God, by knowing him intimately as his Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that is, spirit touches spirit. No theological orthodoxy, numerical calculations, nor detailed prophetic explanations can come between him, us and all others who have an intimate and personal relationship of Spirit with Christ and the Father. We are to be one, as Jesus and the Father are one. Our glory has been "chosen by God to be in union with Christ before the founding of the world, foreordained to the adoption through Jesus Christ as sons to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

How To Obtain The Knowledge of God

Knowing About God vs Knowing From God Intellectualism   The Holy Spirit

There are two ways to know God: We can know about God and we can know from God. We can know about God through theology, preaching, teaching, meeting attendance, book studies, through many doctrinal ministries, from reading the bible and conversing with other people who know about him, yet in order to really know God, we must know from God.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

The only way to intimately know God is learn from him. His spirit attaches to ours, meshes as interwoven fabric tightly knit, tranforming us into new creatures.To learn from God is to know His Spirit. We can find His Spirit within us, die to our egos, and submit our wills to we walk Him. For if our actions relate to our egos and fail to walk with God's Spirit, "dwelling inside" us, then according to St. Paul, we are walk according to the flesh. We simply cannot be without God's Spirit inside of us and be a follower of Christ. It is through our faith that enables us to walk according the Spirit, allowing Him to "bear witness to our spirit, to cry out 'Abba, father,' confirming that we are God's children." We reconize that we are not separate from God, but He is in us and we in Him.

"And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

To intimately know God, we recognize the "love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge." We do this with our faith in God's Spirit that resides inside of us. It is through our unconditional love of ourselves and others that we allow our tranform and empower us in imitation of Christ.

Jesus spoke about the condition of the heart. He likened it to the soil of the earth, the ground where plants grow. When asked why he Spoke in parables. He answered to them that only those granted access to the Holy Spirit would understand. That would require faith and humility. Humility to learn from God, to personally rely on Him alone and seek Him within ones self. To look to the religious leaders, the religious system and to the inspired scriptures themselves, they alone, could never bring one in contact with the living God. His Spirit is always needed, a Spirit that can never be replace by the scriptures themselves.

"Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "`You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." Matthew 13:10-17

Our faith in the Holy Spirit "dwelling inside" of us enables us to see with eyes of faith. Eyes that can see beyond our physical realm. St. Paul states,

"The eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." Ephesians 1:18

Walking in accord to the Spirit requires our faith in knowing we are in union with him. We are not separate but "one" with him, as Jesus prayed for all his followers to be "one" as "he and his father are one." This is the only way we can truly know God.Beyond the text of written scripture, we can learn from the living God and truly know Him. As we die to our egos and become "born again" with God's Spirit, we can allow it to personally teach us to know and understand, to be intimate, to have God as our Father and we as His children.

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:18-23

When we encounter God, we can hear and feel and see with our eyes of faith, as we "walk by faith and not by sight." Yet what we can see by sight, are the transformations of souls, of people exercising true compassion and forgiveness to one another. We see "gifts" of the Spirit operate on others, as they once did on the Corinthian and Galatian congregations. We simply must have God's Spirit to know Him, to understand Him, to truly have compassion and love for our fellow man.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

John W. Frye describes the Greek word used for "Know," as follows:

"Elementary Bible students soon learn that the verb know is more powerful and profound than know about. It is the verb of intimate, personal knowledge. Eternal life is experiential intimacy with God and his Son, Jesus Christ. An Old Testament usage of the verb can be found in Genesis 4:1: "Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived" (KJV). Knowing about does not produce babies."(2)

Acts of Love and Mercy

If doctrinal issues, intellectualism and orthodox theology are not what identifies true Christians, then what is?

The Good Samaritan Showed True Love of God and Neighbor - Luke 10:29-37
To the theologically correct and self-righteous Pharisees, It was shocking to see the despised, false religious Samaritan (an apostate), with tainted Assyrian blood, & a moral law breaker to be the hero of this story, simply for an act of loving kindness.
This Samaritan who did not have accurate knowledge, did not preach, have a bible study or label this Jew as a false follower, but performed an act of loving kindness, proving himself to be the only true righteous neighbor.
Knowledge From (Not About) God And Christ, Not Theological Doctrines "This means everlasting life, to know (have personal and intimate knowledge from) the only true God and the one that you sent forth Jesus Christ" - John 17:3 Knowledge Is Love, Not Doctrines, For "God Is Love" "Everyone who loves has been born from God and gains the knowledge of God" - 1 John 4:7 (New World Translation) "He who loves is born from God and knows God." - 1 John 4:7 (Revised Standard Translation) Knowledge = Love "For in loving kindness I have taken delight, and not in sacrifice: and in the knowledge of God rather than in whole burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6) Knowing God = Loving The Afflicted, The Poor "As for your father, did he not eat and drink and execute justice and righteousness ? In that case it went well with him. He pleaded the legal claim of the afflicted one and the poor one. In that case it went well. "Was that not a case of knowing me" is the utterance of Jehovah? (Jeremiah 22:15,16)

Apostle Paul states that:

"Love is the perfect bond of union." Colossians 3:14

"Love is the laws fulfillment." Romans 13:10

This love is the same that Jesus spoke of to be the identifying mark of his true disciples.

"For by this, all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." John 13:35

And this is the "pure language" of the true worship of God, not the unclear doctrinal knowledge that is interpreted by a supposed "slave class" or religious organization.

"For then I shall give to peoples the change to a pure language, (Internal Faith & Agape Love of our fellow man) in order for them all to call upon the name of YHWH, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder." Zephaniah 3:9

Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verses 2 and 13:

"If I have the gift of prophesying and am acquainted with all the sacred secrets and all knowledge and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing ... Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love." Notice that without love, all the knowledge and faith, hope, gifts of prophesying and all the sacred secrets are worthless. So, it is not the gifts or knowledge, but love that "joins us together" with Christ. "Love is the laws fulfillment." 1 Corinthians 13:2, 13

(Zeph 3:9; John 13:34,35; Col 2:2)

The word charity has a secure place in the English Bible, when it is most memorably found in in St. Paul's works in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. In the more modern translations, this word has been replaced by the word love. This change was meant to more accurately portray Paul's meaning in his use of the Greek word agape in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, which suffers in the late twentieth century's confusion of the English word love with sentimentality and sexual feeling. People glaze over when they hear the "love" chapter as part of the liturgical decor of endless wedding ceremonies, and to recapture their attention. The word "charity," is closer to the meaning of agape, meaning work that proceeds from the heart, the seat not only of the emotions but of rational and responsible feeling. Acts of charity are those that proceed from the responsible heart. They are actions that proceed from an attitude. They are outward and visible sings of an inward and spiritual dimension. (5)

Charity is what is done for others because of what has been done for us. Because the Christian has been from creation onward the object of God's charity, the Christian is obliged to translate that into a care and concern to the neighbor, the orphan, the alien, the stranger, and all those in need. Charity is an obligation on the part of the Christian, but charity cannot be "earned" by those who receive it, and thus the Victorian concept of the "deserving poor" is contrary to the spirit of Christian charity, as, in its first impulse, charity is not a response to the condition of the neighbor, but to what God has done for us. (5)

If we have the Spirit of God in our hearts, we will live by His law of charity, inclined always to peace rather than dissension, to humility rather than arrogance, to obedience rather than rebellion, to purity and temperance, to simplicity and quietness and calm, to strength, generosity, and wisdom, to prudence and all-embracing justice, and we will love others more than ourselves, for it is the commandment of Jesus that we should love on another as He has loved us. (John 15:12; Phil 2:3) (5a)

True, in Hosea's day, the "knowledge of God" was lacking in the land of Israel, thus causing terrible bloodshed, but what exactly was this "knowledge of God?" Was it detailed doctrinal prophesies, interpretations and elaborate explanations? Was it the knowledge of following hundreds of rules and regulations? No, rather it was the knowledge of "loving kindness," forgiveness and mercy. This "pure language" of faith, love and mercy, is precisely the "knowledge that leads to everlasting life" and the very type of "knowledge of God that will fill the earth as the waters are covering the very sea," not the doctrinal knowledge of the existence or non existence of hellfire, immortality of the soul, 1914 & etc. (Hosea 4:1-2; Habakkuk 2:14; Isaiah 11:9; Zeph 3:9; John 17:3)

"Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed." Hosea 4:1-2 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 (Know faith in Christ and agape love of man) "They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of YHWH as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9 (The knowledge of faith in Christ and agape love of man to fill the whole earth and cover the sea)

Under the law's (Torah's) "old covenant" with Moses, the Jews were under the "curse" to obey hundreds of written detailed rules, regulations and works of sacrifice. Despite all of the legal requirements, it was still "loving kindness that Jehovah took delight in, not the sacrifices and whole burnt offerings," for the law's old covenant also stated that "you must love your fellowman as yourself" and to put faith or trust in God for salvation. (Hosea 6:6; Gal 4:5; Lev 19:18; Gen 15:6; Exodus 19:9; Heb 11:23,24)

The law's (Torah's) "old covenant," with Moses, was based on faith and love, along with the "handwritten documents against us, consisting of decrees" and "curse" of hundreds of commands, ordinances and works of sacrifices. Under the law's (Torah's) "new covenant" arrangement, with the Christ, this curse of regulations and decrees would be "blotted out" and a new unwritten covenant based on faith and love (written on hearts) would replace it. This "new covenant" would now become the law's (Torah's) true meaning, which the Christ upholds as the "law of Christ."

True Christianity reveals itself in quiet acts of mercy and goodness that no one sees or applauds--but God.

Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the former covenant by becoming cursed on our behalf" and "wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us." Jesus, who showed complete unconditional love, brought the law or Torah to it's goal, a goal based on "faith," bringing man back into a personal relationship and reconciliation with God. (Romans 2:28-29; Jer 31:31-33; Col 2:12-14; Heb 8:13; Phil 2:9-11; Romans 5:10-11; Gal 3:13, 4:5; Gal 6:2; Gen 15:6; Exodus 19:9; Heb 11:23,24; 2 Cor 3:3)

A new strange concept of each individual having a personal and intimate relationship with God viewing him and calling him their "father" instead of his formal name Jehovah or Yahweh would now come to be. Instead, it is Jesus, who "was given a name above every name," including the name of the father, Jehovah or Yahweh (YHWH). All the rules and regulations "that stood against us" would be removed and replaced by "the kingly law of love."

