First Things

Are you a human having a spiritual experience, or, a spiritual being having a human experience? Take a moment to consider this because it affects in a number of ways how you relate to your life experiences. In the mystical writings of the fourth gospel, Jesus makes a similar claim to Rabbi Nic:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Joh 3:6)

Notice the absolute nature depicted in this claim. There are two distinct beings, flesh and spirit. According to this claim they are separate; however, what is not divulged is what the prior verse proclaims:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (Joh 3:5)

These two verses are the follow up to the response Jesus made to Rabbi Nic when asked how it was that Jesus was able to perform the miracles he accomplished. What was his initial response?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Joh 3:3)

Now I know that many of you have never encountered this interpretation which is precisely what “born again” means. Yet the proper understanding of this is what is leading us towards the answer to the opening question. There is one more verse I wish to employ in this matter from the opening to the letter addressed to the gatherings in Ephesus.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph 1:3-4)

There are many people who have been told down through the ages how mankind is a corrupted being unworthy of being in the presence of the living God. These people have been conditioned to believe how their spirit is dead from this corruption causing their soul, the flesh or animal nature, to be the driving force behind all their wicked acts. It isn’t until a person repents from all their wicked ways and confesses that Jesus is the Lord of their life, will they then be filled by Holy Spirit, who will permanently reside within them, allowing them to enter again into the presence of God. This occupation by Holy Spirit does not signify that the human spirit has been revived to life, but due to the death of the human spirit, Holy Spirit has a fresh vessel to inhabit.

This narrative, and derivatives of it, focus on humanity first. The human is the premier being on this planet and holds the position in all undertakings, good or bad. When the “bad” becomes unbearable, a cry for relief activates a spiritual response. In this scenario, humans have a spiritual experience, through the grace of God, to aid them in their life cycle. Entire denominations are structured according to this belief and to believe otherwise places that understanding as heretical, a term which simply means, “a different belief from what is classified as orthodox.”

The heretical viewpoint

According to the Ephesian letter, we (whatever that means) were in Christ (again, whatever that means) before the foundation of the world. This place where we resided first is a spiritual world, plane, region, consciousness, or whatever term you wish to employ which describes something not biologically natural. In this environment, the kingdom of grace, we are in the presence of God, who is also known as Love, held blameless. We move and function in this setting without corrupt-ability, immersed and showered in love. This is the field, the realm, or the spiritual condition we were born into. When Jesus claims we are born from above, this is what he is referencing towards. Spirit is spirit.

All of mankind has been, is now, and forever will be an amalgamation of the natural biological processes of an earthly being and a spiritual being living in love. “…born of water and spirit…” is the description of this union. The human embryo, womb-wrapped, immersed in the nutrient rich amniotic fluid expelled at birth, is implanted with a love-possessed spiritual identity which each person will carry throughout their entire life cycle. Nothing is capable of breaking this spiritual bond of love, ever.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Joh 3:16)

Jesus, is the only begotten human son of God according to orthodoxy. The rest of us…we’re the world, loved by God, in Christ found blameless; the perfect union of flesh and spirit just as it has always been and forever will be. To think otherwise would be called heretical. As a good friend of mine was fond of saying, “You’re are greatly loved by God and there isn’t a dag-gummed thing you can do to screw it up.” You are after all, a spiritual being having a…