Trinity Concepts (2.08) Man's Economies

Sowing

Reciprocity

Selfishness

Every community has different levels of sacrificial giving.  Some people give lavishly, some miserly.  There are those, as well, who only take from the community, without making any contribution whatsoever.

Every community has a means of exchange in play.  Money is a futile man-made attempt at assigning value to the process of exchange that is happening in a community, a material show of the giving and receiving that is taking place in relationships.

“A good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold.” (Prov. 22:21)  Why is favor better than silver and gold?  Because, among other more noble things, favor produces silver and gold.  Relationships, and value given in and through those relationships, are the functioning of economy in community.

There are basically three levels of ‘economy’ in a community: 1) The economy of the flesh, 2) The economy of reciprocity and 3) The economy of sowing. 

The 1st and lowest economy is the economy of the flesh, or “sowing to the flesh”. (Gal. 6:8)  It is simply selfishness.

“There is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want.” (Prov. 11:24)

“He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.” (Prov. 11:26)  Withholding the grain is selfish, but releasing it into commerce is better.

The 2nd Economy, that of reciprocity and social commerce, is akin to Phileo love: “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”  It has the Law as its foundation.  “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” (Prov. 11:1)   God loves proper reciprocity.  His Law is holy, righteous and good. (Rom. 7:12)  

The problem, however, is that due to natural man’s selfish nature, it is impossible for him to create that ‘just balance’ in relationships or money without failure in some way.  This is where the power of forgiveness comes in.  Without forgiveness, all relationships and economy among people will fail miserably.  Forgiveness is part of the highest 3rd Economy, because it is given willingly, for no deserving reason.

“…mercy triumphs over justice.” (Js. 2:13b)

The Law says, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, equal recompense, but the higher law, the law of liberty, says, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Matt. 9:13).

The ‘engine’ of human relationships and economy in community can only function without burning up, by adding the oil, the lubricant that comes from the 3rd Economy, which is that of unconditional love, forgiveness and willing sacrifice.

Jesus taught that when a seed falls into the ground, it dies, being completely released from human control, placed into God’s hands.  This is reflective of the 3rd Economy, the economy of sowing.

“The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows- how, he himself does not know…” (Mk. 4:26)

This seed, however, does not operate by reciprocity “an eye for an eye”, but rather by multiplication.  God is the One Who raises the seed up, causing its growth and multiplication.  This is the origin of life: releasing control of the harvest (expecting someone else to repay you) and giving, releasing the seed into God’s hands, forgiving the wrong, forgiving the imbalance.  This produces the multiplied harvest of the highest 3rd Economy, the economy of the Spirit.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.  And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Gal. 6:7-10)

The origin of all sacrificial giving and forgiveness is love: “God is love.” (I Jn. 4:16)  Man cannot forgive in and of himself, apart from God, and he must respond to God’s forgiveness for himself before he can then turn and forgive others.  “…he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Lk. 7:47)  The reciprocal of that would also be true, then.  ‘He who is forgiven much, loves much.’  The more of God’s love and mercy we receive, the more we are able to give.  As we are connected to the ‘vine’ of God’s forgiveness, love, and mercy for our own lives, the ‘fruit’ that is produced through our lives begins to manifest, and that fruit expands into the lives of those around us, creating in and through our lives a manifestation of God’s grace toward others. 

The multiplication of grace that flows out of our lives toward others, not only gives them a ‘just balance’, but even more that that.  This manifestation of the 3rd Economy (or highest economy) thus establishes and expands the 2nd Economy.  “Do we then nullify the Law through faith?  May it never be!  On the contrary, we establish the Law.”  (Rom. 3:31)  The 3rd and highest economy of love and forgiveness establishes the 2nd Economy and goes way beyond it.  “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace…against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:23)  Mercy will always triumph over judgment!

This process of forgiveness is like the model of kinetic energy, as several metallic balls are suspended by a wire on a frame.  When a person lifts the end ball, letting it strike the ball nearest to it, the energy then transfers through the other metal balls, causing the last ball to jump.  The energy was transmitted from the first, initial act, to the last, and the last ball responded in like manner.  The natural response to God’s love and forgiveness for our own lives is to, in response, allow that same energy to move us to do the same for others. 