And this love would be the core of what Jesus Christ taught.

"You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it is this, Your must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments the WHOLE law hangs, and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40; James 2:8)

Also, 1 John 3:10-12 says:

"The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should have love for one another; not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother." 1 John 3:10-12

The Watchtower's comments on this scripture:

"Thus, God's people are a nonviolent, global brotherhood."- The Watchtower

While this is true, what the Watchtower Society misses entirely, is the fact that being a child of God and being part of a true brotherhood, is to be united by agape love, not by a centralized governing body of elders who have incorporated various bodies of rules and regulations for men to follow and obey or face expulsion with the shunning of friends and family members. True children of God are allowed the freedom to "press on to maturity," while teaching discernment, forming an invisible, internal relationship with God. But of far more importance they are to have true faith in Christ, relying on solely him to evangelize the world and not us, using a large human visible organization to do so. Our faith must be accompanied by our individual works of mercy, towards our fellow man, as few and small as that may be. This love is not the sacrifices of religious, programmed and neatly packaged prescribed works of the door to door doctrinal preaching and other organizationally promoted sacrifices. True love of our fellow man neither judges "our brothers" as sinners nor shuns them for disagreeing with theological interpretations. True love is based on faith in Christ alone, apart from a mediator "slave class." True love is faith in Christ which anoints all followers with his spirit, eliminating the interpretation of an "other sheep" class of non-spirit filled Christians, as Paul stated in Romans 8:

"And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

On the contrary, the "Children of the Devil" are those which enforce human authority as the ultimate obedience tool, "sitting in the seat of God" as his so called and self appointed "slave class" representative, falling nothing short as the "man of lawlessness." (Hebrews 6:1; 5:12-14; Galatians 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12)

The early, original Christian congregation was one of an invisible, spiritual, internal brotherhood, a "royal priesthood" with only "one head" and mediator between God and men, a man Jesus Christ. What held them together? Was it theology, scriptures, meetings? Was it an external, visible human institutionalized authority structure or slave class? None of these were the unifying factors, but rather "love, the perfect bond of union" was the only true unifying factor, with individual freedom that held this spiritual nation together, the uniting factor and only identifying mark of the true followers of the Christ. (1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 3:14; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 5:7)

Author of "Elijah, a man like us," and one of the founders of Idaho Mountain Ministries, David Roper explains:

"Those who God is making good have an extraordinary effect on others. They leave behind "strangely warmed" hearts. Others take note that we have been with Jesus. We leave behind his fragrance, an unforgettable ambiance, a sweet aroma. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). The memory lingers and leaves others longing for more."

Those identified by Christ are those who have God's spirit and power. Roper future goes on to say:

"Spiritual power is rarely apparent. It is not a function of charm and chutzpah, nor is it a matter of vast knowledge, strength of will, or personal magnetism. Self-conscious and self-effected influence is always pretentious. When we try to be influential, we become too aggressive and intrusive. Our actions seem forced and our words ring hollow. True authority is a subtle redolence, an unaffected persuasion that pervades people's thoughts and gently goads them towards God." (1)

Agape - Charity

Divine Power Needed

Human love is near powerless. Our love of others ends at either one's suffering or finally in death. Flowers on a grave, attempts of communication are all in vain. And while living, no one can successfully enter into another's suffering with a love more than a limited helplessness.

The power to love as Christ can only be achieved with Christ living in us. His Spirit anointing us, dwelling inside, the Kingdom of God within us, can give us the "power beyond what is normal," to both know and live in divine love. Thomas Merton explains,

"It is true that we can also have compassion for others merely because suffering is an evil in its own right. This compassion is also good. But it does not really become agape- charity, unless it sees Christ in the one suffering and has mercy on him with the mercy of Christ. (1a) In Christ's passion living in us, the helplessness of human love is transformed into a divine power which raises us above all evil. It has conquered everything. Such love knows no separation. It fears suffering no more than crops fear the spring rain. But the strength of such love, and such communion, is not found merely in a doctrine. The Christian has more than a philosophy of suffering. Sometimes, indeed, he may have not philosophy at all. His faith may be so inarticulate as to see absurd. Nevertheless, he knows the peace of one who has conquered everything. Furthermore, He has united us to one another in Himself. We all live together in the power of His death which overcame death. We neither suffer alone nor conquer alone nor go off into eternity alone. In Him we are inseparable: therefore, we are free to be fruitfully alone whenever we please, because wherever we go, whatever we suffer, whatever happens to us, we are united with those we love in Him because we are united with Him." (1b)

We love others as ourselves pertaining to "Christ that is in us" and Christ that exists in them. The Holy Spirit that we recognize in ourselves, we use to recognize in others, all others. It is our faith in Jesus that allows us to access and use God's Spirit within us, revealing to us who we are, enabling us with power of agape - charity towards others in the way Christ loves us.  

"It is clear, then, that to love others well we must first love the truth. And since love is a matter of practical and concrete human relations, the truth we must love when we love our brothers is not mere abstract speculation: it is the moral truth that is to be embodied and given life in our own destiny and theirs. This truth is more than the cold perception of an obligation, flowing from moral precepts. The truth we must love in loving our brothers is the concrete destiny and sanctity that are willed for them by the love of God. One who really loves another is not merely moved by the desire to see him contented and healthy and prosperous in this world. Love cannot be satisfied with anything so incomplete. If I am to love my bother, I must somehow enter deep into the mystery of God's love for him. I must be moved not only by human sympathy but by that divine sympathy which is revealed to us in Jesus and which enriches our own lives by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. The truth I love in loving my brother cannot be something merely philosophical and abstract. It must be at the same time supernatural and concrete, practical and alive. And I mean these words in no metaphorical sense. The truth I must love in my brother is God Himself, living in him. And I can only discern and follow that mysterious life by the action of the same Holy Spirit living and acting in the depths of my own heart.(1c)

Works of "Mercy" Vs Works of "Sacrifice"

Works of Sacrifice   Mercy Not Sacrifice

Apostle Paul states in Galatians 2:16,

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,

Have You Not Read "I Want Mercy And Not Sacrifice"  - Math 9:13

but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Apostle Paul tells us that we are declared righteous by faith only, for although the righteous Torah or law with the "old covenant" taught this teaching as well, it also consisted of "decrees," "works of sacrifices" and "curses" that were to be "blotted out" in the future by the messiah, the Christ. These "works of sacrifice," with their commandments and regulations were a "curse," not the law or Torah itself. The further perverting of the law with legalism and oral traditions of both the Pharisees and the newly converted Christians, were making "the word of God invalid," causing Apostle Paul to repeatedly emphasize that it is only with "faith" that one can find Christ, not by legalism or works of sacrifice. Obedience to rules, regulations and church or slave class interpretations were not to be the "saving" factor. Only our faith in Christ is required. This is the context of Paul's statements in his letters to the Romans, Ephesians and Galatians.

Works of Mercy

However, Apostle James states in chapter two, that,

By works a man is justified and not by faith only . . . faith without works is dead.(James 2:26)

James relates that there were those who saw others without adequate food and clothing and simply said, "Go your way and be warm and well fed" but did not perform works of mercy, by feeding and clothing them. These acts of mercy , not sacrifices, would be the determining factor of our faith and judgment by God, as "judgment will be without mercy toward one who does not show mercy; but mercy exalts triumphantly (wins) over judgment."

This is precisely why Jesus quoted Hosea to the Pharisees saying,

"I want mercy and not sacrifice." (Matthew (9:13)

It is only by our works of mercy, compassion, empathy and consideration (not sacrifices) of others that are required with our faith. This is the context of Apostle James words. (James 2:13, 14, 26; Galatians 2:15,16; Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6)

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 John 3:17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. James 2:14-19

"Even the demons believe but they shudder." Their belief is in vain, for they do not have true faith, Neither can we, if our faith is not joined with works of love, not sacrifice. For if we fail to have love and live love to our fellow man, then our faith is dead and becomes merely belief. Belief alone is not faith. Faith is a dependence, a reliance and a trust that opens God up to send us, anoint us and enter us with his Spirit, relieving us of our anxieties and trust in ourselves, which we then discipline ourselves to walk with the Spirit in showing God and our fellow man, our "brothers," mercy and agape love.

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:20-26

But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. Mat 12:7

What is the difference between works of sacrifice and works of mercy and love ? Works of sacrifice or legalism are the following of interpretations, rules and regulations of men that are not specifically stated or "go beyond the things written" in the bible. They also include the observance of the various "sacrifices," offerings and days and seasons pronounced in the "old covenant" with Moses. The Pharisees took this much further with oral traditions and legalism, making "the word of God invalid." Today, they can include church rituals, specific meeting attendance requirements, the counting of time spent preaching, "pioneering,"  restrictions on holiday observances and the enforcement of men's interpretation of scripture to be accepted from church leaders, slave classes or governing bodies. (Matt 15)

On the other hand, works of love are just that, kind loving acts of helping others. The illustration that Jesus gave of the good Samaritan showed he was the true neighbor, as he showed mercy to the injured man. And this required no sacrifice of preaching, rule following, or organizational requirements of any kind, rather just a loving act of kindness, imitating God and Christ. Works of sacrifices, such as preaching, should only come after faith and works of love and should be motivated from the heart, not due to any external pressure from any religious organization or supposed "slave class."

Of even much higher meaning, this man being a Samaritan, was hated by the Jews. Samaritans were considered "apostates," having Assyrian blood, and false worshipers, failing to worship in Jerusalem but on Mount Samaria of their own separate kind. They were completely despised and not to even be spoke to. And here in Jesus parable, the only righteous man, is the Samaritan. A shocking story to many, having a man, a despised man from an apostate religious sect, obvious with the lack of orthodox accurate theology. Yet this Samaritan is told as more righteous than the Pharisee and the Levite, who incidentally were extremely righteous persons. The Pharisees were honest orthodox persons who had high regard for the scriptures and aimed to both live that way and have the all of Israel walk in the pure way of God's word as well. (Rom 10:10; 1 Cor 4:3; Luke 10:29-37)

Paul brings out in Romans chapter 8, that there are only two ways a man can walk, according to the flesh and according to the spirit. He goes on to state:

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature of the flesh but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" Romans 8:9

People can show mercy and love using the works of the flesh, and Paul's words in Romans chapter 2 shows a strong possibility that they may be "excused" and given a another chance to obtain faith in the Christ. However, the above shows, that in order to walk in accord with spirit (of true agape love), people must both have the spirit and belong to Christ." This requires faith in Christ. (1 John 3:23)

Many Christian denominations preach "love your neighbor," yet they are convinced that this is limited to helping primarily those in their religious organization. Apostle Paul speaks otherwise saying, "Let us work good towards all, especially towards those in the (Christian) faith." "Working good towards all is not limited to a preaching work, but is as the good Samaritan performed, an act of loving kindness, and in the case of Christians, a loving kindness that comes from God's spirit that "dwells inside you." When Jesus asked "Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?" Then a certain man answered Jesus saying "The one that acted mercifully toward him, (the Samaritan). Jesus then said to him, Go your way and be doing the same yourself."

