Truth and
Perceptions
This overview
table tries to match concepts spanning various traditions concerning spiritual realities – which as long as we
are human will largely remain a mystery. However, if our eyes have been opened by divine grace, we can catch
glimpses of the awesome reality we call “God” and what it means to live a life “in spirit” and in harmony with
the will of God. The terms used come both from the Bible (especially the writings of John) and from various
spiritual writers whose understanding and lives witness to their having been touched and enlightened by the
omnipresent Holy Spirit. I believe that by considering these concepts, we can all have our humanly limited
understanding enriched by the views and perspectives of one another.
For a PDF file with scripture references, click here.
Satan and
Darkness
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God and
Light
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The devil, deceiver
of the world, accuser, destroyer, murderer, ruler of the kingdom of the air influencing
the disobedient, prince of darkness, power of darkness, enemy, adversary, devourer,
tempter, opposed to God and light, but pretending light and goodness, oppressor, the evil
one, kingdom of darkness
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Creator, Life
Force, Higher Power, Supreme Power, Higher Intelligence, Source and Sustainer
of all, Lawgiver, Mysterious Presence around
and within all, Spirit, Universal Consciousness, Ocean of Awareness, Love, Body of God,
Body of Christ, Being, I Am (or "I Will Be"), Kingdom of
Light
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Two Possible States of
Humans
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Natural
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Transformed by
grace
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Sins, in particular
the “original sin” or the universal human tendency, have separated all of us from
God, and the hope of salvation.
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God’s grace and
forgiveness reconciles and reunites us with God and gives us hope for eternal
life.
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In their natural state, people remain in darkness and are “dead in sins”.
Their life is typified by hardness
of heart, spiritual blindness, unconsciousness, unbelief, and lack of receptivity to the
things of God.
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Through a divine
opening of eyes, a change of heart is possible and individuals are transferred
by grace from darkness to light, from death to life, from unconsciousness to
consciousness. They become a new creation through a “birth from above” and are now aware
of God in all things.
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Deception, error,
ignorance
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Growth in truth,
understanding the things of God, divine wisdom from within (the heart) rather than from
without (the world).
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Separation from God
and others, individuality, separate body of sin, pain body
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Being in God /
Christ – connected with the divine, unity with God and all life, being members of one
body, the body of Christ.
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Divine life
principle is present – without it, there would be no physical life, which however is only
temporary and ending in "death" in contrast to immortality. Divine nature is dormant,
needing to be supernaturally awakened.
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Divine life and
nature are present and active – walking in the Spirit, walking in newness of life,
putting on the new man, continuing in the teachings of Christ, being a new creation,
temple of the Holy Spirit, child of God and brother/sister of Christ. Life is now
abundant and contains the seed of immortality.
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The unconverted
state is referred to as the ego, heart of stone, blindness to one’s divine identity and
destiny, old self, false self, body of sin, sinful nature.
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The divine within
is referred to as spark of God, Spirit from God, divine anointing, Higher Self, inner /
inmost being, new heart, new self, God in you, Christ in you / in your heart, I (Christ)
in you and you in Me, Christ coming in the flesh, Holy Spirit joining with the human
spirit, Holy Spirit in the inner being, power working within us, God’s love poured out
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
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Ego/self with its
deceitful desires dominates the heart and one’s life manifests the "works of the flesh" –
“low energy” or “low vibration” behaviour – hate, indifference, competition, strife,
fighting, survival of the fittest, ingratitude, lust, greed, killing. Submission to God’s
law is impossible as one is enslaved to sin.
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As God's Love and
nature/Christ works in the heart /soul, and the Holy Spirit guides thoughts and
actions, the self is being pushed out, put to death, replaced. Love and fruits of the
Spirit manifest in life as “high energy” or “high vibration” behaviour – outgoing
concern, giving, mutual help, cooperation, peace, harmony, gratitude. A lifestyle of love
is evidence of the new birth and Spirit presence.
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The unenlightened
prefer to remain in darkness and reject light and truth.
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Christ is, as well
as brought, the way, truth, light and life, and gave it to those whose eyes he also
opened to see it.
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© 2009 Eva
Peck
Photo: Intellimon,
Ltd.
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