So what happens if we receive God’s love for ourselves but do not allow it to pass through our lives to the forgiveness of others?  Jesus told a parable of a servant who was forgiven a great debt, but then would not in like manner forgive a smaller debt that was owed him.  This man was handed to the tormentors.  (Matt. 18:21-35)  When we inhibit the love of God from flowing freely through us to the benefit of others it only brings frustration and despair upon our own lives.  All it takes is a simple choice, however, to unblock this necessary flow.

The conclusion of this exposition of three economies is that we should overcome the course of the natural world by choosing to forgive when confronted by inequity, sowing it into the hands God.  When we choose to do this, we set our lives up to reap a multiplied harvest.  Living a life on purpose to give and to forgive is the highest means of exchange.  “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)

“But if you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor (grace) with God.” (I Pet. 2:20)

There will undoubtedly be times of misunderstanding, suffering and hardship for one who is laying down his life in the service of others in God’s Kingdom Community.  The only way to stay the course is to routinely exercise the love and forgiveness of God toward others.  It is the foundation of the Christian faith, and it is the only sure road to a prosperous and successful life: spirit, soul and body.

Trinity Concepts (2.02) Man's Soul (basic)

Will

Mind

Emotions

The human soul reflects the nature of God Himself: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, correlating to the will, the mind and the emotions, respectively. 

God, the Father, is sovereign in His decisions, and yet He has placed in the being of every individual a measure of His sovereignty.  The human will’s choices ultimately create the world in which he will exist.  As it is surrounded by various stimuli, from that which the Mind has learned or what the Emotions are feeling, the Will can select from these stimuli which impulses it will act upon or reject.  The Will chooses to seek after knowledge and wisdom, or to reject these, following after less noble purposes.  Whatever decisions are acted upon ultimately produce the results, whether good or evil, of those choices.  “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.” (Deut. 30:19)

The Mind is a storehouse of what is remembered, that which can be drawn upon to inspire or to discourage.  Filling this storehouse with positive information gives the individual fuel for success, whereas filling it with meaningless and useless information leads the individual to unproductivity and bewilderment.  “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.” (Matt. 12:34-37) “Therefore very scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matt. 13:52)  

Our Will can not only choose to acquire positive information, but it can also accentuate the positive information which already exists in its ‘storehouse’, amplifying it, meditating upon it.  “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” (Phil. 4:8) 

The Mind correlates to the Word, Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1), as He is the message of Truth to humanity (Heb. 1:1-2), the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12), “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3), the entrance of His Word bringing light. (Ps. 119:130; Ps. 36:9)

The Emotions of the soul correlate to the Holy Spirit of God.  The emotions are closest to the natural realm, sensing and feeling what is surrounding the individual.  The Holy Spirit of God likewise is here in this realm with us, as Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.” (Jn. 14:16-17)  “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (Jn. 16:5-7)

Many people mistake their Emotions with the Spirit of God, since they are categorically in the same line; however, these should not be confused.  Our human emotions are fickle, easily influenced by the world around us, whether by positive or negative circumstances.  A mature believer is aware of his emotions, yet not moved by them.  Rather, he expresses his convictions through the emotions, thereby causing the emotions to come in line with the thoughts of his Mind and the decisions of his Will.  His emotions become an expression of his inner convictions, an outward display of his inner man.  Emotions can be a powerful influence to the circumstances surrounding the individual, and becomes a conduit to the outer world of the power released from the Mind and Will.

Emotions should be used to influence the world rather than becoming an instigator from the world of sedition against the convictions of the Mind and Will.  “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” (Prov. 16:32)

Trinity Concepts (1.12) The Tabernacle of Moses

Holy of Holies

Inner Court

Outer Court

Spirit

Soul

Body

“Now if He (Jesus) were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for “See” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Heb. 8:4-5)

Moses’ Tabernacle, according to this passage, was a “copy and shadow” of things in heaven.  It was a picture of something more profound than the simple elements from which it was made.

“The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?”  Jesus answered and said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  The Jews therefore said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”  But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” (Jn. 2:18-21)  In this passage, Jesus analogized the temple to His body.

The Apostle Paul echoes this idea, regarding those who are united to Jesus through faith.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Cor. 3:16)  “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (I Cor. 6:15,17)

There is a definite pattern of correlation between the Tabernacle and the Human Being.  The Tabernacle is three parts: 1) The Outer Court, 2) The Inner Court, and 3) The Holy of Holies.