The fact that this Samaritan did not have accurate knowledge, being from the Samaritans, a false

The Two Mandatory Requirements For A Christian Faith In Christ & Agape Love

"Add To Your Faith . . . Love" - 2 Peter 1:5-8

religious sect split off of Judaism, and yet it was only this man that proved to be the righteous person and true neighbor, shows that accurate knowledge was not the issue here, nor a requirement to do God's will, but "loving one's neighbor" with acts of kindness and mercy were the only determining factor. It was not required for this person to be from the so called true religious human visible organization, but instead the invisible "royal priesthood" of those with faith in the Christ. It shows that any person on earth that is loving their fellow man is the true neighbor and is doing God's will. As far as living the law of love, it is not limited to those in the same religious denomination or faith but rather acts of mercy "toward all" persons, regardless of their cultural, sexual, political, and religious views will determine each individual's outcome. The difference though with those who follow the Christ are, their acts of love are to be from the spirit, which the only way to obtain is by having faith in the Christ. Those who do so by the "works of the flesh," outside the spirit, are still doing it, just as "those who do not have the law, but do the things of the law, prove to have the law written on hearts." Faith and love is the spiritual view, the "pure language," "the perfect bond of union," and those who live it both "know God" and are "born from God," 

"For everyone that loves is born from God and knows God" and "without faith it is impossible to please God." (1 John 4:7-8; Romans 2:14-16; Romans 8:1-10; Hebrews

In the account of Jesus followers, Mary and Martha, whose home Jesus often entered, he always found it perfectly suited to his needs. He began to teach, and Mary, who instinctively knew the most crucial, pressing need of the day, sat at his feet, absorbing his presence and everything he had to say about faith, mercy and love, the keys to life.

Martha, who had much to do for Jesus, busied herself with sacrifices of work to please Jesus, becoming "distracted by all the preparations that had to be made, hustling about the place to make more presentable, doing things for Jesus that he didn't want done at all. Her sacrifices blinded her to the more important things, knowing what faith, agape love and mercy is from the master himself.

Jesus said in his kindly way that what Martha was doing was much ado about nothing.

"Martha, Martha," he said, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only on thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

Mary was internalizing her faith and love for Jesus. Martha was trying to do the external works, the sacrifices of God. (2) It isn't any different today, as many are so busy performing the sacrifices of preaching theology, meeting attendance and scrupulously obeying hundreds of legal requirements that a religious authority or slave class requires, that they blindly loose perspective on the real meaning of the Christ, faith, agape love, mercy and forgiveness of our fellow man. Like Martha, they become worried and upset for their failure to live up to the external works that are demanded from them, failing to internalize both their faith and love. (Luke 10:38-42)

"Perhaps in our day, Jesus might have framed the story of the Good Samaritan, as the parable of the good homosexual New Ager. There are people in our world, like homosexual individuals or those who embrace New Age theology, who may well be more compassionate than the majority of people found in a Christian church on any given Sunday. Some homosexuals, for instance, give all they have to help friends who are dying of AIDS. It would be hard to find many evangelicals who match their compassion! ....... we must recognize some Pagans will surpass our good deeds ..................... people who we despise for their so called lack of rightness can actually be more righteous than us." - Extreme Righteousness , page 56 - Tom Hovestol (Italics added)

So when a religious group uses the bible to label all those that are not part of their group as lacking "accurate knowledge" and are therefore "worldly," "workers of lawlessness," members of "Babylon the Great" and the "unclean thing," they are NOT showing love of neighbor. Can you imagine if the good Samaritan only preached doctrinal knowledge, but did not act merciful towards the Jew, both physically and materially? He did not preach, have a bible study or label this Jew as a false follower, but performed an act of loving kindness. Preaching God's word is certainly showing love to others, but is simply "sacrifice" and not a requirement for salvation and doing so alone is not being a "doer of the word." Faith, mercy, love and kindness towards all, far out weighs a mere academic study of scripture" and are the only true requirements and obligation of man.

"Through Christ let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of lips which make a public declaration to his name. Moreover, do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Hebrews 13:15

These "acts of mercy" or sacrifices of human kindness and forgiveness are precisely what the Roman army officer Cornelius performed, bringing him favor with God and Christ, despite being a Pagan with inaccurate knowledge. His mercy to others opened the way for him to obtain the only knowledge needed: the knowledge of the faith in Christ (Hebrews 13:15-16; Galatians 6:10; Luke 10:36-37; Matthew 7:21-23; Rev 17:1-2; 18:4-10; Romans 10:2; James 1:20; Acts 10:1-2)

What is God's will for mankind?

"It is that all men be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"

What is that "knowledge of truth?"

That "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men,"(2 Timothy 2:5),

A man also being a part of God who acts as a doorway to get to God and both taught and demonstrated how persons should treat their fellow man.

This knowledge is not any elaborate detailed scriptural information, but simply the faith and love of God's free gift, Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ said:

"I am the way, the life and the 'truth."

This "knowledge of the truth" goes far beyond doctrine to the inner mystery of the self, the interior knowing of God's presence, the ability to rest in silent assurance in the peace of God. Doctrine itself can never stand up to biblical literalism and the Spirit of God that lives within us.. Doing good and sharing of things with others,"  forgiving others and "acting mercifully," emotionally, physically and materially to all others, regardless of their religious following are the fruits that follow. (1 Timothy 2:3-5; John 14:6; Heb 13:15-16)

While Jehovah's Witnesses will put emphasis on intellectualism, "taking in knowledge" and "sacrifice" for salvation, many churches, but not all, will put emphasis on simply verbal affirmations of "having faith" or "believing" in Christ without works of mercy, led by the spirit. Both of these roads of thinking overlook the very core of Christ's teachings, love and mercy, as our acts of mercy to others should be our visible signs of our unseen intimacy with God and His self felt inside our nothingness. Our worship is narrow, without the freedom to put selfishness and greed above kindness to others, yet we

"Exert ourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow gate." Luke 13:24

This is not through a rigid belief system and restrictive way containing vigorous "sacrifices." Nor is it simply "having faith" or "believing" in Christ without exhibiting the works led by the spirit that are to dwell inside you, the works of showing impartial loving acts of kindness to others. Salvation is obtained through faith and impartial vigorous love, showing acts of kindness, both to those in the faith and outside of the faith, with no particular limitations or rules, outside of faith and love. It is as the good Samaritan performed in Jesus' illustration, an act of loving kindness. Anyone can say they "have faith" and "believe" in Christ, but unless they "love their neighbor as themselves" they do not truly have faith, knowledge or believe in Christ and make the "word of God invalid," being hearers only and not doers of the word by showing mercy. (John 17:3; Galatians 3:8; 5:14; 6:10; Luke 13:24; Matt 22:37-39; James 1:20; Matt 15:6-9)

The Good News

What Is The Good News?

What about "preaching the word?" For Apostle Paul tells Timothy,

"I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, Preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, teaching, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Paul even went further to state about himself,

"Woe is me, if I did not declare the good news." 1 Corinthians 9:16

As Christians we are commissioned by Jesus Christ to:

"Make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20

The questions are, what are the "teachings" that Christ "commanded" his disciples? What are the teachings of the "good news" that we are to preach? Doctrinal explanations that require a detailed question and answer bible study? What is "fully accomplishing your ministry?" (2 Tim 4:1-5; 1 Cor 9:16; Matt 28:19,20)

The answer are in Jesus words at John 13:34 and 1 John 3:23

"I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another, just as I have love you, that you also love one another." John 13:34 "This is his commandment, that we (1) have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and (2) be loving one another." 1 John 3:23

It is also as Apostle John states, repeating Christ's words, "this is his (God's) commandment, that we have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and be loving one another." The good news is about Jesus Christ being God's son, his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, sacrificing himself as a ransom for mankind, reconciling man with God, opening the opportunity for men to "enter into the kingdom of the heavens" and rule along with Christ. But of higher importance, which

"Love of Christ surpasses knowledge" Ephesians 3:19

The 'love of Christ surpasses" the doctrinal knowledge stated above, and is absolutely necessary, are Christ's teachings of "love of neighbor" and "mercy," which means loving God,

"For on these two commandments the whole law hangs." Matthew 22:40

The only way to fully obtain God's love is to have faith in Christ and be anointed with his spirit, enabling a person to walk by the spirit:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6 "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

Jesus not only taught this agape love, but also performed this mercy to the poor, the sinners and those with hardships and illnesses, having "pity for them." This teaching and performing

"We entreat you not to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose." - 1 Cor 6:1

"Sorry brother, I can't help you today, I have to go out preaching." "I can't count my time."

love and mercy to all others is the "preaching of the good news" and not the mere academic knowledge of scriptures and verses, with a detailed question and answer bible study with elaborate intellectual explanations. It is the actual emotional, physical and material actions of love and mercy towards all others, regardless of their religious persuasion. This is precisely what Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to perform, when he told him to "preach the word."

