Essential Goal of Christianity???

[Dedicated Mind]

aquila, i agree with everything you said. the only difference i am detecting between what you say and what i have learned from hinduism, christian science, new age and historical christian mysticism is what is called "unity consciousness". basically the "i" that is me is the "that" that is god, universal spirit, conscousness, law etc. my understanding is that god is impersonal and is all the life there is. so when you say to love god and express that love by loving others. i am sensing a duality between god and others, when in unity consciousness, god is all there is. so in my thinking, to love others is to love god. of course we can commune, pray and worship jesus christ as the manifestation of the logos, the person of god.

another issue is that when you mention "walk in the spirit" etc, i interpret "spirit" to be sacrificial, selfless love. so spirit and love in the bible are synonymous in my mind.

what do you think about these issues?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

aquila, i agree with everything you said. the only difference i am detecting between what you say and what i have learned from hinduism, christian science, new age and historical christian mysticism is what is called "unity consciousness". basically the "i" that is me is the "that" that is god, universal spirit, conscousness, law etc. my understanding is that god is impersonal and is all the life there is. so when you say to love god and express that love by loving others. i am sensing a duality between god and others, when in unity consciousness, god is all there is. so in my thinking, to love others is to love god. of course we can commune, pray and worship jesus christ as the manifestation of the logos, the person of god.

another issue is that when you mention "walk in the spirit" etc, i interpret "spirit" to be sacrificial, selfless love. so spirit and love in the bible are synonymous in my mind.

what do you think about these issues?

My take may be a little more metaphysical. Spiritual intimacy through a literal spiritual union with God, through Christ. Loving others as they are expressions of God. Literally manifesting "Jesus" in you. Becoming "Christ". Living incarnationally.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Aquila

My take may be a little more metaphysical. Spiritual intimacy through a literal spiritual union with God, through Christ. Loving others as they are expressions of God. Literally manifesting "Jesus" in you. Becoming "Christ". Living incarnationally.

:loving others as they are expressions of god" is exactly what i mean by unity consciousness. i don't see how that is similar to literal union with christ when first, not everyone is christian or spirit filled, so how can they be expressions of god. secondly, through the hg, the nature of christ is a seed in our natue, so we partake of divine nature, but i don't see how that is similar to literal union with christ when there is no change in mental faculties or union with logos. it is only union of spirit/nature. i am beginning to see the incarnation of logos in christ as incarnation of nature not necessarily mind, not sure about that.

[Aquila]

I believe that God created mankind in His own image... as an expression of Himself. Therefore, all men, born again or not... are expressions of God.

Now, when it comes to those who are born again... we are one spirit with the Lord (I Corinthians 6:17). Literally Branches of the True Vine.

[Aquila]

So far... we've gotten into God's ultimate goal for man. What about the universe itself???

1 Corinthians 15:28
English Standard Version (ESV)
28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Ephesians 1:22-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Psalm 72:19
And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

[Aquila]

This is an awesome understanding for those who receive it.

[Aquila]

While in prayer and mediation on this oneness, I began to realize that it must be attained by faith alone. If we strive to attain his level of union with Christ (God) through the Holy Spirit, we are professing that we have not attained it. Thus with every striving we are essentially pushing it away from us. As a man thinks, so is he. If you're striving for something, you're professing that you have not attained it. However, if we attain in by faith, we reckon it so. Even if we do not see or sense its current reality manifest in our lives. Eventually, by faith (reckoning) we transform ourselves into the image of that which we believe is residing within us currently. Thus, striving to attain is an expression of doubt. If we do any striving, let it be a striving to attain by faith, reckoning. This cannot be attained by any effort of behavior modification, standards, etc.