The Apostle Paul shows man as tripartite, as well, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:23)  Paul shows man as: 1) Body, 2) Soul, and 3) Spirit.

In comparing the Tabernacle to the Human Being, it becomes evident that the Spirit of Man correlates to the Holy of Holies, the Soul of Man correlates to the Inner Court, and the Body of Man correlates to the Outer Court.

It is even more interesting to note that the Inner Court of the Tabernacle held three distinct objects: 1) The Bread of the Presence Table, 2) The Seven-lamped Menorah, and 3) The Altar of Incense.

As the Inner Court correlates to the Soul of Man, each of these three things also correlates to a specific aspect of the Human Soul.  The Old Testament’s definition of man’s heart (Heb. ‘leb’) is consistent with the three attributes of man’s Mind, Will and Emotions.

The Mind correlates to the Lamp-stand, being illumined with understanding.  The Emotions correlate to the Bread, giving sustenance to the emotion-endoderm relationship (see Trinity Concepts: Food Groups).  The Will correlates to the Altar of Incense, as an obedient will through prayer is as a fragrant aroma to the Father. (see Trinity Concepts: Christian Activity)

The Holy of Holies correlates to Man’s Spirit, as this is where God’s Presence dwells in the inner man of the believer.  “The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (I Cor. 6:17)   The Outer Court correlates to Man’s Body, as it is openly visible in the natural realm.

When Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross and cried out, "It is finished!", the veil that divided the Holy of Holies from the Inner Court of the temple was torn, indicating that God’s Presence would no longer inhabit the Tabernacle made by man’s hands.  Rather, He would now, as of the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), live in the very bodies of those who are united to Christ through faith.  “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His.”” (2 Tim. 2:19)  “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (I Pet. 2:5)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (I Cor. 6:19-20)

The Tabernacle is a simple picture of Who Christ is, and who we are in Him, inhabited by God Himself, illumined by His light, refreshed by His sustenance, fragrant with His motivation to be a blessing and benefit to the whole earth.

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (2.11) Food Groups

Proteins

Fats

Carbohydrates

I am neither a scientist nor a nutritionist, but following are some interesting patterns and relationships that I have found to be compelling.

There are three main groups of foods that we consume, and each of them has a specific role and function in the health of our bodies.  They also categorically relate to embryology, the three main parts of our bodies: Mesoderm, Endoderm and Ectoderm. (see Man’s Body)

Proteins are the building blocks for our bodies, relating predominantly to our structural Mesoderm.  Carbohydrates give us energy, relating to our Endoderm system.  Fats (those that are good and beneficial) relate to our Ectoderm system.

The proper balance of each of these groups in relationship to one another, as well as to our unique individual physical make-up is critical for proper health.  For example, those who have a predominantly Endoderm type of body do not need more Carbohydrates, since they are already strong in this area.  As they lean in that direction, it may ultimately produce obesity in their bodies.  They would be better benefited by consuming more proteins and good fats than too many carbohydrates.

It is evident that those who are endeavoring to build their muscular physique will need a proper amount of protein for the re-building process to take place successfully.

Is it coincidental that those we consider to be the most intelligent people around the globe have a diet rich in the ‘good’ oils (which come from fish and other healthy sources)?  The consumption of ‘good’ fats relates to the successful functioning of the Ectoderm system.

What is even more interesting to see is the correlation between our human soul (mind, will and emotions) to the functioning of our bodies and our diets.

The Bible is clear about the impact our thoughts and emotions have on our physical well-being.  “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” (III Jn. 2)  

The categorical relationship of the functions of our soul, as it relates to our bodies and our nutritional needs, is as follows:

Man’s Soul:

Will

Mind

Emotions

Man’s Body:

Mesoderm

Ectoderm

Endoderm

Nutritional needs:

Proteins

Fats

Carbohydrates

Generally speaking, we need carbohydrates most, then a less amount of proteins, then finally a smaller proportion of fats. 

I find it interesting, in correlating the soul to primary colors (Mind/Blue, Will/Yellow, Emotions/Red), that the smallest frequency is Blue, while the largest wavelength is Red.  The progression of small to large, starting from the Mind, to the Will, and finally to the Emotions seems to correlate to the proportional amounts of Fats, Proteins and Carbohydrates our bodies require.