For preaching words are nothing but refuse if no love and mercy are shown as Apostle John so aptly states,

"Little children, let us love, neither in word nor with the tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:18

Certainly, it would not be following Christ, to withhold helping a fellow brother, physically, materially or emotionally, because you believe it is more important to go out preaching the doctrinal knowledge of the scriptures to people. (1 John 3:18, 23; James 2:13; Matt 24:14; 9:36; 11:12; 10:28)

Is the "good news of the kingdom," that is to be preached, about a literal government that will bring the earth to a paradise ? Or is it a message of simply admitting that one is a sinner and "believing in Christ," without truly showing "love of neighbor?" Are those the messages of salvation that are to be declared through out the entire earth and a witness to all nations ? (Math 24:14) Apparently not, for the good news that was preached by the apostles in the bible is about repenting and putting faith in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, thus opening the way to enter into the kingdom of God, that is heaven. (1 Cor 15:52) Nowhere can it be found that Jesus and the first century Christian congregation "preached the word" of a paradise earth with a literal government and a detailed numerical explanation for the invisible arrival of Christ. Nor can it be found the church doctrines of the trinity, hellfire, rapture, Pope and Saint mediatorship. But of far more significance, "surpassing" this doctrinal knowledge, the "good news" was about love and mercy to God and neighbor,

"For love is the laws fulfillment." Romans 13:10

Any that preach a different "good news" and put it above "love of neighbor," would come under Apostle Paul's words at Galatians 1:6-9,

"However, if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9

It certainly appears true, that God has a heavenly kingdom and those in God's kingdom "will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years." They are the "seed of Abraham," "circumcised in their hearts," the new

The Central Theme of Jesus Preaching was not about a kingdom literal government with various legal requirements and scrupulous sacrifices to conform to, but rather it was about justice, mercy, faithfulness and to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation and keep oneself without spot (materialism, greed and lust as a life pursuit) from the world. (Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:8, Zech 7:9-10; James 1:27)

"chosen race, a "royal priesthood, a holy nation." However, this came secondary to the message of "this good news of the kingdom," which was to exercise faith in Christ, trusting in him, becoming weak, letting go of our own efforts and thus receiving God's Spirit which then empowers us the ability to walk in accord with the Spirit and show agape love on an individual basis to the people we meet, gaining entrance into this "kingdom of the heavens." Today "this" is still the same exact message that needs to be preached to the entire earth, not the knowledge of a detailed governmental arrangement that has been invisibly present operating in heaven since the year 1914 and will soon extend it's ruler ship over the earth restoring it to a paradise, or a detailed trinity explanation and other church doctrines. The message of the "good news" was without elaborate, lengthy and detailed explanations of scripture, as shown in Acts 2:38:

"Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." Acts 2:38 (1 Pet 2:9, Rev 20:; Romans 9:6-8; 2:28-29)

In this situation, in Acts chapter two, as with all others in the Christian Greek scriptures, all of the 3000 or so

The Good News Preached In The Bible	VS	The Good News Preached By The Watchtower
Exercising Faith Solely In Christ	__	Using a so called appointed "Faithful And Discreet Slave Class" as mediator between Christ and men.
Gaining Entrance Into The Kingdom Of The Heavens	__	Living On Earth Under A Governmental Arrangement That Has Been Invisibly Present Operating In Heaven Since The Year 1914 And Will Soon Extend It's Rulership Over The Earth, Restoring It To A Paradise
Becoming An Anointed, Spirit Filled, Born Again, Child of God, New Creation And Spiritual Jew Romans 8:9	__	Becoming A Non-Anointed Christian, Interpreted To Be Part Of The "Other Sheep" In John 10:16 And The "Great Crowd" Of Revelation 7:14, Who Are Supposedly A Non-Spirit Filled, Non-Born Again Group of Christians
Showing Works Of Love And Mercy - Love Of Neighbor	__	Performing The Works Of Sacrifice Of Preaching Door To Door, Weekly Meeting Attendance, Rule Following, Shunning Former Members & etc.

people who got baptized, neither had a detailed governmental arrangement restoring a paradise earth explained to them, requiring a 6 month study of a book that is written and published by a 20th century man made organization, nor did they have the "trinity doctrine" or a "hellfire" doctrine taught to them. Rather they repented for their sins and gained faith in (took in knowledge of) God and Christ:

"This means life everlasting, having faith in the only true God and the he sent forth Jesus Christ." John 17:3

They were baptized the very same day and all gained the hope of a heavenly reward. (Heb 3:1) Whether they were baptized by a sprinkling or immersion of water is of no importance, "straining out the gnat" and is completely overlooking the teaching of Christ, faith and love. The people recognized the need to put faith in Jesus Christ, "becoming weak to become strong," his ransom sacrifice and accepting him as their savior in order to gain acceptance with God, and receive the power of his spirit to "dwell inside" them. For this they were baptized. But this knowledge and baptism would be futile, if they were not letting go our their own strengths and abilities and relying on Christ for strength and guidance, receiving the spirit and walking with it by imitating Jesus, following his commands of love, demonstrating their faith by their individual works of love and "mercy," no matter how small and few they were, and not walking with the flesh of the "sacrifices" of preaching doctrines, hours spent in field service, meeting attendance and religious organizational works. Their faith along with showing love and "mercy" to others, in imitation of Christ, was their obligation to fellow men. They were to walk with the spirit and not the flesh.

"This" was the good news declared to them in the bible and is the same good news that must be preached and

Sin and Salvation were the subjects Jesus spoke about in almost all of his dealings with people.

1. We're all sinners. 2. We all must have faith in Christ. 3. We all must be anointed, Born Again with Spirit. 4. We all must walk in the Spirit, with love of our fellow man.

taught to the world's population today, not a detailed doctrinal study that requires 3 one hour sessions with the local elders to determine whether you agree with the Watchtower organization's unique interpretations of the bible, coupled with a requirement of attendance at various meetings and counted hours spent out preaching to persons. Nor was it becoming part of a certain denomination, identified by a different name then Christians. It was not about the many righteous Saints who wrote and taught after the bible was completed, nor was it the many doctrines that they and various church counsels decided to be church dogma. Instead, the good news was about "the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge." (James 2:26; Rev 20:12; Romans 13:10; Matthew 22:37-39; 9:13; 24:14; Heb 13:15,16; 1 Peter 2:21; Eph 3:19)

David Roper, writer of Elijah, a man like us, Discovery House Publishers, explains preaching the good news in this way:

An Example of
Preaching The Good News

Take the example of Zacchaeus, a tax collector that the Jews looked on as a man who sold his soul to the Devil, a man who worked for the Romans and extorted money from people. To them, he was on his way to Genhenna. He was as what we consider today a drug pusher, a pimp, or a trafficker in kiddy porn, but apparently his heart was searching for God. No one took this man seriously, nor did anyone care, except Jesus. Notice how Jesus preached the good news: "To the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind and to release the oppressed." (Luke 4:18)

Jesus picked Zacchaeus out of the crowd and invited him to eat and drink with him. Jesus wanted to be this man's friend.

"We must be faithful where we are befriending one or two people, if that's all we can do, loving them and imparting God's truth to them. As Francis Schaeffer used to say, "There are no little places and there are no little people." Every person in every place is of infinite value to God. "If there were only one of us," Augustine said, "Jesus would still have died." "Who despises the day of small things?" asked one of Haggai's contemporaries (Zechariah 4:10) The answer of course, is that we do. Small has fallen on hard times, inclined as we are to equate size with success. Small is now a value judgment: If we're limited to one or two, we're hardly worth anything at all. Some people look good with the masses but fail miserably when it comes to one or two. Yet our love for one person is the test of our love for all. Authentic Christianity is this: "to look after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). Reality reveals itself to quiet acts of mercy and goodness that no one sees or applauds-but God." "He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."

"All the people began to mutter" that this man was a low life, no good person, and who is this Jesus that he should show kindness to him? Who is he to even to invite himself over his house yet and socialize with him? The righteous religious leaders would have thought: who is this Jesus to invite himself inside the home of a sinner, a man who does not follow the religious laws and fails to obey the religious organization? Jesus did not judge this man, nor all the other so called sinners. His "Good News" was to preach faith in himself with the fruitage of agape love, both showing and living agape love as he did this. He came to "save what was lost." The end result, Zacchaeus was saved and claimed:

"Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Luke 19:8

Jesus said:

"Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:9-10

Jesus did not count his time preaching doctrines to Zacchaeus, nor the quoting of detailed scriptural explanations, nor did he preach an obedience to a visible human organization to get to God. The Good News that he preached to Zacchaeus was not about 1914, pioneering, slave classes, holiday observances, political involvement, trinity doctrines or meeting attendance in a human religious organization. His Good News was the teaching of faith in the Son of Man, with mercy and love, which took in all of humanity, both the Jews and the Gentiles.

People Who Do The Works of God

After all the studying and learning of various scriptures and the thousands of interpretations, the bottom line is simply faith and acts of love through Christ Jesus. True, Knowledge is important and is needed to understand the "deeper things of God," yet "love surpasses knowledge" (1 Cor 2;10) (Eph 3:19)

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" 1 Cor 8:1

The golden rule remains in affect and fulfills the entire law "All things therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them; this, in fact is what the Law and the Prophets mean." (Matthew 7:12) No matter how extensive the sacrifices are and how well a person may be excelling in a religion, such as being a bishop, cardinal, district overseer, circuit overseer and governing body member, without showing love, mercy and kindness to ALL persons,  regardless of their religious belief , which is the same as showing this to Christ himself, it is completely worthless in God's eyes, for all humanity are considered Christ's brothers, not merely a small "anointed class" or those who call themselves Christians. Faith with acts of love and mercy through Christ Jesus are the ONLY identifying marks of true Christians. No eloquent talks, high sounding titles and long hours spent in the preaching work, can take the place of showing loving kindness to others, for it is only "love that is the perfect bond of union." (Matthew 25:40; 1 John 4:20,21; 1 John 3:16-17, 23; Col 3:14)

I personally find as an example of a person who truly exhibited "the love of Christ" to be the Nobel Prize winner, Mother Teresa. Here is a person who literally, gave up her entire life to help, love and show mercy to other people,

Mother Teresa

"Just allow people to see Jesus in you, to see how you lead a pure life, so se how you deal with your family, to see how much peace there is in your family. then you can look straight into their eyes and say "This is the way." You speak from life, you speak from experience."

such as the homeless and dying. One does not have to be a follower of the Catholic church and believe the many erroneous interpretations and rules of the church, to recognize the love and mercy shown by Mother Teresa. For the "mercy" and love that she performed, truly demonstrated her faith and showed love of God and neighbor which far outweigh any erroneous "sacrifice" she may have followed in her obedience to church teachings. She along with every other human being on earth, will have to "render an account" individually for her life's actions. To classify her as a member of "Babylon The Great" and dismiss her as a "worker of lawlessness," as the Watchtower Society does, is to overlook the very teaching of Christ. For "love is the laws fulfillment" and "surpasses the knowledge" that is erroneous. In my opinion, any religion that puts sacrifice, with it's technical interpretations of scripture, ahead of love and mercy is part of "Babylon The Great" and "not showing love to Christ's brothers," which in turn "can not be loving God either." (John 4:20-21, Rev 17:1-2; 18:4-10, Matthew 7:21-23, 9:13, Eph 3:19, Matthew 25:34-46, Romans 14:12)

Some will argue with all of this and say that in John chapter 6 it states "we must work for the food that does not perish" and showing mercy and love alone is not sufficient. Yet what is the "food that does not perish?" Is it purely the works of preaching of hundreds of doctrinal interpretations? No it is not, for Jesus further states the true meaning of the spiritual food in the same chapter 6,

"I am the bread of life And He that comes to me will not get hungry at all" ... "For this is the will of my father, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life." John 6:51

Clearly then, "working for the food that does not perish" is simply "exercising faith in Christ" by

What Are The Works Of God ?

