Before
I get into the next passages in which we find the kingdom of God
mentioned I must for the sake of continuity start in the preceding
chapter to get to full flow of meaning, for our understanding of all
things now being spiritual, no longer hanging on or hinged to the
earthy as the men of Religion teach and proclaim. Because all Natural
man wants to command, decree and declare to bring about the earthy
things of mans desires. Which includes and is not limited to all
things natural and of the material world which we have learned are
temporary and in a perpetual state of decay and corruption. To this
Jesus said that we are to seek first God's righteousness which
exceeds that of the Religious men of Israel and then the kingdom
rule of heaven and of God. To accomplish this requires our
learning of Him as stated in Matthew 11:25-30. I know that I have
stated this before but to learn Christ is a progressive revelation
from Genesis through the end of Revelation, just as my postings in
these two blogs are progressive, where each builds upon the one
before it. I am not a great orator nor am I a good English
compositional kind of person and therefore my arrangement of
sentences and thoughts maybe lacking correctness neither am I a good
speller of our words, for this I wish your pardon. I in my ignorance
seek to be spiritual in all things because of the change of my own
nature by way of death to the natural man and indeed the perpetual
death to my flesh and mind keeping them under to the surrender of
them to God daily and His divine kingdom rule at all times.
Have you taken note that the word law here is not capitalized signifying the Jewish Law 's of commandments given by Moses? Why? Because this law is not of that Law but is purely spiritual in that is is of Love and Faith restored to mans heart in the character and ontological essence of Christ's own Spirit in Elohim the Holy Spirit. Who makes us heirs of God as we shall see shortly.
Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service to them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereto you desire again to be in bondage (here Paul is revealing the bondage of mans Religion, the false understanding of God's secrets which are contained in both John the Baptist's and Jesus' warning which I will reveal later)? You observe days, and months, and times, and years.
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as you are: you have not injured me at all. You know how through the infirmity of the flesh I preached this gospel to you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised me not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness you speak of? for I bear you record, that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
They zealously affect you, but not (commendably) well; yes, they would exclude you, that you might affect (seek) them. But it is good to be zealously (eagerly) affected (sought) always in a good thing (commendable manor), and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (Philippians 1:6, 10, 2:16, 2Peter 1:19, 1John 4:2-3) I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt (perplexed about) of you.
Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bond-maid, the other by a free-woman. But he of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman by promise (these are two opposing evils, one of religion and the other of God's kingdom). Which things are an allegory* (similitude, or parable): for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children (in religious performance). But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all (in a personal relationship restored within us which is God's doing by promise). For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that bear not; break forth and cry, you that travail not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband (the secret hidden in the Passover as covenant entry). Now we, are as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what say the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son (Religion): for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman. So then, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Religion with it's many ordinances, customs, traditions and rituals of its own making).
*Webster's
1828 Dictionary reveals this about the word allegory:
A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the
principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in
its properties and circumstances. The principal subject is thus kept
out of view, and we are left to collect the intentions of the writer
or speaker, by the resemblance of the secondary to the primary
subject. Allegory is in words that hieroglyphics are in painting. We
have a fine example of an allegory in the eightieth Psalm, in which
God's chosen people are represented by a vineyard. The distinction in
scripture between a parable and an allegory, is said to be that a
parable is a supposed history, and an allegory, a figurative
description of real facts. An allegory is called a continued
metaphor.
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