The diagram is as follows:

Man's Soul:

Will

Mind

Emotions

Color:

Yellow

Blue

Red

Nutritional needs:

Proteins

Fats

Carbohydrates

As stated above, certain people have bodies that lean in one direction or another, so a ‘balanced diet’ will be unique to each individual.

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (1.07) Love

Agape

Phileo

Eros

There are several different Biblical definitions of love, versus the one English word.  When we say the word ‘love’, it can mean anything from a ‘fetish’ to a life-long marital commitment.  Although the Bible outlines a number of different words for our one word 'Love', there are three primary definitions that are most prevalent. 

These three basic definitions of love outline the dimensions of Spirit, Soul and Body (I Thess. 5:23) and the corresponding parts of the Old Testament Tabernacle: the Holy of Holies, the Inner Court, and the Outer Court, respectively.

The highest form of love, correlating to the spirit of man and the Holy of holies is that of Agape.  Agape is unconditional.  It is typified by Jesus willingly going to the cross on behalf of the sins of mankind.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16) 

This love can also be expressed through us, as believers in Jesus Christ: “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (I Jn. 3:16)   This kind of love cannot be generated by man himself in his own power and strength.  It can only come through man as he is aligned with the Spirit of God.  It’s like the acoustical phenomena of sympathetic vibration.  The still object resonates by the energy coming from another source.  “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (I Jn. 4:16)  Agape is not originally emotional, although it can encompass emotion.  It is centered in the will.  It is a moral love, emanating from righteousness, unchanged by surrounding circumstances.  It gives regardless of whether or not it is received by the intended recipient.  This kind of love encompasses all moral traits and is the cumulative characteristic of all morality and Truth.  (See I Cor. 13)

The next kind of love correlates to the soul of man and Inner Court of the Tabernacle.  It is Phileo.  This kind of love is one of reciprocity and friendship.  It requires “a just weight” (Prov. 11:1), an even distribution of giving between the two parties involved.  Phileo is successful as long as both parties continue to justly give to one another (in each other’s perception) what is a ‘fair exchange’.  When this scenario begins to break down (and it always will at some point, due to human selfishness), the friendship or relationship will be dissolved.  The only remedy for this lack of equity is forgiveness, which can only come from Agape.  Agape is the ‘lubricant’ that makes successful Phileo possible.  Without love and forgiveness, ultimately all Phileo will fail. 

Economy is based upon the model of Phileo, and is thus categorically aligned with the Mind of the Soul and the Lust of the Eyes.  Phileo always seeks to ‘calculate’ what it is owed.  “I did such and such, so they owe me this or that.”  Or, “They did this or that for me, now I need to do something for them, so we’ll be even.”  This is not morally a bad thing.  Even God desires a just recompense between parties: “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” (Prov. 11:1)  The problem is that Phileo is humanly impossible to keep perpetually.  With Agape as the foundation, however, it is possible to function in successful Phileo.

The last and lowest kind of love which correlates to the body of man and the Outer Court of the Tabernacle is that of Eros.  Some philosophies consider the human body to be evil; however, the fact that Jesus rose from the dead physically, and even ate food in His resurrected body (Lk. 21:41-43) doctrinally establishes that God does not view the body as evil, but rather the fleshly desires and carnal willfulness against His Spirit. (Gal. 5:19-21)   

Having established this fact, Eros (or sexual love) is needful to procreate the human race, which is also God’s desire: “And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” (Gen. 1:28)  Unfortunately, Eros (which is centered in the Emotion of man), when exalted above Phileo and Agape, produces chaos, disorder, disharmony and wars, both internal and external.  The exaltation of Emotion over the Mind and the Will of man is destructive due to its imbalance of the Trinity pattern. 

Eros is successful, however, when it is functioning in the Choice of Agape in marriage and the relationship of Phileo in friendship (within that marriage).  It is in this divine Trinity balance that Eros can be enjoyed to its fullest benefit through the establishment of wholeness in Family.