"What shall we do to work the works of God? In answer Jesus said to them: This is the work of God, that you {believe} {exercise faith} in him whom that One sent forth" - John 6:28-29

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." - Heb 11:1

"Faith without deeds of "love and mercy" (NOT deeds of sacrifice) is dead" - James 2:8, 13, 26

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" - Galatians 5:4-6

showing and teaching others about the works of mercy and loving kindness of Christ Jesus, not a scheduled, prepackaged preaching work, weekly meeting requirement or detailed elaborate explanation of scripture or any other works of sacrifice. Rather, the preaching work and other works of sacrifice would only come after faith and works of mercy, and would only come "from the heart," not from a religious organization or supposed "slave class" with a prepackaged, preprogrammed, organized work, for the intellectual and theological teachings of scripture are far less important then practicing mercy to others and is not a requirement for God's approval. (John 6:25-40, Romans 10:10)

Carnal Warfare And Pacifism

Christians and War

Does God take sides in war? It certainly appears that God does not, and has no involvement, what so ever, with the many internal and external disagreements and wars, of the nations. Prayers to God are only answered "according to his will," which is the "knowledge" and "works" of "love" and "mercy." God does not select one nation over another, "for in every nation the man that fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to him." It is also evident that just as God does not intervene in human affairs in regards to much suffering and atrocities, until his future "appointed time," that he also applies the same non intervention in the carnal warfare of the nations of mankind.

Love Of Neighbor

But what about "love of neighbor?" Would not love of neighbor restrict the action of warfare of the true servants of Christ? The answer would appear to be yes, "for he that does not love his brother, who he has seen, can not be loving God, who he has not seen." Are there any exceptions? Those Christian denominations that are pacifists claim that their refusal to engage in warfare identifies them as the true Christians, truly "showing love among themselves" and "love of neighbor," making them "no part of the world." But is total and complete pacifism, in all cases, really the identifying mark of true Christians? Or are there any exceptions? (John 15:19-21; 1 John 5:14; Acts 10:34-35; 1 John 3:-)

The Hebrews Engaged In Carnal Warfare

True, in in Hebrew scriptures, God used his chosen people, the physical nation of Israel, to engage in carnal warfare, taking their side, actively supporting, fighting and shedding blood for themagainst other nations. However under the "new covenant," or Christian arrangement, God would choose people "out of all nations," who would make up a "spiritual nation of Israel," a "Heavenly Jerusalem." "For in every nation the man that fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to him."

Jesus Christ And His Disciples Did Not Use Carnal Warfare

Jesus Christ, "the exact reflection of God," conquered the world with his faith. In his weakness of allowing and submitting to wickedness, he bought mankind back to God with his perfect blood. "For the son of man came as a ransom in exchange for many." As "ambassadors of Christ," can true Christians be killing one another and still be loving on another? Are there any exceptions? (Matt 20:28)

Jesus' Instructions Not To Live By The Sword
In Personal Disputes

What did the mediator of the new covenant, Jesus Christ, teach about warfare? He first instructed his disciples to preach among the Jews. Since they were a hospitable people, he instructed them not to take food pouches, extra garments and their weapons, swords. However, at a later time, when he instructed his disciples to preach, he specifically told them to bring their swords, even selling their outer garments to purchase one. The very next day, when Judas Iscariot came with soldiers to take Christ away to be arrested, Peter drew out his sword and cut off one of the soldier's ear. Jesus immediately healed the soldier and told Peter to "return your sword to its place, for those who live by the sword, will die by the sword." (Heb 12:22; 9:24,15; Matt 10:10; 26:51-52; Luke 9:3; 22:35-36; Acts 10:34-35)

Why did Jesus first instruct his disciples to take their swords with them and then tell Peter not to use his, on the arresting soldier, the very next day? Certainly, this was not some type of object lesson, as the Watchtower Society and some other religious groups would like to interpret. Rather, swords or weapons, have both an allowable and non allowable use. For instance, as in the above case with Jesus. Those who live by violence to settle personal disputes are not loving their neighbor but are enemies of God.

Apostle Paul's Approval Of
The Governments Use Of The Sword

Apostle Paul, when speaking about human governments, states that they act as "God's minister" to both those who do good and bad. "If you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God's minister." Back in Paul's day, there were no police forces in Israel and Rome, for there solely existed the Roman armies and the Sanhedrin Court, who administered the "sword" to "those who were doing what is bad." The Roman armies would thus engage in individual, group and national disturbances. This of course, included carnal warfare. On the other hand, to live by the rule of using the sword or violence to settle personal disputes, is not in harmony with Christ's teachings. (Romans 13:4; 12:17-21)

"A Time For War, A Time For Peace"
- Proverbs 3:

When it comes to warfare, "Each of us will render an account for himself to God." Wars have different causes and it is up to each individual, himself, to decide whether their conscience permits involvement. Each individual must determine himself what the line is between "living by the sword" and the "superior authorities" "bearing the sword" and if, in each and every case, going to war and killing other people is against Christ's teachings of loving one's neighbor, or if there are any exceptions. However, rather then an entire religious denomination be viewed as blood guilty for condoning warfare, it is "each individual that will render and account himself for his actions." (Romans 14:12)

During World War II, Nazi Germany with Adolph Hitler came very close to global domination and

Complete Pacifism Is Not The Answer

1. When King Saul showed a degree of pacifism by refusing to put ALL the people to death, it was considered a lack of "obedience," holding him responsible by God. 2.When Eli exhibited pacifism by his refusal to punish his two wicked sons, all three of them were held accountable.

Every war is different. WWII for the States, was one of national defense, while the Vietnam and Desert Storm were both of other country intervention.

would have most likely succeeded if it were not for Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States involvement in the war. On the other hand, the war in Iraq with the hostile takeover of the oil wells in Kuwait, is an entirely different type of war. The Vietnam war was also of a completely different nature. Each individual must decide for himself whether this pertains to the governments as "God's minister" that "bears the sword" or "not to live by the sword" to settle disputes. Each one must also decide about involvement in warfare, including the consequences, and will "render and account for himself to God." As King Solomon put it, "For everything there is an appointed time ... for every affair under the sun ... a time to kill and a time to heal ... a time for war and a time for peace (Ecc 3:1,3,8)

For every action there comes responsibility. Pacifism can be both good and bad, both Christian and Un-Christian. When King Saul showed a degree of pacifism by refusing to put ALL the people to death, it was considered a lack of "obedience," holding him responsible by God. When Eli refused to punish his two wicked sons, all three of them were held accountable. Another wards, pacifism can be both serving God and not serving God. For if one government uses the "sword" to stop "those who are doing bad," they are helping the innocent from suffering and acting as "God's minister," however if the same government refuses to use the "sword" on those "doing bad," allowing them to create anarchy, destruction and murder, then they are accountable for their refusal and prevention of the suffering of innocent people. (1 Samuel 15:20-22; 3:12-14)

At the same token if one uses the "sword" settle personal disputes, "he will die by the sword," however if that same persons uses the "sword" as direction from "Gods minister," the "superior authorities," the human governments, for the punishment of those "doing bad," it can be said that this person is either doing God's will, or not going against God's will.

"We Do Not Wage Warfare According To The Flesh"
- 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4

Apostles Paul words at 2 Corinthians 10:3 and 4 state, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage warfare according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning ... reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God ... we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to Christ." Does this relate to carnal warfare? What does the context show? The context of this chapter shows Paul to be speaking about himself not to be using "bold measures against some of the Corinthians who assume his behavior to be dictated by human weakness," "as if he walked according to the flesh." No Paul did not use the "fleshly" way of "boasting, "recommending" and "trusting in himself," using his own "authority" as a "weapon" to "fight his battles against the Corinthians. Here, the Corinthians were saying about Paul, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but his presence in person is weak and his speech contemptible." Still, although Paul walked according to the flesh, he did not use the fleshly warfare of boasting and exercising his authority over others. "For not the one who recommends himself is approved, but the man whom God recommends." Clearly, the context, of 1 Corinthians chapter 10, does not have anything to do with carnal warfare between the nations. To quote this above scripture in support of the wrongness of carnal warfare, is to completely misquote the words out of context. (1 Cor 10)

"Nation Will Not Lift Up Sword Against Nation,
Neither Will They Learn War Anymore" - Isaiah 2

As far as Isaiah chapter 2 and Micah chapter 4, where it speaks of God's servants "beating their

"Nation Will Not Lift Up Sword Against Nation, Neither Will They Learn War Anymore" - Isaiah 2

Just as we neither see, an end to starvation, disease and natural disasters, it is not the time for mankind to see an end to warfare. To preach that pacifism is the only way of holding integrity to God is to misapply prophecies that have not taken place in a divine manner and replace them with man made restrictions.

swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears" and "Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore." These words are obviously future prophecy. Nations are still warring just as they have from the beginning. Starvation, disease and suffering still exist today as from the beginning. Only after God finally steps in at his "appointed time" can the above scriptures have any fulfillment. To claim that any Christians are not in harmony with the above, is to say they are going against a prophecy, not a commandment. Our commandment is to "love one another." In some cases defending a nation against an oppressor can be loving, while in other cases fighting for a nation can be wicked. Each one of us must use our own "perceptive powers to distinguish what is right and wrong" on every individual circumstance. (Hab 2:3; Rev 11:18; Dan 2:44; 12:7)

No Part of This World

Jesus Christ instructed his followers to be "no part of the world." Not to be "taken out of the world" but to be no part of it. Why were they no part of it ? Because Jesus "chose them out of the world" as his disciples and heirs of the kingdom. But how were they to be not part of it ? Was he ruling out all political, economic and social involvement in the present world ? No, he did not state this, but rather warned his followers of the coming persecution they would receive for putting faith in him and following his teachings of faith, mercy and love, including the moral code and preaching to others about the Christ. This is how Jesus followers would be "no part of the world." (John 17:11, 14-19)

This moral decadence and selfishness of the world are precisely what the context of Apostle James words are about in chapter 4, stating that there are many "arguments and fights," coming from the selfish desires of persons, while many "pray but do not receive" what they ask for because they are asking for only their own self pleasures, but as Christians we should be "loyal to God," and pray according to his will, not being a "friend of the world," in pursuit of our self pleasures over the welfare of others, that is hurting others, stepping on them or failing to show kindness to them in order to pursue our pleasures, which makes us "enemies of God," but to imitate Christ, "considering others superior to us" and being humble, "faithful and discreet slaves," "freely forgiving" "all persons, especially those in the faith."

