The Grace of God as Understood by the First Church
Sep 22, 2016
Yesterday, we spoke about man as a simple structure capable of personal observation and correction. If man’s functionality was limited solely to these four psychophysiological systems, he would be no more than another intelligent primate–a miracle of organic evolution, but soulless.
However, unlike other mammals and primates, mankind has been given a rare and most precious gift, a gift provided by Nature (the physical) and by God (the aphysical). This gift allows a man or woman to choose to progress beyond the limits of organic evolution. This gift provides man an opportunity so to serve a high purpose in the universe. To live for something more than mundane survival and procreation. Accepting and using this gift provides a man or woman with the opportunity to awaken into the upper world and become a Cosmically Significant Being working under the Divine for the benefit of Creation and its End-Point.
Like all gifts, this gift is offered freely to every man and woman. The Original Church teaches that this gift, the choice to remain as another primate or to become objectively conscious in life, is the true substance, the meat and not the pabulum, underlying the phrase “the Grace of God.”
The misunderstanding of the phrase “the Grace of God,” as commonly used in the lower churches of man, that God Himself dooms some and elevates others, is truly a travesty of God’s Undying Love for all of us. It fills my heart with a great sadness.
However, like all gifts given in love and generosity, the giver understands that the receiver possesses an inalienable right to ignore, reject, or accept such gift. No one is forced under threat or duress to ignore, reject, or accept. The receiver must make his or her own choice.
Most men and women choose not to accept God’s Grace and the opportunity for working towards permanence and significance. They are content with their lot in life. They desire no more than what comes from the organic desires of mankind–food, shelter, wealth, fame, or power.
Interestingly, most people remain unaware of being in the presence of an awakened or actualized human being. Such moments in time and space are small gifts to mankind and generally wasted.
However, once in awhile, a teacher comes across a student whose heart is naturally open to higher influences and is ready for spiritual direction. For a true teacher, one open heart makes up for a thousand cold ones. Whenever this happens, God’s Plan may move ahead, one person at a time.
Choosing to enter the spiritual path is the easy part of the Divine Gift of Grace. Pursuing it, undauntedly, valiantly, and with full perseverance, is the difficulty, as ones life never becomes easier, as conscious evolution is an impossible task for a human being which must be finished! It is truly a ‘do or die’ situation.
The Ancients have given us a truism, “Happy is the person who desires not a soul for his or her life is mostly tolerable. Happy is the person in possession of a conscious soul for he or she is liberated from the mundane and works for God. Sad and hurt is the person working so to finalize a soul for his or her life is the most miserable and painful of all.”
Whenever, a seeker honestly accepts the Grace of God, the Divine-Heart begins to work upon his or her human heart and the emotive self. In a sense, Grace opens the valve connecting the two hearts so that conscience can begin working on via Nature’s evolutionary gift of biological altruism (seen in most higher animals). The excitation of our biologically-derived altruistic tendency places us in direct conflict with our biologically-derived desires for our personal survival and enjoyment at the expense of others.
In other words, the Divine-Heart accentuates the low grade (and usually ignored ) war already existing between ones angel of light (altruism and compassion) and his or her angel of dark (hoarding and self-aggrandizement). This war was bequeathed to each of us by our evolutionary history, both organic and social. It is not to be interpreted as a war between the upper and lower worlds, rather it is a war being conducted upon the intermediate and lower worlds. If the angel of dark wins, you perish in the streets and alleys of some city. If the angel of light wins, you are closer to eternal life and service to God. Entering onto the Path comes with no guarantees.
This war can only be won by committing yourself to each and every battle. Committing means working relentlessly, and sometimes without hope, so to understand the four hypothetical selves composing your apparent existence. Learning how to bring these four horsemen together so to move your coach continuously ahead. Explaining how each is to function and cooperate with the others.
How? By agreeing to abide by some very simple, but difficult rules of engagement. Such rules will be introduced as we proceed. Theory is most important at the moment. Firstly, one needs to learn to feel present in the moment so to see what his or her creature is doing. Secondly, one needs to learn how to feel present and associated with his or her true I (the feeling of I AM).
Tomorrow, we discuss the Path of Good Works or Conscious Doing.
Scriptural Concurrences:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Romans 12:3 [ Serve God with Spiritual Gifts ] For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
Ephesians 3:7of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;