(for more on this subject, see My Vision: The Community- A Means of Exchange)

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (4.02) Color

Yellow

Blue

Red

The three primary colors of yellow, blue and red have distinct characteristics relating to the Trinity.  Blue and Red are opposites, from the standpoint of direction.  Blue is recessive, Red is aggressive.  Blue is the smallest light-wave of the three and red is the largest.  Yellow stands in the middle, between the two, almost like a balancing point between them.  It is the middle length light-wave.

The colors can be metaphoric of human personalities.  (See Man's Soul (personalities))  Red is the fiery, emotional Sanguine, Blue is the analytical Melancholy.  Yellow is the clear decision-making Choleric.  The mixture or blend of all three colors depicts the Phlegmatic.

Blue correlates to the Son or Word, Yellow correlates to the Father and Red correlates to the Holy Spirit.  With the human soul, following the same pattern, the mind correlates to the Son and the color Blue.  It is analytical, Melancholy and detailed, with the smallest wavelength. (People who are Melancholy in their personality temperament learn by visual systems, primarily). 

As stated above, the human will correlates to the Father, and the color yellow.  It is the middle wavelength, between blue and red.  The vibrancy of yellow is symbolic of the Choleric's aggressive, active will to ‘get things done’.  (People who are Choleric tend to learn by auditory systems successfully.)

The emotions of the human soul correlate to the Holy Spirit and the color Red. It is impassioned and incites response.  It is the longest of the three primary color waves.  It is the most noticeable color of the three and it draws attention to itself.  From the standpoint of human personality it relates to the Sanguine, the ‘life of the party’, the one with ‘charisma’.  (People who are of this temperament tend to learn more effectively kinesthetically, being involved in physical activity.  They also become disinterested if they are contained in un-involvement.)   

The blending of all three colors, especially in their pallor, can portray the unassuming personality of a Phlegmatic.

Interestingly, as the color Yellow is between Blue and Red, the Will stands between the Mind and the Emotions.  One can oftentimes observe a Choleric personality function in both the realm of the Mind and also the Emotions, as the Choleric touches both.

As in body types (see Man’s Body) we find that there are mixtures of different possibilities in a variety of combinations, which produce an array of different personalities.  Ultimately, there are as many variations as there are shades of color. 

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (1.04) Kingdom Attributes (Time)

Love / Present

Faith / Past

Hope / Future

Love is present tense.  God is love. (I John 4:16)  He told Moses, “I Am that I Am.” (Ex. 3:14)  God, Himself encompasses the fullness of time, past and future, the same way He manifests Himself through both Word and Spirit, articulation and breath.

Love exists in the present tense and stands as the highest of all three Kingdom attributes, as the Apostle Paul states, “but now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (I Cor. 13:13)  The will of the human soul stands as the highest point between the mind and the emotions, choosing which thoughts to accept and meditate upon, while at the same time choosing the response of the emotions to these thoughts.  The will makes choices in the present, based upon the knowledge of the past.  It could be knowledge as old as the most ancient Scriptures, or as new as the last God-inspired revelation only a moment ago; but faith still draws upon the understanding of the past.  For example, the testimonies in Scripture, being of the past, build our faith to receive God’s manifested blessings in the present. 

Faith, however, works by love.  It is the action of love that brings faith to life.  “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)  Faith (past) united to Love (present) is the most powerful motivational force that causes the future, or realm of hope, to open wide with possibility.  Hope is the realm of the emotion (speaking of the soul), and as emotion is affected by choices (will) and thoughts (mind), the future responds to those choices and thoughts (past and present seeds, which have been and are being sown). 

Both the past and the future are subject to the choices of the present.  The present filters what it wants of the past, allowing it to pass into the future.  Of the past and future, however, the past holds authority over the future, just as seeds sown in the past must manifest in the future.  One would say, “But the future must be greater, because the possibilities are positive and full of wonder, whereas the past is fraught with both failures and successes, but truthfully, mostly failures.  The past speaks of death, the future of natural life.  How can the past be authoritative over the future?” 

The only way to sever the authority of the death and decay the past holds over the future lies in the power of the present (Love) to choose to overlook the failures of the past, draw upon the successes of the past, reject the destructive seeds of the past and to protectively nurture the good seeds sown. 

Love alone can take the past and metamorphosize it into a powerful future.  This is the power of forgiveness.  It is the power of Jesus (the Word) Who was made flesh, living in the death and decay of this realm, but risen in the power of God’s choice, anointed with victory for the future, to reign as King in the fullness of this hope…our “Blessed Hope.”  