This is the context of James chapter 4 verses 1 to 10, that is, not to put selfish desires first in our lives above showing mercy and kindness to others, as the majority of the people in the world do. To apply verse 4, along with Jesus words of being "no part of the world," as not celebrating various holidays, not saluting the flag and a blanket restriction against all political, economic and social involvement is to put a legalistic external meaning, taking these scriptures completely out of their context as the Watchtower Society does. (James 4:1-10; Matt 25:45-47; Phil 2:1-4; Col 3:13-15; Gal 6:10)

Apostle Paul tells us that we are not "not to use the world to the full" and Apostle John confirms, being "no part of the world" is not to love the "things in the world," and the showy display of them ahead of helping others, wanting things to please our selfish and sinful desires of the flesh over empathy and consideration of others. This is how we are to be "no part of the world" in harmony with Jesus words, not as a blanket condemnation against all or any involvement in the world governments, which act as "God's minister" to "bear the sword to those who do bad." Certainly where governments do wrong, then we "obey God as a ruler, rather then men," but on other issues and involvement there of, it is up to each individual Christian's conscience, being "fully convinced in his own mind," not the mind of a religious organization, slave class or governing body. (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Cor 7:31; Rom 14:5)

Faith In Christ

Access To God's Spirit Within

Those With Faith in Christ Are Those That Can See Him Within Themselves, In Turn, All Others We look deep within and see the universal Spirit, we obtain the ability of "awareness" of God's inner dwelling, this is our "mental strength," "our inner peace that excels all thoughts" and our "power what is beyond normal" giving us a "way out" for survival, while living.

Those Without Faith Look Externally For God, To The Word's of Men and Religious Organizations Seeking the noise of other men, taking the words of men as the Word of God, obtains us a false sense of security. We rely on what we perceive to be the inerrant Word of God, when in turn we fail to find him within our interior silence, never knowing his presence and peace that excels all thoughts with the Shalom and joy of trust. We cannot see God in others when we cannot see Him in ourselves.

God looks for "mercy and not sacrifice." It is only this mercy and loving kindness to others, that truly exhibits the "fruitage of the spirit," not the performance of sacrifices of a person who has faith.

Trust someone, is taking chances. Because we trust this person, we are willing to give them access to areas in our lives that leave us open and vulnerable. We are willing to risk personal loss, because we trust this person always to act in our best interests. This is the trust we must have in God, in order to please him. Not blind faith, or acting foolishly against our common sense and intellect. Not acting on out of our emotions, overriding the power to reason properly, which gives us a clear understanding and not mere intellectualism, which blinds persons. We can not call that faith. But using common sense, listening to God, trusting is his word, the bible (not "slave classes" or governing bodies of men), being willing to act on those words and taking some chances and risk in our lives, this is faith. Because we trust and believe in God to the extent that we will leave ourselves open.

"Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even thought we cannot see it up ahead." - Hebrews 11:1 - Living Bible.

Notice that faith is having total confidence and assurance.

We "must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who see him, for without faith it is impossible to please God." But faith is more than assurance, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."- Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith can be compared to obtaining a title deed to a piece of property. The property is not seen (only the paper), and to those without faith in a piece of paper, it lacks evidence, yet it is the very substance of a binding agreement, the evidence that assures you the property truly belongs to you. You put your trust in this deed.

Faith is not blind, but at the same time it is action performed without total certainty and a without a full understanding. It is willing to take a chance because we trust in God and his caring for us. Only after the action is taken does full understanding take place. As Apostle James puts it,

"Let us keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways." (Heb 11:1, 6; James 1:5)

Hebrews states:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6

Faith is the only way we become conscious of God's holy spirit dwelling inside us, giving us the "power beyond what is normal" to use and open this faith that God supplies. It our doorway of awareness to walk according to the spirit and show agape love, putting mercy ahead of sacrifices. Faith is something we give to God and he gives back to us. No matter how many "works" of sacrifice we perform, it is with faith that enables us to become higher in our consciousness level, to trust in God within us and see Him in all others." (2 Cor 4:7; Heb 10:24-25; 11: ; Gal 6:10

Without Love of Our Fellow Man, There Can Be No True Faith

Without Seeing The Essence of God, Unconditional Love, Within Ourselves, There Can Be No Love of Our Fellow Man (With God's Spirit) 1 John 4; Romans 8:9

Without Both Neither One Is Valid

To have faith is to take action before having complete understanding. It is action taken with a degree of uncertainty. Faith is the substance that we hold on to in place of the promises we are waiting for. The "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrew chapter 11 did not receive their reward, in their lifetime and were willing to leave their places and locations of religious and economic security for the promise of living in the "city with real foundations," "heavenly Jerusalem with myriad's of angels." Yet they had their faith in God in place of it. Their faith acted as the substance of God's promise, although they did not see it and could only hope for, their faith also was all the evidence they needed. (Heb 11; Heb 12:22; 9:24)

Having trust in God, we are not supposed to let worries overwhelm us. Were told that if we truly "seek the kingdom first," with our faith, which to trust God living deep within us, enables us to show acts of mercy, above sacrifice to our fellow man, as we gain an inner knowing of God's presence, a letting go of our worries to God. We obtain a "peace that excels all thoughts" and the "strength" of his spirit to deal with the hardships we face, a mental strength to endure. We use his Spirit within us in internal prayer to maintain and grow, abound in life, progressively moving forward towards our humble desires. This is why Jesus repeatedly told his disciples to have faith, overcoming anxiety.

The major step, and apparently the only step to really find God, is to discover his silent presence within us, his force that enables all life to exist. With this, a revealing of truth occurs, faith is strengthened, trust is formed, resulting in awareness of interior love and perceiving it in others. The "Spirit bears witness with ours," confirms our faith as one of "God's children," he lives in us, intimately connecting in mysterious ambiguity, supplying a subtle, yet knowing "comfort," "a power what is beyond normal" something supernatural, beyond human explanation. Through solitude, prayer meditation, an inner humble desire to quietly listen, are key ways to make room in inside, allowing our awareness to strengthen in the darkness of our faith. Faith, trust and humble willingness is our doorway to the Spiritual realm, allowing ourselves to find God's Spirit to work on our hearts. Both external and internal noise distract us, as we move to cease adequate degrees of activity, as we move slowly into quiet areas of our interior. our trust and faith in knowing right here and now, we have a place in with God prepared for us, as a "kingdom that can't be shaken." (Romans 8: Galatians 4:5-7; Luke 4:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6-8; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:28)

Faith is our trust in being non-separate with God, removing our conditioned teachings on being sinners, separated from God. knowing, realizing, becoming aware in assurance that we are worthy creations of God, his sons and daughters, part of His family, We are his royal priesthood and special people, his possession. We know in trustworthy faith, that we are not alone, nor are we separated from God or His divine and indwelling Holy Spirit. We can find no fear here, as "there is no fear in love." knowing in he lives in all living things, in us and reflects all that is beneficial, wisdom and love. When we adopt a stance of unconditional love, we automatically abandon fear. In the absence of fear, in the presence of God's unconditional love, we find the solution to the mystery of manifestation. Once we truly know that we are not separate or alone, fear is replaced by unconditional love and we have gained access to the Holy Spirit. Our awareness is our faith, our knowing and realization.

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer describes faith as patiently detaching ourselves from the outcome, trusting in God's Spirit, the universal intelligence to manifest our desires.

"This provocative line is from A Course in Miracles: 'Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait and without anxiety.' This is the mainstay of infinite patience. The notion of certainty and patience go together. When you trust and know that you are connected to that universal, all-providing intelligence, then you simply allow yourself the virtue of patience. You place no time constraints on your manifestation and you go about the affairs of your life with an inner awareness that says, 'I've got all the time that I need and I am certain of the outcome, as I will allow it to show up as it will, in due time. The secret to being patient is in the certainty of the outcome. When that certainty is manifested in you in the form of trust and a knowing, you can then turn your thoughts away from the desired outcome. Without anger of anxiety you are able to turn your attention to whatever it is that occupies your daily life schedule. Your knowing and your infinite patience put you at ease. You have practiced all of the principles of spiritual manifestation, and then you have allowed the universe, God's Holy Spirit, to handle the details. Your inner sense is that what you want to manifest is already here, and your inner attention is on the feeling of well-being that you are already blessed with what it is you seek. Consequently there is no pressure for you to make it show up immediately. The inner bliss is a a function of the power of your infinite patience. Later on in A Course of Miracles, we are reminded that "Patience is natural to the teacher of God. All he sees is certain outcome, at a time perhaps unknown to him as yet, but not in doubt." I love this idea of having a certainty about the outcome and being unconcerned about the details. When we become impatient, we literally devalue ourselves and our connection to the divine Holy Spirit. Impatience is a failure to trust in the universal intelligence, and it implies that we are separate from the all providing Spirit. Impatience implies that our ego is the boss of desire. This form of self-importance needs to be addressed. When you are certain about the outcome, and unconcerned with the how and when, you have cultivated the power of infinite patience, and simultaneously you have detached yourself from the outcome. When this detachment takes place, you are able to go about your daily business of raising your children, doing your work or training, meditating and communing with God and just patiently observing. Patience is natural when you trust in the oneness of the universal intelligence (of God). One of the ways to develop patience is to contemplate how patient God has been with you. When you were in times of denial, or self-abuse, or self-absorption, or hatred, God was infinitely patient. God does not scold or punish you when you are off the sacred path, nor does God desert you. This is the same kind of patience that you want to develop. Infinite patience is a sign of trust (faith), and it calls upon infinite love to produce results in your life. When you let go of impatience, you are aligned with the God force (Holy Spirit), and all of the anxiety that tells you what is lacking and missing in you life is gone. Anxiety produces fear and self-pity and attaches you to time. When fear based impatience takes over, you lose you infinite self and become once again subject to the ego, which has no patience with anything about infinitude. (5a)

Beyond Literal Doctrine In God's Unconditional Love

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; Not my will, but let your will be done." Luke 22:42

On the surface it appears God's Will is separate from Jesus. Yet Jesus also stated:

"I an the Father are one." John 1:30

To be in "one" with God we are the same in wills, when we use our free wills with unconditional love towards others. It is our egos that try to separate ourselves from God. The will of God's is always ours when we live a life of unconditional love, free from hate and violence, free from judging others, uncontrolled, and voluntary. Wayne W. Dyer relates:

"What has come to be referred to as "the will of God" is an invention of man to gain control over others. If you are convinced that there is a God's will that is separate from you, then those who claim they know God's will can dominate and control you. If you adopt this belief system, then you fall into the trap of "his will versus my will." You want to do certain things, but the "will of God" dictates otherwise. Unconditional love and becoming a co-creator in your life is possible when you know that God is not separate from you. You and God are one and the same.