The Word without the resurrection of Love remains a dead letter, for the “letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (II Cor. 3:6), but as faith is united to love, it is simultaneously broken from the past and brought into the present, creating victory for the future.  Without being united to love, however, faith’s future is non-existent, just as “faith without works is dead.” (Js. 2:26)  “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (Js. 1:22) 

Inactivity with the Word is disobedience.    It is rebellion to the possibilities of its future.  Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. (I Sam. 15:23)  Leaving the Word unacted upon in the choices of the present is demonic and will be judged by God.  The rejection of God’s Word (Jesus) results in damnation, because the future is left empty and therefore hope is destroyed.  “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)  The Word must be acted upon and that action is Love.

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (1.00) Key

God

Father

Son

Holy Spirit

Kingdom Attributes

Righteousness

Peace

Joy

Kingdom Attributes (Time)

Love / Present

Faith / Past

Hope / Future

Godly characteristics (Matt. 23:23)

Justice

Faithfulness

Mercy

Christian activity

Prayer

Study of Word

Worship

Love

Agape

Phileo

Eros

Power

Purpose

Sacrifice          

Unity

Man

Spirit

Soul

Body   

Man’s spirit

Conscience

Intuition

Communion

Man’s soul (basic)

Will

Mind

Emotions

Man’s soul (personalities)

Choleric

Melancholy

Sanguine

Phlegmatic

Man’s soul (styles of learning)

Aural

Visual

Kinesthetic

Man’s soul (decision making)

‘because it’s right’

‘because it will benefit me’

‘because I feel like it’

Man’s flesh (temptations)

Glory- pride of life

Gold- lust of the eyes

Girls- lust of the flesh

Man’s soul (society)

Political

Economic

Social

Man's economies

Sowing/Giving/Forgiving

Reciprocity

Selfishness

Functions of Music and the Arts in Society

Prophetic

Exaltation (amplification)

Performance

Man’s body

Mesoderm- structural

Ectoderm- communications

Endoderm- engine

Man’s body (workout routines)

Mesomorph- strength

Ectomorph- endurance

Endomorph- survival

Food groups

Protiens

Fats

Carbohydrates

Angels

Michael (warring)

Gabriel (messenger)

Lucifer (worship)

Devil’s attributes

Accuser

Deceiver

Tempter

Color

Yellow

Blue

Red

Brown

Tabernacle of Moses

Holy of Holies

Inner Court

Outer Court     

Trinity Concepts (2.09) Man's Body

Mesoderm- structural

Ectoderm- communications

Endoderm- engine

When one’s body is not feeling well, or on the contrary, is fresh out of bed, after a sound night’s sleep, the soul (our mind, emotions and will) are affected by that condition negatively or positively.  The same holds true with our human personalities.  Our physical make-up affects our soulish personality. 

In embryology, there are three main aspects of development, the mesoderm, ectoderm and endoderm.  The mesoderm is the structural, skeletal development.  The ectoderm is the nervous system, while the endoderm is the fueling (engine) system of the human body.  The mesoderm relates to the will of the soul, as the will provides structure and stability for the mind and the emotions to operate.  The ectoderm relates to the mind, as nerves receive information for processing, and the endoderm relates to the emotions of the soul, fluctuating based upon anxiety or joy. 

Each of these three main characteristics of the human body: the Structural system, the Communication system and the Energy system are found in all of us; however, we have each been created with a certain ‘bent’, if you will, physically. 

I recently read in a fitness magazine, an article characterized by three types of workout routines for the Mesomorph, Ectomorph and Endomorph.  They gave a fourth kind of workout for the Combination body type, which relates to the concept of the Phlegmatic personality being a blend of the three soul areas: mind, emotion and will.

As we each have a physical body, which leans toward one of these three areas, our human souls follow suit.  On very broad terms, look at those who are structurally muscular and notice their tendencies toward the choleric or phlegmatic personalities.  Notice the ‘skinnier, long-limbed’ types leaning toward the melancholy personality traits, and those who have natural food-storing capabilities having sanguine tendencies.  It is also important to note that each of us have varying degrees of all three categories, all blending together, yet creating an end result of uniqueness for each individual.