"I pray also for those who will believe in me, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." John 17:21-22

In the New Testament Jesus says to the multitudes,

"I have said you are gods," John 10:34

And later,

"When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me he sees the one who sent me." John 12:44 What it means to be in a state of oneness is that you know the unconditional love that God has for all of creation is also the unconditional love that can be you, if you make the choice. Your free will is your freedom to embrace any thought that you desire. This free will is your gift from God. Use this free will in a spirit of love that has no conditions imposed on it. The love that God has for you is without condition. There is no restriction or censorship placed on this love granted to you by the divine creator. You have complete freedom to do as you will, for your will (not you ego), and God's will are one and the same. You have the freedom to choose your thoughts within this grand scheme of unconditional love. (8)

The majority of Christian religious groups enforce the condition of doctrine, dogmas, creeds and tradtions in order to be in "one" with God and receive His outpouring of Spirit, enforcing requirements and conditions on God's unconditional love and Spirit.

"No one can come to the Father, except through me." John 14:6

Yet how can this be if God's love is unconditional? Paradoxically, going through Christ to get to the Father cannot be doctrine in itself, but in both His and our unconditional love and allowance of free will towards all others. To be unconditional love, there cannot be restrictive judgments and requirements placed outside of our own unconditional love, with our total use of free wills to choose unconditional love, bringing us joy and inner peace. This is precisely why Jesus stated that anyone who sins against Him, by failing to put faith in the doctrine of Him, is forgiven. Christ is about the opening of doors, Inclusiveness is the only anwwer to unconditional love. No one is exempt from God.This is why St. Paul tells us, not doctrine but "love is the laws fulfillment."

"All things will be forgiven men, no matter what sins and blasphemies they blasphemously commit." "For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him." Mark 3:28-29

Dyer continues:

"If it is the same as God's love for you, then you are living unconditional oneness. If you place restrictions on that love, or withhold it dependent on your judgments and hatreds, then you make it a conditional love and remove yourself from the possibility of co-creating with God. You are in conflict with the divine essence that is God. This conflicted state is nothing more than the imposition of conditions on your ability to love. Suppose that God decided to withdraw his unconditional love from you and the world and conditions were placed upon everything. (This would include the condition of a faith in doctrines and theological teachings). In this kind of world the people in it would have to function without freedom of thought and expression. The entire cosmos would collapse in an instant. Life flows with the freedom of unconditional love. This is the very essence of life. No deity demands that you think a certain way or you will be cursed and destroyed. In our world we have unconditional freedom for our thoughts to be what they are. That is how you are loved. That is your gift from the divine creator, expressed through your individuality. Take that freedom away and you are not longer a human being. You lose your humanity when you lose the unconditional love that allows you to think as you choose. Now suppose that you are able to function in the same unconditionally loving way simply allowing yourself to be without judgment. What if you have no hatred and only extend the freedom to choose to others? You would be experiencing what is called "oneness." Your will and God's will would not be in conflict. The conflicts that you experience are from the ego. Your ego is the idea you carry around of your separateness from God and all of God's creations. This ego needs to be reminded of its superiority over others. Thus conflict is created. But you do not have to participate in this folly. Your highest self only wants peace and is unconditional love. Use this love for the purpose of co-creation. Every moment that you create by radiating unconditionally loving thoughts is a reflection of the same love that was responsible for your creation. Creating (or manifesting) is the act of bringing unconditional love from within your being into a form that we call the world of the concrete. In this sense, then, unconditional love can be thought of as the power to participate in the act of co-creation." (8) Parenthesis added.

Persons Who Lack Faith In Christ, But Are Living in Harmony With The Law of Christ: "are a law to themselves, as their conscience bears witness with them between their own thoughts accusing or even excusing."

Does God Differentiate Between The Ignorant And The Evil? He Must, This is Unconditional Love, Inclusivness. Ingnorance is our attempt to look external for the things within, to seek the noise of activity over the peace of our silence, the forgiveness that resides beyond the surface.

Romans chapter 2 and chapter 8

STAGE I:	Chaotic, antisocial. Frequently pretenders; they pretend they are loving and pious, covering up their lack of principles. Although they may pretend to be loving (and think of themselves that way), their relationships with their fellow human beings are all essentially manipulative and self-serving. They really don't give a hoot about anyone else. I call the stage chaotic because these people are basically unprincipled. Being unprincipled, there is nothing that governs them except their own will. And since the will from moment to moment can go this way or that, there is a lack of integrity to their being. They often end up, therefore in jails or find themselves in another form of social difficulty. Some, however, may be quite disciplined in the services of expediency and their own ambition and so may rise in positions of considerable prestige and power, even to become presidents or influential preachers.
STAGE II:	Formal, institutional, fundamental, beginning the work of submitting themselves to principle-the law. but they do not yet understand the spirit of the law, consequently they are legalistic, parochial, and dogmatic. They are threatened by anyone who thinks differently from them, and so regard it as their responsibility to convert or save the other 90 or 99 percent of humanity who are not "true believers." They are religious for clear cut answers, with the security of a big daddy God and organization, to escape their fear of living in the mystery of life, living in the uncertainty of the unknown.
STAGE III:	Skeptic, individual, questioner, including atheists, agnostics and those scientifically minded who demand a measurable, well researched and logical explanation. A phase of questioning, is analogous to the crucial stage of emptiness in community formation. In reaching for community the members of a group must question themselves. Despite being scientifically minded, in many cases even atheists, they are on a higher spiritual level than Stage II, being a required stage of growth to enter into Stage IV. The churches age old dilemma: how to bring people from Stage II to Stage IV, without allowing them to enter Stage III.
STAGE IV:	Mystic, communal. Out of love and commitment to the whole, using their ability to transcend their backgrounds, culture and limitations with all others, reaching toward the notion of world community and the possibility of either transcending culture or -- depending on which way you want to use the words -- belonging to a planetary culture. They are religious, not looking for clear cut, proto type answers, but desiring to enter into the mystery of uncertainty, living in the unknown. The Christian mystic, as with all other mystics, through contemplation, meditation, reflection and prayer, see the Christ, Gods indwelling Spirit, in all people, including all the Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and so forth, recognizing the connectedness of all humanity with God, never separating himself from others with doctrine -- the words of fallible men who experienced God and attempted to record their experience in human words, words that became compromised the moment they were penned under the limitations of fallible men who wrote them, and we, fallible men and women who read them.

What about the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew and millions of others? It is true, they do not put faith in the theological doctrines that embrace Christ and the religion of Christianity. There is a rejection of the literal text, written by men who saw God in Christ. Yet many cease to be fundamental in their own theological teachings and philosophies, allowing them to unknowingly follow the "law of Christ," in turn, living in harmony with the Spirit of the law, the Spirit that goes beyond letter and lives in the hearts of all men. Even so, the gospels writers interpretive sayings of Jesus, include his words of forgiveness to those who reject him. (Mark 3:28-29; Matt 12:31-32)

"For Example, Whoever Speaks a Word Against The Son of Man, It Will Be Forgiven him . . ." (Mark 3:28-29; Matt 12:31-32)                 Unlike The True Meaning Of The Christ, The Watchtower Believes Only Jehovah's Witnesses Are God's People, And All Other Religions Are From Satan The Devil. Many Other Churches Also Put Doctrinal Theology Above "The Love Of Christ," And Teach That All Persons In Non-Christian Religions Will Not Be Not Saved. (Eph 3:19)

In Luke, he writes his story of Jesus in chapter 9:24 as stating, "Whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake is the one that will save it." History shows many persons were willing to suffer, die and "lose their soul" for loyally following Christ. But what many considered following him, were instead following literal intepretaiions, church dogmas and loyality to group conformity which in the end, cost them their lives. The "love of Christ surpasses knowledge" and "is above all human understanding." Sacrifice is worthless compared to mercy. For God takes delight in loving kindness and not in whole burnt offerings," this love coming from experience of God, not explanation. No human words can capture, nor doctrine, dogmas and creeds contain the spiritual language of God that far surpasses bible literalism. (1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:3; Hosea 6:6; Eph 3:19)

If a person is unknowingly following a law or code because his moral "conscience" tells him to do so, is he not still a follower? Apparently Apostle Paul implied so, as he stated "For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people although not having law, are a law to themselves. The are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts , while their conscience is bearing witness with them and , between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused." So the "people of the nations" were "both accused and excused" by the Mosaic law for what was "written in their hearts" even though they did not specifically follow or have

Those being "accused or excused" by God: As Paul separates the ignorant from the evil. Their conscience is what bears witness and God alone will be the judge. "For whenever people of the nations that do not have the law (of Christ), do by nature the things of the law, these people although not having law, are a law to themselves. The are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts , while their conscience is bearing witness with them and , between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused." Romans 2:14-15

"Circumcision of the body is a good thing if you obey the law. But if you break the law, you are like a man who has not been circumcised with this mark of the Jew. So if a man who has not been circumcised obeys the law, will he not be like a man who has been circumcised? Some people have not been circumcised, but they obey the law. They will show that you should be punished. You have the written law and you have been circumcised, and yet you break the law. If a person is a Jew only on the outside, he is not really a Jew. And true circumcision is not something that is done on the outside of the body. If a person is a Jew inside, he is really a Jew. It is God who praises him, not people. True circumcision is done in the heart. It is in the spirit, not in the body. Such people are not praised; but God praises them. Romans 2:25-29

doctrinal knowledge of the Mosaic law code. This same principle can also be applied to "the law of Christ" that is "written on hearts," and those that do not externally know the law of Christ and neither have "faith in Christ" or the doctrinal knowledge of Christ and the bible, but internally "do by nature the things of the law of Christ ... they demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts ... and are being accused or even excused." (1 John 4:2-3; 5:11; James 1:20; Jer 31:31-33: Romans 2:14-15, 28-29; Romans 8; 1 Cor 9:21)

When a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto and others, both do not have or even reject the doctrinal knowledge of the Bible, but "do by nature the things of the law of Christ," they are unknowingly " following the law of Christ" and are therefore having their own consciences "accusing or excusing," them, which in turn will be judged by God. They are not fundammental followers of Christ, bible literalists who put law and sacrifice above the law of love, the letter above the spirit, it is the life of justice, honor, love and above all mercy that determines our outcome and recognition of Christ, never our obedience to theology and religious teachings. Ii is our seeing Christ in both in ourselves and others, that aligns us in agreement with the law of Christ, differentiating between ignorance and evil. God dwells within all men, Jew, Christian, Hindu and Muslim alike, our fruitage there of determines our willingness to see the Christ in both ourselves and others. Living a life of love, is the law of Christ putting human consciences in agreement with God's will, which although being our own that is doing "excusing," God will be the judge, as we "have the law of Christ written on our hearts." This is reflecting God.