According to the promise of Scripture, the return of Christ manifests a change in the creation and hence in our physical human bodies as well, where the death and decay of the natural realm is swallowed up by the supernatural life of God.  It appears that the most profound change to our bodies is in the Ectoderm, which correlates to the current natural realm and the Holy Spirit’s presence here at this time.

When the Sadducees questioned Jesus concerning the resurrection of the dead, He replied to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God." (Matt. 22:29-30)

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)



Trinity Concepts (2.00) Man

Man 

Spirit

Soul

Body

Man, created in God’s image, was made to have three main elements to his being.  This is outlined in the Scriptures as “spirit, soul and body”. (I Thess. 5:23) These three areas of our existence each have three parts, reflecting the Trinity ‘dimensions’ within themselves.

The spirit of man is the part of man that touches the supernatural realm, or the spiritual realm.  To one who has not yet received the new birth, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ, his spirit is separated from God.  This produces within him a sensation of a ‘vacuum’, an insatiable hunger driving him to try to fill it with anything that will give some relief.  Just a moment of ‘inspiration’ from a movie or a walk in the park, or wherever he has tasted just a hint of God’s goodness (which is evident all around us), keeps him constantly searching for the next high, or 'fix', that will quell this aching pain within himself.  What he is not aware of is the fact that God is actually leading him to Himself by His goodness. (Rom.2:4)

Some people are lured into the negative power of the spirit realm through the occult, not realizing that spiritual forces can be destructive.  The misconception is that just because something is spiritual, and thus higher and more powerful than the natural realm, that this makes it automatically good.  Falling into this trap produces nothing but failure and destruction.

To the Christian, however, our spirits are joined to the Holy Spirit, united with Him.  We are “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3)

Our soul is formed by the ‘merging together’ of our spirit and our body.  It is the ‘middle’ part of our being, characterized by our mind (or reasoning capabilities), emotions (or affections) and volition, or will (decision making ability).  Every person has unique strengths and ‘giftings’, based upon how these three areas of their soul function.  One person will have a very quick mind.  Someone else will be the ‘life of the party’ with emotional effectiveness, and yet others can make quick decisions that, more often than not, are correct and good.  These are known as the personality temperaments of our lives.  We each have varied combinations of these three elements, producing within us our own uniqueness. The body also affects our soul and the kind of personalities we have.    According to the field of embryology, the three main aspects of our bodies, formed within the womb, are the Mesoderm, Ectoderm and Endoderm.  In broad terminology, this is the Structural system (bones, muscles, tendons, etc.), the Nervous system (or communication system) and the Fueling System (turning food into energy for the body).  Each of these three parts of our body relate to the Trinity ‘dimensions’ as well.

Following is a discussion of the attributes of man: spirit, soul and body, in more detail.



(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (1.02) God

God

Father

Son

Holy Spirit

God, at least to us, in this realm as human beings, is revealed in a triune manner.  This triune nature is seen in a ‘hierarchy’ if you will.  Jesus said, “If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” (Jn. 14:28)   “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He shall glorify Me (Jesus); for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.” (Jn. 16:13-1)  By these passages, it becomes evident that the ‘order’ of God is: Father, Son (the Word), Holy Spirit. 

Though there is order and priority, there is also balance.  This balance can be illustrated by simple human speech.  If I begin talking and run out of air, but my mouth keeps moving, I have all word and no spirit (breath).  However, if I am speaking with plenty of air-flow, yet my articulate speech becomes slurred and finally non-articulate, I have all spirit and no word.  Both scenarios are imbalanced, both fail to convey the message I desire to communicate.  Similarly, the Father has a message He wants to convey, through the balance of articulation and breath: the Word (Jesus) and the Spirit, respectively.

Everything that will be set forth is based upon this pattern.  The attributes of the Father flow down through every part of creation.  Even though He is seen throughout the other realms of Word and Spirit, there is still a specific influence that comes from the Father ‘dimension’.  The same holds true for the Son (or Word).  There are specific attributes that flow down from Him through every level of existence that uniquely reflect His dimension.  The Holy Spirit’s attributes of existence also fall under the patterns only observable in the dimension He holds. 

“You believe God is One.  You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” (James 2:19)  My purpose in these statements is not to ‘dissect’, if you will, God Himself, but rather to show His attributes as He reveals Himself to us throughout all of our existence.  The patterns of creation reflect the Creator.  The Trinity can be seen throughout all of life, not simply in a theological or philosophical textbook.  He has revealed Himself to us in so many different ways throughout our life experiences, it would be impossible to enumerate every example.  As the Apostle Paul states, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…” (Rom. 1:20) 

It would, at this point, be fitting to remember that the Triune God has never been made, as the creation has been made.  He has always existed, and always will exist.  He stands uniquely separate from anyone or anything else that has ever existed, due to the fact that everything else has, or had, a definite beginning and ending.  Jesus, the man in the flesh, obviously had a finite beginning.  However, the seed of the Word, Who lived through the flesh has always been: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn. 1:1) 

In attempting to ‘paint a picture’ of the nature of the Trinity, I have spaced the categories across the page for each subject in a semi-triangular way with the Father dimension being top-most and in the center, the Son (or Word) dimension being to the left and the Holy Spirit dimension being to the right.  In doing this, I am trying to depict that the Father is the One from whom the balance of the Word and the Spirit emanate.  He is the One sending the message of His love.  This message is communicated by the articulation of the Word and the empowerment of the breath of the Spirit.  The Word and the Spirit balance each other, with the Word still holding priority.  (Again, the reference of John, chapters 14 and 16 reveal this.) 

The Apostle Paul also shows us this same principle, “Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or the harp?  For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?  So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken?  For you will be speaking into the air.  There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.  If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to the one who speaks a barbarian (foreigner), and the one who speaks will be a barbarian (foreigner) to me.” (I Cor. 14:7-11) 

He is showing us in these passages that all spirit, with no articulation, produces an indistinct sound.  The same is true in the balance of the Trinity.  As the Father communicates to us, He places emphasis on our understanding what He is saying (through the Word), yet He conveys this message by the breath of His Spirit.  If He were to emphasize the Spirit over the Word, He would become inarticulate and the message would be lost.  His perfect balance of priorities, however, carries total power. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn. 1:1)  “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light.” (Gen. 1:3)  There is a popular proverb among church-goers: “All Word and you dry up.  All Spirit and you blow up.  The Word and the Spirit together and you grow up.”  Through this delicate balance, however, the articulation of the Word still holds priority.

The pattern of the Trinity, with the priority and balance I have just described, again, is seen throughout all of our existence.  The inter-relationship of these three areas (or, dimensions, as I have been calling them) is also seen throughout every part of creation.  All of the following will be derived from these simple fundamental concepts.

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)

Trinity Concepts (1.01) Introduction

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many ways.  If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man…” (James 3:1-2)

This Scriptural admonition is one I take seriously.  There is only One who is perfect, who spoke perfectly, and had complete purity in His understanding of life.  “For now I see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I have been fully known.  But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (I Cor. 13:12-13)

That which I am attempting to bring forth does not come from my own human wisdom or understanding, but rather has been given to me from countless influences: teachers, pastors, family, books and friends, through prayer and the meditation of God's Word.  Through the years I have seen patterns in my heart that I believe are indisputable.  Whatever difficulty there may be in transferring these thoughts in written form, the veracity of the thoughts themselves, if studied and meditated, I am convinced, will produce for the reader a favorable result. 

Lastly, although I believe wholeheartedly in this work, and its spiritual integrity, I will be the first to admit, since I am human and have a limited perception, that I may be wrong in one point or the other.  However, I encourage the reader to take the material, align it with Scripture and living, to test it and prove it.  I am bringing this forth with boldness, yet care, as I realize there will be some philosophical and doctrinal challenges to the reader.  I am in God’s hands.  He will judge me.

‘Trinity’, the word, has never been found in the Bible, however, its presence is felt through all of Scripture.  It is from the basis of revelation knowledge (heart knowledge) I am bringing forth this teaching.  The scientific (head knowledge) will surround the spiritual core of the body of this material. 

There are three areas I would like to address: 1) God Himself, 2) Creation, and 3) Man.

God created man in His image, much like what man creates is in his image.  As a songwriter, when I create a song, written from my heart, it’s a carbon copy of who I am, the struggles I am facing and my frame of mind at the moment I am writing.  The song is a reflection of my heart.  We are a carbon copy of our Creator.  To find out more about God, we can look at ourselves.  “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” (I John 4:20-21)

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)