The human conscience that is united with the Holy Spirit can be described as Thomas Merton explains,

"The whole function of the life of prayer is, then, to enlighten and strengthen our conscience so that we not only know and perceive the outward, written, precepts of the moral and divine laws, but above all lives God's law in concrete reality by perfect and continual union with His will. The conscience that is united to the Holy Spirit by faith, hope, and selfless charity becomes a mirror of God's own interior law which is His charity. It becomes perfectly free. It becomes its own law because it is completely subject to the will of God and to His Spirit. In the perfection of its obedience it "tastes and sees that the Lord is sweet," and knows the meaning of St. Paul's statement that the "law is not made for just one man." (1 Timothy 1:9)(6)

But the conscience that does academically know of God's Spirit to be guiding it tends to seek its instinctiveness of right and wrong, and search for spiritual meaning of the inward sense of morality. Merton further comments on our natural human conscience we are born with,

"We do not have to create a conscience for ourselves. We are born with one, and no matter how much we may ignore it, we cannot silence its insistent demand that we do good and avoid evil. No matter how much we may deny our freedom and our marl responsibility, our intellectual soul cries out for a morality and a spiritual freedom without which it knows it cannot be happy. The first duty of every man is to seek the enlightenment and discipline without which his conscience cannot solve the problems of life. And on of the first duties of society to the men who compose it is to enable them to receive the spiritual formation they need in order to live by the light of a prudent and mature conscience. I say "spiritual" and not merely "religious," for religious formation is sometimes no more than an outward formality, and therefore it is not really religious, nor is it a "formation" of the soul."(6) "Conscience is the indication of hidden things, of imperceptible acts and tendencies that are much more important than itself. It is the mirror of a man's depths. The reality of a person is a deep and hidden thing, buried not only in the invisible recesses of man's own metaphysical secrecy but in the secrecy of God Himself. Conscience is the face of the soul. Its changing expressions manifest more precisely the moral action of the soul than the changes of man's countenance manifest the emotions within him. Even the outward face of man is only a reflection of his conscience. true, only a very little of what is in a man's soul ever shines out in his face: but the little that is there is enough to speak eloquently of the conscience within.' (6a)

The Gospels write that those who sin against Christ, will be forgiven.

Jesus words in Mark 3:28-29 and Matt 12:31-32:

"All things will be forgiven men, no matter what sins and blasphemies they blasphemously commit." "For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him."

This can include persons who do not confess faith in Jesus on a doctrinal level, but are showing "love to their fellowman" thus being "forgiven" and "excused" with a second opportunity to put faith in him at a later time, when he is revealed. Jesus then further states:

"However, whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever, but is guilty of everlasting sin."

However, it is with God's Spirit in us that we love those who are united to us in Christ. The more plentifully we have received of the Spirit of Christ, the more perfectly we are able to love them; and the more we love them the more we receive of the Spirit. It is clear, however, that since we love them by the Spirit Who is given to us by Jesus, it is Jesus Himself Who loves them in us. (7)

People who do not show love, but show hatred, greediness, wickedness and selfishness on a continual basis, neither have the law of Christ on their hearts and cease to confess Jesus, in accordance with the "will of God," nor "exercise faith" in him, despite their doctrinal confession of Christ and loyal religious service, therefore guilty of Marks interpretation of "blaspheming against the holy spirit and everlasting sin." But those with faith and those ignorant within love show to have the law of Christ written on their hearts are are forgiven. (1 John 4:1-3; Mark 3:28-29; Matt 12:31-32; Romans 13:8; Matt 7:21)

"Treat Other People Exactly As You Would Like To Be Treated by them - This Is The Essence Of All True Religion." - Matt 7:12 Phillips Modern Translation According To The Context, This Is What "Walking Through The Narrow Gate And Hard Road To Life" Is. Nothing More And Nothing Less. - Matt 7:1-14

Paul writes in Romans chapter 2:

"Circumcision is of no value if you break the law. So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision ?" Another wards it is what is written inwardly on the heart that determines a man's outcome with God, not the outwardly or external formality of obeying his laws. "For the real Jew is not one who is outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical." Rather "The real Jew is one who is inwardly and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is from God and not men." (Romans 2:25-29)

Paul words on circumcision appear to convey that verbal affirmation of Christ along with his teachings are merely external and outwardly. The real Christian is not one who is outwardly, nor is having detailed knowledge of scripture. Rather, the real Christian is one who both has faith in Christ and inwardly exercises obedience (love of God and neighbor) internally from the heart.

What is God asking back from us? Rules, regulations? No, for external rules written down are

The Conclusion of The Matter

"For he that loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law" -Romans 13:8

the "minding of the flesh, which means death," while the internal rules of love, written on hearts are the "minding of the spirit, which means life and peace." Not organizational policies, rules and regulations but faith in Christ, who lives within us, "to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God." "For love is the law's fulfillment."

As King Solomon put it:

"The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man."

What are his commandments? It is as Apostle John states:

"This is his commandment, that we:

(1) have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and;

(2) be loving one another."

And it is by observing this commandment of "love," that we "gain the knowledge that we are in union with him." "For the entire Law stands fulfilled in one saying, namely: You must love your neighbor as yourself." (1 John 3:11,23-24)

(Micah 6:8; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; Romans 8:6-11; 13:10; Ecc 12:13)

Summary

According to Christian theology, having trust in God and faith in Jesus as the Christ and Lord and Savior, we need

	We Can Obey Law But Not Walk In The Spirit,
	"Not everyone who (has faith in me and) calls me their LORD will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only the ones who (put faith in me and show agape love toward their fellow man) obey my Father in heaven will get in. On the day of judgment many will call me their LORD. They will say, "We preached in your name, and in your name we forced out demons and worked many miracles." But I will tell them, "I will have nothing to do with you! Get out of my sight, you evil people!"
	Matt 7:21-23 (Words in Brackets Added)

not worry. If we truly "seek the kingdom first," with faith in Christ, along with acts of mercy, not sacrifice, putting trust in God, we are promised that he will watch over us. He will not pay our bills, cure us of illness, nor prevent the physical and mental abuse others do to us, nor feed us physical food, but what he will do, is give us the "power beyond what is normal," a "peace that excels all thoughts" and the "strength" of his spirit to deal with the hardships we face, a mental strength to endure, "not letting us be tempted more than we can bear." It is only with faith in Christ that we can please God to receive this strength, however, despite having this, our personal salvation does not rest on our faith in Christ alone without our living in accord with the spirit he supplies us. We are under the obligation to love our fellow man with mercy and forgiveness. Nor do those without faith in Christ who live a life of love according to the law of Christ, despite being works of the flesh, receive death or punishment. Rather, our salvation is obtained on two factors. Our faith and reliance on Christ and his plans for both us and the world and second, our life actions pertaining to the Christ, the agape love we show to our fellow man. It is only these things that will determine our standing with God, for this is the "will of God" and the true meaning of the Christ. (Matt 7:21-23)

Life itself is a test. The test of knowing God is about our faith and how we treat our fellow man, not about what doctrines we profess or knowledge we obtain or works of sacrifice that we perform. Rather our test is our perception of God within us and all others, with our mercy, kindness, empathy, compassion and forgiveness towards our fellow man. This is the true meaning of the Christ. Beyond words of men, behind fundamental clear cut answers. We enter in the mystery of the living spirit, alive in agreement to "love one another," extending our own personal grace and forgiveness to our fellow man, fall short, yet always progresive in our forward movement to forgive and grow in agape charity. Many persons do not care, forgive, letting their own selfish pursuits come before everyone and everything else in their lives. While others, under the same selfish inclinations of the ego, recognize this and are constantly adjusting themselves, consciously making a continual effort to put their selfish tendencies away and put the forgiveness and consideration of others in the forefront.

Footnotes: 1 David Roper - Discovery House Publishers, Elijah, a man like us, p. 107 1a Thomas Merton, Harvest Books, No Man Is An Island, p. 85 1b Ibid - pp. 86-87 1c Ibid - pp. 6-7 2 John W. Frye - Zondervan Publishing House, Jesus The Pastor, p. 136 2a Thomas Merton, Harvest Book, No Man Is An Island, pp. 52-53 2b Ibid - p. 230 3 Surprised By The Holy Spirit - Jack Deere 3a Tom Hovestol, Moody Press, Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees Extreme Righteousness, p. 65 - 3b Charles Swindoll, Growing Deep In Christian Life, p. 31 3c  John White, The Fight, p. 55 4 Watchman Nee, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, The Normal Christian Life, page 233 5 Peter J. Gomes, , Avon Books, The Good Book, p. 306 5a Thomas Merton, Harvest Books, No Man Is An Island, p. 61 6 Ibid - pp. 41-42 6a Ibid - pp. 30-31 7 Ibid - p.177 8 Wayne W. Dyer, Manifest Your Destiny, p. 125-127 9 Ibid - p.169-171

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